What exactly is Mardis Gras, and where is it celebrated? Its long-standing history embedded in different places throughout the world may surprise you!
Category Archives: Culture and Belonging
‘Low and Slow’: Latino lowriders cruise for community
Read about why lowriding is important to Juan Ramirez and his community in Los Angeles.
December Holidays around the World
Read about the different holidays celebrated this time of year by people all over the world.
‘There are no words’: As coronavirus kills Indigenous elders, endangered languages face extinction
Tapi Yawalapiti is one of the remaining two people who know the Yawalapiti language. He’s doing all he can to to ensure it’s not completely lost one day.
What is culture shock?
Culture shock is something many people in foreign countries experience. It refers to the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, uncertainty, confusion and so on) felt when people have to operate within a different and unknown cultural or social environment.
Returning to School in Indian Country during the Pandemic
As schools across the United States begin the new school year amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Native people face steeper obstacles than many other Americans.
U.S. immigrants get supersized
In 2011, researchers conducted a study to find out why people often gain weight after moving to the United States. They found that immigrants often choose unhealthy foods because they want to fit in to American culture.
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.
13 Everyday Habits That Could (and Should) Change Forever After Coronavirus
Read predictions about ways the coronavirus might permanently alter our culture.
What Americans Can Learn From Other Food Cultures
Food joins people together within and across cultures. American food is slowly becoming more localized over time like French, Mexican, Chinese and Italian cuisine which is made from the produce of the region and with ingredients to hand at a particular season.
Beyond the X — Rez Ball
Catch the excitement of “rez ball” and learn about what an important part of culture basketball is on Native American reservations.
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.”
What if everyone on Earth spoke the same language?
Did you know about 6,909 distinct languages are spoken worldwide? However, some experts predict that half of current languages will be gone by 2100. So, what is the future of language? Are we headed toward a world where everyone speaks the same language?
How One Observant Muslim Persuaded Her Parents to Let Her Attend Princeton
The eldest daughter of six children in an observant Pakistani Muslim family has to persuade her parents that accepting her place at her dream school – Princeton – will not contradict her faith.
Why Cultural Appropriation Isn’t Cool
We live in a multicultural society, so we enjoy food, music, and fashion from many backgrounds. But when is it sharing, and when is it stealing?
Deaf Individuals Explain What It Means To Be Deaf
Several deaf individuals speak on what it means to be deaf, what deaf culture is, and how they wish to be perceived and treated.
A Young Immigrant’s Inspiring Story of Survival Moves the Internet to Take Action
The LA Times created a video documenting the struggles of a teenage, Guatemalan immigrant, which resulted in an outpouring of support.
How Minneapolis’ Somali immigrants are keeping their artistic traditions alive
Osman Ali and Sabrina Seyf, Minnesotans of Somali ancestry, love to share their art with the people of Minneapolis. Through artifacts and the art of henna, people learn about the Somali culture.
Undocumented journalist describes immigrant experience, American dream
The work of award-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas explores the immigrant experience and the road to American citizenship.
Stuck Between Two Cultures
Natalie Cardenas is like a lot of teenagers in the U.S. today — she feels wedged between two cultures. Natalie feels a strong connection to both her Peruvian heritage and her American identity, but somehow still feels a bit rejected by both.