#notyourhistoryclass

On January 15ᵗʰ, 1919, a massive tank holding 2.3 million gallons of molasses had exploded, flooding Boston's north end docks with sticky molasses. Purity Distilling Company had been warned several times that the tank was creaking, leaking molasses, but the company ignored these warnings, until it was too late.  Thousands of gallons flowed across Boston’s North End, resulting in several deaths.  Rumor has it that on warm days, one can still smell the molasses. 

Thanks to Mike Meyers for the theme music, you can follow him on X @themikeshow42.

Background music is: Circular Disorder by Unheard Music Concepts, Free Music Archive (CC BY) https://tinyurl.com/CircularDisorder

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as the "Six Triple Eight," played a pivotal role during WWII, ensuring soldiers received critical mail that boosted morale. Composed of 855 Black women from the Women's Army Corps (WAC), this battalion, led by Major Charity Adams, tackled a massive backlog of undelivered mail in Europe under grueling conditions, including segregation, inadequate facilities, and war zone threats. Their groundbreaking work cleared years of mail in just months, showcasing their efficiency and resilience. Despite facing racism both abroad and at home, their efforts were instrumental in sustaining soldier morale. Post-war, their legacy was overlooked, but recent honors, such as the 2021 Congressional Gold Medal and Tyler Perry’s 2024 Netflix drama starring Kerry Washington, highlight their historic contributions. The Six Triple Eight’s story exemplifies perseverance and the fight for equality, embodying their motto, "No mail, low morale."

Thanks to Mike Meyers for the theme music, you can follow him on X @themikeshow42.

Flute and Windchimes, Almusic34, Free Music Archive CC BYhttps://tinyurl.com/fluteandwindchimes

It was a balmy summer evening on July 18th, 1969 and Ted Kennedy was driving home from a party with a companion of his, Mary Jo Kopechne. In a tragic turn of events, Ted ended up driving his car off the road and into a pond, where it sank to the bottom of the body of water.  He was able to escape, but Mary Jo was stuck in the car.  Even with repeated attempts to save her life, he was unable to reach her.  Strangely enough, he waited until nearly 10 hours later to report the incident to the police. Long after any potential alcohol would have left his system. The Chappaquiddick Incident led to the death of a young woman whose political future was bright and full of promise and brought an end to any future aspirations that Ted Kennedy had of becoming president.

Ridley Scott directed and released the film Gladiator in 2000, starring Russell Crowe, Connie Nielsen and Joaquin Phoenix, in 2024 the sequel, Gladiator II was released, the fascination behind ancient Rome’s brutal and often lethal fights between men enslaved and forced to battle until they die, or if they are lucky, are given a second chance at life. The truth is that Ridley Scott took liberties with his work in portraying the true reality behind the lives of gladiators. This episode will talk about a historical analysis and the truth behind Hollywood’s epic films.

Thanks to Mike Meyers for the theme music, you can follow him on X @themikeshow42.