JW

James W. Loewen

97quotes

James W. Loewen


Full Name and Common Aliases


James Walter Loewen is a renowned American historian and educator.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on November 21, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri. Still active today.

Nationality and Profession(s)


American historian, educator, and social critic.

Early Life and Background


Growing up in St. Louis, Loewen's interest in history was sparked by his parents' stories about their family's experiences during the Great Depression and World War II. He earned a Bachelor's degree in history from Southern Illinois University and a Master's degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Major Accomplishments


Loewen's groundbreaking work, _Lies My Teacher Told Me_, published in 1995, exposed the inaccuracies and omissions in American history textbooks. This book has been translated into numerous languages and has sold over a million copies worldwide. Loewen's subsequent books, including _The Confederate Reader_ (1969) and _Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism_ (2005), have further solidified his reputation as a leading historian.

Notable Works or Actions


In addition to his writings, Loewen has been involved in various initiatives aimed at promoting accurate history education. He co-founded the Organization of American Historians' Committee on Teaching about the Holocaust and has worked with educators to develop more inclusive and comprehensive curricula. His lectures and public talks have reached a wide audience, highlighting the need for critical thinking and nuanced understanding of historical events.

Impact and Legacy


Loewen's impact extends far beyond academia. _Lies My Teacher Told Me_ has become a staple in many American classrooms, encouraging students to question what they learn about history. His work has also influenced educators, policymakers, and the general public to reevaluate their understanding of the past. Loewen continues to speak out against inaccuracies and misrepresentations in history education.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Loewen's unwavering commitment to accuracy and his ability to engage a broad audience have made him a respected voice in the field of American history. His books, lectures, and advocacy work have had a lasting impact on how we understand and teach our collective past.

Quotes by James W. Loewen

Coming into repeated contact with the same few others does not have the same consequences as meeting new people, either for human culture or for culturing microbes.
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Coming into repeated contact with the same few others does not have the same consequences as meeting new people, either for human culture or for culturing microbes.
JW
Memory says, “I did that.” Pride replies, “I could not have done that.” Eventually, memory yields. – FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE3.
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Memory says, “I did that.” Pride replies, “I could not have done that.” Eventually, memory yields. – FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE3.
JW
It is not too much to say that the blacks in Georgia and the Carolinas made Sherman’s march possible. Their help meant that Sherman’s forces would not be traveling through hostile territory without supply lines. Rather, the soldiers were more like a huge guerilla force in friendly territory.
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It is not too much to say that the blacks in Georgia and the Carolinas made Sherman’s march possible. Their help meant that Sherman’s forces would not be traveling through hostile territory without supply lines. Rather, the soldiers were more like a huge guerilla force in friendly territory.
JW
Could it be that we don’t want to think badly of Woodrow Wilson? We seem to feel that a person like Helen Keller can be an inspiration only so long as she remains uncontroversial, one-dimensional. We don’t want complicated icons. “People do not like to think. If one thinks, one must reach conclusions,” Helen Keller pointed out. “Conclusions are not always pleasant.”41 Most of us automatically shy away from conflict, and understandably so. We particularly seek to avoid conflict in the classroom.
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Could it be that we don’t want to think badly of Woodrow Wilson? We seem to feel that a person like Helen Keller can be an inspiration only so long as she remains uncontroversial, one-dimensional. We don’t want complicated icons. “People do not like to think. If one thinks, one must reach conclusions,” Helen Keller pointed out. “Conclusions are not always pleasant.”41 Most of us automatically shy away from conflict, and understandably so. We particularly seek to avoid conflict in the classroom.
JW
Between 1950 and 1970, the suburban population doubled from 36 million to 74 million as 83% of the nation’s population growth took place in the suburbs.
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Between 1950 and 1970, the suburban population doubled from 36 million to 74 million as 83% of the nation’s population growth took place in the suburbs.
JW
Since the alternatives to war remain roads largely not taken in the United States, however, they are tricky subjects for historians. As Edward Carr notes, “History is, by and large, a record of what people did, not what people failed to do.” On the other hand, making the present seem inevitable robs history of all its life and much of its meaning. History is contingent on the actions of people.
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Since the alternatives to war remain roads largely not taken in the United States, however, they are tricky subjects for historians. As Edward Carr notes, “History is, by and large, a record of what people did, not what people failed to do.” On the other hand, making the present seem inevitable robs history of all its life and much of its meaning. History is contingent on the actions of people.
JW
The history of a nation is, unfortunately, too easily written as the history of its dominant class. – KWAME NKRUMAH.
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The history of a nation is, unfortunately, too easily written as the history of its dominant class. – KWAME NKRUMAH.
JW
Indian history is the antidote to the pious ethnocentrism of American exceptionalism, the notion that European Americans are God’s chosen people. Indian history reveals that the United States and its predecessor British colonies have wrought great harm in the world. We must not forget this – not to wallow in our wrongdoing, but to understand and to learn, that we might not wreak harm again.
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Indian history is the antidote to the pious ethnocentrism of American exceptionalism, the notion that European Americans are God’s chosen people. Indian history reveals that the United States and its predecessor British colonies have wrought great harm in the world. We must not forget this – not to wallow in our wrongdoing, but to understand and to learn, that we might not wreak harm again.
JW
Such titles differ from the titles of all other textbooks students read in high school or college. Chemistry books, for example, are called Chemistry or Principles of Chemistry, not Triumph of the Molecule.
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Such titles differ from the titles of all other textbooks students read in high school or college. Chemistry books, for example, are called Chemistry or Principles of Chemistry, not Triumph of the Molecule.
JW
Americans need to learn from the Wilson era, that there is a connection between racist presidential leadership and like-minded public response.
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Americans need to learn from the Wilson era, that there is a connection between racist presidential leadership and like-minded public response.
JW
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