The Battle for History

Victor Arnautoff, “a Russian-American painter and professor of art” was commissioned by the government through the WPA Federal Art Project to paint murals for the newly constructed George Washington High School in San Francisco (19356-1936). This project was a part of a larger initiative meant to provide economic relief to the unemployed during the Great Depression. Arnautoff used his knowledge of the first president of the United States to render a brilliantly colored fresco narrative depicting various scenes from his life. While the images are based on fact, there has been a great deal of debate over the nature of two of the scenes. The first shows the activities at Mount Vernon where President George Washington grew wheat that was harvested by African-American Slaves. The other displays the body of a murdered Native American.

While these narratives are based on historical facts, they have evoked concerns of emotional trauma inflicted upon minority students attending George Washington High School. In the Sarah B.’s article, "Historic WPA Murals at George Washington High School Are Facing Destruction Due to Controversial Depictions of Native Americans and African-Americans," she shares:

The mural is a clear depiction of slavery in the United States, and of George Washington as a slave owner” and indicates that “Two of the thirteen panels in the mural series have come under fire since the 1960’s for their controversial depictions of African-Americans and Native Americans.

As much as the United States has grappled with racism and inequality, murals like the ones found at George Washington High School, continue to reinforce the ideals of “whiteness” and the oppression of “the other.” Equivalent to the hate crimes we have seen over the last several years, these murals are damaging and should be removed.

The history of a nation and a culture is vitally important to understanding the formation of that nation and culture. Visual and textual records depicting the past and/or representing an era of change need to be preserved. Sarah B. has presented the reasons why the murals need to be removed or painted over and has also indicated that

others argue that Arnautoff’s intention with his paintings was to present the realities of US history that were, and still are, often white-washed.

For many history students, beginning in primary school, the conflicts and atrocities associated with the founding of this nation are often glossed over. It is not until they pursue higher education at a college or university that the realities of the past are unveiled in the lecture hall. James P. Suttun’s article, "It's Curtains for a George Washington Mural in San Francisco. Or Paint, or Panels. Just Hide It!", addresses this issue and provides a point of view that supports persevering the murals as an educational tool/opportunity:

One might assume this was a fresco that glorified the treatment of Native Americans and whitewashed the history of slavery. The exact opposite, in fact. The mural was created by a Russian émigré named Victor Arnatauff, an actual Communist who painted in the social-realist style. Connecting Washington with slavery and the killing of indigenous peoples was unusual for the time; Arnatauff included these scenes as a critique of the Founding.

If I was the principal of George Washington High School, I would indicate that it is important that we preserve the murals as historical artifacts. In this way, they become educational tools to discuss the past and how the United States was built upon practices that we no longer advocate. As educators it is important for us to teach our students about all history: good, bad, or otherwise. The fact is that the Founding Fathers of this nation were men. Imperfect men, who have been idealized throughout history for their bravery and steadfastness in the pursuit of freedom. The murals at George Washington High School not only open a dialogue about the formation of a nation but also provide an opportunity to discuss the WPA era and The Great Depression that had lasting effects into the current century. These murals are priceless artifacts.

Resources:

Sarah B., "Historic WPA Murals at George Washington High School Are Facing Destruction Due to Controversial Depictions of Native Americans and African-Americans," Richmond District Blog, 4/9/2019. https://richmondsfblog.com/2019/04/09/historic-wpa-murals-at-george-washington-high-school-are-facing-destruction-due-to-controversial-depictions-of-native-americans-and-african-americans/

James P. Sutton, "It's Curtains for a George Washington Mural in San Francisco. Or Paint, or Panels. Just Hide It!" National Review, 6/20/2019. https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/06/george-washington-mural-san-francisco-progressive-politics/