There There Context Links

    I thought all of the context links provided were interesting and informative. Just looking at the map, I was reminded how this whole continent was once inhabited by indigenous people. While I really have only learned about a couple tribes, it was surprising to see the huge and diverse range of communities that once existed, even around the Bay Area. I have heard of course, about the Ohlone and how the Santa Clara campus is built on the land they lived on, but there was a large number of groups that were unfamiliar. Really, it was sobering to see that all of these flourishing communities have been destroyed by European colonizers, and that a large number have been largely forgotten. 

    The article on Gertrude Stein's quote was also intriguing. While I have heard the quote before, I hadn't heard the context in which it was said until I read that article. Unfortunately, I think that this happens too often, where people choose certain quotes without considering the circumstances in which it was said. Being from the Bay Area, I am definitely aware of the huge changes that this area has had over the past century. This used to be an agricultural area, and now-cities used to be sprawling farmland, serving as some of the main producers of certain products like pistachios and garlic. 

    Overall, I think both of these links made me think about all of the history, both in the US as a whole and locally, that surrounds us. Thinking about There There, Tommy Orange makes a point to expose the inaccuracies in mainstream American history and media. I think it's extremely important to ensure that people have an accurate understanding of history, even when that history is painful. Otherwise, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.