I’ve learned more in the last 20 years, and by reading James Loewen’s books, than I ever learned in school, which for the most part were lessons in how to obey orders, follow rules, and believe the lies in the media and from politicians. When we posted a notice of his passing on Facebook, testimonials poured in. As he said, “Telling the truth about the past helps cause justice in the present.” Jim Lowen’s work has touched countless readers. We will miss his scholarship, wit, and dedication to ensuring that history be taught accurately. Loewen died on August 19, 2021, at the age of 79. Sociologist, author, and educator James W. Loewen’s work has profoundly affected my teaching practice by cementing the commitment to instructing students to question and inquire as they ‘do’ history. Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States made me want to be a history teacher and James Loewen’s Lies My Teacher Told Me gave me the drive to want to teach beyond the classic textbook-driven curriculum. It’s the number one reason I became a high school social studies teacher. I read Lies My Teacher Told Me the summer between middle and high school. Lies My Teacher Told Me has served as an equity lighthouse guiding me through an ocean of historical myth and amnesia. Jessica Rucker and James Loewen at Busboys and Poets, June, 2019.
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