Jill Lepore: Revisiting American History

Jill Lepore is Professor of American History at Harvard University and a journalist at The New Yorker. She specialises in American history, specifically early American history and undocumented history.
Two themes which are the focus of her new book ‘These Truths’. In her book, Lepore takes a closer look at Thomas Jefferson's “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Are these truths, however, self-evident for everyone? In a polarised and nationalistic America, can every race, every gender every nationality enjoy the same truths and freedoms?
During our interview with Lepore, we will focus on history as a subject and the implications it has had for society today. How do politicians like Donald Trump use history? How has the way we remember history affected minorities? Apart from this, the questions of whether these truths are self-evident and how the lack of these truths has changed America will be explored extensively during the session.
When: October 16th, 13:00-14:00
Where: University of Amsterdam, Roeterseiland Campus, E-Hall
Interviewers: Sara Baars & Carli Kooijman
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[@erikamonahan]

Jill Lepore is a national treasure!

[@adamdonovan5633]

Absolutely a national treasure!!

[@johnmcandrew852]

Excellent conversation, with good student hosts. Just read Dr. Lepore's This America, and wanted a taste, which this gave me, of her magisterial These Truths.

[@jacqueline755]

John, I have that book- I had it on Pre-purchase when it came out! I was daunted by its 800 pages yet it was so well written, and not any kind burden. I found it impossible not to use a highlighter on passages. If you want better grounding on how we’ve evolved, it can’t be beat. That is why I have searched RUclips for more!

[@kevingebhard23]

Wow, she is a piece of work. She's from Harvard so that explains everything.