Links to Recent Articles of Interest
A sad note: The author of the first article posted below, Tyler Stovall, died on December 10 of this year at age 67. Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Fordham University at the time of his passing, he was a former president of the American Historical Association (2017). The most recent of the ten history books that he wrote is White Freedom: The Racial History of an Idea (Princeton U. Press, 2021). It was summarized at length in a review essay by Alan Singer that was included in this article list last summer.
By Tyler Stovall, The Nation, posted December 14
An extensive review essay on David A. Bell's Men on Horseback: The Power of Charisma in the Age of Revolution (Macmillan, 2020). The book and the review use the lives of Napoleon, Toussaint Louverture, Simon Bolivar, and George Washington to shed light on the relation between democracy and authoritarianism; Donald Trump is also on the reviewer's mind. Tyler Stovall, who died on December 10 of this year at age 67, taught history at Fordham University and was a past president of the American Historical Association.
By Joanne B. Freeman, Washington Post, posted December 10
“American history has ample examples of instances when a line was crossed and there was a firm, public repudiation of the offense. The health of our democracy has depended on it.” The author teaches history and American Studies at Yale University. and is author of Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War (Macmillan, 2018)
By Amy Parker, Teaching American History blog, posted December 10
On the author's experience in using Jacob Lawrence's unfinished series of paintings entitled Struggle: From the History of the American People to challenge traditional views of US history. The author is a middle school history teacher at Creative Learning Academy in Pensacola, Florida
By Marc Becker, Common Dreams, posted December 9
“OAS has always functioned as foreign policy arm of the imperial overreach of the United States government.” The author teaches history at Truman University and is a member of the H-PAD Steering Committee.
By Corey Robin, New York Times, posted December 9
Based on a broad view of US history in which political “orders,” or “regimes,” dominate political life, most recently the conservative order identified with Ronald Reagan. The author teaches political science at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center.
By Kelly Fanto Deetz, The Conversation, posted December 6
On the differing expectations brought by visitors to historic sites that involve slavery. “Historic sites are not Disneyland, U.S. history is not fantasy and plantations are inherently uncomfortable places.” The author is Director of Collections and Visitor Engagement at Stratford Hall Plantation in Virginia.
By Roy E. Finkenbine, History News Network, posted December 5
Relates the author's experience as a white midwestern high school and college student in the late 1960s and early '70s, in which he was exposed to readings on the historical experiences of minorities in the US. He currently teaches history at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he is also director of the Black Abolitionist Archive.
By Andrew J. Bacevich, The Nation, posted December 2
A tribute to a West Point graduate and combat veteran who exposed the use of torture by US troops in Iraq and who died in November at age 42. The author is a professor emeritus of history and international relations at Boston University.
By Martha S. Jones, New York Times, updated November 29
On the author's attempts to learn about the life of an enslaved woman named Abigail, brought to Paris by her owner, the American statesman John Jay. While he engaged in negotiations that brought recognition for American independence, she should in vain to achieve her freedom, The author teaches history at Johns Hopkins University.
By Adam Laats, The Atlantic, posted November 23
On the movement to prevent the teaching of evolution in public schools in the 1920s. “Sooner or later, the cameras will leave, and parents will demand that schools give their children the best available education.” The author teaches education and history at SUNY Binghamton.
Thanks to an anonymous reader for suggesting some articles included in the above list, and to Steve Gosch for valuable consulting. Suggestions can be sent to jimobrien48@gmail.com.