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How do textbooks address Wilson's racism?

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Final answer:

Textbooks address Wilson's racism by contextualizing his political actions against the backdrop of his era's racial attitudes, while providing broader discussions of race relations and civil rights movements in America, and encouraging critical examination of institutional marginalization.

Step-by-step explanation:

Textbooks address Wilson's racism by portraying it within a historical context, acknowledging both his contributions as a political leader and his controversial racial views. Such texts often reflect upon the Jim Crow laws and the discriminatory practices during his presidency, including the segregation of federal offices and his dismissive attitude towards the African American civil rights movement. Furthermore, textbooks may scrutinize Wilson's institutional racism, contrasting his advocacy for democracy abroad with his repressive policies at home, a dichotomy that reveals the complex nature of his legacy.

Additionally, present-day textbooks are becoming more inclusive by providing detailed explorations of anti-LGBTQ discrimination, contributions of Black women to the Suffrage and Civil Rights movements, and are updating historical narratives to more accurately reflect the experiences of marginalized groups, thereby enhancing critical thinking regarding race relations and institutional marginalization.

The discussion around racism in textbooks may extend to wider educational contexts, using primary sources such as the vibrant debates between early civil rights activists to illustrate the historical challenges and perspectives of African American leaders like Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois. These discussions encourage meaningful conversation about racism in America, highlighting historical resistance and perseverance in the face of systemic oppression.

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