Academic Rants

 About 14 months ago, I wrote about using the Black Death as a model to explain pandemics to Americans. In that time period some of the world's best minds have written books, published articles and given print and video interviews about pandemics and the killing power of COVID-19 and similar viruses. Yet, in the greatest nation on earth, people are still treating this virus like it is the common cold or the flu.  Praise President Trump for Operation Warp Speed. His administration supported the scientific community in producing vaccines at an amazing pace. In less than a year, scientists have produced medical solutions that can limit the greater risks associated with COVID. Criticize President Trump for downplaying the potency of the disease, adding to the hesitancy about a cure, and failing to advocate taking the vaccine. In fact, if there is one reason to not support a 2024 Trump presidency it would be the conversations with Bob Woodward, his promotion of phony cures, his nea...

 As a member or former member of several of these organizations, I am proud to share this document that was recently published by the AHA. I constantly advocate for a more honest teaching of American history. I want to see it reflected in K-12 education, on college campuses, and on national examinations. I want my students who will become future educators to be better prepared than those who taught me. It sickens me that so many students know little more about Native Americans than Thanksgiving or Columbus than a poem, or slavery than the words of Frederick Douglass. Students will not think badly of themselves just for learning that America created a Chinese Exclusion Act or Operation Wetback. However, they will feel differently if they don't learn about it in school and learn about it as an adult. Prejudice and racism can be minimized or even eliminated through quality education. There are several groups who are dedicated to teaching American history in a more enlightened manner. ...

  On June 18 1865 General Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston, Texas. He had just finished successful campaigns on the Gulf of Mexico recapturing Union forts. His next mission was to subdue the rebellion in Texas. The next day, on June 19th, he changed the last stages of the Civil War by reading several orders from the Ashton Villa. Yet, most only recall Order #3 which gives rise to Juneteenth, which is now celebrated as “the official end of slavery” in the United States. The order read: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military...