Art and Politics: The 50th Anniversary of Watergate
In the early 1970s, the United States government experienced the Watergate scandal. The investigation led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation. Now, the National Portrait Gallery has produced an art exhibit commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of this moment in American history. Here, btw takes a closer look at Watergate: Portraiture and Intrigue. What Was Watergate? Early […]
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a key leader in the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Both his father and his mother’s father were Baptist ministers. When King became a minister, he used his position to fight racial inequality and inspire African Americans. He was a powerful […]
AAPI History Required in Illinois Schools
The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population represents less than six percent of the total U.S. population. But there is more effort being made to better teach this group’s importance in the history of the United States. The state of Illinois has taken steps to require more study of Asian American history as part […]
Profiles in Black History: Georgia Gilmore
Have you heard the phrase, “Black history is American history”? It’s true that designating all of Black history to just one month does not recognize the fact that Black history cannot be separated from the story of our nation as a whole. But it can be helpful to consider Black History Month as a special […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Reparations in Asheville One of the more controversial suggestions for how to improve economic equality between white people and African Americans is the use of reparations. Reparations are direct monetary payments to African Americans as compensation for the fact that their ancestors were enslaved and that past generations of African Americans suffered economic inequality and […]
AFTER THE FACT: John Lewis
On July 17, 2020, Congressman John Lewis passed away in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 80. Before serving as an esteemed member of Congress, Lewis was an active leader in the civil rights movement, and his spirit of activism carried on throughout his many terms as an elected representative. Here, btw takes a look […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
#NoCoronaSummerSlide It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the negative news about COVID-19 lately. That’s why it’s especially important to learn about amazing people who view the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to make their communities better places. Chrishawndra Matthews is one of these special people. She has taken it upon herself to combat […]
A 9/11 Tale of Hope
So many stories that originated from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 are sad stories of loss. But there are also some stories of human kindness and changed hearts. Today, before the annual remembrance of that sad day, let us hear and think about a positive story, in which a group of American travelers were fortunate […]
AFTER THE FACT: Elizabeth Eckford
Studying history sometimes focuses on a particular moment in time or a significant event in someone’s life: Paul Revere’s midnight ride, Sacagawea’s journey through the Louisiana Territory, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk. But a lot of history happens when the spotlight is not shining on someone. In the After the Fact […]
Year in Review: National News
As another year winds down, btw takes a look at the national news stories that dominated headlines in 2016. Presidential Election Of course, the main national story this year was the presidential election in November. btw and Election Central were with you every step of the contentious election season, from ongoing disagreements over voting rights to […]