Erasure of Black History in the National Archives: What’s Really at Stake?

History is more than a collection of dates and names; it is the soul of a people. It is the sacred record of who we are, where we’ve been, and what we have endured. Yet, as debates over Critical Race Theory rage on, a silent battle over historical records is unfolding within the halls of the National Archives. The recent decision by U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan to redesign the museum has sparked fears that critical Black historical records may be erased or altered.

Icons of Black Literature & Civil Rights: (Top L-R) James Baldwin, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Richard Wright; (Bottom L-R) Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston. These visionary leaders shaped America's cultural and social landscape through their powerful words and activism.

The removal or “recontextualization” of these records under the guise of modernization raises the question: who decides what history is worth preserving? At a time when there is increasing pressure to “sanitize” American history, particularly the parts that highlight systemic racism, the stakes could not be higher. The implications extend beyond the museum walls. This battle over historical narratives directly impacts how future generations will understand the legacies of slavery, Jim Crow, and the contributions of Black scholars, authors, and activists.

What we are witnessing is not just the erasure of Black history, but a broader attempt to control the narrative of what it means to be American. If Black voices are silenced in historical records, what chance do we have in the arenas of policy, education, and culture? Preserving our history is more than a fight for visibility; it is a fight for our place in the American story. If we allow these records to be erased, we lose the power to define our past, present, and future.

Let us remain vigilant. Just as our ancestors preserved their stories through oral traditions, songs, and hidden codes, we too must protect the narratives that speak to our resilience. The battle over history is not just about the past; it’s about who gets to define the future.