Episode 229: Little Richard

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the life and legacy of Little Richard.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

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

• Musical legend Little Richard died this month of bone cancer. Niki referred to Margot Canaday’s book The Straight State: Sexuality and Citizenship in Twentieth-Century America and George Chauncey’s book Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940. Natalia recommended this GQ article on Little Richard’s inimitable style. Neil commented on Little Richard’s appearances at the 1988 Grammy Awards and on The Dick Cavett Show in 1970.

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

• Natalia recommended Joshua Greenberg’s Washington Post article, “Will Covid-19 End the Use of Paper Money?”
• Neil commented on Evan Osnos’ New Yorker article, “How Greenwich Republicans Learned to Love Trump.”
• Niki discussed this interview she did at The Intercept, “Are Trump and the Anti-Lockdown Militias Itching for Violence?”