"The frontier myth has proven to be one of the most powerful and enduring stories in American history, erasing or altering the history of people of color and women in the West."
"The myth reinforced the idea that only heroic white families moved west from eastern towns in their Conestoga wagons, succeeding through rugged individualism."
"Certain peoples in American history were marginalized or erased by design through the propagation of the frontier myth, making it easier to label non-whites as 'illegals' or 'aliens'."
"The publications of companies like Currier and Ives and 'dime novels' helped to reinforce the frontier myth, portraying pioneers as the best of American ideals and culture."
The frontier myth has been a foundational narrative in American history, celebrating the westward movement of white settlers and their perceived rugged individualism. This myth, propagated through various media, portrays these settlers as heroic figures overcoming Indigenous resistance. Historian Megan Kate Nelson argues that this narrative has marginalized the histories of people of color and women, presenting a skewed version of American ideals. The myth's enduring power has contributed to the erasure of diverse contributions, making it easier to label non-whites as outsiders.
Read at Oregon ArtsWatch * Arts & Culture News
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