The March on Washington’s 60th Anniversary
Tens of thousands of people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. D.C., on Sunday, August 27, 2023, for the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington. The event was organized jointly by the National Action Network and the Drum Major Institute. The goal of the event was to call attention to the ongoing struggle […]
Investing in Community
Banks help people save money for things they might want in the future. They also provide loans to help people get money to buy a car or a house, or to start a small business. Banks help businesses and communities grow. However, not everyone has the same access to banks. The lack of access to […]
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 […]
Help Wanted: Citizen Transcribers
The 250th anniversary of American independence from Great Britain is approaching in 2026. The National Park Service and the National Archives and Record Administration are calling for volunteers to help with a memorial project. These organizations need volunteers to transcribe, or type, millions of handwritten documents from Revolutionary War veterans and their families. This is […]
Supreme Court Eliminates Race as College Admissions Consideration
In two important decisions issued on June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the use of race-conscious admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC) are unconstitutional. These rulings have effectively ended the practice of affirmative action in college admissions. Affirmative action is a policy that considers race […]
California’s Asian American Community History
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month: a time to recognize and honor the many cultures, histories, and contributions of the AAPI community. This week btw examines the history of Asian American settlement and community growth in central and southern California. A Short History of AAPI Immigration California has long been a […]
Library of Congress Transcription Campaign for Post-Civil War Petition
The Library of Congress By the People program uses the power of the internet to make historical documents and historical research more accessible, readable, and searchable. In March 2023, the Library of Congress began a new campaign to learn more about a post-Civil War petition calling for equal rights for African Americans. A petition is […]
Missing American Soldier Identified and Honored
Imagine having a loved one disappear, and not knowing what became of them until fifty-four years later. That happened to the family of U.S. missing in action in North Vietnam on March 21, 1967. After more than a half a century without answers, Charvet’s remains were finally identified and returned home to his family. Here, […]
Navy Ship Renamed to Honor American Hero Robert Smalls
Have you ever heard of Robert Smalls? The U.S. Navy just renamed a ship, the USS Robert Smalls, in his honor. Robert Smalls was an African American man who captured a Confederate steamer loaded with guns during the Civil War. Smalls surrendered the vessel to the Union Navy. By reaching Union lines, this act also […]
Real-life “Rosie the Riveters” Honored for Wartime Contributions
After more than 80 years, Rosie the Riveter and her “We Can Do It!” slogan remains an inspirational symbol for many. A riveter is someone whose job is to fasten things using rivets, or metal pins. This type of job is common in shipbuilding–a critical industry during the United States’ World War II mobilization. The […]