Hi! My name is Eric. I am a History major, minoring in Studio Art. I am an international student from China, and this is my fifth year at Knox College. I love to read books, especially historical, historical fiction, and science fiction, but I also enjoy swimming. This year, I am very interested in expanding my knowledge in other areas that might benefit me in my future career.
I’ve taken some classes related to minority and American history. This summer, I participated in an immersive program focused on Indigenous representation in museums, which I really enjoyed. For this class, I am looking forward to learning more about Indigenous history, particularly how Indigenous people were forced to adopt an urban lifestyle and abandon their cultural identity.
I’ve had some classes related to Indigenous history at Knox, but most of them focused on the modern period, so I have limited knowledge of the entire post-contact history in America. My experience while studying American history has shown that people often avoid discussing current Indigenous history and issues. I think it is important to continue talking about and discussing the issues of the past as well as those that are ongoing so that we can learn and improve.
Hi Eric! Welcome to HIST 281! I’m glad your here and I look forward to your insights this term! I’m glad you had such a good experience in the summer program– it seemed like a very insightful opportunity! I think your post also touches on a really important topic: how certain gaps emerge in history. There are often very few moments when Native Americans are part of U.S. history, and the twentieth century is usually left out entirely. I am looking forward to bridging those gaps this term and engaging with an array of sources and topics!
I look forward to seeing how you engage with the course material and contribute to our discussions!