Author Rebecca Makkai reflects on how her father’s escape from Communist-controlled Hungary in 1956 still echoes in her life in the United States.
Category Archives: Hard-Won Liberty
American Experience: Freedom Riders
In 1961, a diverse group of activists rode interstate buses to several southern cities, violating laws that did not allow African Americans to sit at the front of the bus or alongside white riders. This simple act sparked violent responses that drew attention to the civil rights cause. Explore the route and hear the voices of the Freedom Riders through this interactive site.
After 39 Years of Wrongful Imprisonment, Ricky Jackson Is Finally Free
Ricky Jackson spent nearly four decades in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. While he was incarcerated, he wrote letters to journalists about his case. Learn how the charges against Jackson were finally dismissed.
AI is sending people to jail—and getting it wrong
Can the legal system rely on artificial intelligence to make fair recommendations for sentencing criminals? Or do these technologies perpetuate historical biases against low-income and minority communities? Read to learn more.
Martin Luther King was no prophet of unity. He was a radical
This opinion piece points out that people tend to remember Martin Luther King Jr. fondly as a civil rights leader while overlooking the fact that his views and actions were radical.
Gandhi statue removed from African university over claims of racism
We often idealize great leaders, but even those who have far-reaching positive influence on the world aren’t perfect. Read to learn about a recent controversy surrounding Mohandas Gandhi in the African nation of Ghana.
Uganda’s Bobi Wine: ‘Tortured’ pop star MP returns home
Click this link to learn about Ugandan Member of Parliament (MP) Bobi Wine, a popular musician who got involved in politics to speak out against the oppressive and corrupt leadership of his country.
A dangerous idea offers hope for girls in Afghanistan
We sometimes take our freedoms for granted—for example, the freedom to learn. One Massachusetts woman, Razia Jan, has worked tirelessly to ensure the right to an education for girls in her native Afghanistan.
Freedom Writer
This article profiles poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, author of “Cloudy Day,” and describes a documentary film about his discovery of poetry while he was imprisoned as a young man.
Lady Liberty’s Radical History
The author of this opinion piece calls into question several commonly held ideas about what the Statue of Liberty represents.
The wind in my hair: one Iranian woman’s courageous struggle against being forced to wear the hijab
Activist Masih Alinejad has protested against wearing a hijab since she was a child. Click this link to learn about her online campaign to encourage Iranian women to resist the law that requires them to cover their hair in public.
Teaching Gandhi’s Nonviolent Principles in a Violent Time
In this interview, a youth educator at the Gandhi Institute describes how her organization applies a philosophy of principled nonviolence to its work with conflict resolution in schools.
There’s a war on books in prisons. It needs to end.
Can banning books help keep prisons safe? The author of this opinion piece believes there should be fewer restrictions on the books that prisoners are allowed to read.
Civil Disobedience
Both Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. drew inspiration from the writings of Henry David Thoreau. Read the 19th-century work that lit the fires of both Indian independence and American civil rights.
Spring Awakening: How an Egyptian Revolution Began on Facebook
Read this review of Revolution 2.0 to learn about Wael Ghonim’s experience and influence during the 2011 Arab Spring.
Quiz: What’s Your Freedom Type?
Answer questions based on realistic scenarios to find out where you rank in the balance between freedom and security. Then, see which historical figures fit and clash with your “freedom type.”
Plessy and Ferguson: Descendants of a divisive Supreme Court decision unite
The Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson upheld racial segregation in the United States. Learn how descendants of the opposing sides have come together.
How Charles Dickens Helped the English Get Fresh Air
Charles Dickens’s writing brought the struggles of the poor to light in ways that helped improve their lot. But you may not know that he also brought literal light to the poor, along with air to breathe.
Segregation Now . . .
Six decades after U.S. schools were ordered to be racially integrated by the Supreme Court, enrollment is sliding back in the direction of segregation.
Welcome to the World’s Nicest Prison
Is the purpose of prison to punish or to reform? John D. Sutter highlights a controversial Norwegian prison that doesn’t feel like a prison at all—because its aim is not taking away freedom but instead creating good neighbors.