This letter is a response to a column by Matt Farmer that appeared Monday under the headline "OU's history curriculum could use some diversity." You can read that column here.
After reading Monday’s column about the lack of diversity in the history department, I felt the need to share my experience with the department and respond to some of the criticisms made about its course offerings.
As a history major, I have had the chance to explore the course offerings of the department more than many on this campus. I can tell you that there are many opportunities to take classes in non-Western history and diverse offerings within European and American history courses.
While I cannot dispute the fact that most faculty specialize in Western history, this is an imbalance the department is actively working to correct. The most recent four departmental hires have been in African, East Asian, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian history. All of those hires will be teaching exclusively non-Western history courses beginning next semester.
And to suggest that courses that do focus on European and American history are inherently “white” is simply not true. Every class I have taken on Western history has made a concerted effort to include religious, ethnic, and gender diversity. The department regularly offers courses in African American and Native American history as well as courses such as Women in Modern Europe.
Over the past two years, I have taken 11 history courses, seven of which have focused on non-Western history, concentrating on areas of the world including Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Many of those courses are being offered right now. The courses offered in world history this semester include The Rise of Modern Asia, History of Brazil, and History of Women in the Middle East, among others.
The faculty I have worked with in those courses and all of my history courses are some of the most enthusiastic and engaged I have met on campus. They have all encouraged my research interests in the non-Western world and actively helped me seek opportunities to pursue those interests.
However, I cannot dispute the point that many of our faculty and courses do focus on the Western world. I do not see this as an inherent feature of our history department; it is apparent across Ohio University and in higher education throughout the country. We have to acknowledge that the glorification of the Western world does not end with Ohio University as an institution or history as a discipline.
If it appears to a student that our history department lacks diversity or a serious effort to convey history beyond the white, Euro-centric model, it is because that student did not actively seek out classes in non-Western history. Yes, The 1980s in the US: The Age of Reagan and Madonna may sound like a glamorous way to fulfill your history requirement (and it is a great course), but maybe next time, enroll in Modern China. It may not sound as sexy, but I promise you will come out of the class with a global perspective and an appreciation for the diverse interests of our history faculty.
If you are interested in learning more about what the history department has to offer, stop by Bentley 015 on Tuesday from 5:30-7 p.m. to hear from faculty and current majors.
Katie Conlon is a sophomore studying history.
This letter appeared in print under the headline "History department offers diverse, global courses"
