Not Past It

On December 5, 1996, Patti LaBelle performed at the National Tree Lighting Ceremony, and so much went wrong: her cue cards were out of order, the backup singers were missing, and it was on national TV. The moment has since become an annual Christmas-time viral sensation. But 25 years later, the question remains: how did everything go so far off the rails? Now, finally, we have the answer.

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To usher in the holiday season, we’re offering up four historical events that we think should be celebrated on the first day of the last month of every year. These history holidays require no religion, gift-giving, or even cooking...just an appreciation for how the past shapes our lives. Come create a new tradition with us.

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Wamsutta Frank James, a member of the Wampanoag Tribe, led his fellow activists in protest of a Thanksgiving Celebration in Plymouth, MA. On November 26, 1970, he set the record straight as to the true and violent history of this holiday. The Pilgrim celebration went to shit and the first National Day of Mourning was born.

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History reveals something about the present. Every Wednesday, host Simone Polanen picks a moment from that week in history to explore how it shapes our world today.

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After four decades of devastating oil pollution in the Niger Delta, Ken Saro-Wiwa decided he couldn’t stand the injustices any longer. The Nigerian writer-turned-activist started campaigning to defend the rights of his people, the Ogoni, from the oil drilling that was destroying their land and way of life. But Ken paid a price. In this episode, actor Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Deuce, The Wire), brings Saro-Wiwa’s work to life.

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This week, we brush off an NPI true crime favorite. Ever heard of lady crime boss, Ma Barker? On July 26, 1932, her alleged gang of thieves stole over $200,000 from a Kansas bank without firing a single shot. The Barker-Karpis gang stole millions before Ma was killed in a shootout with the FBI. But was she a criminal mastermind or just a scapegoat?

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King Tutankhamen, Egypt’s boy prince was laid to rest in a fantastical chamber of secrets. On November 4, 1922, the entrance to King Tut’s tomb was discovered 33 centuries after he was buried. But when the king’s tomb was disturbed strange things began to happen.

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Harry Houdini escaped from handcuffs, sea monsters and torture cells, but his last great illusion defied even the spirits. On October 31, 1936, the famous escape artist was set to come back from the dead. But, as spooky as that sounds, the backstory to uncover America’s most notorious frauds of the day, is even more devilish.

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Roughly 40 miles northeast of Atlanta, in Forsyth County, lies Lake Lanier. It’s a place where people go to relax, fish or party - and legend has it, it's haunted. But not in the way it’s been talked about. We’re revealing the true haunting of Lake Lanier, where a horrific story of racial violence and terror is hidden under a veneer of suburban bliss.

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Candyman, Candyman, Candyman… Do you dare say it five times? On October 16, 1992, Candyman was released in theaters introducing the world to the ghost-like ghoul with a hook for a hand. But this horror cult classic is different--it features a Black man as the haunting character with a backstory of racial trauma. We explore the legacy of the film and why it has such staying power, despite its flaws.

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