Kevin M. Levin

One of the honors of my life was getting to spend the afternoon with Mr. LaFayette in conversation with my students inside Dr. Richard Harris's home, where the Freedom Riders found safety after they were beaten in the Montgomery, Alabama bus station in 1961.

My copy editors @uncpress.bsky.social are amazing.

The Myth of the ‘Loyal Black Confederate’ and the White Soldier Who Knew Better As a historian, I believe our first obligation is to understand the past on its own terms.

"For a man who had lost brothers and endured years of hardship, the idea of arming enslaved men signaled the disintegration of the very hierarchy he believed the Confederacy existed to defend." kevinmlevin.substack.com/p/the-myth-o...

"From Controversy to Conversation" Talking the Hard History of Baltimore's "Confederate Monuments," March 5

"The granite block, which began its life as a seat for the author of the Dred Scott decision, has become a platform for Baltimoreans who regularly bring their questions and concerns, their joys and their self-expression to the site." hardhistories.substack.com/p/from-contr...

"shudder"

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has been fired. Please keep all dogs at least 15 feet away from her.

This has been a public service announcement from Otis.

No question, but overall it was a much different public discourse. Compare Reagan and even the elder Bush on immigration as just one example.

Thanks to @uscpress.bsky.social for sending along a couple new books that are right down my alley. #BookSky 🗃️ uscpress.com

I was and whether you agreed or disagreed with his policies, Reagan never engaged in the kind of nasty rhetoric that is a staple of the Trump presidency.

It is horriying to think that an entire generation is coming of age knowing nothing but Donald Trump and the nastiness that is our political culture. I shutter to think about what the implications of this will be for an already weakened democracy.

It was an honor to speak at the Capitol this morning and stand with colleagues to oppose the erasure of history at NPS sites and at history institutions across the country.

The Myth of the ‘Loyal Black Confederate’ and the White Soldier Who Knew Better As a historian, I believe our first obligation is to understand the past on its own terms.

The Myth of the ‘Loyal Black Confederate’ and the White Soldier Who Knew Better #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

He recently passed away.

The Myth of the ‘Loyal Black Confederate’ and the White Soldier Who Knew Better As a historian, I believe our first obligation is to understand the past on its own terms.

The Myth of the ‘Loyal Black Confederate’ and the White Soldier Who Knew Better #CivilWarMemory 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

Trump allies expand role in planning America’s 250th anniversary Two groups — one with the imprimatur of Congress, the other with President Trump’s blessing — are jockeying to host celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.

"The group is also planning a national prayer event on the National Mall, an IndyCar race around D.C., and a UFC fight hosted outside the White House on Trump’s birthday. The organization is led by Keith Krach, who served in the first Trump administration." www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Reconciling with Fort Pillow: Interpreting New Sites with Kevin Levin - The Monumental Project How does a historic site become a national park? In this episode, we meet with Kevin Levin, an educator and public historian who tells about the process of turning Fort Pillow into a national historic...

Thanks to Noah Price at The Monumental Project for the opportunity to talk about the ongoing debate about monuments and my work as a historian and educator. #CivilWarMemory www.buzzsprout.com/1949299/epis...

I went ahead and purchased it. Thanks again.

Done.

Thank you. I've been on the fence about trying this out.

A bill is moving through the Virginia legislature to remove three Confederate-related statues: Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, Hunter McGuire and William “Extra Billy” Smith. Organizers of Governor Abigail Spanberger's recent inaugural ceremony used the Smith statue for a portable toilet station.

Whitewashing Selma: The Trump Administration's Assault on Civil Rights Memory When Preserving the Past Becomes a Threat to Power

Of all the NPS sites that tagged interpretive materials as potentially problematic, the one that hits hardest is Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. #NationalParks open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

"This is an attempt on the part of the Trump administration to censor history for purely self-serving political purposes..."

Whitewashing Selma: The Trump Administration's Assault on Civil Rights Memory When Preserving the Past Becomes a Threat to Power

Whitewashing Selma: The Trump Administration's Assault on Civil Rights Memory #NationalParks open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

YouTube video by Maarten Plukker John Mayer Trio - Who Did You Think I Was Live Isolated Bass (Pino Palladino)

Should admit that I had a little help with the isolated basic track. 😉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz5d...

YouTube video by JohnMayerTrioVEVO John Mayer Trio - Who Did You Think I Was

I was able to figure out Pino's basic bass line for this song, but some of his fills are killer. You also really need a P-bass on this one. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfLk...

They're flagging a marker noting the economic and racial diversity in Abraham Lincoln's Springfield neighborhood. Insane.

They are trying to erase parts of our real history with so many of these things that are flagged. That's why it's so vitally important that parents and grandparents make a point to teach the children the REAL history of this country.

I have. Thank you.

What the National Park Service Has Flagged Thus Far. It's Much Worse Than I Thought. Note: This is a long post.

I spent hours looking through hundreds of files of materials that have been flagged for review by National Park Service sites around the country. Here is just a small sample of what I found. #NationalParks 🗃️ open.substack.com/pub/kevinmle...

It's a no-win situation.