When people hear the term ‘liberal arts,’ it may sound like a phrase with political overtones. A scholar of literature explains why that’s wrong and takes a closer look at its origin and meaning.
Howard University students assemble for a graduation ceremony in 2016.
Jose Luis Magana for the Associated Press
While it’s widely believed that Howard University came to be known as “The Mecca” in the 1960s, new evidence shows the nickname is more than half a century older than that.
The practice of putting images of only deceased or allegorical people on U.S. stamps dates back to 1847.
Schulte Productions/iStock via Getty Images Plus
Hint: It’s all tied up with the country’s history with British royalty.
Joshua Houston leads a Juneteenth Parade in Huntsville, Texas, in a photo circa 1900.
Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library
For the formerly enslaved Black people in Texas, Juneteenth meant more than freedom. It meant reuniting families and building schools and developing political power.