On April 14, 1939, The Grapes of Wrath was released, to immediate public and critical success. And to immediate controversy. In Oklahoma, the book was sometimes misunderstood, or perhaps understood all too well, and thus maligned for craven political purposes. Anyone who reads the book with even a scintilla of awareness can recognize that the Joad family is… Read the rest
I don’t want to pre-judge history or anything, but you know how all the holidays for notable presidents and civil rights leaders are all scrunched together at the beginning of the year, right after all those other holidays, for religious leaders and man-made counting turnovers?
You know how, in mid-February, everyone is going, “Jeez, another day off??? How’s a person… Read the rest
If you get tired of the inaugural coverage, but still want a fix of historic presidencies, some of this week’s History Channel programming may fit the bill. I plan to watch as many of these as possible, but then I’m a history geek.
The usual caveat about History Channel broadcasts applies. I haven’t seen these yet, so can’t vouch for… Read the rest
Finally, it is about over. Just two days, and we can watch watch his chickenhawk ass get out of our White House and our Capital City. Bush and his accomplices will continue to try to whitewash his “legacy” but they will fail. The best George W. Bush can hope from history is eternal ignominy. With an iota of justice… Read the rest
Just by chance today I caught This American Life program on NPR when they were noting the recent passing of Studs Terkel by playing a few of the pieces from his radio series, Hard Times, which was recordings of folks who lived through the depression. The TAL retrospective focused on 1971 recordings from a mother and daughter, Mary Owsley and… Read the rest
Feeling under the weather (pun intended, see below), I took a nap today, and happened to turn the TV to the History Channel. My lucky day; they slipped up and broadcast a show that was NOT about war or truck drivers! In fact it was about the Dust Bowl, a subject I’ve become fascinated with lately, partly as a way… Read the rest
I am SO excited about and looking forward to this movie. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person elected to a major political office in the U.S., is a huge hero of mine. Now a whole new generation will learn about his vision and his courage. And maybe some will even… Read the rest
Click play to see painting recreated.
Artist: Vimagi | painting | Just Do it.
I was blown away by the American Masters documentary on PBS tonight, a profile of folk music legend Pete Seeger.
I knew quite a bit about him already, but learned just how much he influenced the great social and environmental justice movements of the past 70 years. The Power of Song is a perfect name for the… Read the rest
