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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Lessons From History
We will discuss Nancy Isenberg’s book, White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America, which shatters the comforting myth of a classless U.S. and reveals how poor whites have been used, mocked and politically manipulated, from the colonies to reality TV. Moving briskly from “waste people” dumped in the New World to trailer parks and presidential campaigns, Isenberg exposes how contempt for “white trash” has shaped land policy, slavery, eugenics and modern culture. The result is a bracing, deeply readable history that forces one to rethink who America is for—and who it chooses to throw away. The only prerequisite for joining this group is a curiosity about history. Each session will be led by a different member of our decades-long group. The discussions will be fully interactive, offering a unique opportunity to gain insights and perspectives from people of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America is available online from many sources and in several formats. For the paperback version, look for ISBN: 978-0-14-312967-7.
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Meeting 1
Classroom 340 (in person and online) Download to Calendar
27
Meeting 2
Classroom 340 (in person and online) Download to Calendar
10
Meeting 3
Classroom 340 (in person and online) Download to Calendar
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Meeting 4
Classroom 340 (in person and online) Download to Calendar