What 400 Years of Family History Teaches About This American Moment

What 400 Years of Family History Teaches About This American Moment

By Ben Jealous —  We just fell back. The season of darkness is coming on. But this year, more than any I can remember, that darkness feels existential, not just... The post What 400 Years of Family History Teaches About This American Moment is available on Institute of the Black World 21st Century.

What 400 Years Of Family History Teaches About This American Moment

We just fell back. The season of darkness is coming on. But this year, more than any I can remember, that darkness feels existential, not just seasonal. As a professor, I’ve watched it settle over my students throughout 2025 like fog. They talk about despair as if it’s wrapping its fingers around their throat. They talk about how the news makes them want to pull the covers over their heads every day. What do I say to them? Read more history. Fin…