Truth Matters: Protecting History from Convenient Narratives

When we attempt to rewrite history, the truth often suffers as collateral damage. At its core, this isn’t just about politics—it’s about communication. The way we frame events, the words we choose, and the voices we amplify or silence all shape our collective memory.

Today, we see a concerning pattern: narratives being reshaped to serve convenience. Recent debates over how museums and schools present America’s past—such as efforts to remove exhibits acknowledging slavery or reinstall statues of Confederate figures—illustrate how communication itself becomes a tool of distortion.

We’ve also seen attempts to erase the achievements of people of color, silencing the stories that built this country. When institutions like the Smithsonian are criticized for showcasing diverse perspectives, the underlying conflict is about messaging: should history be communicated as a “purely celebratory” tale, or as a complex narrative that includes struggle and injustice?

History isn’t just a collection of dates in textbooks; it is a communication system across generations. As historian George Santayana warned, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” If we distort history—by denying facts or silencing contributions—we break the chain of communication that allows us to learn from mistakes.

The danger here isn’t simply spin—it’s the erosion of trust. Communication depends on credibility. As journalist Carl Bernstein observed, “The greatest threat to our democracy is the substitution of propaganda for truth.” When propaganda replaces honest dialogue, trust disappears, and audiences no longer know what to believe.

We need a shared set of facts, flattering or not. Rewriting history may offer short-term rhetorical wins, but the long-term result is a society that no longer trusts its communicators. And once trust is lost, rebuilding it becomes nearly impossible.

The responsibility rests with all of us—not just historians, but communicators of every kind—to uphold truth, amplify silenced voices, and resist the lure of easy narratives. Communication, like history, must be honest if it is to endure.

(Tim Herrera is the author of “Public Speaking: Simple Steps to Improve Your Skills” and “Mastering Media: Strategies for Effective Communication in the Digital Age.”  You’ll find both Amazon.)