Born a year before emancipation, journalist Ida B. Wells is getting some overdue recognition for her brave and powerful reporting on injustice.
Tag Archives: Historic Figures
How one journalist risked her life to hold murderers accountable
Journalist Ida B. Wells was as civil rights activist during the late 1800’s. Her tireless struggle for justice helped spark the movement for equal rights.
9 Legends of American Folklore
Folktales show us a lot about who we once were and still are. Check out these descriptions of nine classic characters from American folklore: Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Sally Ann Thunder, Johnny Appleseed, Mike Fink, Pecos Bill, Geronimo, and Old Stormalong. Why were they so famous? Why are they still famous today?
Shakespeare in lockdown: Did he write King Lear in plague quarantine?
One silver lining of shelter-in-place orders is that they might give rise to creativity. Learn more about a popular idea that sets the bar high.
What Does It Mean for America to Put Harriet Tubman on the $20 Bill?
The U.S. Treasury recently decided to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Click on this link to read a discussion by several writers and editors from The Atlantic about the significance of this change to American currency.
Shakespeare, Lincoln, and Ambition
Abraham Lincoln once wrote, “I think nothing equals Macbeth.” Learn about how Shakespeare’s dramatic exploration of ambition may have affected how Lincoln acted on his own ambition.
Theodore Roosevelt and the Environment
President Theodore Roosevelt was brash, daring, and adventurous. He was also deeply committed to the cause of preserving America’s forests and wilderness. Explore the links in this American Experience website to learn more about what nature did for “TR” and what he did for nature.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas, “Mother of the Everglades”
Read about how one dedicated voice turned the view of Florida’s Everglades from negative to positive.
Where would we be without George Washington?
George Washington retired shortly after the American Revolution and re-emerged on the political scene several years later. In this essay, historian Edward Larson emphasizes the significance of these actions and makes a connection to modern global revolutions.
About Mark Twain
Learn about Mark Twain’s life through this collection of texts, photos, illustrations, and other media.
Discovery Leads Yale to Revise a Chapter of Its Black History
Recently found letters and documents have uncovered that Richard Henry Green, an African-American man, graduated from Yale in 1857, nearly 20 years earlier than the man who was believed to be the first African-American graduate from Yale.
Molly Shannon’s Emily Dickinson Is No Reclusive Spinster
Emily Dickinson is often thought of as a solitary figure who never intended for her poetry to be published. Click this link to read about a 2018 dramatic comedy that challenges these notions.
The Speech That Brought India to the Brink of Independence
In August of 1942, Mohandas Gandhi gave an influential speech urging Indians to stand up for their liberty. Read to learn more about India’s struggle for independence and the historical significance of Gandhi’s speech.
Why does Amelia Earhart still fascinate us?
Amelia Earhart was a pioneer and flying icon for her achievement both in the air and on the ground. Read more about society’s continued fascination with her.
Mary Wollstonecraft Biography
Feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792, advocated for the education of women.
A Free Man’s Letter to A Former Slaveowner in 1865
In 1865, former slave Jourdon Anderson was asked to return to the farm where he had been held captive for 32 years. Read this article to learn more about Anderson’s witty, sarcastic response and to read excerpts from his letter.
Annual event pays tribute to proclamation
In Beaufort, South Carolina, people come together every year to remember the day President Lincoln read the Emancipation Proclamation. Read this brief article to see how they celebrate.
A Poet Who Pushed (and Recycled) the Envelope
In this article, we learn about a new book, The Gorgeous Nothings, that showcases bits of poetry written on envelopes by Emily Dickinson. Be sure to enlarge the images to take a look at Dickinson’s manuscripts.
The Poisoning of King George III
For years, there has been speculation that King George III suffered from some sort of mental illness. In this article, learn about the poisoning that may have caused his symptoms.
How a Nuclear Meltdown Works
Nuclear meltdowns are very rare but dangerous. Read about how nuclear reactors work and what causes a meltdown.