Chris Hedges, Historian Eric Foner on the Manipulation of History

In this week’s episode of “On Contact,” host and Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges and historian Eric Foner discuss how historical fact is influenced by selective memory and how that manifests in public works like statues. Framing the conversation: the recent protests in Charlottesville, Va., which triggered a wave of opposition toward Confederate monuments around the country.

“It is what we omit that so much shapes our perception of ourselves,” Hedges says, “and we’re watching that now with the whole turmoil around Confederate monuments in the South.”

“If you step back and look at the public presentation of history, particularly in the South, through these monuments and things—where are the black people?” Foner adds. “My view is, as well as taking down some statues, we need to put up others.”

The two also discuss how history can be “glorified” to reflect better on certain nation-states, and the role of a modern historian. Watch the full conversation in the player above.

—Posted by Emma Niles