This article examines some of Frederick Douglass’s writings in which he describes how slave owners made use of food (and hunger) as a way of manipulating their slaves.
Author Archives: Chandler Gifford
Is 8th Grade Too Early to Pick a Career?
Think you’re too young to start thinking about your professional life? Read this article to learn about a program in South Carolina that offers career counseling to eighth-grade students.
6 takeaways about teen friendships in the digital age
Check out this article to see the findings of a 2015 report that examined how digital technology affects friendships between teenagers.
Anne Frank Who? Museums Combat Ignorance About the Holocaust
Will Anne Frank ever be forgotten? As the Holocaust fades further into history, some historians are working to make sure that future generations don’t get the facts wrong or lose sight of its importance.
Lovecraft tribute still haunting on a beautiful spring day
In Providence, Rhode Island, birthplace of H.P. Lovecraft, horror fans gather at Ladd Observatory each year to pay tribute to “the father of modern horror fiction.”
Immigration, Migration, Identity at Center Stage in 2017 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., highlights the cultural diversity of American communities. Read to learn more about this colorful event that brings many cultures together in the nation’s capital.
What Does It Mean for America to Put Harriet Tubman on the $20 Bill?
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.
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.