The Great Sparrow War of the 1870s
The "sparrow war" in the United States in the 1870s ended with a resounding victory… for the sparrows.
The Ongoing Legal Plight of LGBTQ Refugees
Until governments recognize the right to freely express sexual and gender identity, safe haven for LGBTQ refugees is uncertain at best.
The Story of Juneteenth
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863. It took over two years for the news to reach some enslaved people.
What Was with that Laundry Ad?: A History of Anti-Black Racism in China
Anti-black racism still plagues China, as a new controversial laundry ad reminds us.
Why Some Politicians Bounce Back from Scandal
Three years ago, then-CIA director General David Petraeus resigned amid scandal: He'd had an affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell.
Why Was There a Berlin Wall in the First Place?
A brief history of East and West Germany, and why they built the Berlin Wall.
Happy Flag Day! (What is Flag Day?)
What is Flag Day, again? Early American flags were all over the place. There was no consensus about the flag until 25 years after the Revolution.
Why Naming Anti-Gay Violence Matters
The Orlando shooting was an act of anti-gay violence, an element of the story many politicians have ignored.
Loving v. Virginia and the Origins of Loving Day
Loving Day celebrates the SCOTUS decision in Loving v. Virginia in 1967 which struck down the laws of the 16 states still forbidding interracial marriage.
A Brief History of Tobacco in America
Over the past 50 years, the portion of Americans who smoke dropped has dropped from 42 to 15 percent. The precipitous decline could mean the end of the fascination.