What History Means to Me

Charles Johnson, author, Middle Passage:

"A student will say 'history doesn't have anything to do with me.' But I bet if you talk to that same student about his mother, his father, grandmother, grandfather… that person has heard family stories, probably since the time they were knee high. That, too, is history…"

Doris Kearns Goodwin, author, No Ordinary Time:

"Every person who lives today is their own historical figure. Eventually, they may or may not make some things happen that will affect larger numbers of people, but they will certainly affect their own families, children, relatives. That's being a historical figure. That's having an impact on history. They are part of living history."

Richard Snow, author and editor-in-chief, American Heritage magazine:

"History not only tells us where we've been, but by doing that, it shows us where we're going… And if it's well done, history is always good entertainment… It's gossip that's good for you."