Author: TheConversation

By Maria Höhn, Professor and Chair of History, Vassar College Until the 21st century, the contributions of African-American soldiers in World War II barely registered in America’s collective memory of that war. The “tan soldiers,” as the black press affectionately called them, were also for the most part left out of the triumphant narrative of America’s “Greatest Generation.” In order to tell their story of helping defeat Nazi Germany in my 2010 book, A Breath of Freedom: The Civil Rights Struggle, African American GIs, and Germany, I had to conduct research in more than 40 different archives in the...

By Timothy D. Lytton, Distinguished University Professor & Professor of Law, Georgia State University The beloved children’s television icon Fred Rogers, who is played by actor Tom Hanks in the film “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” entered the world of children’s programming during an era of massive political and cultural upheaval. When Fred Rogers wrote a script that included an electric wheelchair, he had Jeff Erlanger in mind. His producer and director tried to convince him that instead of bringing in Jeff’s family all the way from Madison, Wisconsin, they would be able to find someone locally. But...

By Shanta R. Dube, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, Georgia State University For millions of children in the U.S., poverty, neglect or abuse is a reality of everyday life, though these struggles are often hidden from view. Adult survivors often feel ashamed about and stigmatized for their childhood adversity. This makes it difficult to recognize that these events occur. While it is easier to turn away than to face these issues, we can no longer afford to do so. Stress, mental illness and substance abuse – all health outcomes linked to childhood trauma – occur in the U.S....

By Rohan Kapitany, Lecturer in Psychology, Keele University Warning: this article contains Christmas spoilers. Many of us tell our children about a rotund, bearded man in red, who lives in the icy tundra at the top of the world. He is tasked with judging the moral worth of children everywhere. He has a list. He has checked it twice. And there is no court of appeals. We promise our children that, on a known date and under the cover of darkness, he will sneak into our homes. Here, his judgment will be delivered. In preparation, it is customary to...

By Richard Gunderman, Chancellor’s Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, IUPUI; and David C. Stevens, Resident, Radiology, IUPUI Libraries are increasingly a sanctuary for people who are homeless or mentally ill, putting them on the front lines of providing social services that the institution was never intended for. On any given night, over half a million people in the United States found themselves without a home. While the majority of these people (69%) secured shelter for the night, many shelters do not provide daytime accommodations for their patrons. This leaves many in search of daytime activity and protection...

By Hunt Allcott, Associate Professor of Economics, New York University; Jean-Pierre Dubé, Sigmund E. Edelstone Professor of Marketing, University of Chicago; and Molly Schnell, Assistant Professor of Economics, Northwestern University Research has show that wealthy people tend to eat a lot healthier than poor people, and that has a big impact on individuals and their community. Because poor diets cause obesity, Type II diabetes and other diseases, this nutritional inequality contributes to unequal health outcomes. The richest Americans can expect to live 10-15 years longer than the poorest. Many think that a key cause of nutritional inequality is food...