A lesson in teaching complex history
Benjamin Franklin is a revered U.S. Founding Father who rose from indentured servant to self-made man.
Franklin delighted the world with his wit, guiding principles and inventions.
But he was also a slave owner and a bad husband.
Filmmaker Ken Burns presents a comprehensive picture in his latest twopart documentary, “Benjamin Franklin,” which premiered Monday on PBS.
It is a raw look at a man full of contradictions who was enlightened and selfaware, but also prejudiced and self-involved.
History is messy. But as states such as Tennessee ban so-called “divisive concepts” in education, we risk denying students the chance to examine history holistically, gain insights, and think critically about the past.
How critical race theory laws emerged
In grade school, I received a sanitized depiction of Franklin as an old man who liked to play with kites and lightning, took on a pivotal role in American independence, and ended up on the $100 bill.
Learning about his foibles does not diminish his accomplishments for me; it paints a realistic portrait.
But we are living in what some politicians and pundits call a “culture war.” Books are being removed from school libraries in the name of protecting children.
This is part of a recent backlash to multiple factors including “The 1619 Project” that challenged the traditional narrative of American exceptionalism, the racial reckoning stemming from the murder of George Floyd, and the growing visibility of the LGBTQ community.
In 2021, the Tennessee General Assembly banned “divisive concepts” in K-12 public education — an array of bullet points that delve into potentially uncomfortable topics such as systemic racism, inequality and privilege.
Tennessee Republican House members acknowledged that they were aiming to cast out “critical race theory” from the classroom. This law school concept, however, was not being taught in Tennessee schools
Recently, the GOP supermajority agreed to drive out CRT in public colleges and universities because of fear that some “divisive concepts” were quashing free speech and damaging the marketplace of ideas.
But by legislating this solution, lawmakers are using the power of government to tip the scales on what can’t be taught and what can’t be said on campus.
At worst, it threatens free expression of ideas on campus. At best, it’s confusing.
We should be open to examining our biases
On March 30, I drove from Nashville to Johnson City in Appalachia in the far northeastern part of Tennessee to participate as a speaker in East Tennessee State University’s Festival of Ideas and its Civility Week.
Other speakers included Van Jones, the CNN commentator who worked for the Obama Administration, and Meghan Mccain, the former co-host on “The View” and daughter of the late Republican Sen. John Mccain.
The goal was to present the audience with different viewpoints and to encourage the university community to consider diverse ideas, participate enthusiastically in civic life, and speak up when necessary to challenge society.
Benjamin Franklin, who opened Philadelphia’s first library and university, might have appreciated this effort.
He may have once been a loyal British subject and slaveholder, but, according to Ken Burns, he later transformed into a rabid defender of a new democratic republic and an abolitionist.
Burns’ documentary invites citizens to examine our contradictions and lapses in self-awareness. We should consider accepting the challenge.
David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas.
Burns’ Franklin documentary paints the portrait of a brilliant man full of contradictions. States should seek to have uncomfortable history taught holistically not banned.