Posts by bjames

There are two significant days celebrated in August, and both can encourage us to learn more about people in our communities and consider a viewpoint that is different from our own.   August 9 is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. To celebrate, you can educate yourself by listening to podcasts or radio programs…

National Mental Awareness Month is a time to acknowledge that mental health is as important as physical health, and that we should focus on it without fear or shame. One in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness each year, and so it is crucial to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for…

During May, we celebrate the contributions of the approximately 7 million Jewish Americans who helped form the fabric of American history, culture, and society. You can explore historic photographs, videos, and archival collections and exhibits at the Jewish Heritage Month website. This website is a joint collaboration between The Library of Congress, National Archives and…

About 25 million Americans claim Scottish descent.  In North America, Tartan Day is celebrated on April 6, in honor of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath on April 6, 1320. This document asserted the independence of the Scottish kingdom. Scottish barons wrote the declaration to the Roman Catholic pope, asking him to recognise Scotland’s…

April is Arab-American Heritage month, where we celebrate the Middle Eastern and North African heritage of nearly 3.7 million Americans. This designation was made in 2017 and President Biden officially recognized April as Arab-American Heritage month in 2021.   Today, Arabs primarily inhabit the 22 member states of the Arab League. The Arab world stretches…

March is Greek-American Heritage month, also known as Hellenic Heritage month. The celebration of Greek-American history coincides with Greece’s National Greek Independence Day on March 25th. Mass Greek migration to the United States began in the late 1800s and now, over 2.5 million Americans are of Greek descent. To learn more about Greek-American history and…

March is Irish-American Heritage Month, and while many will think first of St. Patrick’s Day and green beer, there is a great deal more to Irish culture than that! Ireland has a rich literary history, and is especially known for folk tales and fairy tales. Heroes like Finn McCool, tragic tales like the Children of…

If you are looking for another local bookstore that is not of the big-box variety, check out the Footprints Café! Located just over the bridge in Buzzard’s Bay, Footprints Café is a Black-owned, woman-owned bookstore that focuses on people and authors of color. A coffee shop is due to open soon, too! You can find…