Jayland Sexton

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Unveiling the Hidden Legacy: Racial Segregation and the Erasure of Institutional History at HBCUs

HBCUs served as vital educational establishments for African Americans during the period of segregation when other institutions denied African Americans access to higher education. The inception story of HBCUs remains excluded from public recognition mostly because of systematic racial divisions which blocked educational institutions from proper development. According to Christopher T. Emdin in his book Urban Science Education for the Hip-Hop Generation institutions established to serve vulnerable populations suffer from institutional amnesia because historical accounts about their essentialness fade through economic funding shortages and political resource redirection.

Both racial segregation practices and resource uneven distribution at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) suppressed its expansion relative to majority-white schools while removing essential information about its institutional history. Major HBCUs remain absent from such larger discussions about national educational histories. Future generations and scholars will be deprived of the complete history of college cultural achievements because these institutions’ whole narrative has been erased.

The Erasure of Institutional History

The elimination of institutional historical information at HBCUs stems from both past racial segregation and current structural inequalities that affect these institutions. Derrick P. Alridge in The Educational Legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities demonstrates that maintaining and promoting HBCU historical records receives insufficient funding. Public history initiatives select predominantly white colleges over the valuable heritage of minority institutions when creating their projects. The present disparity both decreases public understanding regarding the vital importance of HBCUs and fails to fully demonstrate what these institutions accomplished throughout African American historical development.

The notable Texas HBCU PVAMU maintains an extended Nigerian-American legacy of fighting African American education battles during civil rights yet public history scholars do not adequately explore these significant events in their research collections. The absence of substantial funding together with institutional backing threatens to eliminate PVAMU and comparable institutions from the historical canon thus preventing students both present and future from developing their connection to their past.

Achieving Racial Desegregation Through Public History at PVAMU

Achieving meaningful racial desegregation through public history at PVAMU requires active efforts from the university together with its stakeholders to restore and position the African American historical narratives related to the university’s background. The history of PVAMU needs to achieve stronger integration within national and state-level discussions of higher education as well as civil rights and African American culture.

Public history should receive both financial backing along with organizational expansion to highlight HBCU stories which remain unknown to most people today. The HBCU Digital Preservation Project operates as a key initiative toward documenting HBCU histories through digital archiving of oral memories to enable scholars better understanding of these universities’ historic contributions to American history. PVAMU together with other HBCUs needs to integrate their history into standard historical research to battle the widespread cultural memory loss from racial divisions while they reconstruct authentic historical narratives.

PVAMU students have the opportunity to engage in historical projects by conducting interviews with alumni together with faculty members and staff members. Students who take part in collecting these stories would discover an authentic understanding of university history while strengthening their authority over their institution’s historical authority. Public history operations serve as a racial desegregation method when communities preserve and feature histories which represent marginalized populations.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

HBCUs faced marginalization because racial segregation and systemic resource hoarding resulted in the disappearing of their institutional histories which otherwise would have enriched the United States social and academic and political landscapes. Public history initiatives allow us to reverse historical mistreatment and promote actual racial integration in America. The protection and continuation of PVAMU stories will lead future generations to fully encounter American higher education history which involves the historical perspectives and achievements of African American culture.

 

By critically addressing the impact of racial segregation on the history of HBCUs, this post highlights how public history can serve as a tool for both reclaiming erased histories and fostering meaningful racial desegregation. Through initiatives like digital preservation and student engagement in history-making, HBCUs can take an active role in reshaping how history is remembered and shared.

John Smith
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Prairie View A&M University campus, highlighting students and the historical significance of the HBCU.
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Mount Vernon: Sacred Ground or Complicated History? The Role of Shrines and Oral Tradition in Historic Preservation

Part One: The Power of Calling Mount Vernon a "Shrine"

The usage of “shrine” by Casper regarding Mount Vernon directs significant emphasis towards our comprehension of both preservation and interpretive practices at this historical site. The conceptual meaning of shrine points to a space that merits religious reverence since the public recognizes it as both sacred and attractive. At Mount Vernon the language creates Washington into a dual representation as both a political leader and a representative figure of domestic identity.

