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Lynn Brown

Lynn Brown

Lynn Brown is an Oakland based freelance writer with a passion for culture, travel and history. Her work has been published in Ebony Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler and the Colorado Daily News to name a few. She’s the Co-Curator of the Voices From the Margins reading series and is currently working on two major projects: A novel based on New Orleans culture and mythology, and an anthology of work by contemporary African American expatriate writers in Paris.

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Chicken Tikka and lamb samosas
Education & Society

Indian Food is Not a Monolith

When you eat Indian food, what are you really eating? Chicken tikka masala was originally created to appease the palates of the British during the Raj.
Roman Sea Monster
Plants & Animals

Sea Monsters of the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is particularly known for their sea monsters, largely because of the continuity of stories about unidentified sea creatures.
taco truck
Education & Society

The Rise of the Taco Truck

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly when the taco was invented, but the taco truck has grown from humble origins to inspire an entire mobile food revolution.
1940s ghost stories
Education & Society

Why Were Americans Obsessed With Ghosts in the 1940s?

In 1940s America, two folklorists undertook the task of collecting and studying the "modern" ghost stories of their time.
Mona Lisa at the Louvre
Art & Art History

The Mystery of the Mona Lisa

The mystery surrounding the 1911 theft and subsequent conspiracy theory catapulted the Mona Lisa into the popular imagination.
Poas Volcano in Costa Rica
Read Before You Go

Costa Rica

This Central American country was a haven for visitors long before it became a major tourist destination.
Zora Neale Hurston
Arts & Culture

Voodoo and the Work of Zora Neale Hurston

Author Zora Neale Hurston, born on January 7, 1891, is perhaps best known for Their Eyes Were Watching ...
Merry Christmas in Gaelic
Education & Society

How Irish Holidays Blend Catholic and Pagan Traditions

Many Irish holidays blend the Catholic faith with ancient Celtic tradition and mythology. Some original pagan holidays are still practiced in Ireland today.
Eiffel Tower
Read Before You Go

A Short History of Paris for Travelers

Read up on some of the fascinating history of the City of Lights before you head off on your next romantic vacation.
Chinese gu wine vessels
Art & Art History

Drinking Wine in Ancient China

History tells us that the fermentation of various fruits and grains to create alcoholic beverages was a worldwide phenomenon. Case in point: wine in China.
Little Rock Nine
Politics & History

Little Rock, Then and Now

Segregation and inequality are still major issues in Little Rock today
thai spaghetti
Education & Society

“Eastern Spaghetti”: How Italian Food Became a Favorite in Thailand

Thai-Italian fusion is massively popular in Thailand. How did pizza and pasta make their way into Thai cuisine?
Delmonico's dinner, 1906
Politics & History

The Evolution of the New York Restaurant Scene

In colonial America, restaurants as we know them today were virtually unheard of.
Jamaican plantation
Politics & History

The Obscured History of Jamaica’s Maroon Societies

Maroon societies in Jamaica and the rest of the Americas have survived for hundreds of years.
Hawaii
Politics & History

The Struggle for Hawaii

Hawaii has been a state for 57 years, but its history goes back much further. 
Rio de Janerio
Read Before You Go

A History of Brazil

The largest country in South America is home to a wide variety of cultures, fascinating history, and some of the most pristine wilderness found anywhere in the world.
Alhambra
Politics & History

The Long History of African Immigrants in Spain

Despite what current nationalist trends might suggest, there is a long history of African influence in Spain.
Two bowls of blueberries on a blue bench
Plants & Animals

What Makes Blueberries Superfoods?

Summer is here and with it comes Cyanococcus Vaccinium, otherwise known as the blueberry. These little fruits are ...
A Juneteenth celebration from 1900
Politics & History

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.
Castle Ward
Education & Society

Game of Thrones and the Rebirth of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is seeing a resurgence in tourism, due, ironically enough, to a TV show about political violence between kingdoms: Game of Thrones.
A bison beside a lake in Yellowstone National Park
Plants & Animals

How Not to Approach Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park

National parks like Yellowstone are great places to get close to nature, but tourists shouldn't forget that they are also important refuges for wildlife.

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