Aliens

Mar 29 2013

More than a million people have checked out the 1950 report

Out of all the case files made public by the FBI online, the most popular is a memo from 1950 titled “FLYING SAUCERS,” the agency said this week.

The mysterious report from Guy Hottel, special agent in charge in Washington, begins with this:
“An investigator for the Air Force stated that three so-called flying saucers had been recovered in New Mexico. They were described as being circular in shape with raised centers, approximately 50 feet in diameter. Each one was occupied by three bodies of human shape but only 3 feet tall.”

Apr 12 2012

A long view of a historical reality

When author Suzanne Collins created the “The Hunger Games” trilogy, which takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem, she simultaneously created social debates on race. The fictional country consists of a wealthy capital and twelve surrounding districts. District 11 is the home of Rue and Thresh, who are supporting characters in both the book and the movie, and it is depicted as an area near what had once been Atlanta, Ga. 

Terri Schichenmeyer  |   OW Contributor
Nov 3 2011

Author Nikki Grimes

Aliens have kidnapped your best friend.

At least that’s what it seems like. The two of you used to do things together all the time. You’d hang out, watch TV, shoot hoops or climb trees. You liked the same things and you knew each other’s secrets.

But now, sometimes, you feel like you barely know her any more. She never wants to do the things you used to do, and everything’s different. It’s almost like your best friend got kidnapped and replaced with someone who just looks like her.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Nov 11 2010

Hollywood by Choice

When “Skyline” premieres this Friday, you will witness a new action hero in the making. Donald Faison—who spent nine seasons on the Network comedy series “Scrubs” as Dr. Christopher Turk, and starred in countless movies such as “Next Day Air,” and the classic cult comedy “Clueless”—will show us another side of his acting and physical prowess.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”