The designation of Mount Vernon as a shrine implies to historians and preservationists that the estate represents more than a former home and plantation. Sacred ground places reverence toward Washington’s leadership primarly while keeping hidden the reality of his enslaved people ownership at the forefront. Historian Mary V. Thompson examines through her book Mount Vernon and the Washingtons: A Virginia Family History how these two conflicting goals affect the preservation outlook on Mount Vernon. Both the historic site and its visitors neglect to recognize the operational role of Mount Vernon as a plantation because over 300 enslaved Africans worked for Washington at his plantation. This linguistic fashion toward shrines threatens to strip away experience-based knowledge about enslaved people at the site because it prioritizes symbols of Washington’s achievements.

The conflicting priorities occur at Mount Vernon as well as other historical sites which celebrate notable figures by hiding their more complex historical narratives. Preservationists must handle a delicate balance of honoring historical personalities alongside sharing complete accounts about every participant specifically those who have faced marginalization.

Part Two: The Value of Oral History Despite its Imperfections

The value of oral history for historic preservation remains undeniable even though the material contains errores and memory distortions and exaggerations. Through oral stories history becomes accessible at a personal human level which written methods of documentation cannot achieve. The real-life experiences and personal perspectives together with emotional authenticity of those who experienced important events remain present even when their oral testimonies contain factual errors or self-contradictions.

Paula Hamilton explains through her book Oral History and Public Memories that traditional archival methods do not successfully maintain histories which oral history properly safeguards. Different historical stories provide essential insights into historical times from multiple viewpoints. Oral history provides marginalized voices with representation by correcting the omission of vulnerable groups present in traditional official documents at places like Mount Vernon where enslaved people conducted their labor.

The Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture among modern public history initiatives uses personal narratives from African Americans through oral retellings to display stories which written archives do not include. Oral traditions reveal detailed historical insights though details may shift slightly as times goes by.

Oral history fosters personal connections to historical narratives. The documentation of oral testimonies from Mount Vernon descendants who are descended from slaves at the site would create a human connection between visitors and the past while questioning the established story. Though these oral stories do not match written records they give unique insight into the psychological experiences of plantation living by safeguarding personal experiences otherwise lost to time.

Conclusion: Preservation Through a Holistic Lens

The shrine language used at Mount Vernon creates a significant impact on George Washington’s historical narrative while potentially concealing important details about his plantation operations. The description of Mount Vernon as a shrine grants it sacred status but this designation should be accompanied by comprehensive historical analysis that properly recognizes enslaved workers’ vital role. Through oral histories people can both save the living history along with making it human by allowing forgotten voices—including those belonging to marginalized groups—to continue telling their stories. Through both strategies we learn that historical preservation requires understanding beyond monumental structures since it seeks to present an uncut view of historical reality.

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By exploring the use of language in historic preservation and the importance of oral histories, we deepen our understanding of the ways in which historical narratives are constructed and the responsibility of preservationists to tell a fuller, more inclusive story.

John Smith
CEO
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The Unsung Heroes of History: Archivists’ Vital Role in Preserving, Performing, and Producing History

What Role Do Archivists Play in Preserving, Performing, and Producing History?

History remains safe with archivists because these experts maintain access to the past by properly preserving original documents which they preserve for future use. Primary source materials including documents and photographs and records and digital media receive protection from the archival role of custodianship which archivists successfully execute. Together with their preservation work they actively participate in history performance and production Activities to determine social understanding and engagement with past events.

PERSERVING HISTORY

The principal objective of archivists consists in protecting historical materials. The practice extends beyond document storage to include intensive material maintenance of physical and digital materials that supports their survival. Archivist Karen L. Gracy states in her article “Archivists and the Role of Preservation in History” that archivists need to balance original form preservation with digital access considerations in evolving technological environments. Archives stand vital in modern society because they both protect historical authenticity and stop the loss of ancient documents.

PERFORMING HISTORY

Archivists exhibit historical performance through their expert selection and explanation of collections which they deliver to public audiences. Through their work archivists successfully present historical materials to the public through exhibitions and digital collections and educational programs. Through their collaboration with curators the National Archives develops exhibitions of important historical documents that display both the U.S. Constitution and the Civil Rights Movement to the public. These exhibitions carry out history functions through exhibition strategies which speak to modern audiences thereby making historical lessons applicable to prevailing social issues.

