THE PUBLIC HISTORY AS ACTIVISM?

REFLECTIONS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC HISTORIAN

Abstract

This article investigates the intersection between public history and activism, proposing that the practice of history can serve as a powerful tool to promote social justice. Through the discussion of digital public history projects that incorporate the voices of marginalized communities, such as the Indy Toxic Heritage and the Cleveland Homeless Oral History Project, the author argues that history is not just an academic field, but a social practice that can drive change. The text also addresses the ethical and methodological challenges that arise when sharing authority with communities, emphasizing the need for a critical analysis of collective narratives.