Racist Statue Removal - Nationwide
John Augustus Sutter lived during the era of Manifest Destiny, the Mexican-American War, the Bear Flag Revolt, the Gold Rush, and ongoing genocide of indigenous peoples. There are many ways to approach a study of his life, actions, and impact on California history.
In the same way, our current assessment of Sutter is part of a broader context. Sometimes you will not find an article or book specifically addressing de-Suttering Sacramento, but you will find similar stories across the United States that you can apply to your assessment of this topic.
- Whose Heritage? Public Symbols of the ConfederacyCreated by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Excellent statistics, charts, and timelines. Most other articles on this topic cite this SPLC source.
- Whose Heritage? additional materialsMore than 2,000 memorials in the United States valorize the Confederacy, a secessionist government that waged war to preserve white supremacy and the enslavement of millions of people. Erected as part of an organized propaganda campaign to terrorize African American communities, these memorials distort the past by promoting the Lost Cause narrative. Explore these resources to find out more about the history of Confederate monuments.
Sutter Statue Removal - Sacramento
- Statue of colonizer John Sutter removed after being defaced in SacramentoLos Angeles Times Article about the Sacramento Sutter statue removal.
- Sutter Health Removes John Sutter Statue Amid Complaints About Racist HistoryCapital Public Radio article.
Books - general background on Sutter's era
John Sutter by Call Number: F865.S93 H87 2006 (SCC 3rd floor)ISBN: 9780806137728Publication Date: 2006
The Sutter Family and the Origins of Gold-Rush Sacramento by Call Number: F865 .S9226 2002 (SCC 3rd floor) or online ebookISBN: 9780806134932Publication Date: 2002
It's worth noting that some biographies/historical books on or about Sutter, the gold rush, and gold rush era Sacramento, are probably written from a colonizer's lens. Be wary of books or articles that celebrate Sutter without exploring the rape and murder of indigenous peoples.
Invading Mexico by Call Number: E404 .W44 2007 (SCC 3rd Floor)ISBN: 9780786717194Publication Date: 2007
The History of Alta California by Call Number: F864 .O85 1996 (SCC 3rd Floor)ISBN: 9780299149703Publication Date: 1996
