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Raj Tawney

Raj Tawney

Raj Tawney writes about culture, history, food and identity from his multiracial American perspective. He has contributed to Smithsonian magazine, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today and many other publications around the world, and he is the author of Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience and All Mixed Up. He dreams of writing Grammy Award-winning liner notes.

Johnny Cash chats with inmates and guests during his visit to Cummins Prison in Arkansas on April 10, 1969.

Seventy Years Ago, Johnny Cash Recorded ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ and Became a Folk Hero for the Ignored and Downtrodden

A man of the people, the artist put his money where his mouth was by visiting prisons around the country and performing the song

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz eloped in 1940. Eleven years later, “I Love Lucy” premiered on CBS, and they would become one of the most iconic couples for decades to follow.

Desi Arnaz Is Getting a Much-Deserved Historical Marker in Miami Beach

The Cuban-American actor and producer has stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, but this new honor pays tribute to his start as a musician in South Florida

Indian buffets invite a range of eaters—from the timid to the adventurous—to explore and experiment without intimidation.

Searching for Curry and Enlightenment on the Indian Buffet Line

A return to trays of glistening tandoori and hand-rolled naan for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic is a return to normalcy