It seems astonishing what we Baby Boomers were taught in grammar school about George Washington—you know, the story about the cherry tree and not telling a lie. Eventually we learned the story itself was a lie, as surely as we learned Santa Claus was a myth. Some myths die harder than others and the story of George Washington and the cherry tree persists to this day, so much so that the latest generation of Washington biographers must continue to debunk the tale.  In “Cincinn

Below are their views on slavery, of the seven most influential Founding Fathers: GEORGE WASHINGTON Washington was born at a time when slavery had yet to be questioned anywhere in the colonies.  As a young man, he was a tough task master, but as he grew older he began to change.  Whippings stopped.  He encouraged marriage among slaves, and to keep families together resolved not to sell or trade slaves without their consent. Since consent was rarely given, the General found h

The three men I admire most . . . To Thomas Jefferson, they were Francis Bacon, John Locke and Isaac Newton. They were, the Virginian proclaimed, “the three greatest men who have ever lived, without exception .” Strong words. Who were the three greatest men who have ever lived, without exception? ” FRANCIS BACON (1561-1626) - To some, Francs Bacon was the real author of Shakespeare’s plays. He was himself a noted playwright, and a player in Queen Elizabeth’s court, by turns

Their names may not be easily recognizable, but each of these Southern Ladies has left an indelible mark on American history. Their names are Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Helen Keller.  Harriet Tubman is slated to have her face replace that of Andrew Jackson on the twenty dollar bill. Rosa Parks and Helen Keller, both natives of Alabama, will be the first women to have their faces be depicted on the Capitol grounds in Montgomery. Harriet Tubman (1820-1913) was born into

The vital lesson of the Civil Rights Movement, is that all of the people who tried to stop it are largely forgotten, while a National Holiday celebrates Civil Rights' leader Martin Luther King's Birthday.  His right hand man was Andrew Young, who was shouldered with "the dirty work" of getting things done. A gentle, singular man of infinite wisdom and undeniable integrity, Mr. Young led an remarkably diverse life.  Not only was he a key player in the Civil Rights Movement, h

It’s the most famous room in the world.  It’s where Presidents address the nation, especially in times of crisis.  It’s the room where history is made.  It’s the Oval Office in the West Wing of the White House. At one end of the Oval Office, filling in the southern curve, behind the President’s desk, are three great windows, each eleven and-a-half feet high, with special layered glass designed to stop an assassin’s bullet.  Visible through the windows is a great white marble

Before adjourning in September, the First Congress of the United States had resolved that President George Washington should proclaim a national day of thanksgiving.  Thus, on October 3, George Washington issued a proclamation assigning November 26, 1789, as Thanksgiving Day.  This would be the first national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated in the United States. The first presidential mansion, known as "The Palace" At the time, the nation's capital was located in Lower

It was the usual night for an AA meeting, this particular one in a room over a Rescue Squad station, in Scotch Plaines, NJ.  The meeting...

by Ken Makin On Culture In July, my wife, young kids, and I went on a brief summer vacation to the Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange, Georgia....

The Aug 27 shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota saw hundreds of Minnesotans come together to support the affected...

Book Review:   A Great Improvisation, by Stacy Schiff Yet another trip across the Atlantic was the last thing Benjamin Franklin wanted...

Historian Jon Meacham was concerned for our democracy when in 2016 populist candidate Donald Trump was elected president, particularly...

The first thing you need to know about John Lewis is that he always wanted to be a preacher.  The second thing you need to know is that the goal of the 1960's Civil Rights movement--of which Lewis was a key player--was for African Americans to achieve equality before the law, as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and that included the right to vote.  The author of this book, Jon Meacham, is a Pulitzer-Prize winning writer, who has produced a number of best-selling books, no

by Ken Makin, cultural commentator, The Christian Science Monitor Weekly, week of May 25, 2025 Stepping foot on Claflin University's...

Their names do not roll off the tongue with the familiarity of, say, John, Paul, George and Ringo—the Fab Four Beatles.  But in their...

There was so much that neeed to be overcome--a mountain of prejudice in the form of state-required segregation (a.k.a. Jim Crow), of...

At the outbreak of World War II, Chrysler Corporation was awarded the lucrative government contract to build U.S. Army Tanks. To do so,...

Frederick Douglass was a man of many parts.  Born into slavery, he rose from bondage and forced labor, to become a self-educated man, a...

The first time Arshay Cooper laid his eyes on one of the "long, thin, snazzy white boats" of crew racing was in the gym at Manley Career...

DAY ONE -- My wife Cindy has her office in Lower Manhattan, or in Downtown (as the locals have it). It's where the financial district is...