TheConversationUS

TheConversationUS, 15 days ago (edited 15 days ago) to history

Today is the anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history – and one that continues to haunt Americans.

One of them is Gregory Fairchild, whose grandfather was caught up in it, and whose family history personally inspires his work.

(From 2021): https://theconversation.com/100-years-after-the-tulsa-race-massacre-lessons-from-my-grandfather-161391

#BlackMastodon @blackmastodon #Histodons @histodons

TheConversationUS, 12 days ago to history

We want you to know the name Alice Ball. She was the first woman and first African American to earn a master’s degree in science from the College of Hawaii.

Ball remarkably developed a treatment for leprosy, but she passed away shortly after.

Arthur Dean, chair of the College of Hawaii’s chemistry department, took over the project, and renamed Ball’s method to the “Dean Method,” never crediting Ball for her work.

https://theconversation.com/a-young-black-scientist-discovered-a-pivotal-leprosy-treatment-in-the-1920s-but-an-older-colleague-took-the-credit-224922
#History #BlackMastodon @blackmastodon

TheConversationUS, 22 days ago to news

Louisiana’s new bill, once signed, would reclassify two #abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol) as Schedule IV controlled substances, like valium, and making it a crime to possess them without a valid in-state prescription.

Surgical and medication abortions are already banned in Louisiana, with few exceptions.

An obstetrician and a law professor explain more about the law and the lack of evidence supporting it:
https://theconversation.com/louisiana-set-to-reclassify-abortion-pills-as-controlled-dangerous-substances-heres-what-that-means-230848
#news #breakingnews #health

TheConversationUS, 13 days ago to queer

Parents can be better advocates and avoid common missteps when a child identifies as trans or nonbinary by first recognizing the child’s bravery and explicitly reminding them they’re loved

https://theconversation.com/how-parents-can-support-a-child-who-comes-out-as-trans-by-conquering-their-own-fears-following-their-childs-lead-and-tolerating-ambiguity-158275

#PRIDE 🏳️‍🌈 #PrideMonth #Parenting

TheConversationUS, 8 days ago to random

With Donald Trump’s long record of racist and xenophobic comments, why is support for him among voters of color increasing?

Two political scientists went to America Fest to look at how Republicans are appealing to voters of color by invoking law and order, conservative social values and mistrust of government.
https://theconversation.com/what-early-2024-polls-are-revealing-about-voters-of-color-and-the-gop-and-its-not-all-about-donald-trump-227534
#Election2024 #Trump

TheConversationUS, 9 days ago to history

Every year, researchers discover 2-3 entirely new pathogens: the viruses, bacteria and microparasites that sicken and kill people.

While some of these discoveries reflect better detection methods, genetic studies confirm that most of these pathogens are indeed new to the human species.

Even more troubling, these diseases are appearing at an increasing rate.

Lessons from ancient – and modern – #history:
https://theconversation.com/future-pandemics-will-have-the-same-human-causes-as-ancient-outbreaks-lessons-from-anthropology-can-help-prevent-them-224622
#Health #Histodons #anthropology @histodons

TheConversationUS, 17 days ago to animals

This summer, watch out for the unassuming grass seed pod known as a foxtail. Its segment's stickiness can burrow into the skin, eyes, and ears of pets, be inhaled into the nose or even make its way into the lungs.

Symptoms to look out for:
🌱 Frequent shaking of your pet's head
🌱 Drainage or discharge from the eye
🌱 Sneezing or pawing at the nose
🌱 Coughing or hacking
Learn more from a vet:
https://theconversation.com/little-seed-big-problem-keep-an-eye-out-for-foxtail-seed-pods-that-can-harm-your-pet-this-summer-228833
#CatsOfMastodon #DogsOfMastodon #Pets

TheConversationUS, 11 days ago to queer

Women ages 18 to 29 are increasingly rejecting exclusive heterosexuality and describing their sexual orientation in other ways.

https://theconversation.com/feminisms-legacy-sees-college-women-embracing-more-diverse-sexuality-159023
#pride #pridemonth #LGBTQ

TheConversationUS, 20 days ago to music

In the 1970s and 1980s, bands made money from album sales and concerts just promoted the album.

