The Navajo Code-talkers of WW2

This is a fascinating article on the death of the last original Navajo Code Talker of WW2. Chester Nez died (or to use the Navajo phrase 'walked on') this week at the age of 93. During the War, 29 Navajo men developed a code in their own language that Japanese forces could not break, which helped the US Army win the War in the Pacific. The mission was so secret the Code Talkers could not talk about their role until 23 years after 1945.

It's fascinating to consider this aspect of American history, considering that Chester was banned from speaking his native language at his boarding school. He released a memoir a couple of years ago - the only Code Talker to do so - and it's now sitting in my Amazon basket….

Read more athttp://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/06/04/he-was-their-last-original-voice-code-talker-chester-nez-walks-155152

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/06/04/he-was-their-last-original-voice-code-talker-chester-nez-walks-155152

Lewis and Clark!

The story of Lewis and Clark is one of the most fascinating sagas in American history. It's my dream to one day travel along the Lewis and Clark trail from start to finish - Missouri all the way west to the Oregon Coast and back again. I've travelled sections of it but to do the whole thing? Magic.

A new blog post by the Smithsonian of DC has highlighted that Lewis and Clark have only become famous in the last 150 years. Indeed, for decades after their original journey (1804-6) their names were nearly forgotten. The third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, had always been curious about the 'West', a vast and relatively unmapped land. He wanted to learn more about his country, from the topography and the wildlife to Native American tribes. Once the Louisiana Purchase had been completed in 1803, Jefferson sent Meriweather Lewis and William Clark on an incredible mission to the west coast in an attempt to find a Northwest Passage. Although they failed in this mission, Jefferson - ever the pragmatist - worked hard to ensure it was not seen as such by the East.

Later expeditions failed to mention Lewis and Clark and it wasn't until the early twentieth century that their mission was 'rediscovered' by explorers and historians. The centennial celebration of their exploration was celebrated (particularly in Oregon) but it wasn't until the 1950s that they were remembered as heroes. More effort has also been made to focus on the interaction with Native American tribes and the instrumental contribution of Sacagawea, the interpreter and guide for the expedition.

Read more:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-did-lewis-and-clark-expect-find-180951467/?no-ist

Natchez and Slavery

I read the following article with interest, as it deals with the interpretation of slavery in Natchez, Mississippi. I spent a couple of days in Natchez last summer, and it was one of the most, shall we say, interesting places I visited. I crammed a lot in my two days, ticking off plantations and historic sites with military precision. The best part of the short trip though, was visiting the African American History Museum. I spoke with the Director there for a good two hours, and it was really educational to hear his perspective on racism in the South and how plantations unwilling to address their past in terms of slavery. (You can read more about my trip in a previous blog post, http://astudentofclio.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/deep-south-pt-5-from-slave-auctions-to.html) 

The article raises the question that ignoring slavery is not enough anymore - deeply embedded racial problems still persist, and there are some among the younger generation who are impatient with this nostalgic, 'Spring Pilgrimage' idea of the Deep South. It is a subject I would like to read more about, and can only offer my own opinions in what I have seen or heard (small and humble as they are). Most of the plantations I visited did not address slavery adequately, if at all. Unfortunately, this nostalgia for the antebellum period sells. Most of the tourists who hire a Southern Belle tour guide are white and do not hear about - or do not ask - how the plantation owner was able to afford such a luxurious home (or really I should say homes, because many slaveowners had at least two properties, some even had five or six along the Mississippi). People might be reluctant to bring up the 'slavery question' because it deals with race, and perhaps this territory is to close to home, too close to the present. It might, God forbid, open up a can of worms. But denying a part of history, and an integral part of a historical site's past, is just plain wrong. Regardless of how 'difficult' the question is in the present. It should offer an opportunity to confront these questions, to throw down the metaphorical gauntlet and challenge people to confront their present through their past, or in fact, the other way around. Education is the way forward, and historical sites must be at the forefront of this revolution. The difficulty is of course, historical sites have to be run as a business, and the fear is that if they change their program, visitor numbers may decrease. Is this a risk worth taking?

