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

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Marcus Rediker Teaches His "The Slave Ship: A Human History" in Prison

If you haven't read any of Rediker's books, much less The Slave Ship, you need to, particularly if you have an interest of any kind in naval history. It's terrible reading, but necessary reading.

Rediker's was teaching his Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age, in Auburn prison, located in upstate New York, via a program sponsored by the Cornell University Prison Education Program (CPEP). This moved on by natural interest by the predominately black prisoners to his latest book, The Slave Ship.


He describes his experience, "Inside Auburn Prison: Teaching The Slave Ship to Prisoners," on Counterpunch, here.
 
That the predominately black prison population of this nation would be interested in these subjects is not surprising. How well educated they are in these matters, the lengths they go to learn these matters, might be surprising to some
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1 comment:

K. said...

Hey!

Stop by Citizen K. later today and piuck up your Honest Scrap award.

September 4, 2009 at 4:06 PM

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