
AHA Speaks in Support of Honest History
AHA staff and Council members have written articles and made public appearances highlighting the challenges teachers and educators face from legislation restricting the teaching of “divisive concepts” and issues related to teaching history with integrity.
2023
- Brendan Gillis and Julia Brookins, "Maintaining Standards: Recent AHA Contributions to the Fight for Honest History Education." Perspectives on History (April 13, 2023).
- James Grossman and Anne Hyde, "History at a Crossroads: The AHA Responds to Attacks on Honest History." Perspectives on History (April 13, 2023).
- Edward Muir, "The United States Needs Historians: One Teacher-President on Another." Perspectives on History (April 5, 2023).
- James Grossman and Anne Hyde, "Unwieldy bill would destroy higher education in Ohio | American Historical Association." The Columbus Dispatch (April 4, 2023).
- Laura Ansley, "Don't Say Gay, Stop WOKE, Banned Books, and Anti-Trans Laws: The AHA’s Teaching through the Backlash Webinar." Perspectives on History (February 10, 2023).
- James Grossman and Jeremy C. Young, "The Integrity of History Education: Bills Censoring K-12 Classrooms Censor Higher Education as Well." Perspectives on History (February 8, 2023).
- "Don't Say Gay, Stop WOKE, Banned Books, and Anti-Trans Laws: Teaching Through the Backlash," an AHA Online webinar featuring Claire Potter, Anita Kurimay, Wesley Phelps, and Jeremy Young (YouTube, 2023).
- Edward Muir, "The History of Them, the History of Us." Perspectives on History (January 17, 2023).
2022
- Alexandra F. Levy, "Supporting Educators: Teaching History with Integrity at AHA23." Perspectives on History (December 15, 2022).
- Kathleen Hilliard, "Deep in the Heart of Teaching: The 2022 Texas Conference on Introductory History Courses." Perspectives on History (November 28, 2022).
- Julia Brookins, "Talking Texas History: Talking Teaching with the AHA." Talking Texas History (November 8, 2022).
- "Teaching History with Integrity Today," a synchronous, online roundtable during the 2022 Texas Conference with Johann Neem, Daniel Immerwahr, Laura Westhoff and with James Grossman (YouTube, 2022).
- James Grossman, "What Are Students Learning? 'Divisive Concepts' in History Education." Perspectives on History (August 18, 2022).
- Leila Markosian, Kristen Shahverdian, and Alexandra F. Levy, "Flashpoints: Free Speech in American History, Culture, and Society." Perspectives on History (March 29, 2022).
- "Advocating for History Education: Insights for Historians," an AHA22 Online webinar with Kathleen M. Hilliard, Karlos Hill, Jennifer Turner, Trinidad Gonzales, and Leland J. White (YouTube, 2022).
- James Grossman, "A Pardon for Homer Plessy: The Long Arc of 'Pernicious' Jurisprudence." Perspectives on History (January 25, 2022).
2021
- James H. Sweet, "From Inclusive Public Schools to Divisive Concepts: A Reflection." Perspectives on History (December 15, 2021).
- Claire Vanderwood, "Student Focused and Historically Accurate: The 2021 Texas Conference on Introductory History Courses Takes on Divisive Concepts." Perspectives on History (December 21, 2021).
- James Grossman and Beth English, "AHA and OAH Join Coalition to Combat Misinformation: The Integrity of History Education Is at Stake." Perspectives on History (September 15, 2021).
- Jacqueline Jones, "Abstract and Ill Informed: Adding Facts to the Critical Race Theory Debates." Perspectives on History (August 12, 2021).
- Laura Ansley, "'The Culture Wars-They're Back!' Divisive Concepts, Critical Race Theory, and More in 2021." Perspectives on History (August 11, 2021).
- Julia Brookins provided testimony to the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs about SB 3, a bill restricting the teaching of "divisive concepts" in Texas classrooms. (July 15, 2021)
- James Grossman and Jeremy C. Young, "To Understand the History Wars, Follow the Paper Trail," The Hill (July 5, 2021).
- James Grossman and Jacqueline Jones, "On the way out, Trump trashes history: Why the 1776 project is so damaging." New York Daily News (January 20, 2021).
Support the AHA's Advocacy Efforts
The AHA is unique among history organizations with the breadth and depth of our advocacy efforts. Our advocacy work is more critical now than ever before, and we need your help. If you believe in the importance of honest history education, please join the AHA as a member or donate to the AHA's Operating Fund to support our advocacy work.
Press Resources
The AHA is pleased to provide resources for journalists and media. If you are a member of the media and would like to submit a request for a referral or interview, please email press@historians.org.
The History of Racist Violence in the United States
In response to ongoing racist violence in the United States, we have compiled a list of AHA resources on the history of racist violence. Teachers can use them in classrooms to help students understand the history of the present; journalists can draw on them to provide historical context for current events; researchers can draw on them to inform future scholarship.