Read about how ethnic media has provided a link between immigrants’ old countries and their new homes in the United States throughout history.
Category Archives: Coming to America
Meet Angela, The First Named African Woman in Jamestown
An Angolan woman called Angela was among the first Africans to arrive in the North American territory that would become the United States. Learn more about Angela, the Central African kingdom of Ndongo where she was born, and how she and other captives lived in Jamestown.
8 Amazing Inventions by Immigrants
Did you know that a popular brand of American cheese was invented by an immigrant from Canada? Learn more about this and seven other surprising, everyday inventions by Americans from different regions of the world in this brief article.
How Immigrants Created America’s Mixtape
In this feature article, Howard Reich describes how the diverse musical traditions of immigrant Jews, Congolese Africans, Mexican mariachi artists and others have been combined to create unique American musical forms.
5 Powerful and Influential Native American Women
Native American women achieved important but often overlooked accomplishments in the early development of North America. Their success inspired later trailblazing efforts. Read the extraordinary stories of five Native American women whose impact went beyond forging the groundwork of an emerging new nation.
Fort Mose: America’s Black Colonial Fortress of Freedom
Fugitive African slaves seeking freedom in early America found refuge at St. Augustine. Granted freedom by the Spanish, these skilled laborers eventually established the first legal free black town in the present-day United States.
What Thanksgiving means for Native Americans
While Thanksgiving can mean many different things to different people, it is important to acknowledge the truth of the holiday and not perpetuate historical inaccuracies.
First Encounters in the Americas
Consider the initial meeting of Arawaks and Europeans through a fresh, critical lens.
For a radical new perspective on immigration, picture the US as an ancient tree
Watch as immigrants create the “tree” of the United States.
How America Thought About Refugees 70 Years Ago
Read a current journalist’s thoughts on journalism of the past as it pertains to sentiments on refugees.
America, The Startup: How European Settlers Launched The Most Entrepreneurial Economy In The World
In this article, Rob Wile compares the early European settlers to today’s entrepreneurs. Read to find out how the two compare.
Navajos share stories about their past, the world
In Phoenix, Arizona, a new program allows people to learn about Navajo traditions and stories. Children and their families hear traditional Navajo stories that help them learn more about their roots.
Land O’ Lakes replaces Native American woman logo, touts farmer-owned credentials instead
For nearly a century, a butter company’s logo featured a drawing of a Native American woman. Find out why that logo has finally changed.
Archaeologists Are Hunting for the Lost French Fleet That Nearly Conquered Spanish Florida
Archaeologists are looking for the wreckage of a fleet of French ships that was lost near present-day Florida in 1565. Why are scientists so interested in this shipwreck from long ago? The loss of the ships brought an end to French colonization in the Americas.
Pow Wow in the Club: A New Spin on First Nations Music
A Tribe Called Red brings their heritage to the dance scene to raise awareness and bring people together. Watch the video to see how this music group shares aspects of their culture with the public.
Not So Fast, Jamestown: St. Augustine Was Here First
Historians and locals celebrate the settlement of St. Augustine, which was founded 450 years ago and is the oldest city in the United States.
How to Talk About America’s Newest Arrivals
In this article, Damon Darlin uses the New York Times’ word usage tool to measure the language used about immigrants during different times in history. Look at the charts to see the United States’ immigration rates and the terms used to describe the people who came to the country.
Meet the Sacrifice Generation
In Montgomery County, Maryland, Asian immigrants straddle a cultural divide.
Rare Aztec Map Reveals a Glimpse of Life in 1500s Mexico
Few maps detail the early interactions of the indigenous people of Mexico and early Spanish colonists as much as the Codex Quetzalecatzin. Made using traditional Aztec methods and showing Spanish influences, this map shows the effect of two cultures colliding.
Calling People Names: An Expression of Colonial Power
Historically, colonizers gave names to the indigenous people of North America instead of using the names already in place. This continued imposition is inaccurate and at times insulting. Read the article to learn more about this problem.