Removing historical statues: does it erase history?

Does the removal of controversial historical statues and symbols alter the meaning of the historical incident?

Recent weeks, across the country statues depicting historical figures have become the focal points for discussion and action about racial equality, violence and oppression.

I recently spoke to experts in the field of history, anthropology and archeology - about the larger implications of recent events.

Statues of christopher columbus - down in baltimore and connecticut; removed from the california state capitol.

"i don't this debate is going away anytime soon and it's healthy to have them" in recent week, hundreds of statues have been vandalized or taken down across the county.

"i affirm many should be taken down, but maybe a few should remain so that we don't forget.

There are good ways that people remember the past but these are monuments of oppression; not really history."

Just this past weekend in sacramento, protestors toppled a statue of father junipero serra.

The 18th centurey roman catholic priest founded nine of california's 21 spanish missions.

"the california mission system was awful.

What he represents is colonialism and this idea of subjugation of people to ensure the mission system."

I asked the group, should statues be kept but offer more complete narratives?

"the removal of the monuments does not correct history, however we need to think about the removal as a path to encourage dialogues of the memory of history."

We also talked about a concept known as social memory.

That's how a society collectively remembers events.

"we really need to dismantle oppression and we have to show symbolically that this is where we have the opportunity to keep up some of these and retell the story and add to it& where is harriet tubman or w.e.b.

Dubois?

"when we start to have this larger discussions of the removal of statues, it makes people think about what our hits is, what is our past?

All believe, the next item that could possibly come under scrutiny& the images of those depicted on american money were known owners of enslaved africans ###