More Skipped History heading your way

Good morning, subscribers!

Long time no see. I hope you’re faring alright, or at least that whatever device you use to shield your eyes from the news is snugly secured. I’m writing with an update and some exciting news!

Though you haven’t heard from me for a bit, I’ve kept on writing to paying subscribers. We’ve explored the dilemma that sparked the student debt crisis in the 60s, Roe v. Wade’s connection to the rise of Black Banking in the 1870s, how the concept of gay pride ties back to lies spread during World War I, and more. These bits of Skipped History cover the kind of subject matter that you know and love from the web series, just in more newsletter-y form. 

I’ve also been working on new videos. Over the summer (I think—don’t hold me to that!), I’ll send out a three-part series to everyone on the porous portrayal of Black history in textbooks from the Civil War through the present day. It’s a very nerdy topic near and dear to my heart. I also started publishing vids on TikTok. Check ‘em out 👀

And most titillatingly, soon there’s a new kind of Skipped History heading your way: interviews with historians! I figure what better way to uncover the past and illuminate the present than to go straight to the scholars themselves. So far, I’ve spoken to peeps like Harvard Professor Annette Gordon-Reed, Yale Professor Elizabeth Hinton, Boston Globe journalist Stephen Kinzer, and more. It’s been a blast, and I’m really excited to begin sharing transcripts two weeks from today.

To be clear, you don’t have to do anything—I’ll send transcripts to you just like this email. Paying subscribers will receive audio of the interviews, too. I’m not sure if hearing historians suffer my jokes is a perk or not, but it’s a fun way to give back to premium pals for keeping the Skipped boat afloat. If you’re interested in trying out life as a paying sub, you can sign up for a free trial:

Thanks to everyone for continuing to be part of the Skipped crew. I look forward to seeing a lot more of you soon!

Ben