Both sides Quote by James W. Loewen
“So long as our textbooks hide from us the roles that people of color have played in exploration, from at least 6000 BC to the twentieth century, they encourage us to look to Europe and its extensions as the seat of all knowledge and intelligence. So long as they say “discover,” they imply that whites are the only people who really matter. So long as they simply celebrate Columbus, rather than teach both sides of his exploit, they encourage us to identify with white Western exploitation rather than study it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen, 1995
He argues that textbooks that omit non‑European contributions perpetuate a Eurocentric view of history, marginalizing people of color.
In simple terms: Excluding diverse histories makes us think only Europeans mattered.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for inclusive curricula that show all peoples’ contributions.
Themes
history
education
racial equity
Mood
critical
challenging
Type
non‑fiction
activist
When to use this quote
- school curricula
- museum exhibits
- media reporting
- public policy
- community workshops
Key Concepts
colonialism
representation
critical pedagogy
Questions to Reflect On
- What histories are missing from your education?
- How can you support more inclusive narratives?
A Different Perspective
Changing curricula can face political resistance and funding limits.
![“No matter how thoroughly Native Americans acculturated, they could not succeed in white society. Whites would not let them. "Indians were always regarded as aliens, and were rarely allowed to live within white society except on its periphery," according to [Gary] Nash. Native Americans who amassed…” quote by James W. Loewen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/31e/james-w-loewen-12569_acculturated_no-matter-how-thoroughly-native-american_489063.jpg)
