Campus Connection

James Loewen to speak at UWL, City Hall

The author known for writing a book that challenges the way U.S. history textbooks are written will give three public presentations in La Crosse. Anti-racism advocate James Loewen will discuss how educators and community leaders can address structural racism, both as an institution of higher learning and a 21st century unified action plan. His presentations are at UW-La Crosse and La Crosse City Hall Thursday, Oct. 27. The presentations include:

• 11 a.m.-12:25 p.m., keynote presentation: “Lies My Teacher Told Me,” Valhalla—Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Free, open to the public. Loewen says American history must be retold and reconfigured as a discipline at the K-12 level. He argues that too many high school students grow up without knowing the “real history” of activist Helen Keller, the “atrocities attributed to ‘hero’ Christopher Columbus,” and the “horrific fall-out of the My Lai massacre.” The premise of Loewen’s “Lies My Teacher Told Me” argues that monumental events in American history are ignored at the country’s collective peril.
• 2:15-3:40 p.m., workshop for educators: “Lies My Teacher Told Me and How to Avoid Them,” Valhalla—Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Free, open to the public. Loewen will facilitate an interactive workshop targeted for current and future educators. The presentation introduces pedagogical principles based on Loewen’s work on curriculum reform.
• 5:30-8:30 p.m., program and discussion, “Sundown Towns,” Common Council Chambers, La Crosse City Hall, 400 La Crosse St. Free, open to the public; meet-and-greet prior to program. Sundown towns were a form of segregation, in which a U.S. city was purposely all-white, excluding people of other races. Loewen, author of “Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism,” will present his ongoing research and perspective on sundown towns in the U.S. and in the Midwest. He will focus attention and discussion on recent research conducted at UWL that indicates La Crosse should be included in the category of sundown towns. He will invite audience members — specifically, those in power in our community — to consider ways in which La Crosse can acknowledge that designation and then work to change this aspect of its history and character.

Loewen’s books will be available at all presentations. UWL sponsors of Loewen’s visit include: College of Liberal Studies; School of Education; Campus Climate; Institute for Social Justice; Office of Diversity & Inclusion; Office of Multicultural Student Services; Office of Residence Life Leadership Development Committee & Broadening Horizons; Educational Studies; History Department; English Department; and Sociology Department. Community partners include: La Crosse’s Big Read Program and the City of La Crosse Human Rights Commission.