History

Amalia Dache of the Graduate School of Education spoke about the history of racial disparities and injustices in Cuba. “When we're thinking about global solidarity with Black people, especially right now, we need all hands on deck,” she said.

Amalia Dache of the Graduate School of Education was interviewed about Cuba’s recent uprisings and its long history of Black resistance. In the 1960s, the Communist government said it would eradicate racism. “It’s counterrevolutionary to talk about Black history in Cuba, to engage Black history,” she said.

Cristina Bicchieri of the School of Arts & Sciences said the idea of a standing ovation stems from an ancient Roman “sign of respect” for generals returning battle.

David Barnes of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about COVID-19 and how pandemics can shape policy. While the 1918 flu was somewhat forgotten, HIV/AIDs has had a lasting impact. The difference, Barnes said, “was activists who were organized and persistent, really beyond anything our society had ever seen.”

Sophia Rosenfeld of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about the concept of truth and its role in democracy. The founding fathers “talked a lot about truth and claimed to have a big commitment to a government that both was founded on truth and would help produce truth,” she said. “But here’s the catch: they never gave any one body or person or even method as the way of getting there.”

Kate Dorsch of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about why Americans in particular are especially fascinated by UFOs. “I think that it is in part because we have created a culture around civilian defense, right? If you see something, say something,” she said. “Also, we're a very individualist country, and so we're more willing to share the things that we've seen and heard and done.”