EXPLORE THE ATTIC

With pride, paint, and persistence, Low Riders are “one of the greatest things that ever happened to Mexican-Americans.”

REBELS, ART-ISHBruce WatsonSeptember 8, 2023Low Riders, Gypsy Rose automobile, Jesse Valadez, East Los Angeles, Cholo, Car clubs Comments

STEINBECK AND "THE HARVEST GYPSIES"

When Dust Bowl refugees came to California, a newspaper sent a novelist to tell the story.

REBELS, BOOK-ISHThe AtticAugust 17, 2023John Steinbeck, Grapes of Wrath, The 1930s, The Depression, Migrant labor, The Dust Bowl, The Harvest Gypsies, Dorothea Lange Comment

THE OTHER WASHINGTON MONUMENT

D.C. had its doyennes and its demons but there was only one Alice Roosevelt.

REBELSThe AtticMay 11, 2023Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Theodore Roosevelt, Washington DC, American politics Comments

THE AUDACITY OF VIOLINS

Blending Bach with Biggie, "Black Violin" challenges every tired old touchstone.

REBELSThe AtticMarch 24, 2023Black Violin, Music, Violin music, Kev Marcus, Wil B Comments

THE TYCOONS VS. THE NEWSBOYS

Hearst and Pulitzer refused to play fair, so the Newsies walked off the job. And won America’s hearts. (As seen in “The Newsies.”)

REBELS, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESBruce WatsonMarch 1, 2023Newsies, The Newsies, Newsboys strike of 1899, Child Labor, American child labor, American labor Comment

SWEET HONEY'S ENDURING ROCK

From the trenches of Civil Rights to the concert stage, Bernice Johnson Reagon has sung the praises of black culture.

REBELS, TEACHERSThe AtticFebruary 4, 2023Bernice Johnson Reagon, SNCC, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, Civil Rights Movement, Freedom Songs, Sweet Honey in the Rock Comments

MOTHER JONES AND THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE

Two million children toiled 12-hour days. Having lost her own children, Mother Jones wanted the nation to know.

REBELSBruce WatsonOctober 6, 2022Mother Jones, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, Child labor, American labor, "Mother" Jones, Progressive eraComment

THE TAKING OF ALCATRAZ -- "WE HOLD THE ROCK!"

It was 1969, rebellion in the air, when Native-Americans landed on Alcatraz, claiming it as Indian Land.

History, REBELSThe AtticMarch 18, 2022Native Americans, Protest, 1960s, People of ColorComment

MOTHER OF THE BLUES

Ma Rainey sang, lived, and became the blues. But there was more to her than that “Slow, Drivin’ Moan.” (As seen in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”)

REBELS, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticFebruary 24, 2022Ma Rainey, Gertrude "ma" Rainey, Blues music, 1920s, Black women, African-American history Comment

THE TOWN THAT SECEDED TO SUCCEED

Denied government aid for a water project, Kinney, MN (pop. 325) and its “little old lady” mayor got a radical idea.

REBELSThe AtticDecember 31, 2021Kinney, Kinney Minnesota, Midwest life Comments

ALEX HALEY AND THE "ROOTS" REVOLUTION

It was another night in prime time, 1977, and then “Roots” broke the bonds of denial. (As seen in “Roots.”)

REBELS, BOOK-ISH, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticAugust 5, 2021Alex Haley, "Roots", "Roots" mini-series, slavery, history of slavery, "Roots: The Saga of an American Family", ABC Comment

ELLA BAKER -- HOW TO GROW A MOVEMENT

Everyone knows Rosa and Martin, but there would have been no deep Civil Rights Movement without Ella.

History, REBELS, WomenThe AtticJune 24, 2021Ella Baker, Civil Rights, SNCC, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee Comment

THE WOMAN WHO 'GOT' VIETNAM

Male reporters wrote about troops and body counts but “Frankie” FitzGerald saw two clashing cultures and a tragedy unfolding.

REBELSThe AtticJune 10, 2021Vietnam, Frances FitzGerald, Anti-war, Fire in the Lake Comments

PHILADELPHIA BURNING -- THE ABOLITIONIST WEDDING

When the Northern groom married the Southern bride, the bond was love. And a fight for freedom.

REBELSThe AtticMarch 19, 2021abolition, slavery, american history, grimke, civil war Comments

THE OTHER COLUMBUS DAY

After centuries of smooth sailing, Columbus ran into the shoals of history. And Indigenous Peoples’ Day was born.

History, REBELSThe AtticOctober 8, 2020COLUMBUS DAY, Indigenous People's Day Comment

THE DECLARATION -- FARMER STYLE

Income equality? Unions? Co-ops? Busting up corporations? The radical left? Nah, just American farmers.

History, REBELSThe AtticJune 26, 2020Populism, Declaration of Independence, American Farms, AgricultureComment