Neoliberalism | US Political Polarization – The Cynical Historian

Neoliberalism is why we’ve become so unequal over the course of this party system. As a result, the US is more divided politically than most of us can remember. Characteristics that unify neoliberals are: -emphasis of individuality and rejection of groups -market liberalism and fiscal conservatism (which are kinda the same thing) -privatization of public

Let’s talk about Virginia, teachers, and protected speech – Beau of the Fifth Column

How and Why We Read: Crash Course English Literature #1

In which John Green kicks off the Crash Course Literature mini series with a reasonable set of questions. Why do we read? What’s the point of reading critically. John will argue that reading is about effectively communicating with other people. Unlike a direct communication though, the writer has to communicate with a stranger, through time

Asian Americans: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

John Oliver discusses the large and diverse group of people who fall under the term “Asian American”, the history of the model minority stereotype, and why our conversations on the subject need to be better-informed.

The Germantown Petition Against Slavery: Crash Course Black American History #5

In 1688, in Pennsylvania, a group of four men created the Germantown Petition, which made the case that slavery was immoral, and that it was inconsistent with Christian beliefs in general, and Quaker beliefs specifically. While the petition wasn’t ultimately adopted by the Quaker hierarchy, examining the document and its authors’ goals gives us a

Slave Codes: Crash Course Black American History #4

Slave codes were a method of protecting the investment of white enslavers in the Colonies by restricting the lives of enslaved people in almost every imaginable way. The codes restricted enslaved people’s ability to move around, or engage in commerce that could make them financially independent – they restricted the very opportunities that would allow

Elizabeth Key: Crash Course Black American History #3

The legal system can seem like a complicated tangle of arcane rules and loopholes, and it can sometimes seem like it is designed to confuse. But it is possible, with the right application, for the legal system to rectify injustices. Today we’re going to tell you about one instance of this, the story of Elizabeth

Let’s talk about cutting the mic on Memorial Day’s history – Beau of the Fifth Column

BBC sparks outrage after removing content following pressure from pro-Israel lobby

The BBC has removed a series of educational videos about Palestine and the origins of the ongoing Israeli occupation and ethnic cleansing, following pressure from a pro-Israel lobbyist organisation, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). The videos formed part of a 7-part GCSE Bitesize series, and were intended to teach school children the facts about the decades-long Israeli colonisation of

Tiananmen Massacre museum in HK closes down two days before event anniversary

Local authorities cited licensing ordinance from 1919 in closing down massacre museum A museum commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre in Beijing closed down indefinitely on Wednesday (June 2), after local authorities claimed it lacked a permit. The June 4 Museum, which had only reopened three days earlier after closing down in