All Culture
Looking at slavery without looking away. The challenge of ‘Underground Railroad.’A question raised in the TV version of the novel “The Underground Railroad,” a Monitor reviewer says, is apropos now: Where can Black people be free?
Announcing E.B. White’s beloved riverThere’s something about a line of poetry that anchors me to pleasant memories of Maine. E.B. White thought so too.
In a WordGraduation is a solemn event – so why funny hats?How many ways can one graduate? The word has many meanings beyond the typical pomp and circumstance associated with colleges each spring.
Too much trowel and error? These gardening shows could help.From the long-running “Gardeners’ World” to lockdown-inspired “Martha Knows Best,” there’s something relaxing about watching garden masters at work.
Tradition on the half shell: Picking oysters in post-Brexit BritainThe British fishing fleet was one of the loudest voices in support of the U.K. leaving the EU. But not oyster harvester Tom Haward.
In a WordDeprecate? Depreciate? Let’s call the whole thing off.I have assumed deprecate meant “to belittle.” As it turns out, I am far from the first person to have been baffled by this word.
With giant trolls, one artist preserves imagination – and the environmentWith his troll creations, artist Thomas Dambo combines a flair for recycling with a fairy-tale imagination to bring people worldwide closer to nature.
First LookFor foodie thrill seekers, cicadas add crunch and protein to lunchCicadas are emerging from the soil across the Eastern United States and were once used by Native Americans as a food source. Think eating insects is gross? Try them as a pizza topping or baked into a banana bread.
Watching for some good in dark timesWe’d decided to sell our home. But first, we’d have to deal with two hugely overgrown hollies that have overtaken the front of the house.
CommentaryWhy are so many people hungry in America?Hunger in America isn’t a new problem but the pandemic added new challenges – and innovations – to existing complexities of food assistance.
In a WordMore than a letter divides ‘languish’ from ‘anguish’It may seem that these two words must be related, but etymologically they are more like opposites than cousins.
Only so-so at your chosen path? ‘The Disciple’ offers a relatable journey.In “The Disciple,” a devotee of Hindustani classical music comes to terms with his abilities in a way that makes his journey relatable to everyone.
Prize, annoyance, memento: The many meanings of my jade bangleOur essayist’s jade bangle has been a prize, an annoyance, and a symbol of lost opportunity. Now it reminds her of who she is.
First LookWhy NBC won't broadcast the Golden Globes next yearStudios, broadcasters, and actors are reaching a breaking point with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which puts on the Golden Globes and has been slow to address allegations of racism and sexism.
In a WordThey’re ‘cows’ in the field, but ‘beef’ on the tableHow did a single animal get one field name and an entirely different food name? To answer that question, our grammar columnist takes a page from “Ivanhoe.”
In Pictures: This Japanese artist wants you to see plants differentlyIn this photo essay, the whimsical work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama transforms the New York Botanical Garden into a fantastical world.
First LookMichael Jackson's heirs win in tax court after yearslong battleMichael Jackson’s heirs faced a daunting tax bill after the IRS estimated the pop star’s image and assets to be worth hundreds of millions more than the family’s estimates. The court ruling may clear the way for further promotion of Mr. Jackson’s legacy.
This community garden in Southeast Washington grows far more than foodAlong with nutritious food, the community garden in Washington’s low-income Southeast neighborhood grows opportunities and a sense of community.
Uncle Cliff, found in a cup of camomile teaSuddenly I’m transported to my grandma’s farm, where you could never be in trouble.
The Monitor's ViewWhy the world needs another food summitA rise in hunger from the pandemic has forced a need to rethink the global food system. India offers one example for reform.
