Author Archives: Fred Zilian

“Undaunted Courage” Shown in Lewis and Clark Expedition, Part II

(Note: This essay was originally published in the Newport Daily News on September 30, 2021.) See Part I: https://zilianblog.com/2021/10/05/undaunted-courage-shown-in-lewis-and-clark-expedition-part-i/ Two hundred fifteen years ago this month, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, leading some thirty men and one woman of the … Continue reading

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“Undaunted Courage” Shown in Lewis and Clark Expedition, Part I

(Note: This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News on September 27, 2021.) Two hundred fifteen years ago this month, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, leading some thirty men and one woman of the “Corps of Discovery,” completed … Continue reading

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Despite 19th Amendment, Black Women Had to Fight for Vote

(Note: This is the seventh essay in a series on “Notable Women.” It was originally published as “Fighting to vote after the 19th Amendment” in the Newport Daily News on August 31, 2021.) In 1870 the 15th Amendment to the … Continue reading

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Hope for a Race-less America

(This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News (RI) on August 9, 2021.) With COVID in retreat, I recently took a three-day trip to our nation’s capital with 12-year-old grandson, Alex, to show him the sights and teach … Continue reading

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Bob Hope, Patriotic Entertainer

(Note: This essay was originally published in the Newport Daily News on July 13, 2021.) Eighty years ago, Bob Hope, comedian, actor, singer, dancer, and author, broadcast his first United Services Organization (USO) show on the radio from an Army … Continue reading

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1896 Court Case Reinforces Segregation

(Note: This essay was originally published in the Newport Daily News on May 18, 2021.) The Civil War ended slavery, but it did not end prejudice, racism and the unequal treatment of races in America. One-hundred and twenty-five years ago … Continue reading

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A Reflection: Fifty Years, A Father

(Note: This essay was originally published in the Newport Daily News on April 17, 2021.) In the early morning hours fifty years ago, serving as a young Army officer in then West Germany, I became a father. On April 18, … Continue reading

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Dorothea Lange and “Migrant Mother”

(Note: A version of this essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News on April 5, 2021. It is the sixth in a series on Notable Women.) Eighty-five years ago this month, in the middle of the Great Depression, … Continue reading

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Women as Warriors Have Long History

(Note: This essay was originally published by the Newport Daily News on March 1, 2021, and by the History News Network on March 14, 2021.) The American experience with true women warriors—not just our wonderful Hollywood Wonder Woman—has only recently … Continue reading

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King’s Final Book: Both Political Roadmap and Passionate Sermon

(Note: This essay was originally published in two segments by the Newport Daily News, RI, on February 1 and February 2, 2021. It was subsequently published on the History News Network on February 14, 2021.) In his final book before … Continue reading

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