Follow the link below for the article in question:

http://www.alternet.org/culture/parts-south-glorifying-slavery-no-longer-pays-bills?paging=off&current_page=1#bookmark

British Pathe uploads 85,000 film clips to YouTube

In another great example of the benefits of Public History, British Pathe have uploaded 85,000 historical films to YouTube (that's over 3,500 hours of footage!) A Heritage Lottery Fund grant, given in 2002, was instrumental for experts to digitise the collection. The films range in date from 1896 to 1976 and include Emily Davison's tragic stunt at the Derby in 1913, the Hindenburg Disaster and Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. There is a wealth of information here, and this project should be praised for its cultural and historical significance.

This is one of my favourites - Men building the Empire State Building, NY, 1930. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcq2HzadZRw&list=PL3kG3TM8jFKhYvJWIjqMbyydtwj6aZnig

I need to dedicate a day watching some of these. Fantastic stuff.

History in the gaming industry

A new chinese video game features characters shooting Japanese prisoners of war, and I'm not joking when I say it's actually called 'Shoot the Devils.' (I think the Chinese nationalists are missing a bit of subtlety there.) The worst thing about this however, is that the creators behind the game urge players to "remember history." Oh dear.

Obviously it says a lot about the relationship between China and Japan, and how the legacy of the Second World War remains a touchy subject. Current debates over territorial claims are not helping the situation. This, as if we needed any more proof, shows how the past is inevitably woven into the present. How can anyone argue that history is irrelevant and should be forgotten? Everything we do in the present is shaped by past events. We, as individuals, are made from our ancestors, the way we live our lives and even in the way we think is all conditioned by what has gone before. Public history can be a dangerous beast, and it is often used and abused by politicians and nationalists, as in this example. On many occasions, the passage of time does not improve international relations. It will be interesting to analyse the popularity of the game in China and to see the response in Japan...

http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/27/videogame-uses-japanese-war-criminals-as-targets/?_php=true&_type=blogs&action=click&module=Search&region=searchResults%231&version=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fquery.nytimes.com%2Fsearch%2Fsitesearch%2F%3Faction%3Dclick%26region%3DMasthead%&_r=0

WW1 on the London Stage

The following article from Reuters is an interesting look at the World War One-inspired plays in London. Recently, the 'Blackadder' version of the war - i.e., soldiers being sent over the top as cannon fodder - has come under fire from historians (pun intended). They argue that the British army was fully aware of the huge death toll and desperately tried to prevent it. The introduction of tank warfare is an example of this (something I learned at the Tank Museum in Dorset, courtesy of my wonderful friend Felicity). This argument however, has not found favour in the public eye, as many prefer to view the First World War as a tragic, wasted conflict when compared to the 'just' Second World War. When politicians like Michael Gove wade in the debate, it does nothing but complicate the already tense divide between these two conflicting perspectives. The battle will rage on during the next four years, but it is important to look at both arguments. The 'Blackaddder' version may be more dramatic and popular but that does not mean it is right. Of course, to most in the entertainment industry, what matters is what sells.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/04/us-theatre-worldwarone-idUSBREA230PT20140304

The Largest Slave Revolt in the US

Louisiana has a dark past. One inevitably intertwined with the history of enslavement, brutality and death. Many stories remain lost, undiscovered or hidden; when I visited Destrehan Plantation, 40-50 miles from that vibrant, soulful city of New Orleans, I learned about a little-known slave revolt in 1811. I had never heard of this, despite researching the theme of slave revolts for a university essay. After my visit I purchased a book by Daniel Rasmussen, which I have just devoured in the last few days in my lunch hour. It is an amazing book, and it should be on every university reading list for American history. Rasmussen not only describes the revolt in detail, but also weaves together its consequences with the history of American expansion and how African American history is remembered through a filtered lens. 

