Twentieth Century – Page 22 – History in the Margins

In Which I enter Black History Month via To Walk About in Freedom

By Pamela | February 4, 2025 |

There have been a lot of mixed messages coming from the Federal government about celebrating Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and the like since January 20. Even though President Trump has officially proclaimed February Black History Month, many agencies are canceling events related to theses “cultural celebrations.” (It’s possible this will have all be…

Cecilia Payne Finds Out What Stars are Made Of

By Pamela | January 31, 2025 |

One or twice a year, the story of English-born astrophysicist Cecilia Payne (1900-1979) appears on my Facebook feed. I am enthralle– and enraged–by the story every time. And then I promptly forget her name. A fact that is both frustrating and somewhat embarrassing since this is the kind of story that I firmly believe needs…

Bronislava Nijinska, of the Ballets Russes and Other Dance Companies

By Pamela | January 24, 2025 |

I became fascinated by Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in my senior year in college thanks to a class run by the music department.* I had already been familiar with some of the music, and a few of the names. That class introduced me to the company as a convergence of modernisms in the hands of…