Black History Month: Harry T. Moore
When you think about leaders of the civil rights movement, the first names that come to mind may be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, or John Lewis. But they didn’t fight that fight alone. This week, btw takes a look at another civil rights leader whose contributions are just as important. […]
We the People
We live in a country where it is easy to take our freedom for granted. But the concept that the government must answer to its citizens is a very complicated idea. Despite the challenges and the shortcomings that are a reality in our very complicated nation, the basic foundation of our democracy remains a model […]
A Look at the Filibuster
While gun control has always been a hot topic, the debate is now reaching a new boiling point. Three days after the mass killings in Orlando on Sunday, June 12, Democratic members of the U.S. Senate staged a filibuster while reintroducing two gun control proposals: 1.) restricting those on terror and “no fly” watch lists from obtaining […]
Black History is American History
For the first time in history, more than half of children born in America (according to the 2012 US Census Bureau) are minorities. As the “collective minority” becomes the majority, we will surely see a shift in how we view our history. The History of “Black History” Carter Woodson was a black historian who earned […]
Republican Debates: 3 Down…
The Republican National Committee kicked off its season of debates in late summer. On August 3, there was a “forum” in New Hampshire, where eleven of the candidates answered questions in front of a live audience. Three days later was the first official, televised debate of this campaign which took place in Cleveland, Ohio. Since […]
Hurricane Katrina Photo Essay
Hurricane Katrina made a huge impact on the people of the Gulf Coast south. But its effects on the city of New Orleans has stayed in the minds of American citizens for the past ten years. As the tenth anniversary passes, let’s look back at how this storm changed so many people’s lives.
Remembering a Nation’s Mourning
The Sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary of the Civil War has reached its final year. Commemorative events have been taking place across the country since 2011. These have included reenactments of major battles, tours of battle sites, lectures and other educational opportunities. Much of 1865 was made up of a series of surrenders and the eventual disbandment […]
The Great Vaccination Debate
Last month, we brought you news of the recent resurgence of measles after more than a decade of being considered “eliminated” in 2000. This week, we dig deeper into the growing concern over the spread of the disease and look at both sides of the larger vaccination debate. A Brief History of Vaccination Smallpox, a highly […]
Landmark Deal on U.S.-Cuba Relations
Cuba is a country made up of islands located around 90 miles south of the tip of Florida. While it is a close neighbor of the U.S., relations between the countries have been non-existent for more than 50 years due to political and economic clashes. Last month, President Obama announced new foreign policy shifts toward […]
Satire and Political Cartoons: A Historical Slideshow
The militant Islamic attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris have raised questions around the world. Such as, how does the right to free speech relate to the right of religious freedom? How does religious beliefs intersect with satire? Does a free press have an unlimited right to poke fun at any subject matter? […]
Read More