Scott RankinMar 8, 2023
Joanne Freeman

I have NO patience for people who claim that historians should be producing traditional scholarship and not addressing the public.

Historians should be engaging with EVERY public.

Talking about democracy.

Teaching about democracy.

Highlighting the gaslighting & correcting the whitewashing.

If ever there was a time for historians to step up & engage with the public for the sake of American democracy, it's NOW.

#history #histodons #education #democracy

Mar 8, 2023 at 4:20amWeb
Show threadAbandoned AmericaMar 8, 2023
@jbf1755 100% yes. All disciplines must, but historians serve as both the stewards of the lessons of the past and those who must remind us of the tragedies we have already created through our nistakes
Show threadSweynForkbeardMar 8, 2023
@jbf1755 Maybe you should do a podcast. You could team up with another prominent historian to make it easier. Let me know if you need help with a name; I’m good at thinking of these things every Now and Then.
Show threadJoanne FreemanMar 8, 2023
@SweynForkbeard 🤣
Show threadMerryAnnMar 8, 2023
@jbf1755 Thank you for the entertaining education with HCR. Love Tuesdays when a new episode/edition is released!!
Show threadMorganaMar 8, 2023
@jbf1755 Please… to help save us by education and example…. History happens NOW, not just on the past….
Show threadPennyAK1Mar 8, 2023
@jbf1755 YES!
Show threadAral BalkanMar 8, 2023
@jbf1755 Or even for the sake of democracy in general. As true out of America as it is inside it.
Show threadg.w.cohrs Mar 8, 2023
@jbf1755 I've never understood that idea. If we don't engage with the public, then what's the point? Then why are we even studying and exploring the past? So we can debate among ourselves like gnostic monks secluded in our mountain monasteries? That seems to be the fastest way to irrelevance and dissolution. Don't we do exactly what we do for the public? So as a society we understand ourselves better and why we are the way we are? But then again I'm just a lowly public historian, what do I know?
Show threadMatthias KrämerMar 8, 2023
@jbf1755 "traditional scholarship" is a fun term, taking into consideration that it is very traditional for historical scholars throughout history to address the public and engage in political things.
Show threadnewsorpigalMar 8, 2023

@jbf1755

They should also speak up about the people American democracy has killed. All those people in Vietnam or in the Middle East Americans so cheerfully murdered.

Show threadYahia LababidiMar 8, 2023

@jbf1755 Thank you, for daring to care, educating the public and reminding us of our higher allegiances to one another 🙏🏼✨

"The past is never dead. It's not even past.” — William Faulkner

#history #histodons #politics #news

Show threadSameerMar 8, 2023
@jbf1755 across the world I'd say - before the generations to come don't realize history isn't on chgpt
Show threadAnn FMar 8, 2023

@jbf1755

I think those who insist that historians stay inside "traditional scholarship" are afraid of being compared and contrasted to other historical figures or moments.

Might I share a great site/newsletter/Mastodon account where all kinds of academics engage and make their discoveries accessible and relevant?

https://theconversation.com/

https://newsie.social/@TheConversationUS

The Conversation: In-depth analysis, research, news and ideas from leading academics and researchers.

Curated by professional editors, The Conversation offers informed commentary and debate on the issues affecting our world. Plus a Plain English guide to the latest developments and discoveries from the university and research sector.

The Conversation
Show threadJack of all tradesMar 8, 2023

@jbf1755

#USA exported so much #democracy over the years it's high time it imported some of it back.

Show threadDr Susi ArnottMar 8, 2023
@jbf1755 - in parallel with scientists at our time of #ClimateEmergency @ScientistRebellion
Show threadRicki Yasha TarrMar 9, 2023
@jbf1755 Historians already know what's going to happen, heck, I'm not a Historian, but I've read enough to know where we are heading. It's an important resource!
Show threadLuke MacNeilMar 10, 2023

@jbf1755 I agree with you, though I don't think democracy should necessarily be the cornerstone of historic outreach.

Democracy is kind of a cool idea and we've proven how mediocre it works out in practice over centuries.

There's way more to history than democracy and capitalism.
Historians should focus on what actually happened in the past, not the story of what we wish happened in the past.

Show threadDancingwiththebelovedMar 10, 2023
@jbf1755 yes!
Show threadAdam JezardMar 10, 2023

@jbf1755

If some could find time to speak up on behalf of British, and indeed western democracy, too, it would be greatly appreciated.

Show threadSimon I Groove musicallyMar 11, 2023
@jbf1755 Ambivalence toward history is for people who know exactly why they want to forget their pasts.
Show threadInvincible_Fall in meMar 12, 2023
@jbf1755 So agree.