Part of being guided by a cause is convincing others to believe in it, too. Explore the speeches of President Barack Obama to learn about how you can put rhetoric to work for the causes that matter to you.
Tag Archives: Historic Figures
A Holocaust Survivor’s Digital Doppelgänger
The Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York now features a virtual version of Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank and survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Born-Into-Slavery Narratives Discovered in Newspaper
In 2017, a Pennsylvania historian found several slave narratives that had been published in a local newspaper in 1893. Read this article to learn more.
Jack London’s mark on literature
Professor and author Jeanne C. Reesman extols the writing of Jack London.
In His Own Words: Remembering Poet Robert Hayden
Read about poet Robert Hayden and listen to him recite part of one of his most famous poems.
Writers Work in Mobile Studios at This Incredible Residency in Massachusetts
The Mastheads, a residency program for writers, built five small studios inspired by famous local authors, such as Henry David Thoreau and Nathaniel Hawthorne, for its recipients to work in.
Controversy over plan to name train after Anne Frank
In 2017, Germany’s national railway considered naming one of its trains after Anne Frank. Many people objected to the plan. Read this article to learn more.
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.
Casual Perfection
Critic Meghan O’Rourke argues that publishing drafts of Elizabeth Bishop’s work reveals more of the American poet’s brilliance.
Why the Colonies Most Galvanizing Leader Never Became a Founding Father
Learn how James Otis, Jr., inpsired early revolutionary thinking with fiery speeches against British rule.
Double-Bind: Three Women of the Harlem Renaissance
Among the more well-known male writers and artists of the Harlem Renaissance existed women who also deserve to be recognized. Read about three writers whose work reflected being both black and female.
Dads who do chores bolster daughters’ aspirations
In a recent study, researchers at the University of British Columbia found that daughters who see their fathers contribute to household chores are more likely to have higher career aspirations.
Edward Curtis: Photographing the North American Indian
Nineteenth-century photographer Edward Curtis was known for his images of Native Americans. Watch this video that details the Smithsonian Institute’s recent acquisition of more than 700 of Curtis’s images.
In Search of Shakespeare: Timeline
Shakespeare is possibly the most famous playwright of all time, but much of his life is shrouded in mystery. Explore the timeline of events that shaped Shakespeare’s world. Then, explore the “In Search of Shakespeare” site to learn more about the man and his works.
Sojourner Truth
A former slave, Sojourner Truth was an ally of Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison in the fight for the abolition of slavery. Watch a mini-biography and read about this brave abolitionist and women’s rights advocate.
In New Bedford, Frederick Douglass Finds Refuge as a Fugitive Slave
Listen to this account of Frederick Douglass’s first years of freedom.
John Dickinson during the Continental and Confederation periods
Read about this lesser-known contemporary of the founding fathers.
How Jonathan Swift Attacked Fake News
In the 1720s and 1730s, author Jonathan Swift used satire to protest social injustices, balancing facts with absurdity.
Patience Agbabi: Chaucer remixed
Poet Patience Agbabi re-writes Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales with characters from modern-day England.
Who betrayed Anne Frank? New probe launched by ex-FBI agent
Using “cold case” investigation methods and hi-tech data analysis, a team of experts is working to determine whether someone told the Gestapo about the secret annex, or if the discovery of the Frank family was merely a matter of chance.