In the 2020s, bands make pennies from streams and rely on concerts to make money.

A #music industry scholar and former drummer looks at how this plays into the government’s antitrust lawsuit: https://theconversation.com/why-the-us-government-is-trying-to-break-up-live-nation-entertainment-a-music-industry-scholar-explains-230832
#News

TheConversationUS, 12 days ago to news

Mexico has elected its first female president – but that victory is unlikely to end the long battle for women’s rights there
https://theconversation.com/mexico-elects-first-female-president-but-will-that-improve-the-lot-of-countrys-women-231461
#News #BreakingNews #Mexico #WomensRights

TheConversationUS, 7 days ago to workersrights

A-
That’s what a historian gives Biden for his record on #workersrights – the best for a president since FDR.
“The man dubbed ‘Union Joe’ has lived up to the claim, with one notable error.”
https://theconversation.com/bidens-labor-report-card-historian-gives-union-joe-a-higher-grade-than-any-president-since-fdr-228771

TheConversationUS, 27 days ago to history

The famous #graduation song is a send-off fit for a king! It was originally written for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1901, but evolved to be used during ceremonies for accomplished graduates.

The interesting #history:
https://theconversation.com/how-a-british-military-march-became-the-distinctive-sound-of-american-graduations-230060

#Music #Histodons @histodons

TheConversationUS, 11 days ago to history

70 years after the Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board, one of its most significant side effects − the large-scale loss of Black teachers − continues to affect America’s schools.
Before Brown, Black teachers were 35% to 50% of the teacher workforce in segregated states.
Today, Black people account for just 6.7% of America’s public K-12 teachers.
https://theconversation.com/how-black-teachers-lost-when-civil-rights-won-in-brown-v-board-229687
#History #Histodons @histodons @blackmastodon #BlackMastodon

TheConversationUS, 12 days ago to Parenting

Telling kids to be kind isn’t enough – adolescents learn empathy from watching adults with it, and from experiencing it

https://theconversation.com/a-25-year-study-reveals-how-empathy-is-passed-from-parents-to-teens-to-their-future-children-229780
#tips #parenting

TheConversationUS, 17 days ago to environment

Mount Everest has a massive trash problem, thanks to the some 400 to 500 climbers that attempt to summit it every year.

New efforts and innovative strategies could solve the sky-high waste management problem.

Story:
https://theconversation.com/climbers-have-turned-mount-everest-into-a-high-altitude-garbage-dump-but-sustainable-solutions-are-within-reach-226073

Photo: Horses grazing through trash in the shadow of Mt Everest 🏔️ Taken by Martin Edström, on Instagram at @martinedstrom.

#environment #mountains

TheConversationUS, 16 days ago to news

Donald Trump is now the first sitting or former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony.

But in other countries, ex-leaders have been investigated, prosecuted and even jailed – in the interest of protecting the rule of law.

https://theconversation.com/why-many-countries-have-prosecuted-former-leaders-231260

#breakingnews #news #uspolitics #trump

TheConversationUS, 22 days ago to random

Nearly half of U.S. Jews ages 18-34 say Israel’s response to Hamas’ attack has been “unacceptable.” While most traditional Jewish organizations have lined up strongly behind Israel, many young activists say they are inspired to protest against Israel because of their Jewish identity and values, not in spite of them

https://theconversation.com/for-many-american-jews-protesting-for-palestinians-activism-is-a-journey-rooted-in-their-jewish-values-229228

TheConversationUS, 21 days ago to USpolitics

Facebook just took down roughly 100 pages and profiles for violating the site's rules that prohibit “militarized social movement,” including militia groups that take personal responsibility for defending their communities from a variety of perceived threats.

