Comedian Jay Leno and others have long pointed out many Americans’ inability to identify people they should know, whether they be politicians, celebrities or historical icons. According to University of South Carolina historians Lauren Sklaroff and Kent Germany, attitudes are changing about whether there should be a certain set of people or information that all Americans should know.
Germany has a short list, but says people would never agree on what should be on such a list. Sklaroff, meanwhile, says cultural literacy, for lack of a better name, changes from generation to generation, and that people are most familiar with culture and history that they feel connected to.
