Humanities

In 1900, James Weldon Johnson composed the hymn, "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," for a school celebration of the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. His brother later added a melody to the lyric, and in 1919, the NAACP designated it the "Negro National Hymn (Anthem)."

There was a time when animals accused of breaking the law could face a trial and endure a punishment if found guilty.

The ancient Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle touched upon nearly every area of the physical world, from biology to astronomy. In the field of human endeavor, his interests and writing varied from ethics to political science.

Robert Hayden’s unique service to the world of poetry extends beyond that narrow world to his useful assistance in introducing to the culture information about the Baha’i faith, which influenced his own vision in seeing race through the lens of universality rather than tribalism.

This is a book review on one of the most riveting books I read this year. It is based on a true story between the two authors who come from completely different walks of life and manage to forge a life-changing friendship.

A brief analysis of one of the American classics. Here my thoughts on "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell.

Juliette Gordon Low was the founder of the Girl Scouts in the United States. See photos of her birthplace in Savannah, Georgia, and learn about her influence on scouting and her legacy.

The Watherston family of Boston Island, South Australia sent four sons to fight in World War I; none of them came home.

This article looks at the meaning in the short story "Reunion" by John Cheever. It starts with a summary, then looks at themes and some relevant questions.

The first coins were struck in ancient Lydia, modern-day Turkey, in about the seventh century BC. These early coins were made of a mixture of gold and silver called electrum. From that point, the production of coinage spread rapidly throughout Europe and Asia.

Zeno's paradox tells the story of a race between the Greek hero Achilles and a tortoise but with a surprising twist. Find out more in this quick article.

From a golden rod that can pin the seas to an arrow that results in extinction. What are the most powerful mythological weapons in our world?

Susanna Salter was an American female activist and politician. On April 4, 1887, she stunned the nation by being elected mayor of Argonia, Kansas. This made her the first woman to ever be elected mayor in the United States.

In a program of eugenics gone completely mad Nazi scientists tried to create a massive “Aryan” cow.

Plato has been hailed as one of the most dazzling writers in the Western literary tradition and one of the most influential authors in the history of philosophy. In ancient Athens, Plato established the Academy, the first school of higher education in the Western world.

Because Henry David Thoreau wrote fewer poems than essays, he likely considered himself a much less a poet than a philosopher, even labeling himself a poetaster.

Start learning to speak Tagalog with these helpful words and phrases for beginners.

Sergeant Stubby was a dog who joined U.S. troops during World War I. He is credited with saving the lives of many American soldiers. Sergeant Stubby's acts of valor made him the most decorated dog in the history of the American military.

Botanical art has been around for thousands of years, as long as people have wanted to find and save certain species of plants for medicinal and scientific use. It has become beautiful and decorative as well as useful.

Win the peace and the war because Seth Tomko reviews The Trouble with Peace by Joe Abercrombie.

From its early beginning as a city that allowed slavery, Detroit grew into one of the most important stops on the Underground Railroad and a "Gateway to Freedom."

A summary of the life of Sir William Petty, an influential English thinker, and economist. A story of a great man from humble origins to becoming a major English landowner

The killing of 69 peaceful African protesters in a Black township brought the stark reality of South Africa’s apartheid to the world’s attention.

Genevieve Taggard's 'With Child' focuses on pregnancy and the feelings of the mother towards her baby growing inside. Based on her own experiences, the contrast between the physical challenge and the emotional reaction is neatly handled.

There was a good reason why Llanera chose this pirate-like flag.

Terrifying Chinese ghosts and demons are the staple of Liaozhai, the classic Chinese compilation of supernatural stories.

This article looks at the meaning in the short story "Miss Awful" by Arthur Cavanaugh. It starts with a summary then looks at themes and some questions.

This article examines the writing process involved for a history-based research paper. It provides over 300 research paper questions and topics that can be used for history classes in high school, college, and beyond.

Emily Dickinson’s mystical affinity informs many of her poems. She invested much of her poetic capital in acquiring knowledge of existence beyond earth-life, and many of her poems include messages from that great beyond.

This article looks at the meaning in the short story "The Scholarship Jacket" by Marta Salinas. It includes a summary, then looks at theme and some questions.

"Veniss Underground," the horror-fantasy novel by Jeff VanderMeer, is "Dante's Inferno" meets Planet of the Meerkats.

She inherited part of the vast Woolworth fortune but the money didn’t ward off a life of turmoil and tribulation.

Haruki Murakami is undoubtedly one of the greatest fiction writers of the modern era. For those who have not picked up a Murakami book yet, this article is a quick and easy guide on which works from the author you should look out for.

These are my top 8 YA fantasy recommendations for anyone who loves magic or fighting or wants to go on an adventure.

The ancient philosopher Socrates lived in Athens during the Golden Age of Athens and is credited with laying the philosophical foundations of Western culture. He is known as the “father of Western philosophy” for his contributions.

Valentina Tereshkova was the first and youngest woman to have been in space. On June 16, 1963, she flew into space on a solo mission on the Vostok 6 rocket. During the mission, she orbited the Earth 48 times in 71 hours.

Contrary to popular belief, African Americans played a pivotal role in the D-Day landings.

Learning a new language is much easier once you know that all Latin-based languages share thousands of words. Recognizing suffixes and cognates is the key that opens your conscious mind to those words you already know in at least 7 languages.

An indispensable tool for every writer, the dictionary of synonyms, came from the fertile mind of Peter Mark Roget.

They built a railroad and walked away with massive fortunes.

The Ottoman Empire was a huge empire that was in conflict with Europe for centuries over certain territories and various political reasons.

Genseric was crowned King of the Vandals in 428. Genseric and his Vandals attacked Rome in many locations, through several generations of rulers. The Vandals won every time. This was Genseric's legacy of cunning and destruction.

From the fingers and toes, to bodily excretions, you're going to learn more of what the external and internal body parts are in Filipino/Tagalog.

In 1932, an army 20,000 strong marched across Western Australia wrecking havoc on farms given to returning WWI veterans desperately trying to grow their own food. The Aussie veterans enlisted the help of their government and a war was soon under way . . . against the vile emu.

The year 1918 was a tragic year for America and the world, as an influenza pandemic known as the Spanish flu swept the globe, leaving millions of dead in its wake. This article details the timeline of this horrific event in the history of mankind.

King Alaric was a violent Visigoth ruler. Raised in a warlike culture, he dreamed a vision of parading through the streets as Emperor of Rome. How he made that vision a reality is a tale worth telling.

Several senior members of Germany’s Nazi Party were believers in the paranormal.

In the sixth century BCE in ancient Greece a man named Pythagoras started a cult with hundreds of followers who were sworn to secrecy, lived an ascetic lifestyle, and studied mathematics, music, and astronomy.

An annual picnic outing in New York ended in a terrible tragedy.