Author Archives: Chandler Gifford

Between Two Worlds: Black Women and the Fight for Voting Rights

Read this article to learn about the efforts of Black women like Ida B. Wells, who worked hard to secure the right to vote for all Americans, regardless of their race or gender.

The Pandemic Has Shaken Students’ Sense of Themselves

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected young people and their sense of how they fit into society?

Fortnite’s Civil Rights Movement Inclusion Was Well-Intentioned But Messy

Is a popular video game an appropriate venue for teaching young people about the Civil Rights movement? Click here to find out what happened when Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech was featured in Fortnite.

What We Owe Each Other

A social contract is an implied agreement among the people of a society about the rules that define their government. The author of this piece believes it’s time to establish new social contracts to replace systems that aren’t working well anymore.

Remembering the most important civil rights hero most Americans have never heard of

Click this link to learn about Bob Moses, an unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement who led efforts to get Black Americans registered to vote.

What the ‘Lyme wars’ can teach us about COVID-19 and how to find common ground in the school reopening debate

Lyme disease, which people get from tick bites, is a subject of controversy in the medical field. What can we learn from this controversy that might help people deal with disagreements about COVID-19 and reopening schools?

Nelson Mandela: ‘Synonymous with the fight for justice and equality’

Read this article to learn about the legacy of Nelson Mandela, a leader whose voice inspired many to join the worldwide struggle for freedom and human rights.

Coronavirus: How can society thrive post-pandemic?

How has COVID-19 affected our connections with one other? What other questions should we be asking about how society should move forward from the pandemic? Click this link to read what a diverse group of experts think.

A Protest Moment I’ll Never Forget

In this article, ten reporters share their most memorable experiences from the nationwide protests that followed the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020.

The Time Shakespeare Caused a Riot in New York City

Can you imagine a riot breaking out in response to a disagreement about which actor did a better job in the role of Macbeth? That’s what happened in 1849 in New York. Click to learn more.

How social media turns online arguments between teenagers into real-world violence

What role does social media play in creating conflict in our society? This article explains how online disagreements can lead to violence in real life.

Why People Misperceive Crime Trends (Chicago Is Not the Murder Capital)

Is the crime rate decreasing, or skyrocketing off the charts? In which cities is crime the worst? Click this link to learn about trends in Americans’ perceptions and misperceptions related to crime.

News for All: How the Immigrant Experience Shaped American Media

Read about how ethnic media has provided a link between immigrants’ old countries and their new homes in the United States throughout history.

Need to Dust Off Your Social Skills?

This article provides some advice for re-learning the social skills we may have lost during the many isolating months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘Zoom Dysmorphia’: How Video Conferencing Can Wreck Our Self-Image

How does frequent video conferencing affect the way we see ourselves?

How to read Shakespeare for pleasure

Read small sections. Think like a director. Click this link for these and other tips on how to get the most out of your reading of Shakespeare’s plays.

Equality Act Would Extend Civil Rights Laws To LGBTQ People Throughout U.S.

Click this link to read about a law that, if passed, would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include a ban on discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community.