1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: Hey y'all, we're rerunning two episodes today in Troy. The 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: show Hi, I'm Eves and Welcome to This Day in 3 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,239 Speaker 1: History Class, a show that uncovers a little bit more 4 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: about history every day. The day was February seven, ninet. 5 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: Historian Dr Carter G. Woodson, now affectionately known as the 6 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: Father of Black History Month, launched a Negro History Week 7 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: in partnership with the Association for the Study of Negro 8 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 1: Life and History. Whatson's insistence on bringing black history into 9 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: the spotlight challenge popular notions about black people's role in 10 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: American history helped preserve Black history and culture and encourage 11 00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: black people to draw inspiration from the past. Woodson got 12 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: a master's degree from the University of Chicago and a 13 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: doctorate from Harvard in history, becoming the second African American 14 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: to get a pH d in history from the university. 15 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,199 Speaker 1: Woodson published his first book, The Education of the Negro 16 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: Prior to eighteen sixty one, in nineteen fifteen, and he 17 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: co founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life 18 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: and History that same year. The next year, the organization 19 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: began publishing the Journal of Negro History, now called the 20 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: Journal of African American history. Woodson noticed how often Black 21 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:47,320 Speaker 1: people were left out of conversations about American history, and 22 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: when black folks were depicted, they were often portrayed as 23 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: racist misrepresentations and stereotypes, like in the nineteen fifteen film 24 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 1: The Birth of a Nation. What's and have been studying 25 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: black history for years, and he recognized the need for 26 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 1: more historically accurate and less biased accounts of Black historical 27 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 1: events and figures. His philosophy was that history is more 28 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: than just facts about the past. History should be balanced 29 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: and acknowledge the true role of Black people in it 30 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: without distorting facts. What sends mission to educate people on 31 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: the actual contributions of African Americans and history and improve 32 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: relations between black and white people would drive his work 33 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: for the rest of his life. Woodson once said, if 34 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 1: a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, 35 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, 36 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 1: and it stands in danger of being exterminated. What Since 37 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: efforts served to counter all the damage that had been 38 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 1: done to people's perception of Black history and advanced a 39 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: new understanding of black culture and accomplishments. Wood sent documented 40 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 1: oral histories from slaves, collected artifacts and historical documents of 41 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: black history, sponsored research projects, and wrote hundreds of essays 42 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 1: and dozens of books on black subjects. For years, the 43 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: historical profession had excluded black scholars of history and presented 44 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 1: historical and accuracies about African Americans, but there was no 45 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: organization black historians were welcome to join. At the time, 46 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: White publications often rejected research on black history, and libraries 47 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: and archives didn't carry primarian materials about African Americans. So 48 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: Woodson set out to create platforms where black historians could 49 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: present and publish their research. After the Association for the 50 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: Study of Negro Life and History and the Journal of 51 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: Negro History were up and running, Woodson founded associated publishers 52 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: to ensure black scholars would have their work published. These 53 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: organizations did face financial setbacks, despite the fact that they 54 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: were able to secure some funding from black scholars and 55 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: major institutions, but they succeeded in promoting black history and 56 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: the study of black history, and they increased public awareness 57 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 1: of how black history had been ignored and manipulated. And 58 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: in ninet, Woodson and the Association for the Study of 59 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,799 Speaker 1: Negro Life and History proposed the observance of a Negro 60 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: History Week to celebrate the achievements of black people. It 61 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: would take place in February because that was the month 62 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: of Abraham Lincoln's birthday and Frederick Douglas's observed birthday, events 63 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: that were already celebrated in black communities. But Woodson wanted 64 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 1: people to celebrate the contributions of all black people, not 65 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: just two men who people might not even have the 66 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: most comprehensive knowledge of. The Announcement of Negro History Week 67 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: brought black history to a wider audience. Schools around the 68 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 1: United States began including curriculum to celebrate Negro History Week, 69 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: and Black history clubs began forming. So the Association began 70 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: providing study materials to educators, and it formed branches across 71 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: the country, and in nineteen thirty seven, the Association for 72 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 1: the Study of Negro Life and History began publishing the 73 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 1: Negro History Bulletin, now called the Black History Bulletin. Its 74 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: goal is to provide educators with peer reviewed information about 75 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: the history of Africans and people of the African diaspora. 