Traditional paper lanterns don’t just create beauty; they also carry deep symbolism. Read about how one small community in Hawaii came together to express their grief through a display of handmade lanterns.
Tag Archives: Culture & Society
Langston Hughes: Biography
American poet, playwright, and novelist Langston Hughes was an influential contributor to the Harlem Renaissance. Discover how his voice expressed in writing the feelings and beauty of African American lives in the 1920s.
Floods, Fires, Storms are Fodder for Centuries of Poems
Poet and editor Jeffrey Yang reminds us how disasters can stimulate creativity. In this video he discusses a collection of poems about how we heal after disasters and how the beauty and power of nature can help.
Acrophobia
Why are people often naturally afraid of heights? Why are some more fearful than others? This article explains what acrophobia is and how sensible fear of heights is.
Top 8 Special Animals in Greek Mythology
These mythological creatures are not your usual pets. Find out about a three-headed dog, a chimera, and other strange animals that appeared in ancient Greek tales.
Youth Voices: I Have a Voice!
Mei-Hua Li, a Chinese emigrant in the United States, tells about how the responsibility of interpreting for her family brought maturity. She also discusses how the youth program of the Asian Community Corporation (A-VOYCE) helped her understand her own identity in a foreign country.
Conversing With the World: The Poet in Society
Read about the role of protest and political poetry throughout American history.
How Walking in Nature Changes the Brain
In a recent study, researchers found that walking in a natural setting improved participants’ moods and states of mind.
Tinker v. Des Moines (393 U.S. 503, 1969)
Read this brief history of the Tinker v. Des Moines ICSD case, in which the Supreme Court ruled that students have the right to protected free speech under the First Amendment.
Remembering the fight for women’s rights: Suffragists at Seneca Falls laid groundwork for others in the struggle for equality
The first convention for women’s rights in the United States took place in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. Writer Michael Sainato remembers the people who met there and highlights the influence they had on those that followed.
Target to move away from gender-based signs
Responding to criticism that gender-based signs are unnecessary, Target stores will start to remove them in toy and bedding departments.
RACE: Are We So Different?
Despite apparent differences among people whose ancestors came from different part of the world, all humans can be traced back to a shared beginning. This interactive site explores our assumptions about the idea of race.
Eight female authors your class should know for the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s “Emma”
Like Mark Twain, Jane Austen wrote tales that made her one of the most popular writers in her day. Find out what other female authors became popular in their day and some little-known facts about each one.
What Does It Mean to Cross the Rubicon?
Whether or not to cross the Rubicon was a decision that Roman governor Julius Caesar had to make. Watch the video to find out why his decision was momentous.
The First Writings
Voices from the past are still heard today in ancient writing. Learn why archaeologists changed their minds about the origins of writing after discovering tiny tablets in an Egyptian tomb.
Horse Domestication Happened Across Eurasia, Study Shows
Humans have used horses for transportation, warfare, and agriculture for thousands of years. Experts are still trying to find out when and where this special bond started.
Portraits of a Generation: Children of Immigrants
Quetzal Maucci, an Argentinean- and Peruvian-American photographer, creates a portrait series depicting children from immigrant families living in the U.S. and tells the stories of their identity struggles in their new culture.
Look, something shiny!
Colorful products overshadow our logical, sensible brain when purchasing. And, marketers strategically use color to guide us in a particular direction. This study from The Ohio State University covers some interesting points on how our brains treat color versus black and white objects.
Life as a Young Carer
In England and Wales there are 170,000 known young carers under the age of 18, who provide care for a family member or friend. However, it’s believed that the real figure is more in the region of 700,000! Read about one carer–Sarah Thomas, now 18–who has been looking after both her parents since she can remember.
Gladwell on GPS: David Was No Underdog
In this video interview, author Malcolm Gladwell explains why he believes that in the Bible story of David and Goliath, David was not the underdog facing a fearful situation.