The U.S. Treasury recently decided to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Click on this link to read a discussion by several writers and editors from The Atlantic about the significance of this change to American currency.
Author Archives: Chandler Gifford
Katy Perry, Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, and others share what they wish they’d known as a teenager
Check out this link to learn what advice some of the most famous and successful people in the world have for teenagers.
German Parliament Votes To Recognize Mass Killing Of Armenians As Genocide
In June of 2016, Germany officially declared that the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago was genocide. Read this article to find out more about the controversy surrounding this decision.
Where would we be without George Washington?
George Washington retired shortly after the American Revolution and re-emerged on the political scene several years later. In this essay, historian Edward Larson emphasizes the significance of these actions and makes a connection to modern global revolutions.
What are the effects of isolation in the mind?
University of Chicago researchers have found that lonely people have less activity in the ventral striatum part of the brain, which is part of its reward center and is associated with learning.
Molly Shannon’s Emily Dickinson Is No Reclusive Spinster
Emily Dickinson is often thought of as a solitary figure who never intended for her poetry to be published. Click this link to read about a 2018 dramatic comedy that challenges these notions.
What America Doesn’t Get About Dictatorships
According to the author of this opinion piece, those who enjoy the freedom and prosperity that comes with living in a democracy tend to underestimate the ability of dictators to stay in power.
The Speech That Brought India to the Brink of Independence
In August of 1942, Mohandas Gandhi gave an influential speech urging Indians to stand up for their liberty. Read to learn more about India’s struggle for independence and the historical significance of Gandhi’s speech.
Accept The Awkwardness: How To Make Friends (And Keep Them)
Want to know what you can do to make new friends and keep the ones you already have? Read this article for some expert advice.
“Everything is changing”: Farmers seek solutions, not slogans, on climate change
This article suggests that although many American farmers have doubts about the causes of climate change, they are willing to work with scientists to solve the problems presented by extreme weather events.
Nature crisis: Humans ‘threaten 1m species with extinction’
A 2019 study by the United Nations suggests that human actions could cause as many as one million species to become extinct within the next few decades. Read to learn more about the situation and to find out what you can do to help.
Running Down a Dream
Read the story of Allen Martin, who coaches long-distance runners to succeed not only in the sport, but in life.
Ending Gang Retaliation With Text Messages
Because most gang violence can be attributed to retaliation, the city of San Diego has implemented a program in which former gang members intervene with victims and persuade them not to seek revenge.
A Free Man’s Letter to A Former Slaveowner in 1865
In 1865, former slave Jourdon Anderson was asked to return to the farm where he had been held captive for 32 years. Read this article to learn more about Anderson’s witty, sarcastic response and to read excerpts from his letter.
Literary thrills and chills: the rising trend of terror for teens
In this article, author Amy Lukavics explains the value she sees in horror fiction and argues that “true terror” should not have to be toned down for young adult readers.
Through August: Exploring hidden cost of Grand Coulee Dam
Read to find out about a 2015 exhibit at Washington State University that explored the consequences of the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, the subject of Sherman Alexie’s poem, “The Powwow at the End of the World.”
Why being a foodie isn’t ‘elitist’
In this opinion piece, Eric Schlosser, the author of Fast Food Nation, outlines why sustainable farming is the opposite of elitist.
How Hate Works
Hatred is borne from many factors, both neurological and sociological; it can lead people to seek vengeance and leaders to implement large-scale atrocities such as the Holocaust.
Teens Vulnerable To Identity Theft, Financial Crimes And Impersonation
Children and teenagers can be targeted for identity theft and other “cybercrimes.” Read to learn about risky online behaviors and to get tips on how to avoid identity theft.
Jefferson Davis Statue Comes Down at University of Texas
Jefferson Davis never asked for a pardon for leading the government of the Confederacy in its rebellion against the United States. Statues of the Confederate president have become increasingly controversial in recent years, including one that was removed from the campus of the University of Texas in 2015.