Challenging Assumptions of American History

 The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History by Ned Blackhawk

The Rediscovery of America book cover

The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of US History is one of the most important books I have read recently. Not only does Blackhawk present engaging stories about the cultures and traditions of indigenous tribes across the Americas, but he also challenges our assumptions about the nature of American history by asserting the importance of interactions between indigenous people and European colonizers. Although this book is primarily a history book, I think its importance resonates beyond academic history and helped me reconsider the social and cultural history of the Americas (Canada, Mexico, and the US). Much like David Truer’s The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee, this book presents a re-evaluation of myths and ideas that have largely shaped America’s understanding not only of indigenous people, but also its overall identity and values. By exposing the contributions of indigenous people and how trade, encounters and other interactions helped to shape policies and practices, Blackhawk shifts the perspective on American culture and history. I appreciated the regional and historical organization of the book, and I really loved Blackhawk’s ability to move from historical reporting to character development and narrative storytelling to make the history come alive. He largely balances these styles with keen insight and analysis of the historical events, their consequences and resulting policies. I’m not sure how long it will take for this book to become adopted into more and more curricula, but I could definitely see courses that use this book to teach and challenge the dominant perspectives and myths of American history. I hope that it does become a foundational text in many classrooms that educators and students alike use to expand their ideas about what America is and how its form and shape were largely defined by the contributions, sacrifices, and exploitation of the original people of this land.