Culture

Three important books on race in America for deep winter reading

January 10, 2022 By Len Yannielli

Let’s consider a trio of books that can be helpful in gaining a deeper understanding of racism, both its practice and its ideological components, including in the current period.

Piketty says it’s ‘Time for Socialism,’ but has no time for class struggle

January 10, 2022 By John Case

There is no mention of class or strategy in Piketty’s Time for Socialism. There is no mention of enforcing “peaceful co-existence” in his version of internationalism. Imperialism is no longer worth mentioning, even in the midst of...

Blues singer Bessie Smith shines in a new novel in memoir form

January 7, 2022 By Eric A. Gordon

If Bessie Smith’s story itself is an American phenomenon worthy of recapitulating in any number of artistic forms, it’s as a writer that Crittendon shines.

Anti-fascist lessons from a blacklisted Jewish Communist

January 6, 2022 By Patrick Chura

With hate crimes on the rise and democracy in crisis, the literature we study in schools has new purpose.

‘Drive My Car’: It’s the journey

December 28, 2021 By Michael Berkowitz

Writer-director Ryusuke Hamaguchi has fashioned a brilliant study of relationships and love, need and understanding.