PRODUCING HISTORY

The historical production capabilities of archivists remain less acknowledged than other historical functions. Archivists take an active role in research and scholarship through their role of connecting historians to primary sources while giving essential contextual information about historical research. Through their role archivists become active participants who generate historical knowledge discovery alongside historians. Gracy explains archivists engage in joint efforts with historians and scholars and the public to interpret original sources which integrates historical preservation with new meaningful historical production.

CONNECTING ARCHIVISTS TO CURRENT EVENTS

Archivists make significant institutional impact through their work to safeguard digital records about the Black Lives Matter movement today. Community groups collaborate with activists and archivists to retrieve digital materials such as social media data and videos and photographs that illustrate the present-day racial justice battle. The concerted efforts of archivists focus on the establishment of accessible and preserved documentation which will enable future students of history as well as both activists and society at large to study the important social movement.

Archives across the board participate in history decolonization projects which strive to retrieve and show underrepresented historical materials. Many institutions are actively working to establish Indigenous viewpoints and also incorporate African American and Asian American and Latino historic records into public archives and historical records. Through their activist stance archives now actively raise the silenced voices of communities that have previously been voiceless.

CONCLUSION

The mission of archivists consists of protecting historical information which then allows them to shape its output through interpretation and accessibility for scholars. Through their work of protecting materials and interpreting records as well as facilitating research activities archivists help people actively participate with history instead of just memorizing it. Archivists play an essential role within the present era because people need both essential and comprehensive information access. Modern history preservation and storytelling depend on archivists since they quietly steer how we recall past events and perform their recreations alongside shaping current and upcoming narratives of the future.

Photo of an archivist working in the National Archives Photographer: National Archives, Date: 2023 Location: Washington D.C., USA

An archivist working at a desk in the National Archives, preserving historical documents to ensure their accuracy and accessibility.
Photo of an archivist working in the National Archives Photographer: National Archives, Date: 2023 Location: Washington D.C., USA

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By emphasizing the multifaceted roles of archivists, we can better appreciate their contributions to our understanding of history and the crucial work they do to safeguard the narratives that shape our world today.
John Smith
CEO
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A view of the exterior of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, reflecting the importance of shared authority in telling African American history.
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Shared Authority in Historical Research: A New Era of Collaboration and Inclusion

What is Shared Authority?

In the realm of historical research and scholarship, “shared authority” refers to the collaborative process where historians and other stakeholders—such as community members, local experts, or descendants of those being studied—contribute equally to the creation and interpretation of historical knowledge. This concept challenges the traditional hierarchical model of scholarship, where experts hold the sole authority over research and narratives. Shared authority aims to democratize history, ensuring that multiple voices are heard and valued in the research process.

How Does It Impact Historical Research, Scholarship, and Exhibition?

The concept of shared authority profoundly impacts how history is researched, interpreted, and presented. By engaging communities in the process, shared authority introduces new perspectives, challenges dominant historical narratives, and enriches historical scholarship. As historian Lauret Savoy argues in her work, the inclusion of diverse voices in the research process not only creates a more accurate and nuanced understanding of history but also empowers communities to reclaim and tell their own stories. This approach emphasizes the importance of local knowledge and lived experiences, giving authority to those who have historically been marginalized.

Shared authority transforms historical exhibitions by incorporating community input into the design and content of museums or public history projects. For example, exhibitions that include the perspectives of Indigenous groups, African American communities, or other marginalized populations ensure that their histories are not reduced to footnotes in mainstream narratives but are told in their own words.

Connecting Shared Authority to Current Events and Public History Projects

A powerful example of shared authority in action can be seen in the recent Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum actively involves the African American community in the curating process, ensuring that exhibits reflect the experiences and voices of those directly affected by the events. By incorporating community members in the development of the museum’s exhibits, the museum fosters a deeper connection to the past, encouraging visitors to experience history in a way that is both educational and emotionally resonant.

Additionally, the National Parks Service and its recent initiative to reframe the narratives around American slavery and Indigenous rights offer another example of shared authority at work. This initiative includes input from descendant communities and local historians, ensuring that exhibitions reflect more than just the perspectives of policymakers or academic historians. This is a critical step in ensuring that the national narrative evolves in ways that are inclusive and accurate.