These 100 pages are just a tiny fraction of the thousands of militia groups Facebook has previously kicked off the site, supposedly permanently.

https://theconversation.com/militia-extremists-kicked-off-facebook-again-are-regaining-comfort-in-public-view-230356
#USPolitics #extremism #socialmedia

TheConversationUS, 16 days ago (edited 16 days ago) to random

Today's conviction of Trump won’t end the legal case, which could quickly be appealed and possibly rise to the level of the US Supreme Court.
It's a historic conviction, no doubt.
But practically speaking, the verdict means only that Trump can't possess a firearm – like all other felons.
A felony conviction won’t keep him from running or serving as president.
A law professor explains a few other key points:
https://theconversation.com/trump-found-guilty-5-key-aspects-of-the-trial-explained-by-a-law-professor-231236

TheConversationUS, 15 days ago (edited 15 days ago) to news

#TGIF! It's time for our weekly #news #quiz.

Here's today's 1st question: Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts on Thursday. The New York jury apparently did not buy the defense's description of witness Michael Cohen as what?

Check your answer and take the full quiz here: https://theconversation.com/the-conversation-u-s-weekly-news-quiz-189437

TheConversationUS, 12 days ago to LGBTQ

The idea that seeing or talking about LGBTQ+ themes in books poses a threat to children or society goes back to medieval times.

Records of queer people and their lives from the Middle Ages are more plentiful than many people realize, but writings about the history were censored by religious leaders.

https://theconversation.com/dont-say-gay-rules-and-book-bans-might-have-felt-familiar-in-medieval-europe-but-queer-themes-in-literature-survived-nonetheless-228974
#LGBTQ #History #Histodons @histodons #pride

TheConversationUS, 17 days ago to random

Most Americans, including those enacting 6-week #abortionbans, don’t actually understand how the timing or dating of pregnancy works. Many women don't know yet they are pregnant at 6 weeks.

Scholars explain how research on what Americans understand about #abortion raises “serious questions about whether Americans without medical training – much like those in our state legislatures – have the necessary knowledge needed to regulate abortion access.”

https://theconversation.com/confusion-over-how-pregnancy-dates-are-measured-is-widespread-and-makes-for-uninformed-debate-over-abortion-limits-229167
#abortionrights

TheConversationUS, 8 days ago to random

Louisiana could become the first in the nation to require the posting a Protestant version of the Ten Commandments in classrooms in public schools, colleges and universities.
But according to a religion law scholar, if House Bill 71 is signed into law, it likely faces a dubious legal future in the face of court decisions against many such displays that don’t have a ‘secular purpose’
https://theconversation.com/an-american-flag-a-pencil-sharpener-and-the-10-commandments-louisianas-new-bill-to-mandate-biblical-displays-in-classrooms-is-the-latest-to-push-limits-of-religion-in-public-schools-230847

TheConversationUS, 18 days ago to internet

TikTok users worry about losing their social media platform, but First Amendment rights are on the line, too. There's a good argument for free speech protection of TikTok and its owners in this case, writes 2 law professors.
Imagine if the government told Jeff Bezos that he had to sell The Washington Post because it was worried that he might push a particular agenda.
Courts have long ruled that that sort of worry about future problems is unconstitutional:
https://theconversation.com/tiktok-law-threatening-a-ban-if-the-app-isnt-sold-raises-first-amendment-concerns-229879
#socialmedia

TheConversationUS, 15 days ago to Christianity

An important early Christian document, the Crosby-Schøyen Codex, is up for auction in London. This codex is a mid-fourth century book from Egypt containing a combination of Bible and non-Biblical texts.

It was discovered around the same time as the Dead Sea Scrolls, but with significantly less fanfare
https://theconversation.com/an-ancient-manuscript-up-for-sale-gives-a-glimpse-into-the-history-of-early-christianity-228679
#Christianity #Bible