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How to Be a Better Human - How to think critically about history -- and why it matters (w/ David Ikard) (Re-release)

<p>Have you ever recalled a story only to have someone point out "that's not how it went"? Well, what happens when what we misrepresent are our historical narratives? David Ikard is a Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies at Vanderbilt University. In this episode, he talks about the societal and personal dangers of inaccurate history knowledge, and uncovers the real story of one of history’s most iconic figures. For the full text transcript, visit <a href="http://go.ted.com/BHTranscripts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">go.ted.com/BHTranscripts</a></p>

How to think critically about history -- and why it matters (w/ David Ikard) (Re-release)

Hey everyone, how to be a better human is still on our season break, but we wanted to share a special

This is a conversation with Professor David Eichard.

And we are going to be back with all new episodes and season four starting next week.

You're listening to How to be a better human.

Growing up, I remember learning a pretty standard by the book explanation of American history.

that the stories I thought I knew actually had all wrong.

For example, I always thought that the story of Rosa Parks was of an older woman who decided that she'd had enough,

and she refused to give up her seat at the front of a bus to a white man because she was tired after a long day of work.

Eicert explains in his talk at TEDx Nashville, that is not how things actually

happened. Here's a clip. I am the proud father of two beautiful children.

When Elijah was in the fourth grade, he came to me, came home from school bubbling over with excitement about what he had learned that day

Now, I'm an African American Cultural Studies professor.

African American culture is kind of serious around my home.

Join How to Be a Better Human as we take a look within and beyond ourselves.How to Be a Better Human isn’t your average self improvement podcast. Each week join comedian Chris Duffy in conversation with guests and past speakers as they uncover sharp insights and give clear takeaways on how YOU can be a better human.From your work to your home and your head to your heart, How to Be a Better Human looks in unexpected places for new ways to improve and show up for one another. Inspired by the popular series of the same name on TED’s Ideas blog, How to Be a Better Human will help you become a better person from the comfort of your own headphones.

0:00.0	Ted Audio Collective.
0:02.0	Collective.
0:04.0	Hey everyone, how to be a better human is still on our season break, but we wanted to share a special
0:11.1	episode from the archive today.
0:12.8	This is a conversation with Professor David Eichard.
0:15.8	And we are going to be back with all new episodes and season four starting next week.
0:20.1	You're listening to How to be a better human.
0:25.0	I'm your host Chris Duffy.
0:27.0	Growing up, I remember learning a pretty standard by the book explanation of American history.
0:33.0	Which means that now as an adult,
0:35.0	I'm frequently surprised to find out
0:37.0	that the stories I thought I knew actually had all wrong.
0:40.5	For example, I always thought that the story of Rosa Parks was of an older woman who decided that she'd had enough,
0:46.0	and she refused to give up her seat at the front of a bus to a white man because she was tired after a long day of work.
0:52.0	But, as today's guest, Professor David
0:54.8	Eicert explains in his talk at TEDx Nashville, that is not how things actually
0:59.4	happened. Here's a clip. I am the proud father of two beautiful children.
1:06.5	When Elijah was in the fourth grade, he came to me, came home from school bubbling over with excitement about what he had learned that day
1:17.2	about African American history.
1:19.2	Now, I'm an African American Cultural Studies professor.
1:23.6	And so as you can imagine,
1:25.8	African American culture is kind of serious around my home.
	...

How to think critically about history -- and why it matters (w/ David Ikard) (Re-release)

How to Be a Better Human

TED and PRX

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