The Other Side of Historical Figures Essay Example

The United States education curriculum, varying by states, generally focuses on historical figures around the world and the good deeds they have accomplished. But, many of these people have histories unbeknownst to most of Americans, that’s why schools should put emphasis on the darker history of influential figures because it allows kids to question present day celebrities and it demonstrates how figures aren’t perfect.

Focusing on the other side of well known people allows for the kids to question everyday things. Alfred Hitchcock, a highly regarded director, was also an inhumane person, forcing actresses to be attacked by cages of furious starlings for 5 full days (Rampton). Hitchcock may have produced stunning films, but the methods employed to capture certain scenes were not ordinary.

Mother Teresa, a nun who was known to go around the world caring for the sick and needy, was actually cruel minded, and believed the sick must suffer to bring them closer to Jesus, and despite receiving millions of dollars of aid, she still left the homes unsanitary and uncared for (Barton). Mother Teresa’s image was twisted in order to portray a false image that fooled the entire world. Both Teresa and Hitchcock had done actions that weren’t known by the majority of the world, but people are striving to show the full background of these figures. An emphasis on their bad deeds committed will allow kids to question other figures that they also thought were all good, question current influential figures, this series of questioning things sparks curiosity. Curiosity is only the first step for another influential figure.

Seeing the other actions of these figures also demonstrates how they aren't perfect. Gandhi, the man who ultimately led to India’s independence, was also hateful towards other races, saying Indians are better than savages or the natives of Africa (Biswas). Gandhi’s actions in India shaped much of today’s world, but he also made remarks that many people today would find extremely racist. Alexander Graham Bell, the man who invented the telephone, revolutionized technology, but his remark towards the deaf community were hateful, stating that the intermarriage of deaf people would create a deaf race that he feared would take over.

Both Bell and Gandhi accomplished great things, but the remarks they had made towards other groups of people were out of their character. Exposing these actions to kids in school will allow them to see that the figures aren’t perfect, which allows the kids themselves, not to beat themselves up when they don’t believe they are as perfect as these people, creating realistic goals for kids in the 21st Century.

Teaching kids the darker history of influential figures will allow for them to have realistic opportunities and allow for them to pursue things they find curious.