Black History Month: Imani Perry’s “South to America”
During the racial and social protests of the past two years, many Americans have tried to learn more about the complicated social, racial, and economic systems that have shaped our nation’s history and present. A new book by Imani Perry examines the history of southern culture and history in the United States. It is called […]
A History of the “Old Farmers Almanac”
Grab your coat, and get your hat! With winter approaching in North America, The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a cold and long winter. Have you heard of The Old Farmer’s Almanac? This week btw will examine the history of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, and why it serves as a reliable reference for weather. The Almanac’s […]
First Native American Nominated to National Parks Service
The National Park Service was formed more than a century ago by President Woodrow Wilson. It protected the thirty-five national parks and monuments that existed at that time in 1916. Today, the National Parks Service oversees more than four hundred locations totaling 85 million acres in all fifty states. Now, for the first time, President […]
Remembering 9/11, Twenty Years Later
Twenty years ago, 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 […]
Remembering the Tulsa Race Massacre
One hundred years ago, one of the U.S.’s worst incidents of race-based violence occurred: the Tulsa Race Massacre. There were no memorials to those lost. Evidence of the riot was removed from newspapers and police logs. Now, however, a new lawsuit in Oklahoma is seeking reparations for the massacre. Here, btw takes a closer look. […]
AAPI Heritage Month: Senator Mazie Hirono
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month: a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of the AAPI community. While Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing demographic group in the United States, they remain drastically underrepresented in all levels of government, including Congress. This week btw gets to know a […]
Profiles in Women’s History: Mary Allen Wilkes
March is Women’s History Month–a great time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women. This week btw takes a closer look at the life and achievements of one remarkable woman: Mary Allen Wilkes. Who Is She? Mary Allen Wilkes is best known for helping to develop and write the system software for LINC. LINC […]
Inauguration Day 2021
Perhaps no single event illustrates democracy as much as the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another. On January 20, 2021, just before noon, Joseph R. Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. For many reasons, this was an unusual ceremony, unlike any other inauguration in history. Here, […]
Attack on the United States Capitol
On January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. a hostile group of Trump supporters attacked the United States Capitol Building as Congress was in session. They delayed the final step of certifying the 2020 presidential electoral votes. The protestors surged past security barriers and broke windows to enter the Capitol. They forced Capitol Police to retreat […]
A Look at the 2020 Election
The entire 2020 presidential election season between Donald Trump and Joe Biden was unusual to say the least. The day after the election, more surprises remain because there is no clear winner. There are, however, several interesting things that can be learned from what we know right now. Here, btw takes a closer look at […]