Culture

Sister Souljah in Harlem in 1993

How Sister Souljah Went From Radical Activist to Scapegoat to Blockbuster Novelist How Sister Souljah Went From Radical Activist to Scapegoat to Blockbuster Novelist

After Bill Clinton used her to catapult himself to the presidency, the activist Souljah was sidelined. But the novelist Souljah continued to produce work that spoke to millions.

Dec 13, 2022 / Feature / Dani McClain

Nation Poetry

Congo: Curriculum Vitae (excerpt) Congo: Curriculum Vitae (excerpt)

[When one of us goes] When one of us goes to the other world, we gather and weep so that the ocean of our tears may take the deceased to their final resting place. [The path of lif…

Dec 13, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Alain Mabanckou

The Birth of a New Brand of Exercise Fetish

The Birth of a New Brand of Exercise Fetish The Birth of a New Brand of Exercise Fetish

From Bikram yoga to Tae Bo, the 1990s exploded with exoticized consumer fitness products.

Dec 13, 2022 / Feature / Natalia Mehlman Petrzela

Winners

Winners Winners

Among the people Trump will not denounce, Who’s leading now for statements that appall us? The race remains quite close, but in the lead It’s Ye and his pal Fuentes über alles.

Dec 13, 2022 / Column / Calvin Trillin

How the Third Way Made Neoliberal Politics Seem Inevitable

How the Third Way Made Neoliberal Politics Seem Inevitable How the Third Way Made Neoliberal Politics Seem Inevitable

An overhyped new paradigm proved to be a slogan without a movement.

Dec 13, 2022 / Feature / Lily Geismer

Were We All Wrong About “Tár”?

Were We All Wrong About “Tár”? Were We All Wrong About “Tár”?

What made the movie both striking and dubious was somewhat overlooked in the initial critical fervor.

Dec 13, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Phoebe Chen

AI Comes for the Writers

AI Comes for the Writers AI Comes for the Writers

It's long been assumed that truck drivers' jobs would be first on the chopping block. Not anymore.

Dec 12, 2022 / McCaffrey Blauner

A protester at the 1999 World Trade Organization demon

How the Left Was Lost in the 1990s—but Found Its Way Again How the Left Was Lost in the 1990s—but Found Its Way Again

In the 1990s, the left was embattled and diminished. But it kept the flame burning just enough for a new generation to come along and give it oxygen.

Dec 12, 2022 / Feature / Naomi Klein

How Food Became a Weapon in the Right’s Culture Wars

How Food Became a Weapon in the Right’s Culture Wars How Food Became a Weapon in the Right’s Culture Wars

First came the politics of right-wing grievance. Then came the new foodie culture. Together, they combined to create one toxic food fight.

Dec 12, 2022 / Feature / Brent Cunningham

Mall of America, 1992.

The Rise and Fall of the Mall The Rise and Fall of the Mall

Alexandra Lange's Meet Me by the Fountain recovers the forgotten past and the still hopeful future of the American shopping mall.

Dec 12, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Melvin Backman

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