Historians and the Twitterverse with Kevin Kruse
My friends - today I welcome Dr. Kevin M. Kruse to the Rogue Historian. Dr Kruse is a Professor of History at Princeton University. He specializes in the political, social, and urban/suburban history of twentieth-century America, with a particular interest in conflicts over race, rights and religion and the making of modern conservatism.
He is the author of White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism (Princeton University Press 2005) and One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America (Basic Books, May 2016). He is also the co-author (with Julian E. Zelizer) of Fault Lines: A History of the United States since 1974 (W.W. Norton, January 2019).
Kevin is currently conducting research for his new book, The Division: John Doar, the Justice Department, and the Civil Rights Movement (contracted to Basic Books). After The Division, Kevin will turn his attention to Law and Order: The Politics of Crime and Culture in New York City (contracted to Basic Books).
A Nashville native and an alumnus of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Kevin went on to earn his MA and Ph.D. from Cornell University in 2000. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey, with his family.
It was great to have a chat with Kevin, who some have dubbed “Twitter’s historian,” to find out what all that means and how he thinks of his role as an academic in the public eye. We discussed:
The usefulness (and pitfalls, as it were…) of social media - especially Twitter - for historians and the informed public
Those who use history to serve partisan ends, how he counters them, and who is is trying to reach
Historical “mini-courses” and history memes…capturing the complexities of history and well…not capturing them
Hate, rage, and general negativity on Twitter and how we might deal with it.
What the future (might) hold for historians and Twitter
Have a listen!!!
Naturally, you’ll want to follow Kevin on TWITTER and check out his WEBSITE for upcoming speaking events.
And please, be sure and subscribe to The Rogue Historian Podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favorite app so you never ever ever ever miss a show. That would be dumb.
With compliments,
Keith