Colonial Williamsburg is the largest U.S. history museum “where the past ignites the present,” as mentioned on its website, in an authentic 18th-century living history setting. It offers a rich and extraordinary educational experience for all ages with its variety of exhibits, restored historic buildings, and reenactments of events where our founding architects conceived American principles that inspired the world.
In its mission statement, Colonial Williamsburg avows “That the future may learn from the past.” Considering the past is being re-interpreted all over our education institutions, our historic sites and museums these days, that is a lofty goal.
Recently, many visitors and observers have reported on what is actually happening on the grounds at Williamsburg, in the guided tours, in the educational materials, and in the reenactments and theatrical performances.
To set the stage, Vice President for education, research, and historic interpretation, Beth Kelly, is quoted as saying that Williamsburg needs to be committed to “the unfinished work of eradicating systemic racism.” Williamsburg is obviously associating itself with “The Rubric” which dictates how Montpelier, James Madison’s estate, operates.
The Rubric, was created by a partnership between James Madison’s Montpelier and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, and “was the first national, interdisciplinary effort to formulate a recognized model for best practices in descendant engagement and slavery interpretation.”
Those who created the Rubric insist that history museums and sites “must unpack and interrogate white privilege and systemic racism” and that they should address “American history in a spirit of restorative justice.” The Rubric also imposes an evaluation system on each institution on its success at meeting the criteria of the directive. On a scale of 0-4, if your institution meets every criteria, you get a 4. The explanation can be found on page 3 of the Rubric.
[Editor’s Note – The Rubric document cites the scandal-ridden far-left Southern Poverty Law Center favorably twice (pp. 1, 12)].
Predominantly, Williamsburg visitors are bombarded by history “through the lens of a group identity” and “an obvious activist bent,” according to the Heritage Foundation’s Brenda Hafera.
It is imperative for historic sites and institutions to inform visitors about the horrific reality of slavery in America, the effects on its victims, and how black Americans contributed to the founding of our nation. However, when radical donors and activists populate the boards of historic sites, they control the narrative, resulting in the bounds of true history being breached or ignored and the institution devolving into one giant social justice enterprise.
For example, “Created Equal” is a Williamsburg theatrical exploration of African American perspectives on the Declaration of Independence. At the end of the performance, the actors are quoted as saying, “Now is the time for us to fulfill the promise of those words and create an equitable society – BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.”
[Editor’s Note – ‘By Any Means Necessary’ happens to be the name of “a radical left-wing coalition linked with the Trotskyist Revolutionary Workers League created in 1995 in Berkeley, California…. BAMN demonstrators have been arrested for inciting riots, throwing rocks at police,6 and destruction of property.”]
In “Draw the Line” about Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation, an actor proclaims: “This country is here because of fear of black people getting their liberty,” reminiscent of the “1619 Project.”
[Editor’s Note – The “1619 Project” asserts slavery is at the center of the American founding. The Rubric document quotes historian James Oliver Horton: “Slavery was not a sideshow in American history. It was the main event.” Sorry, that’s not even close to being accurate, as widespread criticism of the “1619 Project” demonstrates.]
Not to be left-out of the performing arts diversity at the living museum, there is, you guessed it, LBGTQ+ content in the form of a play, “Ladies of Llangollen,” featuring 2 women who elope together. This creative experience is a result of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation establishing a Gender and Sexual Diversity Research Committee in 2019 at the behest of a researcher, Ren Tolson, and V. P. Beth Kelly.
So, they are “diving deep” into historical records to better understand the history of LGBTQ+ people living “in the days of bonnets, Bible, and butter-churning.” “It’s been a difficult dig,” however, says Alex Parker, writing for Red State. Since fire destroyed so many court records, all those colonial gay couples and trans-identifying people cannot be discovered. The committee is just going to have to “read between the lines” considering they had a different lingo back in the day.
And, did you know that you and your partner could experience a “Gaycation” at Colonial Williamsburg? It is a four-day package deal designed exclusively for LGBTQ+ travelers.
George Washington, the father of our country, is portrayed at Colonial Williamsburg simply as a landowner, a slave-owner, and a farmer by impersonators, with barely a mention of his impeccable character and his role as America’s founding general.
Even the tour of the Raleigh Tavern primarily focuses on the tavern itself and local tavern laws, not the convening of the First Virginia Convention of the House of Burgesses.
[Editor’s Note – This editor visited Colonial Williamsburg in the holiday season of December 2022, whereupon he was treated to Marxist claptrap from two American Indian presenters and the preposterous assertion from a tour guide that ‘Voter ID is modern-day slavery.’ Voter ID is widely upheld by courts and very popular, including among minorities, in numerous polls. Voter ID bears no resemblance to slavery, whatsoever.]
The examples mentioned in this piece are just a very small sample of what is being presented at the world’s largest U.S. history museum.
Brenda Hafera claims that what is missing here are the “accomplishments of the American Revolution and an explanation of the significance of Williamsburg” itself. “Williamsburg is at a crossroads,” she says. The question is, will Colonial Williamsburg go down the path of politicized narratives and division, or will it stay true to its history and perpetuate American principles that unite us?
Brother Bob is no longer on Facebook (although you can see his archives there), and is back on Twitter again, but is ramping up on Minds and Gab, and has his biggest presence on MeWe.
Cross posted from Brother Bob’s Blog
The left has to make people stupid before they can fully take over. Part of that campaign is to re-write history along the lines of leftist propaganda.
When the left rewrites history it is so that it can repeat the mistakes of history.
On a positive note, the RNC aimed to get 100,000 new poll watchers for this upcoming election.
It has already got 157,000 so, dems are going to be watched 24/7 as the election and counting and storing take place.
Probably still not enough, but it’s a good start.