In January 1811, Charles Deslondes, Koot and Quamana, slaves on neighbouring plantations outside New Orleans, led a revolt of 200-500 slaves against their masters. Deslondes began by hacking the son of his owner to death and marched in the direction of the city. Mass panic ensued. As news spread from plantation to plantation, (sometimes betrayed by fellow slaves, hoping their loyalty would win them favour), the white population fled into the swamps or made for New Orleans as well. Refugees led a 9 mile traffic jam into the city to escape these insurgents. Federal troops were called to protect New Orleans -  an action which confirmed the young American republic as a slave nation – but the French plantation owners decided to take matters into their own hands. 80 white men, armed to the teeth with muskets rode out to meet the slaves and charged – only half of the slave army had guns and this exchange was little more than a massacre. The planters fired and hacked the wounded to pieces. They unleashed bloodhounds to chase Deslondes and after one seized him in the chest, the vengeful planters broke both his legs, severed his head and burned his body. The other ring leaders were rounded up for trial and over one hundred were executed. Their heads were stuck on pikes and placed all along the River Road from New Orleans, reminding the enslaved of the authority of white men. This revolt was suppressed quickly and brutally; William Claiborne, the governor of the New Orleans territory prevented the revolt from being a talking point in Congress and so avoided a national discussion. The country’s largest slave revolt was lost to the history books.

This injustice deserves to be righted. These men fought for freedom and equality, and were prepared to die for it. But why have these men been forgotten? Rasmussen makes the point that the non-violent Martin Luther King has been remembered but men like Deslondes – who challenged the status quo – do not fit with American ideals and thus, ignored. Deslondes and his army were freedom fighters and Rasmussen puts them in context with other powerful black figures who tried to seize their freedom – like the black slaves who fled plantations when the Union army came to the Louisiana shore, or those who fought in the black regiments in the Union. This book strikes at the very heart of the debates within American society – over the hypocrisy of American society, its willingness to hide those who are not ‘safe’ to remember and above all what Americans were prepared to do to protect their ‘domestic institution’ = slavery.

Prehistoric Reconstruction

Follow the link below to see a truly amazing sight - the facial reconstruction of a prehistoric man. I love the power of science, and it is incredible to look upon the face of someone who actually existed thousands of years ago. His face is reconstructed from a skeleton near Stonehenge, although the man lived long before the settlement there. It is estimated he was between 25-40 when he died, and scientists believe it was an infectious disease that killed him. Visitors can see his face at the new visitor centre at Stonehenge, costing a whopping £27 million.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24811-stonehenge-man-not-just-a-pretty-face.html#.UtLN_KXGmFJ

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

I visited Portsmouth Historic Dockyard today with my parents, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was. I'm not a massive fan of naval history, but it was so interesting learning about Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar, the Mary Rose and the HMS Warrior. We had an hour tour around the HMS Victory, Nelson's ship, which is the oldest commissioned war ship in the world. It was built in 1765, so the ship was forty years old when Nelson lost his life at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st October 1805. 821 men served on the ship, and it was amazing to see how the ship had been designed to accompany this amount of men, plus the food, the cannons and gunpowder. Our tour guide brought the history to life, describing the daily life of a man on the ship, how a wound would be treated, showing us where Nelson slept and explaining the different punishments the men would face. (The phrase 'let the cat out of the bag' comes from the idea that the cat o 'nine tails was taken up in a bag to the top deck when someone was to be punished, and it would be taken out of the bag and then used on the offender - usually between 12 and 48 times. The other phrase, 'no room to swing a cat' also comes from this - this punishment was always administered on the top deck to show men they would be wise not to misbehave but also because there was no room to flog an offender below deck - hence, no room to swing a cat o' nine tails.)

