Get ready to dive into the unfiltered, uncensored, and unexpectedly hilarious side of history with "Rated R History: Stuff Not Approved by the School Board"! 🎙️ In my debut episode I'm spilling the tea on the history of Arlington National Cemetery – and trust us, it's a wild ride.

Did you know Arlington started as a slave plantation? Oh, yes, and it even had its share of drama, starring none other than General Robert E. Lee. But wait, there's more! Arlington didn't just stop at being a plantation; it upgraded to a national cemetery, thanks to the rivalry between General Meigs and good ol' Lee. Spoiler alert: Meigs won, and Arlington became the final resting place for our nations heroes.

But hold on to your history textbooks because we've got the real star of the show – James Parks who was born, lived, worked, died and is now buried at Arligton. Once an enslaved African American on Arlington Plantation, he defied the odds to become Arlington's first caretaker. Picture this: burying one Union soldier a day and snagging the title of the ONLY civilian buried in Arlington with full military honors. Move over, Hollywood – history just got a whole lot more entertaining!

So, if you're tired of the sanitized, sleep-inducing history lessons, join us for a laugh-out-loud journey through the Rated R side of history. Subscribe now and get ready for giggles, gasps, and a newfound appreciation for the unsung heroes of our past. Because who said history can't be a comedy goldmine? Buckle up, history buffs – it's gonna be a wild ride! 🚀 #RatedRHistory #UnfilteredPastLaughs #ArlingtonUntold

Sources:

https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/African-Americans/James-Parks

https://www.nps.gov/arho/learn/historyculture/parks.htm

https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Portals/0/Education%20Materials/A%20Short%20History%20of%20the%20Arlington%20Property.pdf?ver=2020-07-07-125321-247

https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Portals/2/Understanding-Arlington-Walking-Tour.pdf

https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/horrors-slavery-1805

Credits:

Intro song - 100 Shots by Young Doph

Outro song - Life Is Good by Let's go