We have all probably heard the adage “history is written by the winners.” This has been the case for the most part, but simply accepting this leaves a lot of blank spaces in history that makes our understanding and appreciation of the past and our place in it inaccurate and less than it should be. This is a large part of the reason why we look for “other voices” in the historical record, including literature. One of the major concerns is the “erasure” of voices — minorities of various races, cultures, creeds, genders, etc. Consider the works you have been assigned to read. These are voices that are not part of the European-centric accounts and historical records we generally teach and study. Every society has dark blemishes on its history, and the treatment of African-Americans and other minorities is one of ours.
For this reflection paper, discuss the following: The United States exists; we cannot undo the past, and the country does obviously have a lot to offer. However, we cannot afford to ignore the mistakes made or try to pretend they have no relevance any more. So, what do we do? What do you feel is the best way to move forward?
Some general guidelines about these assignments:
Be sure to use at least three paragraphs: introduction, body, and conclusion.
Each reflection should be around 500 words.
Use MLA format (one inch margins, double spaced, all text in Times New Roman, 12 point font with a proper heading)
Do not use contractions
Do not use informal language, including slang, colloquialisms, and cliches.
Proper grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, etc. is important.
