"History, when taught well, shows us how to improve the world, but history, when taught poorly, falsely claims there is nothing to improve," the 'Last Week Tonight' host said on Sunday's show.that U.S. schools need to do a better job of teaching the nation's history and that state standards need to be uniform.
He also argued that, for those who think rewriting textbooks would get too political, the teaching of history has, in fact, "always been political." After the Civil War, there was much debate over how history books would be written, with one group, dubbed the United Daughters of the Confederacy, campaigning to ensure that textbooks would "accord full justice to the South.
Oliver also showed a CBS News report citing a current Texas history book that reads: "Some U.S. settlers brought slaves to Texas to help work the fields and do chores." In the clip, historian Ibram X. Kendi noted, "I don't think we should describe slave labor as 'chores.'" "Just imagine what it would feel like to be a Black kid in that classroom, or, if you don't have to imagine, remember," Oliver said. "Because it's not just the history that hurts here, it's how you're being made to feel while you learn it."
— First, "we don't fully acknowledge white supremacy" in the U.S., both from its founding to present day. For example, the U.S. Constitution should be taught as both "revolutionary and racist," because it includes such provisions as the "three-fifths clause," stating that slaves were counted as "three-fifths" of a free person.
Fair enough...but can we also talk about this...
A better place to start might be to teach what's actually going on in the world today, right now. The enslavement of the Uighurs in China, for example. That seems a lot more relevant, frankly.
Thread:
Seems like he’s for teaching ideology, not true history. There is no ‘white supremacy’. Only black underachievement.
Yeah and not science fiction like Evolution
He isn't wrong
Continue to teach 'individual first' and everything will be fine.
This was a masterful episode.
No worries, can't teach history if they stay closed
Cool, dude your not even a US citizen just stick to your counties history.
If ‘Muricans still don’t get it this easy by iamjohnoliver , I don’t know who can make them understand!
Only in the USA can someone of Oliver's pedigree, who would be a lifelong assistant dog groomer in his native land, lecture Americans on a history he had no place in forging. Send in the clowns.
Actually, iamjohnoliver LastWeekTonight NJ is a pioneer in changing the curriculum to reflect slavery thru TheNJAmistad Followed by NY, IL | NJEA NJPSA njsba LtGovOliver FirstLadyNJ GovMurphy SenMTeresaRuiz tomkean Troy4NJ7 ane_eberhard
we also dont talk about how slavery has been around for thousands of years & still is with 40million estimated today. Stop perpetuating the notion only white man thought of it! 4 million african slaves were sent to Brazil same time as sent to america. most sold by black owners.
Every white parent needs to watch this right now.
Sometimes the views of a person raised outside the USA can illuminate how pervasively the inertia of the people and the accepted mythology of history have impacted a society. John Oliver is brilliant, incisive and right.
John Oliver is a dumb guy with dumb writers on his staff. It’s partisan nonsense that stopped being funny during his first season.
The only supremacists you will find in this world is communist ones. And they my friend come in all colors
iamjohnoliver clearly lays out just how bad Black history education in schools in this country has been. If you agree, please support our petition to demand schools stop whitewashing and lying and teach our children the truth - tellthetruthteachthetruth
Please read team of rivals to start as you need to present history with all complications instead of focusing on what incenses you.
The Daughters of the Confederacy are much 2 blame for what is taught in Schools, & for all of the Confederate Statues that are all over the South. They whitewashed history. They need 2 know that 'those who forget their History, are doomed to repeat it.'
The problem with the Lefts talking points that 'improving' the world is there agenda but in reality its the left FORCING there vision down your throats!! Off to the re-education camps u go!
JonLecuyer see above
The idea of John Oliver lamenting history education is the funniest thing he’s ever done. Those ignorant of history are pretty much his key demographic.
Of course he didn't have the balls to point out all the racism happened over the last 150 years was Democratic. But of course point out the Republican Racism.
It’s a race to a finish line and mostly lecture and notes because it’s fine in volume. Awful way to teach social studies.
Well said Mr. Oliver. Well done.
I remember when I use to think he was funny. Now that's history.
So.... you're trying to convince me that an entertainer is going to teach me better than an accredited teacher? MMMMM, nah, pedowood can keep it's jizz soaked Marxist fingers off my books, thanks.
Yeah listen to the Red coat here
GeorgeWashington used the teeth of his slaves to make his dentures. So yeah, there's that.
That was deep, some of the shit I didn't know 🤔
This idiot never even went to school here in the United States but now wants to lecture Americans on how our school history promotes white supremacy. British Imperialism is alive and well in HBO, and John Oliver is his name.
The1619Project
Last night's show was brilliant. Reminded me how I felt after reading 'Bury my heart at Wounded Knee'. I was furious b/c I was never taught the truth about EuroWhites treatment of Native Americans. Even Hollywood is complicit & the same 🐃💩 history taught about Black Americans.
This show should be shown in schools. Every episode. Uncut. Every Monday morning.
“Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards”
I wrote a blogpost a couple weeks back to reviewing the DOCs guide to approving textbooks. Being from the hotbed of the kkk I can say they were pretty successful...
Yes. So we agree that the 1619 project is trash. Cool.
Oliver nails it, as usual.
funny 👓 man that was the 📖 📕
I'm so happy John Oliver brought up the Daughters of the Confederacy because they have been a large part of the LIE that so many Southerners believed.
Thank you iamjohnoliver for your potted history musings. Perhaps you'll also be surprised to learn that leading professional historians consider the 1619 project to be as misguided as the 'Lost Cause' view you rightly trashed. To fill in *your* gaps:
We should also change how women portraited in history books, because they often normalise forced marriage, forgot about domestic violence and discriminating laws
I guess John Oliver doesn't see the irony in totally ignoring Native history on his piece about forgotten history.
He is a clown for entertainment...clap and laugh but don’t believe he knows anything.
John Oliver should also address how his own country(Britain) conveniently leaves out history of British Colonialism and systematic oppression/slavery from their history books!
Using a picture of someone's monitor and calling it a 'screenshot provided by HBO' is hilarious.
ArnoJaeger And - he's right.
There’s definitely a lack of historical knowledge in the US. Hence the love of garbage like socialism.
TrumpGrill History is the story of The Mob.
Has he actually Read up on history? lastweektonight
He's so right. History is always about the future, not the past. (If you're paying attention.)
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