On Tuesday January 13 from 6-7pm EST I will join my good friend and fellow historian Kanisorn “Kid” Wongsrichanalai for an online discussion about the Hollywood movie, Glory. We will also be joined by Captain David Hencke, who is the commander of Co. A, 54th Massachusetts Volunteers here in Boston. It’s hard to believe that this movie is over 30 years old, but overall it holds up really well.
The idea is to rewatch the movie beforehand and come with your thoughts and questions. We plan on leaving as much room for discussion as possible.
This event is hosted by the Massachusetts Historical Society. You can register here to secure your place. Most of you know that I am currently working on a biography of Robert Gould Shaw so this movie is always in the back of my mind, but Kid’s research is also very relevant in his focus on New Englanders who served as officers in the Union army. If you haven’t already done so, His book, Northern Character: College-Educated New Englanders, Honor, Nationalism, and Leadership in the Civil War Era, has been incredibly helpful in my ongoing research.
Last year I led a discussion about the movie for the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, which you can check out below.
Hope to see some of you next Thursday evening.
Looking forward to it. In 1999 I showed it to my 8th gr social studies class, first period. At lunch boys were still discussing the opening canon shot.
Hi Suzanne,
Glad to hear that you are registered. I am looking forward to the discussion. Yeah, that opening battle scene is quite impressive. I hope to walk the ground of the 2nd Massachusetts at Antietam in the next few months.
Watching Glory – the men have just received the guns.
We visited Antietam and Gettysburg in July, 2013. Amazing to stand in those places. I’d never before realized what a steep hill Pickett’s men had to charge up. And to stand by the Sunken Road at Antietam and think of the blood shed there.
And worst of all, that neither battle ended the war. Heartbreaking.