American people Quote by Kevin Sessums
“I think basically what The American People is about is that we've been here from the very beginning, and that has never ever been acknowledged in the history books. John Winthrop wasn't off the boat ten seconds before he passes a law that homosexuals should be hanged. And then he hung 'em, including an attempt to hang his own son when he found out he was gay.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The American People, Kevin Sessums, 2020
The quote highlights the omission of early American history and the harsh treatment of LGBTQ individuals, using John Winthrop as an example.
In simple terms: History often ignores marginalized groups and past injustices.
Recognize and research hidden histories.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic research
- museum curation
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we uncover suppressed histories?
- What responsibility do we have to acknowledge past injustices?
Historical narratives can be biased and incomplete.