Tag: american culture

Memorial Day Weekend

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Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Day 2022 will occur on Monday, May 30. 

Memorial Day 2022: Facts, Meaning & Traditions – HISTORY

Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day to honor and mourn those who died while serving in the U.S. military. Many volunteers place an American flag on graves of military personnel in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States.

Memorial Day – Wikipedia

We also use Memorial Day weekend to start the summer! During Memorial Day weekend you will see many barbeques, parties, and people at the beach! Remember to be safe ad have fun!

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The Harlem Renaissance

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The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of African American music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater and politics centered in Harlem in New York City in the 1920s and 1930s. 

Watch the video above to learn about the Harlem Renaissance and read a couple poems below by Langston Hughes, a poet who was part of it.

From Poetry.org:

Harlem

What happens to a dream deferred?

       Does it dry up
       like a raisin in the sun?
       Or fester like a sore—
       And then run?
       Does it stink like rotten meat?
       Or crust and sugar over—
       like a syrupy sweet?

       Maybe it just sags
       like a heavy load.

       Or does it explode?

I, Too

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.

Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

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HERSTORY

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There’s a new exhibit at the Chatham Square Branch of the New York Public Library that you might want to check out.

From NYPL.org:

The Chatham Square Branch of the New York Public Library is pleased to present a rare look at Chinese-American women’s history, told through legal cases fought in supreme courts throughout the United States. Using the personal collection of Dr. Chang C. Chen (邱彰博士), Herstory features rare photographs and case descriptions of efforts by Chinese-American women to gain legal standing in the U.S.

Starting in 1852, the cases document women who fought for equal treatment in the eyes of the law and for citizenship and immigration rights. One 1874 case from San Francisco describes a group of recent immigrants who were defined as “lewd and immoral” due to their style of dress, and were set to be deported. The women fought back and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in their favor, stating that the California laws were in conflict with federal immigration laws and the women were released. In Tape v. Hurley, 66 Cal. 473 (1885), a landmark case in the California Supreme Court in which the Court found the exclusion of a Chinese American student from public school based on her ancestry unlawful. The Court ruled that Chinese-American children had a right to public education and to attend public schools.

The exhibit is a fascinating look at the ordinary people who fought for their rights, and, in doing so, helped shape a new world for Chinese-Americans in the United States. The exhibition is provided to the library by Dr. Chang C Chen (邱彰博士), who has worked tirelessly to document the written legal history of Chinese-Americans.

For Chatham Square hours and location, click here.

Chatham Square Library on Google Maps:

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What’s your Zodiac sign?

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zodiac-signs-16

Western countries use 12 different signs (called Zodiac signs) to describe someone’s personality depending on when they were born. Zodiac signs can be very popular and are based on the arrangement of the stars. Some people say they can tell your future or help you make decisions. You can find information about your Zodiac sign in most newspapers, magazines, on the internet, even many people can tell you something about your Zodiac sign. They can be an interesting way to start a conversation.

Look at the chart above and find out what your Zodiac sign is, then look at the list below and use a dictionary to read the descriptions.

Do the positive adjectives match you?

Do the negative adjectives match you?

Do you believe the stars can influence your life or tell you something about yourself?

Do you have something similar to the Western Zodiac in your country?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Capricorn (December 22—January 19)
–Positive personality traits: responsible, persistent, disciplined, calm
–Negative personality traits: pessimistic, conservative, shy

Aquarius (January 21—February 19)
–Positive personality traits: inventive, clever, humanitarian, friendly
–Negative personality traits: aloof, unpredictable, rebellious

Pisces (February19—March 20)
–Positive personality traits: romantic, devoted, compassionate
–Negative personality traits: indecisive, escapist, idealistic

Aries (March 21—April 20)
–Positive personality traits: generous, enthusiastic, efficient
–Negative personality traits: quick-tempered, selfish, arrogant

Taurus (April 21—May 20)
–Positive personality traits: reliable, stable, determined
–Negative personality traits: possessive, greedy, materialistic

Gemini (May 21—June 21)
–Positive personality traits: witty, creative, eloquent, curious
–Negative personality traits: impatient, restless, tense

Cancer (June 22—July 22)
–Positive personality traits: intuitive, nurturing, frugal, cautious
–Negative personality traits: moody, self-pitying, jealous

Leo (July 23—August 22)
–Positive personality traits: confident, independent, ambitious
–Negative personality traits: bossy, vain, dogmatic

Virgo (August 23—September 22)
–Positive personality traits: analytical, practical, precise
–Negative personality traits: picky, inflexible, perfectionist

Libra (September 23—October 22)
–Positive personality traits: diplomatic, easygoing, sociable,
–Negative personality traits: changeable, unreliable, superficial

Scorpio (October 23—November 21)
–Positive personality traits:  passionate, resourceful, focused
–Negative personality traits: narcissistic, manipulative, suspicious

Sagittarius (November 22—December 21)
–Positive personality traits: optimistic, adventurous, straightforward
–Negative personality traits: careless, reckless, irresponsible

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