The end of the Cold War presented an opportunity for American foreign policy to turn away from militarism and toward cooperative development. The COVID-19 pandemic is the latest consequence of failing to secure a "peace dividend."
When Donald Trump hinted that injecting "disinfectants" could cure COVID-19, he was displaying a lack of critical thinking skill that is endemic in a society where learning is valued only in economic, rather than civic, terms.
A historian of criminal justice contends that two conceptual boundaries--between North and South and between lynching and police force--help conceal the racist violence in the American system of justice.
A University of Maryland professor urges this spring's history graduates to "place skills you have learned here in service of defending and developing the search for truth that we need to move from catastrophe to recovery."
Historically the powerful have described deaths from disease and starvation as "natural" to hide the political nature of suffering and their own responsibility. To mourn is to fight this erasure.
We are going to hear much in the near future about the dangers of Chinese ambition. World leaders would be well advised, however, to prepare for the dangers of internal Chinese instability.
Treasury Secretary William McAdoo was a presidential son-in-law whose knowledge, experience, and belief in the role of government made him an effective public servant.
John F. Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917. Although much of the Camelot ideal was mythical, Kennedy's optimism and purposefulness are nevertheless missed today.
The economic logic of efficiency is responsible for the severity and deadliness of the Coronavirus outbreak in both meatpacking plants and nursing homes.
Little Richard left a lasting musical and cultural legacy because of his talent and his willingness to be more boldly black and sexual than other artists dared.
One of the few bright features of the past two months has been the extent to which the pandemic crisis has clarified the real public need for historical perspectives.
Trump's comments praising Henry Ford's "bloodline" are no coincidence. Both men used the American cult of the businessman to amass power and wealth while championing the idea of racial hierarchy.
The history of the 2000s is a story of human resilience in the face of crisis. We must find ways to respond to disruption with mutual care and creativity.
A history professor argues that, even given the risks of COVID, the intellectual and social missions of higher education will be crippled if in-person education isn't resumed soon.
Will people struggling to get through a normal day be inspired by a renewed space program? Will either the government or the media commit for the long haul? At least I knew there was a time when we all had it in us. For the future, only time will tell.
Lynching and mob terrorism against African Americans have never been strictly southern phenomena, as a bloody incident from southern Illinois's histrory reveals.
