Episode 119: Presidential Portraits, Down Syndrome, and Sanitation Workers

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil debate the release of the Obamas’ presidential portraits, the first Gerber Baby with Down syndrome, and the storied history of the sanitation worker.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• The presidential and First Lady portraits of the Obamas have been released to more fanfare than is customary. Neil mentioned Obama White House photographer Pete Souza’s Instagram account and his recently published book of photos of President Obama. Niki commented on Andrew Jackson’s official portrait by Ralph E. W. Earl. Natalia referenced this Slate interview with art historians about the Obama portraits.
• The Gerber Baby, for the first time, has Down syndrome. Natalia shared David Perry’s Pacific Standard article advocating Gerber go further in working toward disability rights and the historical timeline written by the National Association for Downs Syndrome.
• Sanitation is dangerous, crucial work, as a recent New York Times op-ed argued. Natalia cited Kiera Feldman’s Mother Jones article about the history of the industry, and Neil discussed Martin Luther King Jr.’s involvement in the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike, including his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech.

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Neil discussed William R. Black’s Atlantic article, “Abraham Lincoln’s Secret Visits to Slaves.”
• Natalia shared the podcast Atlanta Monster.
• Niki talked about the history of marshmallows as chronicled in Jesse Rhodes’ Smithsonian article, “It’s a Marshmallow World.”