76 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: Woodson's hope, though, was that celebrations of Black history would 77 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: extend beyond one week. He believed Black History should be 78 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: college year round, and he imagined a day when the 79 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: week long commemoration would no longer be necessary. As early 80 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: as the nineteen forties, people began celebrating Black History throughout 81 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: the month of February, and in nineteen seventy six, the 82 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: Association for the Study of African American Life and History, 83 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: which had recently changed its name to exclude the word Negro, 84 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: declared February black History Month. US President Gerald Ford proclaimed 85 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: Black History Month a national observance. Debate continues over the 86 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 1: necessity of Black History Month. Some claim the celebration of 87 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 1: Black History shouldn't be confined to a single month, while 88 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: others claim the commemoration is racist. But today Black History 89 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 1: Month is celebrated in the U S, Canada, the UK, 90 00:06:55,960 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: and other places around the world. I'm Eaves, Jeff Coat, 91 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: and hopefully you know a little more about history today 92 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: than you did yesterday. You can subscribe to This Day 93 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: in History Class on Apple Podcasts, the I Heart Radio app, 94 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts. We'll see you tomorrow. 95 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 1: Hello everyone, I'm Eves. Welcome to this Day in History class, 96 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: where we take a tiny bite of history every day 97 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: the day was February seven. Followers of the Dominican Friar 98 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: Givlamo Savonarola burned objects that were considered vanities, like books, artwork, 99 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: and instruments. Though this event is known as the Bonfire 100 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: of the Vanities, the term generally refers to earning objects 101 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: that religious authorities believe incite people to sin. Savonarola became 102 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: a Dominican monk in fourteen seventy five and the following 103 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: years he began teaching novices and lecturing on philosophy, and 104 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: he studied with various lecturers, concentrating on theology. By fourteen 105 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 1: eighty two, he had transferred to the convent of San 106 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: Marco and Florence, and soon he was preaching in the 107 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: Church of San Lorenzo. He gained a reputation for his 108 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 1: learning and austerity, but at first he did not get 109 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: much attention for his preaching. In fourteen eighty four, though 110 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: he reported his first vision about the scourge of the church. 111 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:44,440 Speaker 1: He began delivering prophetic sermons and he preached in the 112 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: church of San jim and Yano in fourteen eighty five, 113 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: and during Lent in fourteen eighty six, he spoke about 114 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: the wrath of God and sinfulness, and he called for 115 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: reform in the church. At this point his popularity began 116 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: to grow. Savonarola preached in several different cities for a while, 117 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: but in fourteen ninety he returned to Florence. He soon 118 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: began preaching in the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, 119 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: criticizing materialism and the leaders of the world. He also 120 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: criticized the policies of the government, which Florentine ruler Lorenzo 121 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: de Medici took offense to the Lorenzo threatened to banish him. 122 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: Lorenzo soon died, and Savonarola continued preaching. Savonarola prophesied the 123 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: scourge of Italy, railing against vanity and corruption. He soon 124 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: led his convent to break from the ruling organization of 125 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 1: monasteries that it belonged to the Congregation of Lombardy. He 126 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: advocated for other convents to do the same, and he 127 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 1: ordered that his monks give up their possessions so that 128 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: they could raise money for impoverished people. Once Medici rule ended, 129 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: he began suggesting new policies in his sermons. Plus his 130 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: prophecies were panning out Savonarola quickly became a political authority. 131 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: He did not hold public office, but under his guidance, 132 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: a new republic was established in four He immediately set 133 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:16,959 Speaker 1: out to help impoverished people, demanding more jobs and telling 134 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: the churches to melt their gold in silver to buy 135 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: food for the hungry. He also called for more modesty. 136 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: Songs deemed profane were replaced with hymns, people began wearing 137 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: an adorned clothing, and art and other inappropriate objects were burned. 138 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 1: Savonarola did have enemies like the Arabillati and the Teepady, 139 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: but he continued to pursue drastic reform in light of 140 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:46,359 Speaker 1: the abuses of the church. He denounced jokes, sex, gambling, 141 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: nude paintings, jewelry, and other luxuries, as well as the 142 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: humanistic culture of the Renaissance. He shut down traditional festivals 143 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: and replaced them with religious festivals. In fourteen nine seven, 144 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: his supports gathered donations from Foreignine citizens for a fire 145 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: of repentance. On February seventh. They carried vanities objects like mirrors, dresses, 146 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: and cosmetics to a fire in the Piazza de la 147 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: Seignoria and burned them. This wasn't the first bonfire sponsored 148 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 1: by the Dominicans, but it is one of the most 149 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: notable ones. Hope Alexander the Six ordered him to stop preaching, 150 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: but he refused. In May of four seven, the Pope 151 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: excommunicated Savonarola, who did not stop preaching until March of 152 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: four just two months after his last sermon. After being 153 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: convicted of heresy, Savonarola was burnt at the stake. I'm 154 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: Eves Jeff Coote and hopefully you know a little more 155 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: about history today than you did yesterday. Spend some of 156 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: your daily social media time with us at t D 157 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: I h C podcast, or if you would prefer to 158 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: email us, you can send us a message at this 159 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: day at I heart media dot com. I truly hope 160 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: you enjoyed today's show. We'll be back tomorrow with another episode. 161 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from my Heart Radio, visit the I 162 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 1: Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 163 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.