To whitewash is to intentionally hide some kind of wrongdoing, error, or unpleasant situation—or deal with it in a way that attempts to make it seem less bad than it is. ... More recently, the word whitewash has become a slang term meaning to cast a white actor to play a character of color, such as in a TV show or movie. ( merriam-webster dictionary)
‘In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. He had three ships and left from Spain; He sailed through sunshine, wind, and rain. "Indians! Indians!" Columbus cried; His heart was filled with joyful pride. But "India" the land was not; It was the Bahamas, and it was hot. The Arakawa natives were very nice; They gave the sailors food and spice.( ‘In 1492, Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue’ /Jean Marzollo.
Slavery played a central role during the American Civil War. The primary catalyst for secession was slavery, especially Southern political leaders' resistance to attempts by Northern antislavery political forces to block the expansion of slavery into the western territories. (History Channel)
Monday marks the 100th anniversary for one of the worst acts of racial violence in American history, the Tulsa Race Massacre. Back in 1921, a mob of white people tore down and burned the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Okla. — a segregated part of the city so prosperous and bustling, it was known as Black Wall Street. (npr.org)
To pierce the mass of people gathered there, each group member placed a hand on the back of the person ahead of them—military-style tactic prosecutors called a “stack.” The group, clad in tactical vests, helmets, and radios, forcibly entered through the Capitol rotunda doors, where James and Minuta followed 25 minutes later. “It’s going down, guys; it’s literally going down right now Patriots storming the Capitol building,” said Minuta, according to court documents. “F*cking war in the streets right now… word is they got in the building… let’s go.” (Time Magazine)
Amazing JUST HOW EASY WHITEWASHING HISTORY can happen. Growing up in the 50’s I knew the names of the Nina/Pinta/Santa Maria but had no idea by combining all published estimates from populations throughout the Americas, we find a probable Indigenous population of 60 million in 1492. In the 60’s I learned that slavery was prevalent BUT irrelevant as to the fact that the Southern States just wanted autonomy, you know do their own thing. In the ’70s and 80’s I was told that ghettos were ONLY situational, history was taught to let us know that if only you had bootstraps, YOU too could raise yourself up, NEVER once had I heard about Black Wall Street, or wealthy Black Americans having war declared on them. And in the 2020’s RIGHT BEFORE MY OWN EYES AND EARS, I am now being told by an American Political Party, January 6, 2021, was a mirage, a slight of the hand, smoke, and mirrors. TO BE WHITE AND HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BUY A BUCKET OF BULL SHIT DRAPED IN WHITE AND TRY AND PAINT AND PAINT AND PAINT AWAY your own sins!
