The Brian Lehrer Show Teaching History in This Fraught Time
Jul 23, 2025
Annie Polland, a historian and president of the Tenement Museum, teams up with Clint Smith, a poet and staff writer at The Atlantic, to discuss innovative ways teachers can effectively share Black and immigrant histories. They delve into the challenges educators face while navigating America’s complex past, emphasizing the importance of personal narratives in understanding social issues. Polland and Smith also highlight the museum's immersive storytelling methods, connecting individual stories to broader historical contexts and promoting dialog about racism and social justice.
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Power of Social History
- The Tenement Museum powerfully exemplifies social history by highlighting ordinary people's stories.
- It makes history real and proximate by immersing visitors in authentic, physical places where history happened.
Teaching History Through Diverse Tours
- Teachers learn history through relevant tours and scholar panels covering diverse immigrant and migrant experiences.
- This multi-perspective approach helps them teach immigration and migration history comprehensively in their classrooms.
Teach America’s Whole Story
- American history includes both proud achievements and shameful oppression, which must be taught together.
- Honest history education is the most patriotic act, fostering a complex understanding of the nation.
