A typewriter on a black background

Writing Poetry in Prison as an Act of Resistance

A writer recounts her uncle's experiences writing poetry in prison and advocating for Indigenous rights. His death and his typewriter are intertwined.
Richard Wright sits in an armchair with his hand to his chin, 1950s.

The Haiku of Richard Wright

As he lay bedridden with dysentery, the author wrote an astonishing number of haiku. What inspired him?
A collage of book covers

What We’re Reading in 2020

Funk music, floating cities, poetic prose, and a return to the classics.
Diane di Prima

Diane di Prima

The Italian American poet and artist's “willingness to speak” about what was culturally unspeakable was a liberation.
A series of four blue pictograms in front of a light yellow background. Three pictograms are disability access symbols, for wheelchair accessibility, sign language interpretation, and low vision access. The fourth pictogram is of a brain, and is meant to symbolize cognitive impairment accommodations.

Disability Studies: Foundations & Key Concepts

This non-exhaustive reading list highlights some of the key debates and conceptual shifts in disability studies.
Komagata Maru

The 1917 Immigration Act That Presaged Trump’s Muslim Ban

Prohibitive laws like the 1917 Immigration Act barred many Asians from entering America. Cultural fears still determine who "deserves" to migrate.
Sherman Alexie

The Absolutely True Story of Sherman Alexie

Happy 50th birthday to novelist, poet, and filmmaker Sherman Alexie. Learn about “one of the major lyric voices of our time" through his work.
John Coltrane 1962

Remembering John Coltrane

Today JSTOR Daily celebrates John Coltrane, the greatly prophetic and pioneering jazz artist. We remember his music and legacy now.
Globe showing Iran and its surrounding areas

Iranian/Persian Americans

Iranian and Persian identity in America.
Older black and white photograph of a woman in the middle of a messy living room with three small children of various ages

The Italian-American Immigration Experience

As President Obama prepares to move forward on immigration reform, the debate over the role of immigrants in US society is ramping up.