History was not her fave subject in school. These days it’s this ‘Chick’s’ passion

If you could go back in time and talk to one person, who would it be and what would you say?

If you’re a history lover, your answer might be someone Important, like Abraham Lincoln, Ida B. Wells, Eleanor Roosevelt or Cleopatra. You might ask about decisions they made or acts they chose to not make. You might tell them how they’re remembered, or maybe try to warn them about the power of propaganda on their legacies.

If history isn’t your thing, your answer might be more personal: a parent or grandparent, a former teacher or someone else who changed your life. You might tell them you love them and that their memory and legacy lives on through you and your family. You might just say, “thank you.”

It’s important to realize that history isn’t everyone’s thing. To the people who took their high school disdain for history class into their adult lives, I get it. That was me, too. The word “history” brought to my mind dull lectures and lessons full of dates and faceless names to memorize. It was of readings where the mention of women was relegated mostly to textbook sidebars. History was only important because I needed to pass it to get to college.

But on my backward time travel, I would shake 16-year-old me out of her classroom drowsy daze and tell her that she would grow to love the subject of that vexing class.

Now in my world, history, specifically women’s history, is a huge deal. Not only am I a woman but I also co-host a women’s history podcast “The History Chicks.” When March rolls around and a presidential proclamation launches Women’s History Month, my co-host and I hope that the focus allows the stories of amazing women to reach forward in time to tie themselves to modern day.

My moment of clarity came when I realized that the characters of those history lessons were not just one-dimensional names or a test answer: They were as human as I was. When I started to look at what women in history accomplished, and in the face of so many challenges, I was able to take their lessons into my own life. That’s when I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I loved history.

I love finding out that influential people who lived before I did were flawed, just like me. Sometimes, the people who are remembered for their achievements also messed up big time, just like me.

I love hearing how people said, “yes” and secured a spot in history because it was the right person saying the right “yes” at just the right time.

I love to read a story of two opposing historical figures. When I twist my perspective from one to the other, like a kaleidoscope, the story changes.

I love realizing that the truth behind a biopic is way more dramatic than the fictionalized version.

I love learning that the kindness or wisdom of one adult made all the difference in the life of a little girl, and I love learning that a little girl survived and thrived despite a traumatic childhood.

I love recognizing my biases and blind spots. I don’t love the shame involved but I love knowing that I should learn around them.

How did I make this leap in thought? Beckett Graham shared her love of history with me in a way that I understood: She gently made me realize that the dates don’t really matter: the people do. The battles and the wars were background to the people. By putting the people first, I got it.

I don’t have to time travel to thank her for that, I talk with her about women’s history twice a month on our podcast.

History lovers, as you go forward in time and can talk with one person about history, who will it be and what will you say?

Susan is a Kansas City based writer and podcaster. Along with her history-loving guide, Beckett Graham, she co-hosts the long running, award winning podcast, The History Chicks.