Political commentator and podcast host Danielle Moodie delivered a searing critique of efforts to minimize or rewrite the history of slavery in the United States, warning that the nation is heading toward a dangerous distortion of its past.
In a recent episode of The Danielle Moodie Show, shared on Instagram, Moodie argued that the current political climate—shaped in part by President Donald Trump’s rhetoric—is attempting to “re-white” American history and sanitize the realities of slavery.
Moodie’s Commentary
Moodie said the push to soften the horrors of slavery risks teaching children a version of history where slavery is falsely depicted as an “unpaid internship.”
She condemned any attempts to erase the brutal realities of the transatlantic slave trade, describing the inhumane conditions endured by enslaved Africans, including confinement in overcrowded ships where people were chained beside the dead and forced to live in filth for weeks at sea.
“Children will now believe that it was the Carnival Cruise Ship that actually brought these African interns to America to work, learn and study,” Moodie said, underscoring the dangers of presenting historical atrocities as benign.
The Broader Debate
Her remarks come amid ongoing debates over school curricula in several U.S. states, where lawmakers and education boards have clashed over how slavery and racism should be taught.
Critics argue that efforts to soften or omit the brutality of slavery constitute an erasure of Black history and an attempt to reshape national memory for political purposes.
The controversy touches on broader cultural battles over critical race theory (CRT), education censorship, and historical truth’s role in shaping civic understanding.
Why It Matters
Moodie’s comments highlight a growing concern among educators, historians, and civil rights advocates: that historical revisionism could become codified into law, leaving future generations with a dangerously inaccurate view of America’s past.
Through her sharp, provocative language, Moodie points out the importance of preserving the historical record, reminding audiences that slavery was not simply a matter of labor but a system of systemic violence, exploitation, and dehumanization.
