Most food historians agree that bagels originated in Poland, created by Jewish communities. The circular shape was said to “symbolize continuity and good fortune, making [bagels] a popular gift for new mothers”. It didn’t take long for these baked goods to become household staples. In the late 1800s, Jewish immigrants from Poland and Ukraine began […]
Tag: History
Not So Civil War: When Political Attacks Turn Fatal
The shocking assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk serves as a grim and immediate reminder of the perilous state of our political discourse. While the motive is still under investigation, the act itself forces a difficult but necessary conversation about how political differences are increasingly used as rationale to do the unthinkable. In a nation […]
The Yankees vs. Red Sox: Is It Still the Most Heated Battle in Baseball?
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. For generations, those nine words conjured images of baseball at its most intense: bitter grudges, iconic moments and a visceral hatred that transcended the diamond. It was a rivalry that defined American League East baseball and arguably, American sports. But as the 2025 season progresses and with […]
What the New “Hunger Games” Prequel Teaches Us About History Erasure
“Sunrise on the Reaping” is the newest addition to the “Hunger Games” series, offering insight into the untold stories of resistance long before the rebellion familiar from the original trilogy. As we know, author Suzanne Collins writes nothing unintentionally, as her novels always offer commentary on real-world issues. This prequel is no different. We live […]
The Complicated History of Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan, born Terry Bollea, remains one of professional wrestling’s most polarizing figures. His larger-than-life persona captivated millions but a closer look reveals a career and personal life marked by both groundbreaking success and significant controversy. Inside the squared circle, Hogan’s “Hulkamania” era in the 1980s propelled the then-World Wrestling Federation (WWF) (now known as […]
Beyond Genres: How Music is Breaking Down Traditional Categories
For decades, music fans and critics alike have relied on neatly defined genres to categorize the vast landscape of sound. Rock was rock, hip-hop was hip-hop and country stayed in its lane. But today, those once-rigid boundaries are dissolving at an unprecedented pace, leading to a vibrant, often perplexing, sonic tapestry. This increasing fluidity in […]
Where did the Game of Soccer Come from?
In the United States, it’s referred to as Soccer, and for the rest of the world, it’s football, but where did this sport come from? There is not one clear origin of Soccer. Many ancient societies had games similar to the way we play Soccer today. In ancient China, Cuju or Ts’u-chü was a game […]
How the Ugly Holiday Sweater Became a Staple of December Fashion
No holiday party is complete without an “ugly sweater.” While a staple of the modern seasonal party, the ugly Christmas sweater is a relatively recent trend in festive wear. Modern holiday sweaters can be traced back to more practical styles from the post-war era of the 1940s in the United States. Families would wear hand-knit […]
Ohtani becomes the first MLB Player with a 50/50 season
Last night Shohei Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 HRs and steal 50 bases in a single season. He came into yesterday’s matchup against the Marlins 2 home runs and a stolen base short of this accomplishment. Most assumed it would take at least another game or two for Ohtani […]
The oldest sport in history: you will never guess what it is (Op-Ed)
My favorite sport is reportedly one of the world’s oldest sports in the world… Wrestling. That’s right wrestling and combative sports have been around for centuries. Wrestling is a centuries-old sport and the carvings and drawings that depict this sport date back to around 15,000-20,000 years ago in Southern European caves, according to the National […]
Franny Choi’s Latest Poetry Finds Hope For the Future
Poet Franny Choi believes that marginalized people have already experienced the apocalypse. In her latest poetry collection, she explores what it’s like to live in this never-ending dystopia. The title of the new collection is The World Keeps Ending, and The World Goes On, and it feels pretty spot on for what is happening currently in our society. These poems uniquely feature past, present, and future world-endings. Choi writes directly and indirectly about how the world has already ended, the apocalypse has already happened, and survival is happening too.
Books About Juneteenth
Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th, in remembrance of the day that all enslaved people in America were ensured freedom. Federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1865, a full two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, to take control of the state. Today it honors the end of slavery, and on June 17th, 2021 it became an official federal holiday. Below are books for both children and adults to learn more about the longest running African American holiday.
