H-SHEAR (the network for historians studying the early American republic, during the period 1775 to 1860), in association with Cornell University Press, will hold a U.S. in the World Series Authors in Conversation event, “National Imaginaries and Identities in the Global 19th Century.” The event is a discussion of The Greek Fire: American-Ottoman Relations and Democratic Fervor in the Age of Revolutions, by Maureen Santelli, and Pursuing Respect in the Cannibal Isles: Americans in Nineteenth-Century Fiji, by UConn History’s own Professor Nancy Shoemaker. Santelli and Shoemaker will be joined by Judy Tzu-Chun Wu.

The conversation will happen on Friday, March at 12 PM EST. It will occur on Zoom and you must register to attend. You can do so here.

UConn History’s own Professor Manisha Sinha is no stranger to having her work appear in print and read by large audiences. But this week, Professor Sinha had articles published in not one, but two places: CNN and The New York Review of Books.

On Monday, February 1, CNN published Professor Sinha’s thoughts about Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem, “The Hill We Climb,” and how to her, it summoned the story of enslaved early American poet, Phillis Wheatley. Professor Sinha explored Wheatley’s remarkable story, criticisms Gorman and her poem have received, and the ugly history of denying Black women access to the mainstream literary canon. Professor Sinha explained this dark history but also revealed that Gorman and her work beautifully captured the unending yet hopeful Black struggle for acceptance in American democracy.

Then on Wednesday, February 3, The New York Review of Books published Sinha’s “The Case for a Third Reconstruction.” In her essay, Sinha argued that the American Republic is always in danger whenever white supremacist sedition and violence is not confronted and defeated.

We encourage you to read both of Professor Sinha’s articles and share with friends.

Yesterday you might have heard an unmistakable voice on the radio: UConn History’s own Professor Micki McElya. Professor McElya appeared on National Public Radio’s (NPR) All Things Considered to talk about the four hundred lights, around the Lincoln Memorial, honoring the 400,000 people in the U.S. who have died from COVID-19. Across the country, many cities and states took the moment to commemorate the staggering death toll of the disease that has wrecked countless families and communities. Professor McElya spoke with All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly about collective mourning and how sharing grief can bring people together.

This is a wonderful interview with Professor McElya. Do yourself a favor and find five minutes today to listen. Follow the link for their conversation and share it with someone close to you.

 

Congratulations to UConn History Professor Dexter Gabriel (under his nom de plume P. Djéli Clark) whose novel, Ring Shout, was selected by National Public Radio (NPR) to appear on their Best Books of 2020 list.

NPR Books editor, Petra Mayer, wrote:

“In P. Djéli Clark’s version of the Jim Crow South, The Birth of a Nation wasn’t just a movie – it was a summoning spell that brought the pointy headed, pale-skinned demons called Ku Kluxes to Earth to feed off the hatred of human Klansmen. Standing against the Klan are demon-hunters Maryse, Sadie and Chef, backed by the power of the ring shouts, chants led by the old Gullah woman Nana Jean. But hatred goes both ways, and Maryse must learn how to use her own before the demons do. Ring Shout is a novella, but it packs cinematic excitement, shuddering body horror, real history and wrenching emotion into its short length.”

This book sounds incredible and a must-read. Well done, Professor Gabriel, and again, congrats on this incredible honor!

An op-ed by James L. and Shirley A. Draper Chair in American History Professor Manisha Sinha is prominently featured on CNN.com. The essay notes similarities and differences between the 1860 and 2020 U.S. Presidential Elections.

As Professor Sinha writes, “The one underlying commonality that binds these two historic presidential elections is the conviction that it is American democracy — rather than just opposing presidential candidates — that is on the ballot.”

Do give this excellent article a read. To read the op-ed, click the link. If you enjoy the op-ed, please share.

 

UConn History Professor Brendan Kane, working with Assistant Professor of Human Rights and Education Glenn Mitoma, aided CT Humanities in winning a $50,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Kane and Mitoma are co-directors of the Democracy & Dialogues Initiative (D&DI) and this Mellon grant will fund further D&DI programming. The initiative presents programming designed to provide frameworks for meaningful discussion around often difficult and divisive topics, instruction on civic processes and participation, and avenues that ensure access for all citizens to value and participate fully in our democracy.

Congratulations, Professor Kane on this incredible news. For more information about this latest honor for Professor Kane, please click the following link.