Uncapping Capitalization

Revisionist History, Season 1, Episodes 4, 5, and 6 by Malcolm Gladwell
July 1, 2016

Episode 4: Carlos Doesn't Remember
Episode 5: Food Fight
Episode 6: My Hundred Little Million

Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast, Revisionist History, examines “things overlooked and misunderstood.” Through a three episode miniseries in Season One, Gladwell delves into education and capitalization, an idea Gladwell describes as “how society provides opportunities for people to make the most of their abilities,” so they can capitalize on their potential and improve their lives through education and hard work. In these three episodes, Gladwell reevaluates how good America really is at capitalization and how the American educational system helps or hinders its citizens. Although episode four focuses on public schools and the next two episodes focus on higher education, all three episodes can easily be applied to K-12 independent schools grappling with important social justice issues in education including admissions, financial aid, endowments, and the question of what role schools can and should play in promoting a more just society. Gladwell does not conceal his own personal views about these issues; his opinions, as well as the facts that he presents, offer an insightful perspective on an important conversation and dilemma facing schools today.