LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Monday, February 2, 2009

Ms. Franklin's Inaugural Hat, Consequences

This bothered me so much I finally sent an e-mail and copied my blogspot entry to their blog, about them and the Hat at "Doin' Time" about their stupid behavior around Ms. Franklin's hat. (Here's that original entry.)

Today, Ron Kuby read a part of my blog entry on air, and then went on to explain the history about Church Lady hats and tignons, and New Orleans laws that demanded women of color keep their heads covered.

Kuby still insists though they weren't making fun of the hat, but having fun with the hat. But I'm still not convinced.

Evidently too, I wasn't the only one calling out their idiocy, which I'm glad to learn.

But he and his staff at least now know more than they did before.

Update: The Smithsonian wants Ms. Franklin's hat for their Inaugural dresses collection.

So I e-mailed Ron Kuby the link to that too.

She thinks she wants to keep that hat. That hat is HISTORY in every way, and deserves its place as a family heirloom.

Ms. Franklin was so aware she was standing there, where Marian Anderson stood to sing back in 1939 outside the Lincoln Memorial, after the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) had her barred from singing in Washington D.C. 's Constitution Hall because she was black. Anderson also sang the National Anthem on that occasion.

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