#meerathehistorian

[little-desi-historian]

Re: Dandyism

The inherent problem with the “foncy poncy oppressive English narrative” that is definitely historical revisionism.

1) anyone who was anyone in the 18th century (Hamilton, Tallmadge, Major André, Washington’s other aides to camp and the British generals) would’ve both presented as a “dandy” it was a symbol of status and being cultured and/or well read.

2) imperialism cuts both ways and both sides brutalized and lied to black and indigenous folks. Don’t get me, a brown person, started on the British Raj. (Reading 1) (reading 2)

Prompted by this post also I highly recommend The Vampire Lestat, Tallmadge’s memoir, the scarlet pimpernel, and dangerous liaisons.

[meerawrites]

Hello, I’m Ameera a 23 years old Muslim lesbian who is trying to come out, I’ve been in the closet with my girlfriend for way too long, because of how dangerous and hard it is to come out as a lesbian to a religious Muslim family, but me and my girlfriend have decided to do whatever it takes and risk it all to come out, do you mind supporting and encouraging us?, we have the plan to go away which is why I have my donation campaign pinned on my profile, if I raise at least that goal I can start the process with my savings, I can’t come out until I’d gotten my apartment and I’m away from family, so please support by donating if you can and help reblog though I know we all have what we dealing with, so I’m not imposing we just need all the support and encouragement we can get, check my pinned post for more information on how you can support, if you are a Muslim queer and you are out, please help with tips on how to make it less complicated, any word of advice is also really needed, we really wanna come out but we need y’all 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ pride please come through for us, I believe pride is for all

Hi there! Ameera, @deepeagletimetravel lovely name by the way. Fun fact from an almost linguist (Hindi, Latin, French, Sanskrit, & working on music theory and Haitian Creole) and history nerd. Ameera/Amira means "Princess" in Arabic. (source), I wasn't initially sure how to reply to this besides signal boosting and donating what I can (as a broke brown & queer college student). But it's lovely to meet more brown people who also like girls. Since you introduced yourself I'll briefly introduce myself, I am Meera, after the Hindu Bhakti Poet and saint, I use they/them pronouns, I am culturally Hindu and follow some Hindu religious thinking and I am brown, bi, genderqueer, and mostly a writer. I am 20, and I say this most affectionately, I'd be cowardly facing this entire thing. You are incredibly brave for following your girlfriend and sticking to your intentions and love for one another. I know for many it isn't easy, coming was not easy for me and I've come out four times now. Of course, you should never coerce anyone out of the closet, but, we are incredibly brave for loving who we love and not letting our parents and grandparent's generation dictate how we should live. There is a long history of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and brown sapphicism in general. I don't mind helping or encouraging you at all.

Below are some flags I think you'd appreciate. Best of luck to you and your girlfriend, have an excellent timezone.

South Asia’s ancient queer history.

brown wlw playlist.

[little-desi-historian]

Memoir of Benjamin Tallmadge.

Fraunces Tavern, NYC.

[little-desi-historian]

Black Historical Figures I think are cool af!

Happy Black History Month! Below the cut you’ll find a list of 10 black historical figures I think are super cool (and often overlooked in favour of their white/non-black counterparts) all of the figures are inspirational to me in some way and I think anyone can learn from their examples, regardless of race.

Dido Elizabeth Belle aka Dido Belle Lindsay - staying the course of your beliefs, knowing you deserve better. Knowing what’s right is more than possible.

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George(s) - don’t let anyone take your talents and passions from you. Those who treat you wrong don’t deserve you.

Phillis Weatly/Phyllis Weatly - no matter what you’ve been subjected to, don’t let anyone take your voice from you.

James Armistead Lafayette - fight (spy) for what you believe in. You may turn out to be the most powerful piece in the fight.

Harriet Tubman - no matter the evils of the world, there are good people out there, don’t forget your strengths and allies.

Freda Josephine Baker (née McDonald) best known simply as Josephine Baker - dance and keep dancing, no matter how bad things are. You only live once.

Bessie Coleman - pursue your dreams no matter who tells you that you can’t. You may match them in renown yet.

Gladys Bentley - wear what you want, speak how you want, and love whomever you choose.

Martha P. Johnson - be here, be queer, and speak truth to power.

Maya Angelou born Marguerite Annie Johnson - write, write, write, oh… and don’t fear life.

[little-desi-historian]

Myth of reverse racism

[little-desi-historian]

The world turned upside down

On this day in history: October 19th, 1781. Charles Cornwallis surrendered to the combined troops of George Washington and the patriots French allies. Symbolically raising a white handkerchief and giving up a sword to Washington as a sign of civil surrender. Famously when the sword was offered to the French, they refused saying, “we are subordinate to the Americans now.” Famously, Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens had stormed the the English silently by force the previous night. Amongst other heroes, holding position in case Laurens and Hamilton need retreat, was the 2nd continental light dragoons, better known to some as “Sheldon’s horse” or “Benjamin Tallmadge’s unit.” Famously, ill or humiliated, all the English showed up to formally surrender, expect Banastre Tarelton and Cornwallis himself. Legend has it, though the historical records never say, the English played the famous folk song (dating about to 1646) titled “When the King enjoys his own” perhaps more aptly titled in this scenario “the world turned upside down.”

