The new Smithsonian exhibition, “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation,” is meant to show the imprint Indian Americans have made in United States culture throughout the centuries. Take a look inside the exhibition.
Tag Archives: People
Dunmore’s Proclamation: A Time to Choose
We tend to talk about the American Revolution in terms of two sides: the colonists and the British. But for enslaved people living in the colonies, the issue was far more complicated, especially after the Dunmore Proclamation was issued in 1775. Read this summary of the proclamation, the issues it raised, and its consequences.
A Song for the Horse Nation
The arrival of the horse in North America changed life for many American Indian groups. Learn about the amazing relationship between Native peoples and horses, and examine artifacts from throughout their history.
Georgia Douglas Johnson
Georgia Douglas Johnson wrote a poem about taking a risk and soaring into the sky. Learn about the life of this important writer of poems, plays, and stories.
How to make someone fall in love with you, according to science
Sometimes it seems there are just about as many theories on why we fall in love as there are couples in love. But statistics have shown that certain factors play a huge part in what attracts us to certain people and what keeps relationships strong.
Old Friends Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Made History Together.
Though the contributions of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were invaluable in the fight for women’s rights, letters between the two reveal that each was aware of the long road toward equality that would have to be traveled by future generations.
Anne Frank at 85: What would she have become had she lived?
This year, Anne Frank would have been 85 years old. Though her short life still reverberates through the world, it’s hard not to wonder what it would have been like if she had lived longer. This article looks at some of the ways Anne Frank affected the world around her, and offers some ideas about the woman she may have become.
The Girl Who Swims With Sharks
20-year-old Madison Stewart is on a quest to save sharks. Though they might not look like they need protecting, many species of sharks are in danger because of humans engaging in controversial practices and markets. Stewart hopes to change peoples’ minds in time to save these magnificent fish.
Remembering Nina Simone as a Siren and Powerful Civil Rights Activist
Nina Simone was a popular pianist and jazz singer with an unmistakable voice. Some of her later songs are considered by many to be anthems of the civil rights movement. Read this brief introduction to Simone and listen to the two clips of her work.
Self-Defense Tips for Teens
Part of approaching adulthood is learning how to defend yourself. But you don’t necessarily have to take a class or practice martial arts to stay safe–part of protecting yourself involves listening to your instincts. Read this article and watch the news report to learn the basics of self-defense.
Mark Twain
The Prince and the Pauper was just one of many famous stories written by Mark Twain. Learn about the author’s life, the struggles he faced, and the tales that brought him worldwide fame.
Why Power Corrupts
It may sometimes seem that people in power act in unscrupulous ways, but do those represent isolated incidents or a clear pattern? Researchers recently took a look at how people react to having power over others.
Letter from Ethiopia’s Gulag
Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega has been held in prison for over seven years because of his reporting on his country’s corrupt government. In this 2013 letter, he makes his case for freedom and asks the United States to take steps toward a more democratic Ethiopia.
Are you Ukrainian or Russian? It’s complicated . . .
What determines a person’s cultural identity? For many people, it’s made up of a combination of factors such as language, loyalty, and heritage. For those from the former Soviet Union, the question is even more complicated. Read and listen to Ukrainian-born Alina Simone discuss her path to defining her cultural identity.
10 Lucky Celebrities Who Escaped Disaster
You may be familiar with each of the 10 historic tragedies in this list, but chances are you don’t know that for each one, there’s a celebrity or public figure who narrowly avoided being part of it.
Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature
This site offers a wide variety of information related to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Starting with “The Birth of Frankenstein,” use the table of contents on the left side of the page to browse topics ranging from historical and scientific background information to the story’s modern influences on film, culture, and research.
The Revised Dred Scott Case Collection: History of Dred Scott
This page offers a brief history of Dred Scott’s fight for his family’s freedom. Read the overview of Scott’s case and then explore the rest of the collection to learn more about how and why the Dred Scott decision came to be such a landmark case in American judicial history.
The Legacy of Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist who fought racial discrimination in many forms. His murder in 1963 sparked national outrage that helped increase support for legislation that led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Listen to this short piece about the lasting impact Evers’ life and work has had on his home state of Mississippi.
Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda wrote poems about nature, but he his also famous for his poems about love, as well as many other subjects. Read this biography about the renowned poet’s career.
Revising Himself: Walt Whitman and Leaves of Grass
This companion website to a 2005 Library of Congress exhibit provides glimpses of the items that were displayed as well as background information on Whitman’s life, career, and legacy. Take a look at the “Leaves of Grass” section to learn more about the history surrounding one of America’s most influential books of poetry.