Recently, those of us here at Nocturnal Mind have wanted to start a discussion about rewriting history for the sake of entertainment, and whether doing so would be more helpful or harmful to society in the long run. And while we have our own thoughts on that topic, we are also aware that our perspective is just one of many, and that the greatest harm creatives and non-creatives alike can inflict on a society is to ignore or reject history entirely.
Which is why it’s rather fitting that this topic should come up during this particular week. Just yesterday, President Joe Biden signed legislation that made June 19th a federally recognized holiday. And for those who are unfamiliar with the history, “Juneteenth” marks the official end of slavery in America, when the last enslaved people were freed by Union troops arriving in Galveston, Texas in 1865–more than two years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation took effect.
Of course, not many people are aware of this holiday or its significance, despite the fact that it has been celebrated among black communities for the last couple hundred years. In fact, the great irony of this situation is that this historic event in black history is taking place at a time where the very notion of black history being taught in American schools is seen as controversial. Only recently republican lawmakers have made efforts to ban “The 1619 Project” from being taught in public schools. And for those who need to be filled in on that as well, “The 1619 Project” is an ongoing initiative started by the New York Times Magazine that aims to “[place] the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.” In other words, this initiative aims to tell the stories of black Americans and how they have very much shaped the history of this country.
Once again, from a fictional standpoint it can sometimes be entertaining / enlightening / thought-provoking to play with history for the sake of storytelling. But we should not be given the right to play without first understanding the very real histories of people, places, and events from the past, and how they influence our present. And the best way to gain such an understanding is to educate ourselves and provide ample opportunities for others to educate themselves as well. We can start by acknowledging Juneteenth and celebrating and supporting black artists / businesses; and we can continue by reviewing “The 1619 Project,” discussing its contents, and encouraging local schools to adopt the curriculum wherever possible.
In our podcast, we made mention of the popular saying that “history is doomed to repeat itself.” But perhaps we wouldn’t be so doomed for repetition if we actually took some time to learn from history.
— C.Q.
