President Formally Apologizes for U.S. Native American Boarding School Program
On October 25, President Joe Biden visited the Laveen Village near Phoenix, Arizona. He spoke at the Gila River Crossing School in the Gila River Indian Community. This is the home of the O’odham and the Pee-Posh Native American people. In his speech, President Biden apologized to the Native American community for the government’s Indian […]
Former President Jimmy Carter Turns 100
In October 2024, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter achieved a milestone. Carter became the first president to celebrate his 100th birthday. Families and friends gathered with him at his home in Plains, Georgia, to honor the occasion. They ate cupcakes and watched antique World War II airplanes fly over his home in his honor. Carter’s […]
The History of Pachuco Subculture
Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15 to October 15. These weeks provide an opportunity to explore significant cultural movements of the Hispanic and Latino communities. One such cultural movement is the Pachuco subculture. This subculture emerged during the early twentieth century and became a symbol of Mexican American youth resisting discrimination. Learning about […]
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. […]
Rosenwald Schools Educated African Americans in the South
May 17, 2024, is the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that ended the system of racially segregated schools in the United States. To commemorate this important achievement for equality and civil rights, btw takes a look at the history of the Rosenwald Schools. In the early 1900s, a […]
Happy Birthday, Library of Congress!
On April 24, 2024, the Library of Congress celebrates its 224th birthday. The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. It serves members, committees, and staff of the U.S. Congress. In addition, other government agencies, libraries within and outside of the United States, scholars, researchers, artists, and scientists use its resources. Beginnings […]
AAPI Heritage Month: The Ireicho
During World War II, thousands of Japanese American citizens and Japanese immigrants were removed from their homes and imprisoned in camps around the United States. Some remained in these camps for as long as three years. Until recently, no complete record of their names existed. Here, btw takes a closer look at the effort to […]
Archaeologists Hope Technology Provides Clues About Algonquian Village
Nearly 25 years before English colonists established their first permanent settlement in North America, Phillip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe explored the continent. They brought back to England stories of fruitful land and friendly people. In a detailed account, Amadas and Barlowe described their meetings with the Algonquian people. On Roanoke Island in present-day North Carolina, […]
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 […]
Women’s History Month: Carol Moseley Braun
Have you ever heard of Carol Moseley Braun? She served as a U.S. senator from 1993 to 1999. Braun was the first female African American elected to the U.S. Senate. Here, btw takes a closer look at her life and contributions to American politics and beyond. Early Life Carol Moseley Braun was born in Chicago, […]