Author Archives: Anita Hacker

Republican lawmakers introduce bills to curb protesting in at least 18 states

In response to the growing number of large protests in recent years, state lawmakers have introduced bills to curtail protestors and the tactics they use.

Celebrate Our Mother Tongues

Educator and former U.S. Foreign Service officer Chris Livaccari discusses how Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” inspired him to examine his own family’s use of language.

Not From Venus, Not From Mars: What We Believe About Gender and Why It’s Often Wrong

In this review of Testosterone Rex by Cordelia Fine, criitc Annie Murphy Paul explains how the author flips how we think about gender on its head.

Beyond Grief and Grievance

Poet and essayist Philip Metres argues that in attempt to use poetry to heal after tragedy, poets should be careful not to fall into cliché or exploitation.

King Philip’s War

For 14 months from 1675 to 1676, Pokunoket chief Metacom, known as King Philip, led an unsuccessful effort to drive the English settlers from native land.

In the Age of ISIS, Is War Reporting Worth the Risk?

Journalist Janine di Giovanni reflects on how war reporting has become more dangerous since she started her career over 20 years ago.

What America’s Gilded Age tells us about the Trump era

Annabelle Quince, a broadcaster with a background in law, psychology, and history, draws parallels between American robber barons of the past and today’s political and business leaders.

The Life and Legacy of Nelson Mandela: 1918-2013

Follow this timeline of Nelson Mandela, whose protest of South African apartheid spanned decades. View the photos and videos and listen to the audio for more context.

Edgar Allan Poe–Cosmologist?

In this blog post, literary scholar René van Slooten argues that Poe was ahead of his time in scientific thought.

Religion and the Founding of the American Republic

View these illustrations, photos, and objects collected by the Library of Congress to learn how the religious growth of the Great Awakening took shape in the 18th century.

The crucial role of men in gender equality

MSNBC reporter Richard Lui writes that men play a major role in fighting for gender equality. Read the article and watch the video to hear his argument.

Inside the Secret World of Russian’s Cold War Mapmakers

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union created millions of detailed maps of locations across the globe. Read about the historians uncovering the previously-classified documents and why they were important.

The Nature Cure

James Hamblin, a skeptical medical doctor, explores the benefits of ecotherapy.

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Roiled U.S. on Eve of Civil War

In his new book, author and professor Randall Fuller investigates how abolitionists and slaveholders reacted to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. In this Q&A, he shares what he discovered.

Humans of New York and the Cavalier Consumption of Others

In this column, writer and critic Vinson Cunningham compares the work of Humans of New York photographer Brandon Stanton to earlier documentarians such as Jacob Riis.

Kill All the Mosquitoes?!

Scientists across the globe are researching how to prevent the spread of disease by altering the genes of mosquitoes, but ethical questions continue to arise.

How America became Italian

Using the example of Italian-Americans, history professor and author Vincent J. Cannato argues that the exchange of cultures and ideas between native-born Americans and immigrants positively influences society.