Communities
Communities are social groups, including immigrant and ethnic groups, with a shared interest, cultural heritage or worldview
Cowboys and Immigrants
Two dueling archetypes dominated 20th-century American politics. Is it time for them to be reconciled?
May 2009 |
By Lance Morrow
Smithsonian Events Week of 4/27-5/1/09: Vietnam, Jazz, Cabaret and Eudora Welty
Monday, April 27: Operation Babylift: Saving Children from the Vietnam WarIn April 1975 American humanitarian workers in South Vietnam worked to evacuate orphaned children to North America, Europe and Australia just as North Vietnamese were sweeping through the region. Operation Babylift transferre...
April 27, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
The Kentucky Derby’s Forgotten Jockeys
African American jockeys once dominated the track. But by 1921, they had disappeared from the Kentucky Derby
April 24, 2009 |
By Lisa K. Winkler
Earth Day at the Smithsonian
Earth Day is an annual invitation to heighten your awareness and appreciation of the environment. Since nature is not equipped for verbal communication (with the rare exception of some species of household plants), it's our job to take care of the earth as best we can. Throughout the rest of the we...
April 21, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian Weekend Events: Bunnies, Bling and All That Jazz
Friday, April 10: Annual Bunny PartyIs your best friend a 6-foot 3 and one half inch rabbit? Are your tea parties never without a march hare in attendance? Or, do you just live in fear of the cotton-tailed creature living down the street? Spring is here, so come sing, dance, play and listen to stor...
April 10, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Julia Keefe’s Jazz
The young musician discusses the joys of improvisation and her new tribute to fellow American Indian artist Mildred Bailey
April 09, 2009 |
By Katy June-Friesen
Carving Out the West at the Great Smoke Conference
In 1851, American Indian tribes gathered to seek protection of their western lands from frontiersman on the Oregon Trail
April 02, 2009 |
By Paul VanDevelder
Q&A: Comic Artist Jolene Nenibah Yazzie
When comic artist and skater chick Jolene Nenibah Yazzie was younger, she used to compare herself to Wonder Woman. She has long, sleek black hair like the superheroine, and she looked up to her. "You know, how she kicks butt and stuff," says Yazzie, laughing. But now, when she’s not working as a gr...
March 16, 2009 |
By Megan Gambino
A Jazzed-Up Langston Hughes
A long-forgotten poem about the African-American experience is given new life in a multimedia performance
March 13, 2009 |
By Laban Carrick Hill
Unusual St. Patrick's Day Celebrations
Leprechauns and green shamrocks are only a part of celebrating St. Patrick's Day for Irish communities around the world
March 13, 2009 |
By Joseph Caputo
Smithsonian Events Week of 3/9-13: Bones and Lady Bird
Monday, March 9: Written in Bone Forensic LabAfter reading Joe Caputo's piece on the new Written in Bone exhibit, how would you like to try your hand at forensic science? Come to the Natural History Museum where you can get your hands on bona-fide bones and learn how to tell the stories they hide. ...
March 09, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Wham! Pow! Comics-inspired Art at Museum of American Indian
So, I am really psyched about the screen adaptation of Alan Moore's Watchmen that will be opening nationwide this Friday. When I first read his graphic novel I was blown away by the complexity of the story and how he tinkers with—if not completely re-imagines—the superhero genre.I can't think of a ...
March 04, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Saving the Jews of Nazi France
As Jews in France tried to flee the Nazi occupation, Harry Bingham, an American diplomat, sped them to safety
March 2009 |
By Peter Eisner
Five Rescuers of Those Threatened by the Holocaust
Righteous good Samaritans came from across the world to save Jews and others from concentration camps
February 24, 2009 |
By Marian Holmes
Smithsonian Events Week of 2/23-27: Bourgeois, Phone Booth
Monday, February 23: Featherwork WorkshopYou know what your spring wardrobe needs? Feathers, and lots of 'em! Learn how to make a war bonnet of your very own under the tutelage of Dennis Zotigh. Free, but reservations required. Call 202-633-6644, or email NMAI-GroupReservations@si.edu to reserve yo...
February 23, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Remembering Executive Order 9066
On December 8, 1941, the day after Japanese aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor, Cedric Shimo applied to join the United States army. Though American, his request was denied because of his Japanese ancestry. He tried again, this time with the Military Intelligence Service. They were looking for someone ...
February 19, 2009 |
By Joseph Caputo
Smithsonian Events Week of 2/17-20: Lady Day and Civil Rights Heroes
Tuesday, February 17: Reel Portraits: Billie Holiday and Lady Sings the BluesAfter leaving the Supremes, Diana Ross not only launched a solo career, but she also tried her hand as an actress. Lady Sings the Blues, a slightly true biopic about jazz legend Billie Holiday, featured Ross and Billy Dee ...
February 16, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian Weekend Events: Snarf Chocolate and Dish on Lincoln
Friday, February 13: Reading: Toronto at Dreamer's RockContemporary storyteller and playwright Drew Hayden Taylor will read from his play, Toronto at Dreamer's Rock, which tells the tale of a young Native American boy who finds it difficult to reconcile ancestral traditions with modern living. Free...
February 13, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Power of Chocolate Festival at NMAI
Last September, I was watching this segment on the Today Show on how Hershey’s was skimping on its chocolate. They reported that in place of cocoa butter in its Whatchamacallits, Milk Duds, Mr. Goodbars and Krackels, Hershey’s is using vegetable oil. And, as a result, the words "milk chocolate" on ...
February 13, 2009 |
By Megan Gambino
Smithsonian Events Week of 2/9-13: Valentines and Balloons
Monday, February 9: It's a slow week kids, we have nothing special for you. Not that it's hard for you to entertain yourselves with all the wonderful exhibitions on display. Go explore! Then come back here and tell us something new or interesting that you learned in the comments area. We'd love to ...
February 09, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
