On this day, the Allies concluded the famous Dunkirk evacuation, a daring operation that ended up rescuing hundreds of thousands of soldiers from Nazi Europe. This shining moment was a bright spot in a period, otherwise marked by defeat. But while not as dramatic as Stalingrad or the Battle of Britain, the evacuation of Dunkirk… Read More »Dunkirk Evacuation – Miracle & The Fight for Survival
When we think of samurai, we often think of Japanese warriors in ornate armor, but the tale of Yasuke, the African samurai warrior, is a remarkable exception. While most of these warriors are Japanese as this is where the term comes from, there are a few exceptional cases where the notoriously insular Japanese shogunates bestow… Read More »Yasuke | The Real Legacy of a Heroic Samurai Warrior
Mid-19th century America was marked by intense conflict and division. Even before the bloody American Civil War, the country was already rife with division that set the stage for the war. One of the most prominent events leading up to this great national schism was “Bleeding Kansas,” a series of violent confrontations in the newly… Read More »Bleeding Kansas History of Proslavery & Antislavery
On this day, in 1959, playwright and author Lorraine Hansberry produced her famous work, “A Raisin in the Sun”. This would become the first play produced on Broadway by an African-American woman. This work would follow the Younger family as they try to escape poverty after receiving a $10,000 insurance check. This play would become… Read More »A Raisin in The Sun – Summary, Analysis, and Themes by Lorraine
On this day, the Jewish Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was crushed by the Nazi regime. This was a resistance movement organized by the Jews of Warsaw in a desperate attempt to stop the Nazis from exterminating the Jewish inhabitants of the city. Despite being badly outnumbered and having only a handful of weapons,… Read More »Jewish Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto: A Battle for Survival
On this day in 1948, Israel officially declared statehood, marking the creation of Israel as an official Jewish state within the Middle East. This move was met with controversy globally back then and remains a contentious issue today. This is due to many countries still not recognizing Israel’s legitimacy today and its use of statehood… Read More »The Creation of Israel History
On this day 32 years ago, Nelson Mandela was elected president of South Africa, becoming the first black ruler of the country since its colonization centuries ago. This was more than just a token move though and was seen as the official end to apartheid, a racist and repressive policy that had marginalized the majority… Read More »A Long Walk Freedom of Nelson Mandela and the End of Apartheid
The 8th of May stands as a critical moment in history, known as Winston Churchill VE Day, marking the official surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allied powers and bringing an end to nearly six years of war. Celebrations were felt across the entire world from the Soviet Union to Great Britain. In the British… Read More »The Legacy and Commemoration of Winston Churchill VE Day
Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as T.E. Lawrence or the mythologized Lawrence of Arabia, remains one of the most enigmatic figures of the 20th century. He played a pivotal role in the Arab Revolt during World War I in this time of adventure and daring. Though poorly armed and trained, Lawrence turned the Arab tribes… Read More »Lawrence of Arabia (T.E Lawrence): Letters from the Desert
The year 2000 brought us Ridley Scott’s historical epic, Gladiator, featuring the rise of a fallen general seeking revenge against the tyrannical Emperor Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix. This movie took place during the high point of the Roman Empire when it stood as Europe’s sole superpower. One of the most memorable characters in this movie… Read More »Commodus – The Emperor Who Fought as a Gladiator
