Antiracism Resources: AASLH’s Reframing History 

In February 2022, the American Association for State and Local History introduced Reframing History, a new set of strategies for more effectively communicating about history. The resources from this project — including a report, toolkit, trainings, and a podcast — are designed to inspire more productive conversations around historical events and collections. Specifically, “one that builds understanding of what inclusive history looks like — especially the histories of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and other historically oppressed groups — and of its importance for all of us.”

The report and toolkit offer tested, proven ways for improving the public’s understanding of inclusive history, particularly as topics become a lightning rod for political debate. The project aims to provide support for overcoming polarized discussion surrounding historical meaning and adopting a framework for constructive dialogue about the past and the role of history in American society. At the heart of the report is the emphasis on shifting from thinking of history as finding a single objective truth to a more critical engagement with the past.

You can learn more about Reframing History by reading the project report and downloading the toolkit at https://aaslh.org/reframing-history/. Reframing History is funded through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is managed by the AASLH Public History Research Lab. The project has been carried out in partnership with AASLH, the FrameWorks Institute, the National Council on Public History, and the Organization of American Historians. 

Have you read the report or downloaded the toolkit from Reframing History? What strategies have you found effective for communicating the importance of inclusive history? Please let us know through email at info@DHPSNY.org, or connect with us on the DHPSNY Facebook page or DHPSNY Community Facebook Group.

This post is part of a biweekly blog series on sharing information, promoting resources, encouraging discussion, and amplifying the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) doing antiracism work in archives, museums, history sites, and library special collections. DHPSNY is committed to supporting the diverse network of collecting institutions that safeguard and ensure access to historical records and library research materials across New York State. To learn more, visit our first blog post in the series.

To access the full list of resources in this series, visit our Antiracism Resources links spreadsheet.

Image: Promo for February 2022 Reframing History Event. The recording is now available to view.