Presidential Portraits, Down Syndrome, and Sanitation Workers
Past Present Episode 119
Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:
- The presidential and First Lady portraits of the Obamas have been released to more fanfare than is customary. Neil mentioned Obama White House photographer Pete Souza’s Instagram account and his recently published book of photos of President Obama. Niki commented on Andrew Jackson’s official portrait by Ralph E. W. Earl. Natalia referenced this Slate interview with art historians about the Obama portraits.
- The Gerber Baby, for the first time, has Down syndrome. Natalia shared David Perry’s Pacific Standard articleadvocating Gerber go further in working toward disability rights and the historical timeline written by the National Association for Downs Syndrome.
- Sanitation is dangerous, crucial work, as a recent New York Times op-ed argued. Natalia cited Kiera Feldman’s Mother Jones article about the history of the industry, and Neil discussed Martin Luther King Jr.’s involvement in the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike, including his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech.
In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:
- Neil discussed William R. Black’s Atlantic article, “Abraham Lincoln’s Secret Visits to Slaves.”
- Natalia shared the podcast Atlanta Monster.
- Niki talked about the history of marshmallows as chronicled in Jesse Rhodes’ Smithsonian article, “It’s a Marshmallow World.”
Also for you:
The Creative Class Rises Again
When first published in 2002, The Rise of the Creative Class quickly established its autho...
When first published in 2002, The Rise of the Creative Class quickly established its autho...
Ordnance as Ordinance
On Thursday, April 13, 2017, over an “abandoned” village in Afghanistan, near Achin and no...
On Thursday, April 13, 2017, over an “abandoned” village in Afghanistan, near Achin and no...
The Politics of Incorporation
In recent decades, contemporary political philosophy has pathologized the psychological pr...
In recent decades, contemporary political philosophy has pathologized the psychological pr...
Hayden White
Hayden White, who passed away this week at the age of 89, was a teacher and friend of mine...
Hayden White, who passed away this week at the age of 89, was a teacher and friend of mine...