Plant of the Month: Cinnamon
Of early modern medicinal monopolies and the nature of a "true" product of empire.
Was the Capitol Attack Part of a New Wave of Terrorism?
A political scientist suggests that the right-wing violence of recent years might be a new current in a longer history.
Kids’ Games in South Africa
Formal education in language and music is important for children, but as one scholar found, so is their own play involving gesture, slang, and pop songs.
How Has Hollywood Shaped the Presidency?
"Acting presidential" can mean fulfilling expectations that have been shaped by TV and the movies.
The Long Fight for D.C. Statehood
Will the District of Columbia ever get its own star on the American flag? It's been an uphill journey so far.
How Annie Lee Moss Survived McCarthyism
Moss, a Black government employee with activist experience, was hauled in front of Congress on suspicion of being a Communist.
How Racist Cartoons Helped Ignite a Massacre
In 1898, a North Carolina newspaper cartoonist weaponized white fears and tropes of Black predation to stoke a coup d'etat.
Celebrating Black Artists
Profiles of Betye Saar, Krista Franklin, Miles Davis, Basquiat, Kanye West, Faith Ringgold and more.
The Amazing Story of Phil Moore, Hollywood Star Maker
As the first salaried Black musician at a major studio, he was a leader in shaping the sound of movies—though he was often uncredited.
Black Cowboys and the History of the Rodeo
Long overlooked in histories of the West, African-American rodeo stars also faced discrimination and erasure in that sport, too.