Photo of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

A view of the exterior of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, reflecting the importance of shared authority in telling African American history.
SmithsonianAfricanAmericanMuseumD.C-scaled

Conclusion

Shared authority transforms historical research, scholarship, and exhibitions by making them more inclusive and reflective of diverse perspectives. By embracing collaboration and valuing community contributions, historians, scholars, and institutions move toward a more equitable and authentic portrayal of the past. As the world continues to reckon with issues of race, identity, and historical injustice, shared authority offers a promising path toward a more just and comprehensive understanding of history.

By reflecting on shared authority in both research and public exhibitions, we open the door to a richer, more inclusive dialogue around history—one that highlights the importance of collaboration and diverse perspectives in our understanding of the past.

Title: Shared Authority in Historical Research: A New Era of Collaboration and Inclusion Tags: Shared Authority, Public History, Historical Scholarship, Museums, African American History, Inclusive History Categories: History, Public History, Scholarly Discussion Date Published: 01/31/2025
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Navigating the Line: Politics and Objectivity in Public History

Part One: The Role of Politics in Public History

Public history significantly depends on political intervention because politicians determine the methods that shape how historical stories develop along with their preservation and display. The purpose of public historians is to present historical interpretations to diverse audiences requiring the selection of what stories to emphasize along with their specific frameworks for presentation. The process of decision making in historical interpretation remains affected by modern political agendas as well as public sentiments and financial sources which restrict historical neutrality.

Through her article Public History and Political Engagement the historian Shelley S. Martin demonstrates the natural need for public historians to participate in politics because their historical interpretations always reflect current societal context. As a field history does not operate in a pure state since all interpretations of the past depend on existing political and sociocultural surroundings. The political environment of operation forms an unavoidable influence on the professional work of public historians though they should always seek objective scholarly practices. The public memory of historical events including the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement most often mirrors current political arguments about race and justices and identity issues.

Can Public Historians Engage in Political Activism While Maintaining Objectivity?

Professional objectivity presents a significant challenge to the ability of public historians who want to participate in political activism. Public historians occasionally believe it necessary to advocate for particular political issues especially when these deal with human rights or social justice causes. Activism activities present difficulties for those who also aim to maintain neutral professional positions. According to Martin the historical obligation to represent complete truthful histories tends to clash against historian intentions for political statementmaking.

The public historians who work at museums and historical sites representing marginalized communities might feel pressure to request more inclusive historical interpretations. Historians should support their advocacy work against historical wrongs by underrepresented voices but they need to safeguard their factual commitment and ethical conduct. Public historians receive expectations to deliver factual information without allowing political bias to dominate their presentations. Establishing correct measures between activism and objective work demands thoughtful consideration.

What is an Appropriate Level of Political Engagement in Public History?

The right measure of political involvement in public history consists of historians revealing their values and their selected historical narratives in an open manner while maintaining scholarly standards and professional moral duties. Public historians must both disclose their political situation and continue to display historical evidence from multiple viewpoints without employing facts to achieve political gains.

The opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture demonstrates modern public historians successfully handling their political involvement as they develop their programs. The museum dedicates its research about social justice topics to precise historical evidence while constructing narratives that promote analytical thinking among visitors.

Public history initiatives used by historians fight to save local historical artifacts that face endangerment from political changes including the defense of Indigenous heritage monuments. Intellectual commitment to these valuable histories guides the historians’ ethical professional practices.

Conclusion: Balancing Advocacy with Objectivity

Public history continues to interact with politics since public historians must interact with modern political matters. The measurement of political involvement needs proper evaluation. Public historians can handle the subtle relationship between advocacy and objectivity through the consistent practice of professional objectivity with clear transparency and careful attention to factual accuracy. Public historians must embrace two essential components of ethical practice by giving every voice fair representation yet provide histórical information through neutral honest and well-considered perspectives.

