Someone forwarded me an article that was in the Wall Street Journal that appeared to discuss in part what James Sweet said. Unfortunately, I don’t have a subscription so I can’t access it but I pass it along for those who do.
I hadn’t heard about the article until you mentioned it but in the last few years there has been a tendency to view the past through the prism of the present which, in my opinion, is a mistake just as is, for example, the tendency of the Supreme Court to decide the problems of the present through the prism of the past. Every age has to be considered in the historical reality in which people then lived. What people did then we consider objectionable today but I can’t judge them by today’s standards.
Part of the problem that I have with Sweet's piece is that it is unclear who we are talking about since he provides no references beyond Nikole Hannah-Jones. She falls outside his claim about academia. Sweet sets up his argument as a zero sum game; either you view the past through a presentist lens or you are serious about acknowledging the complexity of the past and change over time.
I’m not a historian! And one of the things about the 1619 Project I liked was the way the essays drew lines from past events to the present. Does that make it a better or worse project? I can only tell you that, as an amateur, it’s what helps engage me. Also, yes, stay off Twitter. <shudders>
"I can only tell you that, as an amateur, it’s what helps engage me."
I think this is true for many people. This can at times be tricky to accomplish. Sometimes we do fall into the trap of reading back into the past from a position that is too deeply enmeshed in the present. Sweet could have explored this tension much more thoroughly if he had slowed down and actually presented some examples to help make his point.
I have no doubt that if I had access to the tweet storm it would have confirmed my decision to leave.
I agree with you that there are themes that are worth exploring further, but Sweet put himself out there as if he was the first historian to raise these issues. Check out Tim Burke's commentary. He makes a number of very interesting observations about Sweet's critique and the larger issues involved.
I’ve read a good deal about this sad development and you’ve summed it up perfectly. There were people who spoke to these same issues of social Justice from the very beginnings of our country - the Quakers come to mind in particular. Yes, Mr. Sweet has handed the enemies of public education a stick to beat us with. 💔🤬
Indeed. Benjamin Franklin founded the first American anti-slavery group. Do his views count less than Edward Rutledge’s, because more Americans now agree with him?
Someone forwarded me an article that was in the Wall Street Journal that appeared to discuss in part what James Sweet said. Unfortunately, I don’t have a subscription so I can’t access it but I pass it along for those who do.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-unmaking-of-american-history-american-historical-association-james-sweet-presentism-activism-1619-project-academics-professors-11661532876
I cringed as soon as I saw Sweet’s article. Thanks for the review.
White nationalist Richard Spencer picked up on this AHA president's critique of 1619 project and gave it his hearty thumbs up.
Can't say I am surprised. Thanks for the update, Jalane.
I hadn’t heard about the article until you mentioned it but in the last few years there has been a tendency to view the past through the prism of the present which, in my opinion, is a mistake just as is, for example, the tendency of the Supreme Court to decide the problems of the present through the prism of the past. Every age has to be considered in the historical reality in which people then lived. What people did then we consider objectionable today but I can’t judge them by today’s standards.
Part of the problem that I have with Sweet's piece is that it is unclear who we are talking about since he provides no references beyond Nikole Hannah-Jones. She falls outside his claim about academia. Sweet sets up his argument as a zero sum game; either you view the past through a presentist lens or you are serious about acknowledging the complexity of the past and change over time.
That's not helpful at all.
I’m not a historian! And one of the things about the 1619 Project I liked was the way the essays drew lines from past events to the present. Does that make it a better or worse project? I can only tell you that, as an amateur, it’s what helps engage me. Also, yes, stay off Twitter. <shudders>
"I can only tell you that, as an amateur, it’s what helps engage me."
I think this is true for many people. This can at times be tricky to accomplish. Sometimes we do fall into the trap of reading back into the past from a position that is too deeply enmeshed in the present. Sweet could have explored this tension much more thoroughly if he had slowed down and actually presented some examples to help make his point.
History Twitter had a meltdown yesterday, including me, and I don't usually join pile-ons. Good move leaving that platform!
I think there is a nugget of an idea worth considering in his critique, but he put it like this and so lost all credibility. It's the worst.
Yeah, I'm giving a talk to a learned society in DC in a couple of hours and I'm bracing myself for questions about this. I'd really rather not...
I have no doubt that if I had access to the tweet storm it would have confirmed my decision to leave.
I agree with you that there are themes that are worth exploring further, but Sweet put himself out there as if he was the first historian to raise these issues. Check out Tim Burke's commentary. He makes a number of very interesting observations about Sweet's critique and the larger issues involved.
https://timothyburke.substack.com/p/the-read-past-presentism?fbclid=IwAR1lJys5CbO0VGG3j27IkeV7czzeWFLnY3e2vKeg1S3qMDeoPkRT61iDdNY
Wow, what a powerful read. Thank you.
I’ve read a good deal about this sad development and you’ve summed it up perfectly. There were people who spoke to these same issues of social Justice from the very beginnings of our country - the Quakers come to mind in particular. Yes, Mr. Sweet has handed the enemies of public education a stick to beat us with. 💔🤬
Indeed. Benjamin Franklin founded the first American anti-slavery group. Do his views count less than Edward Rutledge’s, because more Americans now agree with him?
Thx, MSB. I was afraid I’d said the wrong thing.
Have seen on Twitter that Sweet has now apologized, “if” anyone was offended. So patronizing. 🤦♀️
Classic “nopology”.