Essays

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Page 32
Nat Turner, captured by Benjamin Phipps, a local farmer, by William Henry Shelton. (Illustration via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

Juneteenth Freedom Lecture with Dr. Vanessa M. Holden and the Southampton Rebellion

Fact and "faction" in historical drama

The Juneteenth Freedom Lecture inspired Margaret Darby to consider Nat Turner's legacy, fact and fiction in the rebooted 'Roots,' and Nate Parker's upcoming 'Birth of a Nation.'
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Essays 4 minute read
Pretty sure we all know what would have stopped Georgie Porgie's sick rampage. (Photo via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

NRA nursery rhymes

Guess what Little Jack Horner pulled out? (Hint: He had a concealed-carry permit)

The National Rifle Association rewrote some Grimm's fairy tales to edify their future members and encourage a childhood fascination with guns. What could possibly go wrong? Roz Warren and Janet Golden lend a non-gun-toting hand.
Roz Warren Janet Golden

Roz Warrenand Janet Golden

Essays 3 minute read
There were 23,522 gun-related incidents in the U.S. in 2016. It's only June. (Photo via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

Howard Unruh: the first U.S. mass murderer

From Camden to Orlando: A legacy of mass murder

If you live long enough in this country, you'll probably have a personal connection to a gun-fueled mass murder. Here's Bob Ingram's connection to a grim U.S. first.
Bob Ingram

Bob Ingram

Essays 4 minute read
Lebanese chanteuse Fairuz. (Photo via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture's Arab Music Ensemble

Arabic music for an American audience

Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture hosts week-long workshops connecting Arab musicians with U.S. audiences. It's a true cross-cultural affair that mixes Western and Middle Eastern styles.
Nadia Eldemerdash

Nadia Eldemerdash

Essays 4 minute read
Teddy Roosevelt gets his daily dose. (Photo by Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

Reading habits of the presidents

We now know which presidents read music, but do they read books?

Inspired by Dan Rottenberg's examination of our musician presidents, Joseph Glantz takes a look at some of our presidents' and presidential candidates' reading and writing habits.
Joseph Glantz

Joseph Glantz

Essays 4 minute read
MJ Kaufman, playwright, (Photo courtesy of MJ Kaufman)

A manifesto by Headlong Dance Theater's Amy Smith and playwright MJ Kaufman

Towards justice for transgender artists

In the wake of Inis Nua Theatre Company's production of The Radicalization of Bradley Manning, playwright MJ Kaufman and Headlong Dance Theater's Amy Smith issue a challenge to Philly's performing arts community: Try harder, do better.
MJ Kaufman Amy Smith

MJ Kaufmanand Amy Smith

Essays 4 minute read
Grapefruit juice and goetta. (Illustration for <em>BSR</em> by Mike Jackson of alrightmike.com)

Kile Smith on composing in a diner

A diner is a diner, and a concert is a concert, but sometimes...

Kile Smith visits a Cincinnati diner and meditates on the unexpected pleasures of live music and strange meats. You just never know what might happen.
Kile Smith Illustration by Mike Jackson

Kile Smithand Illustration by Mike Jackson

Essays 5 minute read
Who decides what's a 'peaceable assembly'?

ACLU’s ‘Free Speech’ forum

How much free speech do we need?

Free speech is one good thing we can never get too much of. Even when the speaker is Donald Trump.
Robert Zaller

Robert Zaller

Essays 5 minute read
We didn't change the world . . . yet.

Baby boomers confront posterity

From here to oblivion

As death approaches, says Michael Kinsley, we baby boomers have become obsessed with our generation’s reputation. He should stop talking to writers and get out in the real world.
Rick Soisson

Rick Soisson

Essays 4 minute read
Backyard chickens are increasingly popular, even in the city. (Photo by thedabblist via Creative Commons/Flickr)

On raising backyard chickens

Who you calling chicken?

For at least three generations, my people had clung to city life and urban occupations, but my week of hen-tending gave me a glimpse into my great-great-grandparents’ shtetl lives.
Anndee Hochman

Anndee Hochman

Essays 5 minute read