Celebrating Black History Month in 2021
Cultural History
The Transformation of Christmas
by Judith Flanders
While Christmas has transformed itself over the centuries, from a time for the nobility to display their wealth to their dependents, to a time for adults to enjoy what little extra they could gather, to a festival … Read the article
John Lennon: Historic Man of the People and the Pied Piper of the Sixties Peace Movement
by Ken McNab
When the swirling crosscurrents of music and politics collide, a powerful social maelstrom is often left in its wake. In 1969, American rock ‘n’ roll staggered towards the end of an era which the literary critic … Read the article
Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America
by Michael Eric Dyson
In 1963, Attorney General Robert Kennedy sought out James Baldwin to explain the rage that threatened to engulf black America. In What Truth Sounds Like, Michael Eric Dyson draws lessons from their meeting and applies them … Read the article
The King of Ragtime
by Mariah Fredericks
Author Mariah Fredericks sets the scene for her latest novel, Death of an American Beauty, as she traces the rise of ragtime in New York City in the early 1900s.
Dining on the Andrea Doria: A Look Back at Culinary Experiences Aboard the Glamorous Ship
By Greg King and Penny Wilson
Take a trip back to the 1950s with authors Greg King and Penny Wilson, as they discuss the menu served on the glamorous Italian ocean liner Andrea Doria.
The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria: “A Living Testament to the Importance of Beauty in the Everyday World”
By Greg King and Penny Wilson
In The Last Voyage of the Andrea Doria, Greg King and Penny Wilson offer a fresh look at the legendary liner and her tragic fate. Andrea Doria represented the romance of travel, the possibility of new … Read the article
Frida Kahlo and the Case of the Devalued Woman Artist
By Celia Stahr
Today, Frida Kahlo is one of the most celebrated artists in the world. Millions of people line up to pay homage to her work. Frida bags, bracelets, earrings, and shirts can be purchased around the globe. However, … Read the article
How Jazz Changed the World
By Jessica Fellowes
Jessica Fellowes discusses the history behind her recently released novel, The Mitford Scandal, focusing on the birth of jazz in America and its cultural impact on post-WWI London.
Sidney Lumet: “Eating Ham for Uncle Sam”
by Maura Spiegel
Acclaimed as the ultimate New York movie director, Sidney Lumet began his astonishing directing career with the now classic 12 Angry Men, followed by such landmark films as Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, and Network. In this excerpt from the highly-entertaining biography, … Read the article