American History

For being so short, "American History" is pretty powerful. I learned about the bombings in Alabama in my history class. I didn't learn anything about slaves being hidden under water from the British. Especially with the title "American History," realizing that hit me pretty hard. Obviously, this is part of American history, but it's not something we talk about. The word "redcoats" refers to the British during the American Revolution. A person would have to know American History to know this. Americans were supressing the freedom of a people group while fighting for their own freedom; this is particularly tragic. The last line reads like a slap in the face. "Can't find what you can't see can you?" I think this refers not only to the Africans under the ships but also to parts of American history that aren't discussed. Leaving the poem off with that line is really effective; it's unnerving and makes the reader stop and ponder.