What happens when historical facts mix with ahistorical memory to become an American historical myth? That’s the question that Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson, and Jason Stanford seek to answer in Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth. Narrated by Fred Sanders, Forget the Alamo is a hard look at a long-held belief about the founding of the Texan nation and its place in American history.
I have often said that you can argue with facts, but you can’t argue with beliefs. Meaning that once an idea has become engrained in someone’s belief system—whether religious, historical, or political—you can’t dislodge that belief with facts. You must appeal to emotions as well.
Forget the Alamo does that. Even though the arguments are grounded in facts and uncomfortable truths about what really happened at the battle of the Alamo, the story that the authors tell is imaginative and compelling.
You should read Forget the Alamo if:
As I note in my YouTube video, I have written about historical memory and am curious about the role of historical forgetting in shaping our beliefs. The authors make a compelling argument that while we should remember the past of the Alamo, that memory must be grounded in historical accuracy, not whitewashed myths that reinforce racist power structures. That same story is playing out at the President’s House right now. Last week, I attended the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition rally at the President’s House.
Michael Coard led the group in the chant that guides their 30-day action plan: “Tell the truth. Restore our history.”
The President’s House is my favorite historical site in Philly precisely because as the Lost + Found panel reads: “History is not neat. It is complicated and messy.” Relationships are complicated, just like our snow-packed, treacherous sidewalks. Messy can be sad and painful, but it is also deeply relatable. Learning about Black history at the President’s House in all its messy, complicated truth has deepened my love for my country and my commitment to our democracy.
In my time in Philly, I have taken my fair share of historic tours. From the official tours led by the National Park Service to the beloved Beyond the Bell tours, each tour offers new insights into the history of Philly, Pennsylvania, and the United States.
But my favorite tour is The Black Journey tour led by Mijuel K. Johnson. That’s because Mijuel tells the unvarnished truth about the history of the city we both call home. His pride in his ancestors and joy in sharing their stories is why The Black Journey tours are my can’t-miss experience for every visitor.
As we reflect this year on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I encourage you to sign up for one of his tours to celebrate Black history.
As you begin the tour at the President’s House, I challenge you to ask yourself whether we have lived up to the promises laid out in that document.