History

Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech in Norway in 1964. In King's hometown of Atlanta, social conservatives at first refused to attend an integrated dinner in his honor.

National

The Time Coca-Cola Got White Elites in Atlanta to Honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

3:38pm April 07, 2015

by Jim Burress

Some big names in business pushed back this week against "religious freedom" laws in Indiana and Arkansas. In 1964, it was Coca-Cola pushing Atlanta's white elites to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

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A golfer wears a long black skirt in mock protest of the USGA ban on golfing shorts in tournament play, 1953.

National

When Wearing Shorts Was Taboo

2:52pm April 07, 2015

by Linton Weeks

In certain places in American history, showing a little leg has been illegal — for men and women.

Books
Arts

In 'American Warlord,' Real-Life Drama Falls Flat On The Page

7:03am April 07, 2015

by Tomas Hachard

Johnny Dwyer's book tells the amazing, horrifying story of Chucky Taylor, son of the infamous Liberian dictator Charles Taylor. But flat writing and unforthcoming subjects make it a difficult read.

Science

Cambridge University Unearths Medieval Hospital Cemetery

3:01pm April 06, 2015

Cambridge University has unearthed one of Britain's largest medieval hospital cemeteries, containing more than 1,000 human remains. NPR's Audie Cornish and Melissa Block talked to the leader of the dig, Craig Cessford, about the new findings.

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A 16th century woodcut shows the interior of a kitchen. In medieval Europe, cooks combined contrasting flavors and spices in much the same way that Indian cooking still does today.

How Snobbery Helped Take The Spice Out Of European Cooking

12:57pm April 06, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

Complex, contrasting flavors are a hallmark of Indian cooking. They used to dominate Western food, too. What changed? When spices became less exclusive, Europe's elite revamped their cuisines.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking in Kingstree, S.C., as seen in the video clip.

National

After Selma, King's March On Ballot Boxes

11:16am April 02, 2015

by Linton Weeks

Tucked away in the archives of the University of South Carolina is a video clip of a rousing King speech.

National

Board Games That Bored Gamers

7:51pm April 01, 2015

by Linton Weeks

Strolling through the board games of yesteryear we find some that succeeded and some that faded away.

National

Media Mischief On April Fools' Day

9:04am April 01, 2015

by Linton Weeks

When news organizations make fun of the news, it can be funny — or not.

A Palestinian Bedouin girl milks a sheep in her family's makeshift camp in the West Bank. Herders live close to their animals, their main source of income.

Making Cheese In The Land Of The Bible: Add Myrrh And A Leap Of Faith

7:32pm March 31, 2015

by Emily Harris

Spring in the West Bank means Bedouin herders' ewes and nanny goats are full of milk — and cheese making abounds. The traditional method relies on a few simple ingredients and a long cultural memory.

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How 'One Nation' Didn't Become 'Under God' Until The '50s Religious Revival

5:27pm March 30, 2015

Kevin Kruse's book looks at how industrialists in the '30s and '40s recruited clergy to preach free enterprise. And under the Eisenhower administration, Christianity and capitalism moved center stage.

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