The difference between Harriet Tubman and Henrietta Lacks is that even elementary schoolers can probably tell you who Harriet Tubman was and what she did, whereas I doubt most adults nowadays have heard of Henrietta Lacks.
In your country, possibly -- neither of them are on the curriculum over here :-D
(I happen to know about Henrietta Lacks, or at least about her cell culture, because I read the blurb of a book called "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"; when you mentioned Harriet Tubman I genuinely thought at first that was who you were talking about!)
Without looking her up, I have a vague idea that Harriet Tubman was something to do with the American 'Underground Railroad', and therefore either black or a Quaker (but probably not both). And I'm pretty well educated, and know a bit of American history.
I suspect that about as many people in England are aware of her existence as Americans are of Hannah More or Octavia Hill...
Anyone who recognizes the name Errol Flynn probably knows at least a little bit about film history.
I only know that I was aware of his existence long before I started watching 'old films'; Errol Flynn as Robin Hood is, or was, one of those memes that have become part of popular culture, like the Disney classics, for people who haven't necessarily even seen the films in question and certainly wouldn't dream of watching anything else from the period. But maybe modern generations have had the 'Boys' Own adventure' ethos censored out of their existence :-(
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Date: 2021-07-02 04:27 pm (UTC)In your country, possibly -- neither of them are on the curriculum over here :-D
(I happen to know about Henrietta Lacks, or at least about her cell culture, because I read the blurb of a book called "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"; when you mentioned Harriet Tubman I genuinely thought at first that was who you were talking about!)
Without looking her up, I have a vague idea that Harriet Tubman was something to do with the American 'Underground Railroad', and therefore either black or a Quaker (but probably not both). And I'm pretty well educated, and know a bit of American history.
I suspect that about as many people in England are aware of her existence as Americans are of Hannah More or Octavia Hill...
I only know that I was aware of his existence long before I started watching 'old films'; Errol Flynn as Robin Hood is, or was, one of those memes that have become part of popular culture, like the Disney classics, for people who haven't necessarily even seen the films in question and certainly wouldn't dream of watching anything else from the period. But maybe modern generations have had the 'Boys' Own adventure' ethos censored out of their existence :-(