We've Reached the Era of American Unhistory

"We have passed into the era of unhistory. The other day, it was announced that a famous 1863 picture of an ex-slave showing the crisscrossed scar tissue from dozens of whippings would be removed from a national park. And, as The Washington Post says, this was part of a general campaign on the part of the administration to quite literally whitewash American history as presented on our public lands."

"Following Trump's order, Interior Department officials issued policies ordering agency employees to report any information, including signage and gift shop items, that might be out of compliance. Trump officials also launched an effort asking park visitors to report offending material, but they mostly received criticisms of the administration and praise for the parks. The latest orders include removing information at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in West Virginia, two people familiar with the matter said,"

"Naturally, the administration's spokespeople summoned up the essential bureaucratic gibberish to justify what is essentially a white supremacist move. Park Service spokesperson Rachel Pawlitz said in a statement that all signage is under review. Interpretive materials that disproportionately emphasize negative aspects of U.S. history or historical figures, without acknowledging broader context or national progress, can unintentionally distort understanding rather than enrich it, Pawlitz said. If anyone can parse that web of professional PR verbiage, beyond the obvious appeal to the sen"

The administration has directed Interior Department staff to review and remove interpretive materials on public lands that allegedly overemphasize negative aspects of U.S. history. A famous 1863 photograph of an ex-slave with crisscrossed whipping scars was targeted for removal from a national park. Employees and visitors were urged to report signage and gift-shop items deemed noncompliant, prompting criticism and praise directed at the parks. Orders include removing information at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park and questioning displays at the President's House Site in Philadelphia where George Washington kept slaves. Officials framed the changes as protecting balanced interpretation while critics called the moves whitewashing.

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