Oceti Sakowin Fight for Ownership of the Black Hills
There is a long history of land treaties between the U.S. government and Indigenous Native American people. But did you know that some of these disputes over land are still occurring today? In November 2024, a group of leaders of the Oceti Sakowin considered introducing a bill in the U.S. Congress to return a particularly […]
Remembering President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. Aside from being the longest-living president in history, Carter also was known for his service, his faith, and his commitment to the environment and social justice. After his death, Carter was honored with more than […]
Notre Dame Cathedral Reopens After Fire Repairs
On April 15, 2019, the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral–one of the world’s most famous churches–was partially destroyed by a fire. Five years and nearly $1 billion later, the 800-year-old World Heritage Site will reopen to the public this month. Here, btw takes a closer look at what it took to restore the landmark and what […]
Remembering 9/11
On September 11, 2001, millions of Americans were going about their business on a regular Tuesday. That morning fourteen members of the terrorist group al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger jets. The terrorists deliberately crashed two of the planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City causing the buildings to collapse. […]
Hemen Bekele Wins TIME’s Kid of the Year for 2024
TIME has named Hemen Bekele TIME’s Kid of the Year for 2024 for inventing a skin-cancer fighting bar of soap. Bekele is a 10th grader from Fairfax, Virginia. Bekele’s passion for skin cancer research traces back to his early years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before his family moved to the United States. In Ethiopia, Bekele […]
Major League Baseball Recognizes the Negro Leagues’ Achievements
In May 2024, Major League Baseball added the statistics of African American baseball players who played in the Negro Leagues to its official database. Read on to learn why the Negro Leagues were founded and why it is important to recognize the players’ accomplishments. The National Negro League Is Founded During the American Civil […]
The Paris 2024 Olympic Goal: Gender Parity
On Sunday, August 11, 2024, the Summer Olympics in Paris ended. The Games showed the best athletes in the world competing against each other, striving to win for themselves and their country. They were also the most inclusive Olympics yet for women. Planning for Parity In 2020 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) set a goal […]
Remembering the 80th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion
On June 6, 1944, the soldiers of the Allied Forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. The day of the invasion is known as D-Day. The invasion was a key turning point in World War II. The Allies landed in German occupied France, opening up a new front in the war against Nazi Germany. […]
Historic Graduate Presents Diploma to Granddaughter
On a June day in 1965, Ronald Yancey became the first African American to graduate from the Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly known as Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Georgia. Yancey returned to the 2024 Georgia Tech graduation ceremony to present his granddaughter, Deanna Yancey, with her diploma. Both earned degrees in electrical engineering. Deanna earned […]
Endurance Runner Completes Charity Run Across Africa
Russ Cook, a 27-year-old endurance runner, was unhappy and needed a project to help others and improve his outlook. Russ decided to run the length of Africa. His adventure began on April 22, 2023, at the southern tip of South Africa. He took a western route, finishing at the northern part of Africa in Tunisia. […]