One of the important takeaways I got from Dr. Giovanni’s talk today was about uncovering our nation’s hidden histories. It’s more than a mission to discover narratives that make us feel comfortable or justified, but rather a journey to reveal hidden/ misunderstood (flawed) figures in history.
She made it a point to express her fondness for whites in Appalachia and told us the story of their role in supporting blacks in their quest to equality. This narrative is unpopular and often overshadowed by tropes/anecdotes about rampant racism in the mountains so we lose pieces of our history that lead us closer to what the truth may be.
Dr. Giovanni is also currently doing research on the lynchings of white women during the lynching era. She told stories of white women who left quilts out for runaway slaves who were later lynched by their husbands/members of their community. Although white women weren’t the main target of the lynching era, it’s important to acknowledge the events that took place and the implications that these lynchings have for our futures.
Sharing narratives like this also opens up a dialogue to what allyship has looked like in this country. The goal in this case isn’t to center whiteness but rather to highlight historical events and present an example to folks on the roles they can play in liberating others.
As someone interested in history, I found these perspectives deeply perplexing but also insightful. She highlighted the roles that these groups played in the liberation of brown folks that is typically overshadowed by contemporary media/ propaganda and mainstream history. Her stories confounded popular narratives we like to have about white folks and who participate(d) in the journey towards civil rights.
Ultimately, the information she shared pushes me to look beyond generalizations and the binary of white and black or good and bad. Instead, she challenged me to look at people as complex beings within their historical context using primary sources (when available). She challenged all of us in the room to search for truth in history, not comfort. She challenged us to look for people in history, not characters or icons & for that, I say thank you.
Challenge accepted.