America Quote by Joy Harjo
““I would rather not speak with history but history came to me. It was dark before daybreak when the fire sparked. The men left on a hunt from the Pequot village here where I stand. The women and children left behind were set afire. I do not want to know this, but my gut knows the language of bloodshed. Over six hundred were killed, to establish a home for God’s people, crowed the Puritan leaders in their Sunday sermons. And then history was gone in a betrayal of smoke. There is still burning though we live in a democracy erected over the burial ground.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Untitled, 2021
Historical violence is buried beneath modern democracy, yet its trauma persists, demanding acknowledgment.
In simple terms: History's bloodshed haunts present society.
Key Takeaway
Remember and confront past atrocities.
Themes
history
trauma
memory
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
poetic
historical
When to use this quote
- education curricula
- public memorials
- community dialogues
- policy making
Key Concepts
colonialism
genocide
collective guilt
reconciliation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies heal from buried histories?
- What role does art play in revealing hidden pasts?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring past harms perpetuates systemic injustice.
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
