In politics and history, there really is nothing new under the sun. This especially holds true for the Republican party who loves to replay their greatest hits. Many don’t know that “Make America Great Again” was not some novel idea originated by the Trump campaign, it was first used as a campaign slogan for the […]
You cant handle the truth!
Gerald Ratner joined his family jewelry business in 1966. By 1984, he worked his way up to become CEO of the Ratners Group. Under his watch, the company grew from 130 stores to 2,500. This included 1,000 United States locations better known as Kay Jewelers. In a matter of 6 years, Ratner turned it into […]
Catch Coke in a bottle
In 1888, Asa Candler, an Atlanta pharmacist, made one of the best business decisions in history. Candler bought the rights to the Coca-Cola (Coke) formula for $2,300 (about $73,000 in 2023.) While it is one of the best business decisions in history, Candler later made a key blunder that would cost himself and his heirs […]
Las Vegas is just like Mississippi
When a person thinks of segregation in U.S. history, most think of it existing only in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee (aka the southern states.) When a person thinks of 1950s era Las Vegas, they think of the Rat Pack (Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin,) the Mob and the glitz and glamour of […]
The Wall Street Journal for slave owners
Today, we have magazines for all topics, including sports, business, fashion and music. One can even subscribe to a magazine about porta-potties! Magazines existed In the United States in the 1800s and you could subscribe to one that was of utmost importance to southern plantation owners. This magazine dealt with slave upkeep, among other things. […]
Revisiting the Second Amendment
The Second Amendment of the United States reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” From these lines, we get the controversial issue of private gun ownership rights. This Amendment causes the most discourse among […]
The Side Effects of the Chicken Tax
Believe it or not, there was a time when chicken was considered a luxury item. Today, chicken is easily available and cheap at fast-food places like KFC, Popeyes and your local fried chicken spot, but that wasn’t always the case. Do you wonder why you see few European or Asian auto brand pickup trucks in […]
The Cotton Club Movie Fiasco
Francis Ford Coppola directing, Mario Puzo writing the script and Robert Evans as a producer, how can a film with this team fail? This is the same team behind the Godfather 1 and 2, two of the best movies of all time. The Cotton Club was going to be the next big thing for them, right? […]
3 year anniversary
This weekend marks the three-year anniversary of Mistakes were Made. This site started as an idea, to use some of my historical knowledge and write under appreciated or unknown tales from history. I had no expectations and didn’t know what I was doing. Article ideas were all over the place, as I was constantly testing […]
An ode to Paul Robeson
From the 1920s to the 1940s, Paul Robeson made himself into a world renowned actor and singer. He was one of the primary stars of the Harlem Renaissance era. Around the mid-1940s, Robeson started getting involved in political activism. He started believing trade unionism was crucial to civil rights. Robeson became an outspoken advocate for […]