The History of Beach Vacations
Vacations haven’t always been a day at the beach. The beach is a common destination for many vacationers today. But going to the beach hasn’t always meant fun in the sun. For much of history, the beach was considered a wilderness full of hazards–such as mythological creatures, shipwrecks, menacing pirates, and threatening storms. The origins […]
Are Remote Jobs Going Away?
“What do you want to do when you grow up?” is a question that adults often ask of kids. It may need to be followed up by, “Where do you want to work—at home, in an office building, or with the public?” What is a Workplace? Until the COVID-19 pandemic, for most people “going to […]
Honoring the First Latino Four-Star General
The Killeen, Texas, military base that was known as Fort Hood for more than 80 years is now Fort Cavazos. The base was renamed in honor of the late General Richard Cavazos, the first Latino four-star Army general, who was born in Texas. Renaming U.S. Army Bases The base is one of nine Army […]
Ada Deer: A Woman of Firsts
Ada Deer, a highly respected Native American leader from northern Wisconsin, died on August 15, 2023, at the age of 88. Deer was a woman of firsts. She was the first woman from her Menominee (Muh·naa·muh·nee) Tribe to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Deer was the first Native American to obtain a master’s degree […]
Hotel Industry Joins Taylor Swift’s Fanbase
The famous musician Taylor Swift is not the only one feeling the success of her Eras concert tour in the United States this summer. In cities where she performed, local economies got a boost. That was especially true of the hotel industry. Fans came from all over the world to see her perform, which increased […]
A Profile of Julie Su
Have you heard of Julie Su? She is President Biden’s nominee to head the U.S. Labor Department, to replace Marty Walsh. Walsh stepped down as the Secretary of Labor in February 2023. Currently, Su is the Labor Department’s Deputy Secretary. Here, btw takes a closer look at her life and career. Who is Julie […]
Little-Known Writing System Highlights African Voices
Much of what we know about the African continent’s history has been shaped by foreign perspectives. Available records such as travel diaries and colonial archives are typically written in European languages and Arabic. However, a discovery of a little-known West African writing system, known as Ajami, is helping to bring African voices to the forefront. […]
Women’s History Month: Celebrating American Quilters
Quilting is an art form that involves sewing together different pieces of fabric to create patterns. Throughout American history, women have used quilting to support political and social causes while helping to heal the nation during times of crises. Women quilters have communicated their views in their quilted pieces, even when they did not have […]
“Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” Makes History at the Oscars
The Academy Awards, or Oscars, are yearly awards for artistic and technical merit in the film industry. This year, the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once had a historic night at the 2023 Oscars. The film is about a middle-aged Chinese American woman and her family travelling the multiverse—a series of different fictional universes where […]
Women’s History Month: Remembering Judy Heumann
Women’s History Month is celebrated every March in the United States. This is a time to honor and celebrate women’s contributions to American history. This week btw takes a closer look at the life and contributions of Judy Heumann, a leading disability rights activist. Heumann died on March 4, 2023, at the age of 75. […]