Invisibility and Visibilty of American Indian Peoples in Current U.S. History Textbooks: Use of the ‘Other’ in Constructing National White Identity
12 Pages Posted: 18 May 2010
Date Written: May 17, 2010
This essay will explore two widely used U.S. history textbooks for high schools according to the American Textbook Council (2008). These two provide a significant sample given the trend of consolidation in textbook publishing with an accompanying decrease in the number of titles available. First, the nature and importance of textbooks is addressed. Next, the analysis of the two textbooks will break down by time periods when Native peoples are mentioned in the text and when not. The focus then becomes the 20th century and what is said about Native peoples. An analysis of the two aspects follows which will lead into why it all matters. This will include a comparison of other group treatment within the U.S. history textbooks.
Keywords: American Indians, Native Americans, textbooks, history, identity, national Identity, whiteness
JEL Classification: b30, I20, I21, I28,I29, N41, P10, Z00
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation