<p>The Gilded Age was a time of unparalleled wealth and prosperity in America — but it was also a time of staggering inequality, corruption, and unchecked power. Among its richest figures was Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate who built his fortune on the backs of low-paid workers, only to give it away — earning him the nickname the Godfather of American Philanthropy. He didn’t just fund libraries and universities — he championed a philosophy: that it was the duty of the ultra-wealthy to serve the public good.</p><p>But, as it turns out, even philanthropy is a form of power. So, what exactly have wealthy philanthropists done with their power? We explore that question at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, inside Carnegie’s former mansion. There, a board game called <em>Philanthropy</em> invites players to reimagine the connection between money and power — not by amassing wealth, but by giving it away.</p><p><strong>Guests: </strong></p><p><strong>Christina de León</strong>, Associate Curator of Latino Design at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum </p><p><strong>Tommy Mishima</strong>, artist and co-creator (with Liam Lee) of the installation “Game Room” in Cooper Hewitt's triennial <em>Making Home</em> </p><p><strong>David Nasaw</strong>, author of the biography Andrew Carnegie </p>
Duration:
34:05 MINS
Author:
Smithsonian Institution
Subtitle:
Andrew Carnegie, nicknamed the Godfather of American Philanthropy, was a steel magnate who built his fortune on the backs of low-paid workers, only to give it away.
