History Archives

Soviet Labor Camps: Insights From The Gulag Archipelago

What were Soviet labor camps designed to do? How were they like Nazi death camps? What happened to released prisoners? The Gulag Archipelago is a work of historical nonfiction that describes life in Soviet labor camps, popularly known as gulags, in the USSR from the late 1910s to the mid-50s. Prisoners such as author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn were arrested on minor or fabricated charges, tortured and robbed, and held in camps for decades. Keep reading to learn how gulags subjected prisoners to forced labor, physical abuse, long prison terms, and exile.

Razor Blades in Halloween Candy: What Is Halloween Sadism?

How worried should you be about razor blades in Halloween candy or other forms of tampering? What is Halloween sadism? From razor blades in Halloween candy to poisoned Pixy Stix to rainbow fentanyl—fear about tainted Halloween candy persists. However, before you get too worried, you should know how much of this urban legend is true. Read on to learn about the origins of razor blades in Halloween candy, Halloween sadism, and how to tell fact from fiction.

Ibram X. Kendi: Racism in the Age of Enlightenment

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How did the Enlightenment movement challenge racism? What were the major antiracist developments of the Enlightenment period? According to Ibram X. Kendi, the author of Stamped from the Beginning, the Enlightenment period contains the first examples of antislavery sentiment and attempts to challenge racism. Enlightenment thinkers promoted political ideals of democracy and universal equality, which opposed the institution of racism. Keep reading to learn about racism in the age of Enlightenment.

What Were Jim Crow Laws and How Were They Applied?

What were Jim Crow laws and how were they applied? When did Jim Crow segregation start and end? Between 1890 and 1910, Southern states passed laws called Jim Crow laws that allowed segregation and severely limited Black civil liberties. These laws stayed in effect until 1965. Keep reading to learn about Jim Crow laws and their lingering effects to this day.

Uplift Suasion: You Can’t Persuade Away Racism

What is “uplift suasion”? What is the problem with trying to challenge racism by way of persuasion? Uplift suasion is a way of addressing racism that is premised on disproving the stereotypes associated with Black people. Although uplift suasion is meant to combat racism, it does precisely the opposite: it perpetuates racist ideas by imposing the white standard. Here’s why the logic behind uplift suasion is inherently racist, according to Ibram X. Kendi.

Ibram X. Kendi Quotes (Stamped From the Beginning)

Are you looking for Stamped From the Beginning quotes by Ibram X. Kendi? What are some of the most noteworthy passages worth revisiting? In Stamped From the Beginning, Ibram X. Kendi argues that racist ideas don’t give rise to racist policies. Policies come first, and racist ideas are invented and perpetuated to justify them. Kendi, an African American Studies scholar, develops this claim by analyzing the history of racist ideas in the United States and offering readers a better understanding of how to combat contemporary racism. Below is a selection of Ibram X. Kendi’s quotes with explanations.

The Myth of Postracialism: How It Evolved & Why It’s Wrong

Was the Civil Rights Act a victory over racism? How did postracialism undermine antiracist positions? As the post-Civil Rights era settled in, the myth of postracialism overtook American consciousness. According to Ibram X. Kendi, the author of Stamped From the Beginning, the idea of postracialism is an inherently racist concept because it obscures racist policies and their effects. Here’s how the idea of postracialism evolved—and why it’s wrong.

How the Luddite Movement Lives on With Neo-Luddites

What was the “Luddite” movement? What is a “neo-Luddite”? Why are some people turning against technology? As technology advances at an unprecedented speed, a growing number of neo-Luddites are urging caution about what we use and how we use it. According to them, we need to stop adopting new technologies mindlessly and start questioning their potential consequences. Read on for an overview of the Luddite movement and learn how neo-Luddites are continuing the fight against technology.

In the Name of God: Justifying Slavery by Divine Salvation

How did slave owners justify slavery? What role did religion play in perpetuating the institution of slavery? One of the earliest justifications for enslaving Black Americans was the belief that white enslavers could save Black souls by converting them to Christianity. By that logic, if Blacks accepted Christianity, their souls would be absolved of their inherent immorality. Here’s how religious rhetoric was used for justifying slavery.

A History of Organizations: From Kingdoms to Corporations

How have organizations changed over time? What accounts for these changes? Where are organizations headed next? In order to understand the future shape of organizations, it’s important to look at how they’ve developed. In Reinventing Organizations, Frédéric Laloux traces a series of paradigm shifts in organizational structure over the past 10,000 years, arguing that each transition goes hand in hand with a change in how we think about the world. Continue reading to understand the history of organizations from ancient kingdoms to modern corporations.