History as Part of Identity

History isn’t just a collection of dates and names; it’s the story of who we are. The traditions we carry, the struggles we’ve endured, and the achievements we celebrate all shape our sense of identity. Knowing where we come from helps us understand the values we hold today and the choices we make for tomorrow.

But when history is censored or rewritten, identity itself is put at risk. Erasing uncomfortable truths doesn’t change what happened; it only prevents us from learning and growing. The danger of censorship is that it silences voices, distorts memory, and creates gaps in our collective understanding.

To honor history is to honor identity. By preserving and telling the full story, both the triumphs and the mistakes, we give future generations the tools to see themselves clearly and to build a society rooted in truth.

That’s why resisting censorship matters. Each of us has a role to play. From reading, supporting open access to information, or simply asking questions when stories go missing or those that spread widely are not fact-checked. Protecting history is protecting identity, and it’s a responsibility we all share.

A young child gazes at the Wood Family Cabin, which currently stands in a meadow in Swan Woods at the Atlanta History Center. The Wood Cabin was donated to the Atlanta History Center by Dr. Carl Hartrampf Jr. and his wife Pat (descendants of pioneer Atlanta settlers), after it was moved from its original site near the Chattahoochee River, where the Creek Village of Standing Peachtree once stood.