When Americans celebrated 250 years of its (alleged) existence on 4th of July 2026, the question had to be asked which America they actually meant.
Heather Cox Richardson, a both renowned and at times controversial professor of history at Boston College and a famous public figure on American social media, celebrated by putting up a video on YouTube called: “Introducing: 250 to 250“. The explanation to it sounded clear: “From the time of our country’s founding 250 years ago, the story of America has been one of the constant efforts of Americans—from all races, ethnicities, genders, and abilities—to make real the belief that we are all created equal and have a right to have a say in our democracy. We will be telling their stories over the next several weeks because now, as ever, “We Are America.””
In the video Heather Cox Richardson repeated this, and her words were accompanied by pictures of famous people who, in her eyes, had made a significant contribution to the America celebrated today.
Not one Native American got mentioned.
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That caused me to comment:
“Since its origin 250 years ago …”? You are not aware that Native Americans existed and America existed before (sic!) 250 years ago? America only started when white folks invaded the land, committed a genocide on the native population, stole the land and declared it theirs? That is the “origin of America” you so proudly speak of, nothing existed before which should be respected?
Not one Native American to be seen in your video as having contributed to America! Not one! That is not by any chance just as white racist as all the other on the right-wing side? Unbelievable to anyone who knows the true story of America and the tragedy that you all do not want to speak about.
The problem with you Americans, be you on the right or left, is that you all (sic) do not want to face the bitter reality that you did not create America. It existed before your ancestors invaded the land and killed its rightful occupants, forced them onto trails of tears and into reservations where they were left to starve and deprive. The State of California funded an explicit war of extermination against Native populations. Rural communities and committees paid rewards for the scalps of Native men, women and children. For a scalp of a Native American Boy, $10 were paid. For that of a Native American woman $30 and for a Native American man $50! Not worth remembering, right? Just the usual deadly racist brutality by white men. Nothing to see here.
If only all of you ever would have any shame, you would acknowledge that and care for Native Americans. But they don’t even turn up in your version of history. They are non-existent to you all. And that even from Heather Cox Richardson, who has written about Wounded Knee (if only to talk about what went on amongst the whites that caused it), is shocking and shows what is wrong with America still today.
The country was founded on brutal white racism and has not changed its character ever since. Or you would at least mention Native Americans with one word! But you don’t. America had its “origin 250 years ago”, period. When the white man came with his racist colonial mind and took what did not belong to him.
I have yet to see an American who is genuinely ashamed of this past and openly addresses it, instead of pretending it never happened and stay mute on it. It is truly sickening that this mindset just won’t change, not even from those who say they know history.
If you say “We are America” and “all are equal”, who exactly do you mean, Heather? The Oglala Sioux in Pine Ridge too? They are not equal, and they are not treated equal. And bad news for you all, their origin goes back much further than just your lousy white-minded 250 years of occupation and racism.
So who is the real America now?”
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