All Society
Winter, where are you? Please come back.Our reporter communes with other cold-loving folk at an icy park in New Hampshire on the last day of the season.
First LookSlave photos fuel lawsuit against HarvardA woman is suing Harvard University over its use of 19th century photos of two slaves, whom she claims as ancestors, that were commissioned by a Harvard biologist. The lawsuit says the continuing use of the images by the university is denigrating.
After Christchurch, Muslims ask: Are we safe in the West?The Christchurch attack has shaken Muslims around the world. It was preceded by increasingly Islamophobic rhetoric and hate crimes.
After New Zealand terror, the faithful grapple with big question: Why?In recent years white supremacist gunmen have targeted worshippers as they gathered, from Charleston, South Carolina, to Christchurch, New Zealand.
First Look'Redface' remains persistent, despite Native Americans' pushbackRacist imagery that stereotypes Native Americans' speech, dress, and rituals has a long history in the United States. Recent conversations around blackface have many indigenous communities frustrated at the comparative lack of discussion about "redface."
‘Love is the only thing’: After tornado, Alabamans lean on one anotherAn EF4 tornado killed 23 and injured nearly 100 in Beauregard, Alabama. Residents say they’ve lost everything, except faith in God and one another.
Spiritual or atheist? More nonbelievers are saying ‘both.’In a letter up for auction, Albert Einstein talked about admiring “in humility the beautiful harmony of the structure of the world.” More nonbelievers say they are seeking a sense of awe and reverence in their own lives.
Alternative churches: are they the future of religion?Is church still 'church' if you meet in ... a laundromat? With alternative churches becoming more common, it raises the question: Is this just a fringe movement, or is it what the mainstream churches of tomorrow will look like?
Cover StoryPray and wash: Finding church in unexpected placesFor many, worship has always been about much more than the edifice in which it occurs. Today, a new locus of spiritual growth is emerging around alternative settings that redefine “church.”
To help the homeless, there’s an app for thatCities across California and the country are embracing digital tools to reduce the guesswork in counting homeless people – advances that in turn could fortify efforts to help them.
First Look'Gangland' reporters persist, despite risksUrban video journalists are pioneering a new form of newsgathering by focusing on the inner workings of gangs. Critics contend the videos glorify gang life, but their defenders say the videographers give voice to communities often neglected by traditional media.
First LookBlack man who leads neo-Nazi group vows to dismantle itIn a move that suggests parallels with the recent Spike Lee movie "BlacKkKlansman," the new leader of a long-standing neo-Nazi, white supremacist group, James Hart Stern, is seeking to use his position to undermine the group's defense against a lawsuit.
When forgiveness is the headline – a reporter in search of a different angleBeing the New York staff writer for any news organization could be an overwhelming job. With a population and an economy larger than many of the nations the Monitor covers, New York City is at the intersection of some of the biggest stories on the planet, from finance to culture to criminal justice. Throw a dart somewhere and you’ll hit a story target that will interest an editor and a reader somewhere. Which is why many of the big picture issues Harry Bruinius covers from his New York perch for the Monitor – morality, justice, and forgiveness – are so compelling. And why they universally connect with our readers. One in a series of monthly profiles of Monitor journalists.
‘Be a man’: What does that mean in modern America?Beyond angst over ads and concern that America is afraid to let boys be boys, there are areas of agreement: Neither men nor women should be boxed into stereotypes. Both should be able to be themselves.
Super Bowl: With Saints not in, this town’s the Big UneasyIt is said that the test of true fandom comes not with victory but with defeat. Saints fans have met their latest trial with the relentless spirit of survival that has buoyed New Orleans after countless floods and hurricanes.
In frigid heartland, an outpouring of warmthAs extreme cold grips the Midwest, communities are rallying around their unsheltered residents. But will this acute outpouring translate into long-term support for efforts to curb homelessness?
Beyond politics: Behind the wave of compassion toward federal workersMany people know what it feels like to miss a paycheck. That empathy has led to coast-to-coast casseroles, gift cards, and pizza deliveries as Americans take care of neighbors who work for the federal government.
Negro Mountain? Why offensive place names are still on US maps.What’s in a name? When that name is Runaway Negro Creek, a lot of mythology, and racism, masquerading as history. Why crude names are still on the maps, and how some communities are seeking change.
For young Native Americans, running is a lesson in their own historyGreat teachers can make a lifelong impression and inspire learning across disciplines. Wings of America coaches seek to help kids overcome stereotypes with stories of Native American athleticism and advocacy.
Cover StoryBecoming an adult: Why more adolescents now say ‘Don’t rush me’After 18, teens move into a new, widely acknowledged developmental phase called 'emerging adulthood,' putting off traditional markers of the grown-up world such as marriage, children, and home ownership.
