Sociologist, author, and educator James W. Loewen died on August 19, 2021, at the age of 79. We will miss his scholarship, wit, and dedication to ensuring that history be taught accurately. As he said, “Telling the truth about the past helps cause justice in the present.” Jim Loewen's work has touched countless readers.

James Loewen's award-winning critique of 12 U.S. history textbooks, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything American History Textbooks Get Wrong, is also available in a young readers’ edition.

In Lies My Teacher Told Me, Loewen not only critiqued textbooks, he also introduced the history as it should be told regarding key events, people, and time periods such as pre-Columbian history, Reconstruction, President Woodrow Wilson, Helen Keller, the first Thanksgiving, the My Lai massacre, 9/11, and the Iraq War.

To raise public awareness about the danger of the growing number of anti-history education bills — and similar local initiatives — we invite educators to make their #TeachTruth pledge public in gatherings at historic sites nationwide August 27 to 29.

These actions help the media focus on teacher voices and the history that will be off limits where these censorship measures pass. Events are scheduled in close to 40 cities. Find an event near you or add your city to the map.

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