Reading List #4 (Patreon)

Good morning yall! People often ask me what I read to stay up on current events, different history topics, and evolving ideologies. As you know, being a patron entitles you to a weekly list of 7-10 reads curated by yours truly. Here's reading list number four...

I didn't do too much reading last week that wasn't for pleasure. I'm in the middle of A Storm of Swords (shoutout to Game of Thrones fans!) but here's a few things that deserve a read...

1) Moon Shot: Race, a Hoax, and the Birth of Fake News (Kevin Young) 10/23/17 (Long)

This was my favorite article this week because it was new and juicy history I had never heard much about. I love hoax history and I cant believe that in 1835 people were convinced humans had walked on the moon.

2) A Timeline and Questions About the Niger Firefight That Killed US Troops (Merritt Kennedy) 10/23/17 (Short)

While headlines about Trump's treatment of a deceased soldier's wife have been dominating the media waves, more of us should be aware of why American troops were in Niger in the first place. 

3) The Caves in Which Moonshine Was Made (April White) 10/19/17 (Medium)

Have you ever had authentic moonshine? I had the real McCoy three times during my college career and it's a damned good time. In this article, you'll learn about how the drink was concocted in Appalachia. 

4) Ready for Trump TV? Inside Sinclair Broadcasting’s Plot to Take Over Your Local News (Andy Kroll) Nov/Dec 2017 (Long)

This one is utterly terrifying. If you think Fox news is bad, this fake-news churning (and possibly Bill O'Reilly pursuing) wannabe has the potential to be worse. 

5) Harvey Einstein and the Economics of Consent (Brit Marling) 10/23/17 (Medium)

One line stood out in particular: "Our gender and race has all the power. Our gender and race has all the power. So when you want to have sex with a woman you have to ask and get her verbal consent. If that woman is a person of color, she is oppressed by both her gender and her race and then you should really ask twice." It's not as offensive as it [may] sound. 

6)'I Can't Breathe' Examines Modern Policing And The Life And Death Of Eric Garner (Terry Gross) 10/23/17 (Medium)

There are some things I didn't know about the Eric Garner case, like how he dressed and how it may have contributed to his harassment by police. There is a 44 minute podcast to aid this medium length post.

7) Myeshia Johnson Stands Up to Donald Trump (Amy Davidson Sorkinson) 10/23/17 (Medium)

“They won’t show me a finger, a hand. I know my husband’s body from head to toe.” She added, “I don’t know how he got killed, where he got killed, or anything.”