Alamo in Sleuthing the Alamo, James Crisp

Alamo

In Sleuthing the Alamo, James Crisp does not think that Sam Houston gave the racist "half Indian Mexicans" speech. This is contrary to the fact that the speech has been widely attributed to Sam Houston. "The words of the speech were harsh," as Crisp states it (p. 10). Houston speaks about the "phlegm of the indolent Mexicans," and calls them "half-Indians," thus denigrating both Tejanos and Native Americans," (cited by Crisp). Houston knew that most of the Anglo Texans were already racist and he capitalized on these beliefs to foment fervor for secession and American statehood. Crisp comes across as an apologist, as his "sleuthing" seems like it is done only to vindicate his childhood hero. Yet what he is really trying to say is that historians' own biases were attributing their racist beliefs to Houston. It wasn't Houston that was the real racist; it was the interpreters of history.

The views of society impact the way the Alamo and its historical context are portrayed and remembered in history books. Comics, movies, and paintings present a romantic version of events, told primarily from the Anglo side of the conflict. Whites are good, Mexicans and everyone else are beneath whites. This portrayal is largely because the bulk of authorship for these artifacts is biased. The truth is far more complex than that, as Crisp shows us. Moreover, the experiences of blacks and Native Americans have been silenced in these representations. The stories have only been told by the perceived victors. The Mexican side of the events will be far different, because the views of Mexicans towards the Alamo would be different. Similarly, the African-American and Native American portrayals would also be different from the Western movies, paintings, and novels whites are familiar with.

3. The representations of the Alamo in comics, movies, and painting can shape beliefs and attitudes about the Alamo too. Just as advertisements both reflect and shape social norms, movies and other cultural expressions both reflect and shape attitudes and beliefs about history. This impacts the way historians perform their research, and can bias them to asking certain questions over others, or focusing on some events more intensely than others. From reading and viewing these somewhat biased interpretations, the individual forms a romantic vision of the events that took place, and fails to comprehend the complex character of what actually happened.

Long Essay

Few figures in American folklore are as romanticized as Davy Crockett. Thus, any story that emasculates him by portraying Crockett as having surrendered at the Alamo will be controversial. Any historian predisposed to believe in the undying heroism of Davy Crockett will not appreciate Crisp's sleuthing, but it is the duty of the historian to uncover truths in spite of prevailing attitudes and beliefs. This is especially true when the figure in question has attained legendary status, as Davy Crockett has. Crockett's figure makes its way into comics, movies, and paintings. His name is synonymous with freedom. To sully Crockett's name can be viewed as treasonous by many readers of history.

There is considerable dispute over what actually happened at the Alamo, with regards to Davy Crockett. As Crisp points out, the actual hard evidence (such as the ways the bodies were buried) is itself hard to discern because Santa Anna and his troops immolated the corpses. Crisp also claims that many of the tales spun around the Alamo are told with a healthy dose of fantasy and propaganda thrown in; and the Davy Crockett tale is especially mythologized. This is done not just to entertain children, but to provide the means by which to socialize individuals into their respective communities -- which in this case is the Texan community. Moreover, the mythologizing of Crockett has a broader appeal in American culture. The idea of freedom fighters on the frontier lands, confronting the evil Mexicans, has permeated American society. Demonizing Santa Anna and the Mexicans is integral to the American mythos. The American psyche needs to believe that Santa Anna was evil, Crocket was good. The easy, black and white, cut and dry lines used to draw the caricature of American history appeal to a culture that has appreciated being steeped in ignorance for so long. This phenomenon is especially true among Texans, who write their own history.