I don’t learn of anyone like me in history books, but I’m told that’s all who is in them. I’ll link to a bunch of articles that history books are filled with dead white men. I’m told the best I can do is “shut up and listen.”

Why do people who don’t know me tell me who I am?

Should I think I’m represented because Hitler, Stalin, and Columbus were straight white men?

I don’t find people like me in history books. I see people today who aren’t white men who seem more like white men in history books than I do. Why should people having the same skin color and sex mean that they represent me? Society hasn’t treated me like them. We don’t share similar experiences. Why do people insist that we do?

I’m not saying we shouldn’t include more people and cultures that aren’t currently represented or that some groups aren’t overly represented. I’m saying that I read history books and see myself no more represented than anyone else. Yet people tell me I am. As a result, they’re only telling me they think they understand me but they don’t. Isn’t that the problem they’re trying to solve?

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Here are some articles:

• “History is Written by White Men for White Men”—Here’s how we Uncover the Silenced Voices.
• When Booting Dead White Guys Off Reading Lists Is A Good Idea
• It’s time to take the curriculum back from dead white men
• The best white statement to make right now may be to shut up and listen
• Four Dilemmas for White Men in These Times
• When will white men ever learn to shut up and listen?
• Why is my curriculum white?

I have no more in common with these two people than you do. History books that include them represent you better than me.

Or this person:

• ← If something is labeled “Compostable” it means it’s not compostable. If something is labeled “recyclable” or “recycled” it means it’s polluting garbage.
• Do you feel enraged at people flying private jets to climate conferences? →