Yorktown: PBS.

Mount Vernon: Yorktown.

Siege of Yorktown by Henry Freeman.

Hamil-film: Yorktown.

[little-desi-historian]

Happy International Women's Day!

[little-desi-historian]

Favourite Tudor Lad...

Tudor week 2023.

Brought to you by @dailytudors! 🌹

Q: favourite male Tudor family member?

A: Henry VII of England. He won the war of the roses (with his mothers and many other women’s help). He established the Tudor line and very clearly loved his wife Elizabeth of York immensely. I definitely recommend reading up on him and the legacy of the war of the roses, also, credit where credit is due, Elizabeth of York and Lady Margaret were absolutely badass women.

A mothers war: the musical. Spotify link.

Henry VII: biography.

The War of the Roses.

The War of the Roses in 10 minutes.

[little-desi-historian]

Favourite Tudor Myth...

Tudor Week 2023.

Brought to you by @dailytudors! 🌹

Q: favourite Tudor myth/legend/old wives tale/piece of propaganda that has in recent years been debunked?

A: the ongoing fascination and legend making surrounding Anne Boleyn. I simply find the notion that one can still hold that much power in the popular imagination 400+ years after one’s death fascinating.

[little-desi-historian]

Happy 266th birthday, Betsey!

On this date, Elizabeth Schuyler, eventually Elizabeth Schuyler-Hamilton was born on August 9, 1757, in Albany, New York.

Eliza's orphanage.

Eliza: a brief biography.

Further reading.

[little-desi-historian]

Barricade day 2023

the June rebellion of 1832

In honour of what we Les Misérables fans call “Barricade day” or June 5th, here is a run down of the 1832 June rebellion, it’s causes, consequences, why it happened at all, the aftermath and how it inspired Victor Hugo to write his perhaps most well known novel and famous 90s pop operatic musical. 

Disclaimer here. 

No formal tags, but, poking: @virgosjukebox, @enjolras-the-revolutionary, @honorhearted & @withinycu in case this interests them.

why did it happen?: June 5th, 1832. The June rebellion, in French: Insurrection républicaine à Paris en juin 1832. France is in in fighting yet again, the constitutional monarchy is replaced with the, to some autocratic president Casimir Pierre Périer, on 16 May 1832. 2 years prior the July revolution had occured, additionally such is the world and the 1830s the people of France are hungry, tired and are looking for a fight. The death of commander Lemarque as mentioned in the book and the musical only pushed the common people further. In short many factors led to the June rebellion. The primary factors however, were... political unrest, inability to feed the working classes and civil unrest as well as influx of new ideas following the exit of Napoleon. 

Consequences: such as every failed uprising goes, the revolutionaries paid dearly for it severe trials followed the June rebellion many were put to death (hanged or shot), many of the leaders of the uprising were, like the American revolution college age school boys or simply angry common people. Famously the person who waved the symbolic red flag of revolt was a Parisian artist who was nearly put to death but escaped via trial.

In pop culture: I don’t need to say it but I am saying it anyway, many only know or care about the June Rebellion because of Hugo’s novel. Additionally, unlike the musical, the book, whilst possessing some hope paints a rather bleak picture of humanity and uprising. Even so, it’s political commentary (novel) holds up and I’ve attended many a political protest to see signs bearing the words, “do you hear the people sing?” 

Further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Rebellion#:~:text=On%201%20June%201832%2C%20Jean,the%20July%20Revolution%20of%201830., https://historythings.com/victor-hugos-inspiration-les-miserables-june-rebellion-1832/, https://blogs.bu.edu/guidedhistory/moderneurope/revolutioninfrance/, https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-4438-4721-6, https://youtu.be/Ybi8wzgQBlg, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUyYLL1BfYc. 

[little-desi-historian]

Happy Indian Independence Day!

On this day, August 15th 1947, India became free from Great Britain after 200+ years of oppression and violence. 🇮🇳

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Indian Independence Day - playlist.

[meerawrites]

Anne Rice resources masterpost...

[meerawrites]

Our Flag Means Death & “The Hamilton effect”

Or: why you should not take media (of any kind) at face value.

Note: I wrote this well before OMFD got big, and some years before I rejoined the history fandom, I've always been a historical fiction writer to a degree. I am also not strictly anti-Hamilton and I'm definitely not anti-OMFD, this is just elaborating on why you should do your research and why historical fiction is complicated, and should never be marketed as historical fact.

[little-desi-historian]

We Fought Back, Podcast: Episode 1: Santo Domingo 1521 slave revolt

[little-desi-historian]

Apothecary, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 🇩🇴