California Has Got This, America
Kamala Harris Survived San Francisco and the Golden State. She’s Ready for Three Months Against Trump
Don’t worry, America. We got this. By “we,” I mean California. By “this,” I mean this presidential election …
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When the U.S.A. Was Neutral
For 150 Years, America Didn’t Take Sides—But the Nation Still Fought Plenty of Wars
If you were born any time after 1960, the first (and perhaps only) country that will come to mind …
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How Television Made Willie Mays a Star
His Astonishing Play Coincided With the Early Years of the Medium—And Made This White, Rural Georgia Boy a Lifelong Fan
Except for a fortunate few who got to see Willie Mays play in person, most Americans of my generation fell …
Fighting Hate Is the Ultimate Group Project
The Answer to “How Does the Inland Empire Strike Back Against Hate?” Lies in Us All
Racial hate and discrimination are serious problems in California’s Inland Empire—and solving them begins at the most fundamental levels. This was the conclusion of a panel of people who study and fight against hate crimes at “How Does the Inland Empire Strike Back Against Hate?,” a Zócalo/California Humanities event at UCR ARTS in Riverside, California. The speakers agreed that acts of racism and hatred go underreported across the region, and that building strong institutions that promote understanding begins in schools.
The discussion was moderated by Brian Levin …
Fishin’ for Summer 2024 Books to Read?
Zócalo’s Friends and Contributors Have Reeled in Some Fresh Nonfiction for You
Once again, Zócalo has cast our net wide, asking friends and contributors to take part in a beloved Public Square tradition: our annual compilation of nonfiction book recommendations for summer. This list eschews the expected beach reads, instead trawling deep waters for stories that lure us to new places, surprise us with fresh perspectives, and catch hold of our imaginations.
The 13 books that made the 2024 Zócalo Summer Reading List all make for excellent bookworm bait. They show us what goes into building cities, and what goes into building the image of one of the biggest bands of all time. They move us from India’s 1857 uprising to New Mexico’s present-day wildfires. They chronicle wisdom …
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Dump Biden. Run Snoop
If the American People (and the Supreme Court) Want a Convicted Felon-in-Chief, Let it Be a Multi-Talented Rapper from Long Beach
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Why Is Gavin Newsom Invoking a Failed World War Two-Era Governor?
Culbert Olson Talked A Good Game About Democracy, But He Failed to Protect Californians’ Civil Liberties
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Why the U.K. Can’t ‘Level Up’
Weak Cities Are the Real Story Behind the British Crisis
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Who You Calling ‘NPC’?
‘Non-Player Character’ Has Become an Insult. But Its D&D Origins Tell a Different Story
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What the Wonkapocalypse Can Teach Us
An Immersive Experience Gone Wrong Shows Us the Perennial Emptiness of Carefully Curated Escapes from Reality
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Cowboy Boots Were Made for Everyone
For Over a Century and Half, the Footwear Has Carried the Story of a Nation
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What If We Saw Cars Like Rolling Sculptures?
The Automobile Represents an Engine of Possibility for Black L.A., Said Panelists at “Is Car Culture the Ultimate Act of Community in Crenshaw?”
Where Crenshaw and Leimert boulevards meet, the silver glint of artist and sculptor Charles Dickson’s “Car Culture” is beginning to take shape. One of Dickson’s largest public artworks to date, the towering sculpture, a celebration of Black innovation and expression, is part of Destination Crenshaw, a new 1.3-mile, open-air monument to Black Los …
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July Poetry Curator CM Burroughs
Poets Are Record Keepers
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American Historian Natalia Molina
Erasure Motivates Me to Tell Our Story
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Retired California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye
You Make Your Joy
