Dear Humans,

We’ve been reading about the Boston Massacre. And maybe you’re wondering the use of studying a skirmish that took place 252 years ago. Especially since there have been untold skirmishes, battles, tragedies, and events since that snowy day outside the Boston Custom House.

It’s because the most important part of studying history is learning how history is made and remembered. Because the Boston Massacre didn’t become the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770. It took years of remembering and re-remembering (and misremembering) what happened. And that history was put towards certain causes. Because history is often a process of creating heroes and villains and confirming beliefs, not just retelling what happened.

And we still do that history-making today. And we’ll do it far into the future. So it’s important that you know how it’s done. And you see the reasons behind why we remember what happened the way that we do.

Sincerely,

Mr. Curt