Mount Vernon’s distorted portrayal of Washington’s role in slavery reflects a broader nationalist effort to erase inconvenient history. This manufactured past justifies power while suppressing resistance—requiring us to counter distortion with truth.

When a museum deleted my critique of their Valentine's Day social media post portraying enslavers as cute valentines, they chose brand comfort over historical honesty. Social media isn't marketing fluff—it's a battleground for truth, accountability, and authentic public engagement. Deleting criticism doesn't protect history; it betrays it.

American white people—both conservative and liberal—cling to a myth that the founders were enlightened architects of democracy and that the Constitution is a self-correcting safeguard against tyranny. This magical thinking ignores that the system was designed to preserve elite white power, not to protect democracy. While the far right weaponizes the founders as nationalist idols, liberal nationalists fall into the same trap by assuming that invoking "checks and balances" or "the rule of law" will fix everything. But history proves otherwise—the Constitution has never saved democracy; only people fighting against the system’s worst instincts have. It’s time to let go of the founding myths and recognize that this fight belongs to us, not the ghosts of 1787.

In response to the executive order enforcing “patriotic education,” the AHA and OAH have issued yet another weak, performative statement—defending history teachers instead of confronting the real attack on historical truth. Spoiler: history isn’t supposed to serve patriotism, and pretending this is an academic debate instead of an authoritarian assault on history is exactly how we keep losing.

Public history must be an act of resistance against authoritarianism, which thrives on historical distortion and the erasure of marginalized voices. Grounded in fidelity to the truth and accountability to those impacted by history, this guide outlines ten principles for using public history to challenge oppression. From amplifying silenced voices to defending democratic spaces, public history can expose the myths that sustain authoritarian power and reframe the past as a tool for justice and transformation.

“Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” It’s a familiar phrase, but do we really understand what it’s warning us about? Philosopher George Santayana’s words aren’t just about learning dates and names; they’re a call to confront the past honestly and avoid getting trapped in a carousel of comforting myths.

When the National Archives, under Colleen Shogan, starts scrubbing history to avoid “negativity,” it isn’t just poor judgment—it’s erasure. Public history must tell the whole truth, not a sanitized version to keep certain people comfortable. Accountability, not convenience, is what history deserves.

This post explores how viewing American history as a series of evolving republics helps public historians tell more truthful, complex stories. Drawing from Manisha Sinha’s work, it challenges the myth of steady progress and highlights how later generations—not the founders—shaped democracy, offering a powerful framework for engaging audiences with America’s ongoing transformation.

Like Imagineers who deal in representing real worlds of the past, we need to understand how narratives overshadow academic history, shaping public perception with a mix of fact and fiction. By engaging with both the "historical imaginative" and its underlying "historiographical imaginative," public historians can broaden narratives, amplify marginalized voices, and hold heritage sites accountable, driving a more inclusive and truthful public history practice.

Presentism is often used to dismiss critiques of history that challenge familiar narratives. But is it just a way for historians to avoid tough questions about the past? Public history should confront these uncomfortable truths, not hide behind the comfort of curated stories. Let’s stop using presentism as a shield and start holding history accountable to reflect the full, complex truth.

This post explores the ethical crisis facing public history in digital media, revealing how major non-government historical sites are failing their responsibility to represent history truthfully online. Based on recent research, it highlights the misalignment between these sites' online presence and their educational mission, emphasizing the need for accountability—a core principle of modern public history philosophy. The post calls for a reformation of digital public history practices, urging institutions to prioritize transparency, ethical responsibility, and genuine engagement to protect the integrity of historical representation.

We need to confront the denial of responsibility for America's legacy of slavery. The nation was built on the labor of enslaved people, and modern white Americans owe an enormous debt to their descendants. We need to challenge the moral bankruptcy of dismissing this debt and emphasizes the importance of accountability in telling history truthfully, stressing that ignoring the past only deepens the need for restitution. Its past time for a reckoning with this legacy to create a more just and honest future.

Exploring the power of public history to drive new academic scholarship by spotlighting the captivating story of Ryland Randolph and Aggy. This post delves into the complexities of their relationship, the legal battles that ensued, and the enduring legacy of their story. In it, I highlight how public history initiatives can unearth hidden truths, challenge conventional narratives, and inspire further inquiry, ultimately enriching our understanding of the past.

With most of Gen Z and over 40% of Americans turning to TikTok as a primary source of news, the platform has become a key player in shaping the historical record. Consequently, public historians must engage on TikTok to ensure accurate and reliable information is shared, correct misinformation, and participate in dynamic conversations that allow historical scholarship to evolve. There are high stakes in this digital engagement, so public historians to embrace TikTok as a tool for honest and rigorous dialogue about history.

Living history sites like Colonial Williamsburg and Plimoth Patuxet often simplify and sanitize American history, reinforcing myths like the Patriot Myth. This can mislead younger audiences, giving them a romanticized view of the past. To promote a more accurate understanding, we must move beyond these portrayals and confront the full complexities of history.

Exploring the powerful impact of the Patriot Myth on American identity, and examining how this idealized narrative shapes historical perceptions and collective memory, we can highlights the dangers of ignoring historical complexities and marginalizing alternative narratives.

Disney's Pocahontas is a harmful myth that perpetuates colonialism, but they're not the only culprits. It's time to confront the collective amnesia around Matoaka's story and reclaim her true legacy as a diplomat, peacemaker, and survivor.

A Wall Street Journal poll highlights a crucial shift in how Americans understand their history. It challenges the mainstream history establishment to rethink its assumptions and underscores the vital role of public history in fostering informed and critical engagement with the past.

Public history has evolved into a spectrum, a landscape with different approaches, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and potential impact.

Nuance has become a tool to soften harsh truths and elevate exceptions over systemic realities.