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15 Historical Events Considered Too Shameful to Teach

Shannon Quinn - June 28, 2025

History is more than a story of victories; it is also marked by moments of deep regret and injustice. Yet, many of these uncomfortable truths are often left out of classroom discussions, quietly hidden behind more palatable narratives. These omissions leave gaps in our collective understanding, making it harder to fully grasp the forces that have shaped our world. By examining events deemed too shameful to teach, we gain insight into the complexities of the past—and confront the ongoing impact these dark chapters have on society.

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1. The Tulsa Race Massacre (1921)

In 1921, the thriving Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma—often called “Black Wall Street”—was decimated when a white mob unleashed violence and destruction. Over the course of two days, hundreds of Black residents were killed and thousands were displaced as homes and businesses burned. For decades, this atrocity was largely omitted from history books, leaving a painful silence in its wake. Only recently has the Tulsa Race Massacre gained recognition as one of the most devastating acts of racial violence in American history.

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2. The British Partition of India (1947)

The Partition of British India in 1947 resulted in the creation of India and Pakistan, but came at a staggering human cost. Hasty political decisions triggered mass migration, brutal violence, and the deaths of up to two million people. Despite the scale of suffering, the trauma of partition is often glossed over in British and global education systems. For many, the true extent of this tragedy only comes to light through personal stories and historical accounts outside of the classroom.

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3. The Canadian Residential School System

For more than a century, Indigenous children in Canada were removed from their homes and forced into residential schools designed to erase their cultures and identities. Many endured physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and separation from their families—leaving lasting scars across generations. The true scope of the tragedy, including unmarked graves and systemic mistreatment, has only come to light in recent years. This dark chapter, once ignored, is now being confronted as part of Canada’s ongoing reckoning with its past. Learn more.

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4. The Rape of Nanjing (1937-1938)

During the Sino-Japanese War, the city of Nanjing witnessed one of the most horrific massacres of the twentieth century. Japanese troops invaded and unleashed a campaign of widespread rape, murder, and looting against Chinese civilians and prisoners of war. Death toll estimates range from 100,000 to 300,000, with countless more traumatized by the brutality. Despite its scale, the Nanjing Massacre remains a highly sensitive and often downplayed subject in Japanese education, sparking ongoing debate and demands for acknowledgment. Read more.

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5. U.S. Internment of Japanese Americans (1942-1945)

After Pearl Harbor, the U.S. government ordered the forcible relocation of over 120,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps across the country. Families were uprooted, stripped of their homes and businesses, and denied their civil rights. For many years, this violation of constitutional freedoms was marginalized in American history education and rarely discussed in depth. It wasn’t until decades later that an official apology and reparations were issued, acknowledging the profound injustice. Learn more.

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6. Belgium’s Atrocities in the Congo Free State

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Congo Free State was ruled as the personal property of King Leopold II of Belgium. Under his regime, Congolese people endured forced labor, horrific violence, and systematic mutilation as Europeans extracted rubber and ivory. It’s estimated that millions perished due to brutality, starvation, and disease. Despite its scale, this episode of colonial exploitation is rarely acknowledged in European history classrooms, remaining a hidden stain on Belgium’s legacy. Read more.

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7. The Armenian Genocide (1915-1917)

Between 1915 and 1917, the Ottoman Empire carried out a systematic campaign of killing and forced deportation against Armenians, resulting in an estimated 1.5 million deaths. Despite the overwhelming consensus among historians, the Armenian Genocide is still denied or minimized by some governments, most notably Turkey. This ongoing denial has led to limited or cautious coverage in many history curricula worldwide, leaving generations unaware of this major atrocity. Learn more.

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8. The Trail of Tears (1838-1839)

The Trail of Tears refers to the forced removal of over 60,000 Native Americans—including the Cherokee, Creek, and other nations—from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States. As they were marched westward, thousands perished from disease, starvation, and harsh conditions. The U.S. government’s direct involvement in this tragedy is often marginalized or sanitized in mainstream history education, leaving the full scope of suffering largely unacknowledged. Read more.

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9. The Comfort Women System During WWII

During World War II, the Japanese military forced tens of thousands of women from Korea, China, and other occupied territories into sexual slavery, euphemistically known as the “comfort women” system. Survivors endured physical and psychological trauma, and many were silenced for decades. This deeply painful chapter is still controversial and often downplayed in East Asian history curricula, with ongoing debates over recognition and reparations. Learn more.

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10. Australia’s Stolen Generations

From 1910 to 1970, government policies in Australia led to the forcible removal of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. These children were placed in institutions or fostered by white families, with the aim of erasing their cultural identities. The lasting trauma and intergenerational pain caused by these policies are still felt within Indigenous communities today. This painful history is only recently being fully acknowledged in Australian society and education. Read more.

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11. The My Lai Massacre (1968)

During the Vietnam War, U.S. troops entered the village of My Lai and killed hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese civilians, the majority of whom were women and children. Initially, the massacre was covered up by military officials and only came to light through whistleblowers and journalists. The My Lai Massacre remains a deeply disturbing and often underemphasized episode in American military history. Learn more.

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12. The Sand Creek Massacre (1864)

In 1864, a Colorado militia launched a brutal attack on a peaceful village of Cheyenne and Arapaho people at Sand Creek. More than 150 Native Americans—mostly women and children—were killed in a massacre marked by shocking violence and mutilation. Despite its horror, the Sand Creek Massacre is often glossed over or ignored in U.S. history lessons, leaving many unaware of its significance. Read more.

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13. The Experimentation on Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932-1972)

For four decades, the U.S. Public Health Service conducted the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, observing the progression of untreated syphilis in hundreds of African American men—without their informed consent. Even after penicillin became the standard treatment, researchers deliberately withheld care, prioritizing their data over human lives. This unethical experiment resulted in needless suffering and deaths, and remains a shocking testament to medical racism and abuse. It is a critical, if seldom taught, cautionary tale in the history of medicine. Learn more.

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14. The Bombing of Dresden (1945)

In the final months of World War II, Allied forces launched devastating bombing raids on the German city of Dresden. The attacks killed tens of thousands of civilians and left much of the historic city in ruins. The morality and necessity of the Dresden bombing remain fiercely debated by historians, but this controversial event receives relatively little attention in Western education. Its inclusion raises questions about the complexities and ethics of modern warfare. Read more.

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15. The Massacre at Srebrenica (1995)

In July 1995, during the Bosnian War, over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were systematically executed by Bosnian Serb forces in Srebrenica—a tragedy recognized as genocide by international courts. Despite its gravity, the massacre is often overlooked or minimized in mainstream discussions of European history. Acknowledging such events is essential to preventing future atrocities and fostering genuine understanding.

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