April 15, 2024: Mythic Patriotisms: The 1776 Project

[Up herein New England, the third Monday in April is a holiday, Patriots’Day. But as I argue in mymost recent book, patriotism is a very complex concept, and so this week I’llhighlight a handful of examples of the worst of what it has meant for how weremember our histories. Leading up to a weekend post on the state of mythicpatriotism in 2024!]

On twoways that a project dedicated to “patriotic education” embodies the worst of mythicpatriotism.

In abrief post as part of last year’s July 4th series, I highlightedthe Trump administration’s now-defunct but still influential 1776 Project, andthe ways that its concept of “patriotic education” have informed ongoing attackson public education, educators and librarians, the discipline of history,and more. I’d ask you to check out that quick post if you would, and then comeon back here for a couple additional connections of the 1776 Project to myown concept of mythic patriotism.

Welcomeback! As I define it, mythic patriotism has two main layers, both of which wecan see quite clearly in the 1776 Project. The more overt is a vision ofAmerican history and identity which relies on mythic narratives, ones that areat the very least centered on white communities and are all too oftenexplicitly white supremacist. The 1776Commission Report develops particularly mythic such visions of history andidentity when it comes to the American Revolution and founding, and mostespecially the Framers—making the case, for example, that while many of themowned enslaved people they opposed and sought to end the system of slavery. Besidesbeing inaccurate to theflawed realities of this group of men, this historical narrative likewiseand even more frustratingly makes it nearly impossible to focus on a far more genuinelyrevolutionary community of American founders: the enslaved men and women whosought to use the era’s ideals to arguefor their own freedom and equality. Idolizing a simplistic vision of theFramers in a way that overtly makes it more difficult to remember the presenceand contributions of their inspiring African American peers exemplifies awhite-centered, if not blatantly white supremacist, mythic patriotism.

Mythic patriotismdoesn’t just rely on such visions of the past and nation, however—it alsodefines any Americans who critique and challenge those visions as unpatrioticand even un-American. The 1776 Commission Report does that most explicitly inits portrayal of “Universities in the United States” as “hotbeds ofanti-Americanism, libel, and censorship that combine to generate in studentsand in the broader culture at the very least disdain and at worst outrighthatred for this country.” The authors add that “Colleges peddle resentment andcontempt for American principles and history alike, in the process weakeningattachment to our shared heritage.” To tie together this post’s two points, I wouldhighlight the word “our” in that final phrase, which to my mind subtly butunquestionably refers to a white-centered vision of American history, heritage,and identity. Besides being, once again, inaccurate to the realities of our foundationaland diverse community, that vision is also entirely wrong when it comes to thepotential effects, for students and for all Americans, of better remembering Revolutionarystories and histories far beyond those of the Framers. Eliding those historiesin favor of simplistic myths about the Founding, and describing any scholars oreducators who challenge those myths as “anti-American,” is the real peddling ofresentment and contempt.

Nextpatriotism post tomorrow,

Ben

PS. Whatdo you think?