The World in Time / Lapham’s Quarterly Episode 96: Adam Hochschild
Oct 14, 2022
Adam Hochschild, an award-winning historian and author, discusses his latest work, "American Midnight," focusing on the fragile nature of democracy during and after World War I. He elaborates on how civil liberties were challenged and suppressed, highlighting the intense nationalism and violent repression of strikes. Hochschild also shares inspiring tales of activists fighting for free speech amidst national hysteria, emphasizing the importance of vigilance against threats to democracy—lessons that resonate even today.
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Race Riots Fueled by Migration
- The 1919 race riots were primarily white attacks against black migrants escaping Southern lynching.
- Economic competition after demobilization heightened racial tensions in northern cities.
Wilson's White Supremacist Legacy
- President Wilson was a Southern white supremacist who rolled back black integration in federal government.
- He promoted Anglo-Saxon supremacy and surrounded himself with conservative Southern white allies.
War Propaganda via Four Minute Men
- George Creel, Wilson's friend, led a national propaganda campaign using 'Four Minute Men' in theaters.
- These speakers boosted patriotic support through brief speeches in various languages during film reel changes.
