Learn why an academic approach toward examining lingering effects of slavery has turned into a hot-button topic.
Tag Archives: Culture & Society
Remembering History: Ruby Bridges
Read about how six-year-old Ruby Bridges advanced the civil rights cause when she became the first Black student to integrate a southern elementary school.
Biography: Ibtihaj Muhammad
Muhammad was the first female Muslim-American to win an Olympic medal. Read about her life and career in this article.
Growing Up Colored
Henry Louis Gates describes what it was like to grow up as an African American in a West Virginia town in the 1950s.
The Benefits of Digging in the Dirt
In this article, Laura Wright Treadway, environmentalist and mom, talks about the importance of playing—and learning—outdoors.
Study: Wanting Things Makes Us Happier Than Having Them
Studies show that the thoughts of buying something new can provide as much pleasure as having that new purchase in the hand! And, for the materialistic, the happiness gained from a new purchase is short-lived.
News for All: How the Immigrant Experience Shaped American Media
Read about how ethnic media has provided a link between immigrants’ old countries and their new homes in the United States throughout history.
You can do it, baby!
Journalist Leslie Garrett argues that adults shouldn’t tell children, “You could be anything,” but rather, “Be what you’re capable of.”
Listening Is an Act of Love
Do you know someone whose story should be heard—and remembered? StoryCorps is a spectacular project in which people just like you, your family, and your friends sit down to chat and record stories from their lives. Visit the site to hear some amazing tales and watch a few videos. When you’ve finished, click the “Record Your Story” link to find out how you, too, can see to it that the stories of your family and friends get heard.
Why Shakespeare’s Stories Still Resonate
In this podcast, two Shakespeare scholars dig into why we still care about the characters and situations crafted by an Englishman who lived four centuries ago.
The Color of Justice
The American civil rights movement may seem to be a topic of history, but the struggle for equality continues today.
The Secret Annex Online
Go back in time to explore the hiding place of Anne Frank on this website. With background information on the people, places, and things that happened, as well as an interactive 3D model of the secret annex, this site provides a truly immersive experience.
How Culture Shapes Emotions
Our emotions, such as shame, are largely determined by the environment and people in which we are surrounded.
You Can Give a Boy a Doll, but You Can’t Make Him Play with It
Why do boys want to play with trucks, while girls prefer dolls? Are these stereotypes that our society forces on children, or are such preferences innate? This article explores those very questions.
Failure Is Your Friend: A New Freakonomics Radio Podcast
In this podcast, you will hear about how to predict the possibility of failure, how to avoid actually going through the failure, and then what can you do to sidestep it. Listen in to learn how to think ahead before you act.
Chimps Can’t Cook, But Maybe They’d Like To
According to new research, chimps have all the brainpower needed to cook — except for the ability to control fire. Read about it here.
10 Great Summer Jobs For Teens
Aside from providing a little extra pocket money, what are the benefits of a summer job? Forbes Magazine lists ten jobs that will provide an opportunity for gaining lifelong, transferable skills.
Tacoma teen speaks with Dr. Jill Biden on transgender, nonbinary rights
Stella Keating, the youngest transgender person to testify in front of the US Senate, spoke with Dr. Jill Biden about her advocacy surrounding transgender and non-binary youth.
Gilded Age Wives Set Philanthropy’s Gold Standard
The philanthropy of the wives of some of the richest men in American history supported universities, museums, and other institutions. They redefined the traditional role of wealthy women, setting a standard for today’s philanthropic community. Learn more in this short feature.
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.