“I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud, and was buried in the blizzard. A people’s dream died there. It was a beautiful dream … the nation’s hope is broken and scattered. There is no center any longer, and the sacred tree is dead.”—Black Elk, speaking about the Massacre at Wounded Knee

The Massacre at Wounded Knee took place on this date in 1890. A detachment of the U.S. 7th Cavalry opened fire while disarming two Lakota groups at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. The detachment, some 500 strong, quickly killed 90 Lakota men and 200 women and children. (By some estimates many more were killed.) After a three-day blizzard, the dead, scattered where each man, woman, and child fell and died and now frozen to the ground, were buried without ceremony in a mass grave.

Frederic Remington’s image of the “fight” at Wounded Knee for Harper’s Weekly at top.

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In a recording studio in Brooklyn on this date in 1955, Barbra Streisand recorded “You’ll Never Know.” She was 13 years old and it was her recording debut. Many more followed.

 
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Saint Thomas Becket was assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral on this date in 1170 by four knights acting on behalf of King Henry II of England.

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The Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on this date in 1970. It created OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

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Rainer Maria Rilke died 90 years ago today. Andrei Tarkovsky died 30 years ago today. Lord Stockton, the former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, died 30 years ago today.

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Pablo Casals was born on this date in 1876. William Gaddis was born on this date in 1922. Rick Danko was born on this date in 1943. The late Jon Polito was born on this date in 1950. (He died on September 1.)

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Tom Jarriel is 82 today. Mary Tyler Moore is 80 today. Barbara Steele is 79 today. Jon Voight is 78. Marianne Faithfull is 70 today. “Broken English”:

 
Ted Danson is 69 today. Gelsey Kirkland is 64. Paula Poundstone is 57 today. Lilly Wachowski is 49 today. Ashleigh Banfield is 49. Jude Law is 44. Theo Epstein is 43. Mekhi Phifer is 42.

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