Social Issues & Advocacy

How Did Martin Luther King Jr. Convince Nichelle Nichols to Stay in the Star Trek Franchise?

Martin Luther King Jr. was known for his immense contributions to American civil rights movements in the sixties. He was one of the most influential African-Americans that led the movement to abolish segregation through peaceful protests. Incidentally, King was also a big fan of Star Trek and convinced the actress who played Nyota Uhura to […]

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How Did Anthony Comstock Influence the Congress to Ban the Sale of Obscene Books in the United States?

Comstockery is the overzealous moral censorship of fine arts and literature based on perceived immorality or obscenity. An uber-moral activist brought this about at the end of the 1800s. But how did this particular fellow convince Congress to act according to his will? Anthony Comstock, a religious activist, sought to censor obscene literature during his

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What is the “Mean World Syndrome”?

Violence can be seen across different media platforms. Shows focus on a variety of violence that often portray gruesome crimes, and the potential evil people may possess. But did you know that because we are constantly exposed to this kind of content, it affects our general perception of the world? A journalist in the seventies

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How Did Anthony Perkins Find Out He was HIV Positive?

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If left untreated, the virus can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Back in the day, the disease was often associated with homosexuals, and people who have been diagnosed with the disease were often discriminated against. But did you know how

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Why is Loving Day Celebrated?

Loving Day is celebrated annually every June 12. But did you ever wonder what the holiday signified and who started it? Loving Day commemorates the anniversary of the legalization of interracial marriages in the United States. The Supreme Court decision was based on the case of Loving vs. Virginia. Richard and Mildred Loving’s Story Richard

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Who was the First African-American Officer in the NYPD?

While several African-Americans have achieved many things in law enforcement, there is one man who stood up to break the barriers and pave the way for them. Samuel J. Battle was the first African-American officer in the NYPD. He started in 1911 and rose through the ranks from Sergeant to Lieutenant, and then ended being

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What Happened to Rebecca Twigg?

Rebecca Twigg is a former Olympian for the United States. She won several awards, including two Olympic medals. Needless to say, at the peak of her career with several product endorsements and magazine covers. But where is this wonder woman today? After winning two Olympic medals in cycling, six world championships, appearing on the cover

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Why Did Rose O’Neal Greenhow Go to Jail?

When the Civil War started, there were strict gender roles for women. But this also worked well for those who worked as confederate spies. Authorities caught on when women started behaving unladylike. It became more difficult for women to cross state lines without being searched, which eventually led to several arrests. Women spies were rarely

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Was Dr. James Barry a Woman?

In this day and age, we enjoy the perks of gender equality. Within the context of development and population, gender equality is crucial. It would allow both men and women to make decisions for themselves and their families to impact our world positively. But there was a time when women’s rights were simply unheard of.

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