Canceled ‘Forget the Alamo’ book event sparks criticism of Texas GOP lawmakers behind it

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AUSTIN (KXAN) – A 416-page book published just a month ago is making waves in Texas and beyond.

The Texas-sized drama on Penguin Random House’s “Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of An American Myth” began Friday, after the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin withdrew from a discussion about the book a few times. hours before filming. to begin.

The museum explained that its board of trustees, which includes the state’s conservative lawmakers, Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, were behind the decision to end the discussion, which earned 300 RSVPs.

Bob Bullock Museum of History of Texas withdraws from ‘Forget the Alamo’ book event after pressure from conservatives

Later on Friday, Patrick publicly took credit for stopping the event, which explored the book’s reexamination of the historical narrative around the Battle of Alamo – including how his heroes weren’t necessarily “good guys” and that the preservation of slavery was a motivating factor for the struggle against Mexico.

As a member of the Preservation Council, I asked the staff to cancel this event as soon as I found out, Patrick wrote in a tweet on Friday. Like the efforts to move the cenotaph, which I also stopped, this blunt rewrite of TX history has no place at the Bob Bullock Museum.

As a member of the Preservation Council, I asked the staff to cancel this event as soon as I found out. Like the efforts to move the cenotaph, which I also stopped, this blunt rewrite of TX history has no place @BullockMuseum. #txlege https://t.co/ua1aSFxHCk

– Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) July 2, 2021

“Forget the Alamo” writers Bryan Burrough, Chris Tomlinson and Jason Stanford argue that they are not promoting the forgetting of the San Antonio monument and its battle, but that Americans are contextualizing what really happened. past and how, including how the story became a heroic white story. people.

Penguin Random House says the book explores how history has “twisted” over time, “with contributions from Mexican-born Tejanos-Texans, who fought alongside Anglo-Saxon rebels, and the origin of the conflict over Mexico push to abolish wallpaper slavery.

In a statement, the publisher explained that the Bullock Museum was facing heavy social media pressure over the event, in addition to pressure from its board of directors, with “Gov. Abbott being one of them, ”reports Texas Tribune.

In an interview with KXAN on Friday, Tomlinson explained:

I think it’s politics, and I think they distort what critical race theory means the same way they’ve distorted political correctness and multiculturalism in the past. It’s just another piece of propaganda.

Chris Tomlinson, author

Since Saturday, Governor Abbott has not responded to requests for comment.

“I think the nature of the Bullock Museum has changed permanently,” added Tomlinson.

National reaction

Across the country, Republicans in Texas – particularly Patrick – have been singled out for what some say is hypocrisy and authoritarianism.

“To find out why the Texas GOP is working so hard to kill the well-researched book on The Alamo and how its story turned into a myth, read the description. It involves slavery, racism and a lot of other ugly things that the GOP claims never existed, ”wrote Kurt Eichenwald, New York Times bestselling author.

Many people have pointed to the apparent hypocrisy of “Culture Cancellation,” a GOP talking point regarding the tendency for people and content to be publicly censored, banned or “canceled” for appearances and opportunities due to their behavior or their statements.

Journalist Judd Legum called Patrick directly, saying that “the notorious opponent of ‘culture cancellation’ is using his political position to cancel a discussion of a history book on the Alamo”.

Notorious Culture Cancellation Opponent Uses Political Position To Cancel Alamo History Book Discussion https://t.co/V4D7RnOXiE

– Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) July 2, 2021

My favorite part is that I learned that what I was taught in school about the alamo was ~ wrong ~ in this museum

– Lainey Loki and Bad Batch spoilers !!! (@MarveledSpectre) July 3, 2021

The event’s cancellation comes amid an ongoing debate over the alleged teaching of critical race theory in public schools despite the high likelihood of encountering the doctrines outside of a law school, d ‘where they originated. CRT, while not a singular set of lesson plans, examines the history of the United States and its unfair legal treatment of black and brown Americans.

Texas lawmakers have focused on allegedly teaching critical race theory, with Abbott saying they could go further in a special session starting soon.

Meanwhile, the conversation about “Forget the Alamo” continues nationwide as writers, editors and supporters continue to push forward on its mission – pun intended.

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