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Reckoning With American History
How everything from the dandelion to the world map reflects an inherited history of colonialism.
History is a strange place. Some say history is another country; another world, impossible to fully understand unless you actually live there.
As the U.S. grapples with a history that includes the incomprehensibly cruel Trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans- among other original sins- our national attention has turned to the founding of America.
How do we judge historical events with a new perspective? How much of what we were taught in school about American history was correct?
How deep do the currents of colonialism and racism run through our society?
To get a sense of the scope of the problem, try a couple of thought experiments.
The Dandelion
Next time you see a dandelion, look around at all the uncountable others: The ubiquitous, hearty and humble dandelion is not a native species to the United States. The dandelion came to North America during what historians politely term, “The Columbian Exchange”.
Dandelions are everywhere in North America now; eradicating them would be impossible. Such is the influence of colonialism on the founding of the United States and indeed on the geopolitical world.