--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have seen over and over that white…" description: "\"We have seen over and over that white male historians in general have tended to dismiss any history they didn't themselves write,on the grounds that it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/adrienne-rich-803_fads_we-have-seen-over-and-over-that-white-ma_559621.png" --- # We have seen over and over that white male historians in… ![“We have seen over and over that white male historians in general have tended to dismiss any history they didn't themselves write,on the grounds that it is unserious, unscholarly, a fad, too "political," "merely" oral and thus unreliable.” quote by Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/adrienne-rich-803_fads_we-have-seen-over-and-over-that-white-ma_559621.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/adrienne-rich-803_fads_we-have-seen-over-and-over-that-white-ma_559621.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/adrienne-rich-803_fads_we-have-seen-over-and-over-that-white-ma_559621.png) > “We have seen over and over that white male historians in general have tended to dismiss any history they didn't themselves write,on the grounds that it is unserious, unscholarly, a fad, too "political," "merely" oral and thus unreliable.” [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. White male historians often dismiss non‑written histories as unserious or political, marginalizing oral and minority narratives. **In simple terms:** Historians reject histories they didn't write, labeling them unreliable. Key Takeaway Recognize and value diverse historical sources. Themes bias history marginalization authority oral tradition Mood critical reflective Type analytical advocacy When to use this quote - academic curricula - museum exhibits - community archives - public policy debates - educational reforms Key Concepts epistemology power dynamics cultural hegemony Questions to Reflect On - How can academia broaden criteria for credible sources? - What impact does excluding oral histories have on cultural memory? A Different Perspective Dismissal can stem from entrenched institutional biases, limiting broader understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fads/) [Historians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historians/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [In a very literal way, of course, Shakespeare did change the course of history: when it didn't fit the plot he had in mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macgregor/in-a-very-literal-way-of-course-shakespeare-did-change-the-course-of/) [Neil MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macgregor/) > [“History didn’t greet us with triumphal fanfares: —it flung dirty sand into our eyes. 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The Gospels are largely fiction. 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For that choice requires that women shall be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-decision-to-feed-the-world-is-the-real-decision-no-revolution-has/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The necessity of poetry has to be stated over and over, but only to those who have reason to fear its power, or those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-necessity-of-poetry-has-to-be-stated-over-and-over-but-only-to/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I think many poets, including myself, write both for the voice and for the page. I certainly write for the person alone in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-many-poets-including-myself-write-both-for-the-voice-and-for/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [If I cling to circumstances I could feel not responsible. Only she who says she did not choose, is the loser in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel-not-responsible-only-she-who/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) [Explore all 364 Adrienne Rich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) ## More Fads quotes > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. 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Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-l-carter/) > [“I loved buildings that had grown silently with the centuries, catching the best of each generation while time curbed the artist's pride and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/i-loved-buildings-that-had-grown-silently-with-the-centuries-catching/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Novelty is always welcome but talking pictures are just a fad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-thalberg/novelty-is-always-welcome-but-talking-pictures-are-just-a-fad/) [Irving Thalberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-thalberg/) > [I think that there was a fad where everyone said, 'I want you to create a signature step for my artist.' 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