Figure 1; Manifestacion (Demonstration) by Antonio Berni, 1934
by Megan Spainhour, AASLH Membership and Office Coordinator
In 2023, as an adult, I earned my bachelor’s degree with a major in Anthropology and a minor in History from the University of Memphis. I picked these two studies because I often saw the relationship between the two. Anthropology is defined by the Oxford Dictionary “as the study of human societies and cultures and their development” while History is defined as “the study of past events, particularly in human affairs.” As I pursue my passions of Anthropology and History through my work at AASLH, I often find correlations between the two by not only studying people, but by taking on a new perspective of the way our museums, historical societies and history professionals study people and the past. Forever tying the connection between History and Anthropology together, I keep thinking, “How are Anthropologists studying and preparing for the 250th anniversary of the United States?”
We often see news articles mentioning the way that museums and history organizations are preparing for the 250th, but perhaps the way that the anthropology community is approaching the 250th is a bit different.
In his article titled “To Prepare for America’s 250th, go back and Read the Declaration of Independence”, for the Jack Miller Center, Tom Kelly writes about the fact that current politics are trending in such a way that America’s 250th is being celebrated and promoted in a way that “history is proper” and everything in our past is happy and well. Tom Kelly writes, “And yet both perspectives on America are required if we are to foster greater unity and shared purpose among Americans across the political spectrum in the upcoming year. The path will not be an easy one.”
I am finding this to be a common thread among Anthropologists who are preparing for the semi quincentennial. Anthropologists are looking deeper at overlooked stories from our past. There is no bias or sugar-coating in anthropology. Just like a doctor takes a Hippocratic oath, an anthropologist too has a code of ethics to follow, by providing only facts and remaining unbiased and fair. “Do no harm” applies to the field of anthropology as well. I mention this to present the fact that anthropology is not political or motivated by a particular means, especially when studying history and our past.
Whether it’s slavery, war, acts of removal, displacement, riots, inequality, economic trouble, unethical labor practices or any of the other ugly parts of our country, it’s a part of our history, which in turn is a part of our story. These uncomfortable parts of our past must be included in the story that we remember when reflecting on the 250th Anniversary. Anthropology does this by not seeing our nation as a whole, but as individual groups, cultures, minorities, and unfiltered histories that make America the melting pot that it is and has always been. Don’t look at the anniversary as a whole, but as a quilt that is made up of 250 years of different struggles, triumphs, and everything in between.
Anthropologists are also looking at the 250th anniversary as a “sociocultural ritual” made to encourage bonding. A sociocultural ritual is a symbolic, patterned tradition that enforces cultural values and brings together social circumstances. The way a holiday or a mark in history is celebrated by a large group of people, say the 250th, would be a great example!
Dr. Liz Colton of Asheville’s Citizen Times wrote an opinion piece in 2023, and asks us, “How can we come together in such uniting, binding “E Pluribus Unum” (from many-one) moments in an ever-divergent nation? As anthropologists, we look for these moments-sociocultural rituals- for momentary bonding of members in any society, small or large, all almost always in some continuous conflicts.”
Besides taking this perspective, there are several other ways that Anthropologists are preparing for the 250th. Anthropology departments at academic institutions such as Princeton University, Syracuse University and Hofstra University are creating and funding courses and initiatives specifically designed to study the 250th anniversary of the United States. For instance, Princeton University’s anthropology department just received a grant from the 250th Anniversary Fund, which professors will be using to revise courses that force students to take new perspectives on American history and trending history topics.
I think about what I took away from my courses as I came closer to ending my time at the University of Memphis, and how I would apply what I learned to preparing for the 250th anniversary today. I ask myself if the way a historian and the way an anthropologist prepares for the 250th are really that different. In some ways, yes, and in other ways, not at all. Understanding and bringing together those differences is what is important.
For resources on planning and programming for Commemorating America’s Semiquincentennial, visit aaslh.org/programs/250th.
AASLH provides recordings, our 250th handbook available for download, planning resources, a list of state 250th commissions, as well as the National Initiative Tracker; a digital tool provides an overview of national-level planning initiatives from federal agencies, national nonprofits, and other institutions in the history, museum, education, and civic space. Do you know of a project that should be included in the National Initiative Tracker? Send us information here!