From there we visited the Royal Navy Museum and had a quick walk around the HMS Warrior in the rain. The ship was commissioned in 1861 but "never fired its cannon in anger." It was the fastest and most powerful ship at the time and acted as a deterrent to other nations. Don't mess with the Warrior, basically.

The new Mary Rose Museum was also open. £35 million had been spent on preserving the wreckage and creating the museum, and I can honestly say it was worth it. The exhibition describes how the ship was built and it has recreated a passageway so you can walk alongside the wreckage. The ship sank in 1545, and at the moment air is continually pumped out to preserve the remains. It will take four years to dry, and it was so interesting to see the wooden planks where hundreds of men would have walked up and down, shouting and obeying orders, and chillingly, where they met their death. (Only 35 survived when the crew numbered roughly 600). The artefacts were incredible - plates, cutlery, shoes, cannons, cannon balls, books, chests, jewellery - the list is endless. What I found the most fascinating however, was the facial reconstructions of some of the crew members. Several skeletons had been analysed and archaeologists estimated what they looked like and their professions. For example, the face of the master carpenter had been reconstructed and it was possible to tell he liked archery (from wear on his bones), he was literate (books were found in his berth), he was in his 30s and 5ft 7inches; an abscess in his jaw meant he could only chew on the right side of his mouth and he had arthritis in his spine and ribs. INCREDIBLE to have this amount of detail. It takes us one step closer to the past, to know what a man might have been like - what someone liked to do or felt at a particular time. The museum also described an archer, a cook, an accountant - all from their bones.

Such a wonderful visit and a reminder to me, if it's necessary, that history stirs my soul.

Glorification or a sombre commemoration?

Michael Morpurgo has written an article in The Guardian about the commemoration of the First World War, which will take centre stage this year for the 100th anniversary of its beginning. But what form should the commemoration take? Should we celebrate the start of one of the most horrific conflicts of our age? Or should we just commemorate the end, in 1918? 

Morpurgo describes how "destruction wreaked" the country and the terrible burden of grief tore families apart. Speaking with World War One veterans inspired Morpurgo to write 'War Horse', and he eloquently writes:

"To tell the story is the only way we have left to remember, and the only way to pass it on. And it is important to pass it on, important for the men who died on all sides, all now unknown soldiers, for those who suffered long afterwards and grieved all their lives. And important for us too. If they gave their todays for our tomorrows, then, I am sure, after all they went through, and died for, they would wish to see us doing all we can to create a world of peace and goodwill, a world that one day will turn its back on war for good. It is through their words and our stories that we must and will remember this and remember them. Then we really will be honouring their memory.

In 2014, as we begin to mark the centenary of the first world war, we should honour those who died, most certainly, and gratefully too, but we should never glorify. We should heed the words of those who were there, who did the fighting, and some of them the dying. Wilf Ellis, Harry Patch, Sassoon, Thomas and Owen. Siegfried Sassoon wrote of "the callous complacency" of those back home who wished only to prolong the war, no matter what the cost. To Wilfred Owen, the words Horace had used to glorify war centuries before, "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" – how sweet and fitting it is to die for your country – were simply "the old lie".

I couldn't agree more.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/01/first-world-war-centenary-michael-morpurgo

"Britain's Black Power Movement in danger of being forgotten"

This article from the Guardian is essential reading. The authors of a new book about the Black Power Movement in Britain argue that this history is in danger of being forgotten because it does not 'fit' with the country's idea of itself as a progressive nation. We present ourselves as a freedom-loving country, one that is free and has always been free from racism and discrimination. Of course, this is not true. What I find bizarre is that the African American Civil Rights Movement is studied in schools - very important, don't get me wrong - but Britain's black Civil Rights Movement is completely ignored. Something needs to change.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/27/britain-black-power-movement-risk-forgotten-historians

Myths of Thanksgiving

Did the Pilgrims wear black? Eat Turkey? Land at Plymouth rock at all?

Some great facts here: http://hnn.us/article/406