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Jailing John Henry: The Impact of Unequal Justice in Reconstruction and American Myth-making
Thursday, September 22, 2016 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
American folk heroes are important cultural connections between the past and the present. How we understand or interpret the experiences of these individuals, real or imagined, offers us insight into the idea of America as a nation of diverse peoples who contributed to the development of the country. The mythical story of John Henry, one of these touchstones, is the subject of “Steel Drivin’ Man: The Untold Story of an American Legend.”
Join us to learn about one historian’s quest to uncover the story behind the myth, as well as the institutional and social forces which made his story so important to Americans in the decades following the Reconstruction period after the U.S. Civil War. Themes discussed will include labor, political unrest, racial and social justice in America, technology, and the birth of Rock and Roll.
The course textbook “Steel Drivin’ Man: The Untold Story of an American Legend” by Scott Reynolds Nelson is available at the Lourdes University Bookstore for ≤$15.
Rex Childers is a Policy historian specializing in the history of the role of American power in the world, including the use of American cultural and social belief systems in the Cold War. His sub-fields include Modern European, American Military, and Public history. Rex has presented at several international conferences and his publication topics address the history of international humanitarian law.
Instructor: Dr. Rex Childers
Thursdays, September 22, 29; October 6, 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Cost: $52 members; $64 non-members
To register for Lifelong Learning classes and review the entire list of fall 2016 classes, visit www.lourdes.edu/lifelong, email lifelong@lourdes.edu or call 419-824-3707.
Registration may be made by credit card or check. Checks should be made payable to Lourdes University and mailed to: Lourdes University Lifelong Learning, 6832 Convent Blvd. Sylvania OH 43560.
Sponsored by Lourdes University Lifelong Learning Program.