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Quote by James W. Loewen

“The textbooks also fail to show how the continuous Indian wars have reverberated through our culture. Carleton Beals has written that "our acquiescence in Indian dispossession has molded the American character." As soon as Natives were no longer conflict partners, their image deteriorated in the minds of many whites. Kupperman has shown how this process unfolded in Virginia after the Indian defeat in the 1640s: "It was the ultimate powerlessness of the Indians, not their racial inferiority, which made it possible to see them as people without rights." Natives who had been "ingenious," "industrious," and "quick of apprehension" in 1610 now became "sloathfull and idle, vitious, melancholy, [and] slovenly." This is another example of the process of cognitive dissonance.”

Quote by James W. Loewen

Book:Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
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Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

This book delves into the discrepancies and inaccuracies found in commonly used American history textbooks, offering a critical perspective on the historical narrative taught in schools. The author analyzes various events and interpretations, questioning the reliability of traditional accounts and presenting alternative viewpoints. more

Author

James W. Loewen
James W. Loewen

James W. Loewen is a distinguished sociologist recognized for his research on social issues and education. Born on February 6, 1942, he has made significant contributions to the understanding of race, education, and social inequality. more

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