BIRTHDAY WISHES.

The article examines how the history of slavery remains a contested aspect of American national identity, particularly in the context of commemorations like the upcoming Semiquincentennial. It highlights federal efforts under President Donald Trump’s administration to downplay slavery’s role in founding narratives, contrasting this with earlier commemorations such as the 1932 George Washington Bicentennial, where African American activists and scholars foregrounded Washington’s involvement with slavery to challenge prevailing narratives. The piece emphasizes that despite official attempts to control historical memory, diverse groups continue to reinterpret and assert more inclusive understandings of the past, illustrating that national anniversaries are shaped by multiple voices rather than solely by government planners. [Extracted from the article]