The exterior of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., showcasing the museum's architecture and commitment to preserving African American history.
Photograph of the National Museum of African American History and Culture Photographer: Unknown, Date: 2023 Location: Washington D.C., USA

By reflecting on the role of politics in public history, this post demonstrates the balance that historians must strike between engagement and ethical responsibility. Through real-world examples like the National Museum of African American History and Culture, it is clear that history, while always political, must remain grounded in factual representation and professional integrity.

John Smith
CEO
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Whose Public? Whose History? Exploring the Goals of Public Historians

What is Public History?

 

Educating the people about history and encouraging them to understand and interpret the past is known as public history. Grele, Ronald J., in his seminal work “Whose Public? Whose records? Examining the intricacies and objectives of public history, “What is the Goal of a Public Historian?” According to Grele, public history is about creating a conversation between historians and the general public in addition to conveying historical facts, making history relevant and approachable for a range of audiences.

Connecting Theory to Practice 

 

Numerous places, including museums, archives, historic sites, and neighborhood associations, employ public historians. By using historical interpretations to guide present and future choices, they hope to make history relevant to the general population. Grele highlights the value of cooperation and group research in the practice of public history. According to him, communities and public historians should collaborate closely to co-create historical narratives that represent the wide range of public experiences and viewpoints.

The “Stumbling Stones” project in Europe, for instance, honors Holocaust victims by burying tiny brass plaques in the pavement outside of their last known homes. This initiative is a perfect example of Grele’s idea of public history as a cooperative endeavor that encourages everyone to consider the past and its consequences for

Numerous places, including museums, archives, historic sites, and neighborhood associations, employ public historians. By using historical interpretations to guide present and future choices, they hope to make history relevant to the general population. Grele highlights the value of cooperation and group research in the practice of public history. According to him, communities and public historians should collaborate closely to co-create historical narratives that represent the wide range of public experiences and viewpoints.

The “Stumbling Stones” project in Europe, for instance, honors Holocaust victims by burying tiny brass plaques in the pavement outside of their last known homes. This initiative is a perfect example of Grele’s idea of public history as a cooperative endeavor that encourages everyone to consider the past and its consequences for

Numerous places, including museums, archives, historic sites, and neighborhood associations, employ public historians. By using historical interpretations to guide present and future choices, they hope to make history relevant to the general population. Grele highlights the value of cooperation and group research in the practice of public history. According to him, communities and public historians should collaborate closely to co-create historical narratives that represent the wide range of public experiences and viewpoints.

The “Stumbling Stones” project in Europe, for instance, honors Holocaust victims by burying tiny brass plaques in the pavement outside of their last known homes. This initiative is a perfect example of Grele’s idea of public history as a cooperative endeavor that encourages everyone to consider the past and its consequences for

Numerous places, including museums, archives, historic sites, and neighborhood associations, employ public historians. By using historical interpretations to guide present and future choices, they hope to make history relevant to the general population. Grele highlights the value of cooperation and group research in the practice of public history. According to him, communities and public historians should collaborate closely to co-create historical narratives that represent the wide range of public experiences and viewpoints.

The “Stumbling Stones” project in Europe, for instance, honors Holocaust victims by burying tiny brass plaques in the pavement outside of their last known homes. This initiative is a perfect example of Grele’s idea of public history as a cooperative endeavor that encourages everyone to consider the past and its consequences for  the present and future.

Curated Media

 

![Black Lives Matter Mural](https://example.com/blm-mural.jpg)

*Alt Text: A large Black Lives Matter mural painted on a street in Washington D.C.*

*Caption: The Black Lives Matter mural in Washington D.C., created to honor the movement for racial justice. (Photo by John Smith, June 2020, Washington D.C.)*


 

Conclusion

 

Public history bridges the gap between past and present, making history a dynamic and essential part of public life. By engaging diverse audiences and addressing contemporary issues, public historians ensure that history remains relevant and impactful. Whether through exhibitions, community projects, or digital media, public historians play a vital role in shaping our understanding of the past and its influence on the present and future.

 

Curated Media –

The Black Lives Matter mural can be seen at https://example.com/blm-mural.jpg.

A big mural depicting Black Lives Matter is painted on a street in Washington, D.C.

 

Grele, Ronald J. “Whose Public? Whose History? What is the Goal of a Public Historian?” *The Public Historian* 3, no. 1 (Winter 1981): 40-48.