Exporting the Convict Clause: Slaves of the State in the Canal Zone
The criminalization of Blackness enabled by the Thirteenth Amendment brought chain gangs to the construction projects of the Panama Canal Zone.
Exporting Chinese Acrobats
Chinese acrobats have been impressing circus-goers at shows like Cirque du Soleil since the 1980s. How did these gymnastic marvels make their way to the West?
From Imperialism to Postcolonialism: Key Concepts
An introduction to the histories of imperialism and the writings of those who grappled with its oppressions and legacies in the twentieth century.
Pullman Women at Work: From Gilded Age to Atomic Age
Pullman resisted hiring women and did his best to keep attention away from the company’s female employees.
Who Does the Drudge Work? Answers from Edwardian Britain
In 1909, Kathlyn Oliver called for the creation of a servants' trade union that was “as important to the community as the worker[s] in any other sphere."
The Global History of Labor and Race: Foundations and Key Concepts
How have workers around the world sought to change their conditions, and how have racial divisions affected their efforts?
Puerto Rican Domestic Workers and Citizenship in the 1940s
Recruited to work on the US mainland for long hours at less than the prevailing rate, women migrants fought for dignity and recognition.
How St. Louis Domestic Workers Fought Exploitation
Without many legal protections under the New Deal, Black women organized through the local Urban League.
Making Men Online
How the internet has both reinforced and tweaked traditional gender pathologies, especially for boys and men.
What Life Was Like During the London Blitz
During WWII, 150,000+ people sought shelter in London's Tube stations each night. Over time, the various stations developed their own mini-governments.