PBS
Why we need to stop sharing American Dream success stories
Why would author Casey Gerald want people to stop highlighting success stories like his own? Gerald says he grew up on "the wrong side of the tracks" and went on to Harvard Business school. But he says celebrations of the American Dream...
PBS
Nicodemus Kansas
The wave of migration across the U.S. in the mid-1800's included people looking to live in open spaces, with land to grow crops and the opportunity to have a better life. After the Civil War, that included freed slaves and their...
PBS
Why we need to stop sharing American Dream success stories
Why would author Casey Gerald want people to stop highlighting success stories like his own? Gerald says he grew up on "the wrong side of the tracks" and went on to Harvard Business school. But he says celebrations of the American Dream...
TED Talks
TED: My 105 days in Taliban prison -- and a call to aid Afghanistan | Safi Rauf
Sharing his experience of being held captive in a Taliban prison for 105 days, humanitarian Safi Rauf talks about his life's mission to get food, medicine and other critical supplies to Afghans in need -- and urges the world to bolster...
TED Talks
TED: America's forgotten working class | J.D. Vance
J.D. Vance grew up in a small, poor city in the Rust Belt of southern Ohio, where he had a front-row seat to many of the social ills plaguing America: a heroin epidemic, failing schools, families torn apart by divorce and sometimes...
TED Talks
TED: Political common ground in a polarized united States | Gretchen Carlson, David Brooks
How can we bridge the gap between left and right to have a wiser, more connected political conversation? Journalist Gretchen Carlson and op-ed columnist David Brooks share insights on the tensions at the heart of American politics today...
TED Talks
TED: Does money make you mean? | Paul Piff
It's amazing what a rigged game of Monopoly can reveal. In this entertaining but sobering talk, social psychologist Paul Piff shares his research into how people behave when they feel wealthy. (Hint: badly.) But while the problem of...
TED Talks
Dan Phillips: Creative houses from reclaimed stuff
In this funny and inspiring talk, Dan Phillips tours us through a dozen homes he's built in Texas using recycled and reclaimed materials in wildly creative ways. Brilliant, low-tech design details will refresh your own drive to make more...
TED Talks
Reniqua Allen: The story we tell about millennials -- and who we leave out
Millennials are now the largest, most diverse adult population in the US -- but far too often, they're reduced to the worn-out stereotype of lazy, entitled avocado toast lovers, says author Reniqua Allen. In this revealing talk, she...
Crash Course
Like Pale Gold - The Great Gatsby Part I: Crash Course English Literature
In which John Green explores F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of the Jazz Age, The Great Gatsby. John introduces you to Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, Daisy and Tom Buchanan, and the other characters in the novel, and tries to look beyond the...
TED Talks
TED: How labor unions shape society | Margaret Levi
The weekend. Social Security. Health insurance. What do these things have in common? They all exist thanks to the advocacy of labor unions. Political economist Margaret Levi explains how these organizations forge equality and protect...
TED Talks
TED: You don't have to leave your neighborhood to live in a better one | Majora Carter
Low-status neighborhoods in the US are often stuck between stagnating assistance from the government and gentrification at the hands of real estate developers. The result is that the brightest minds are convinced that "success" means...
Kult America
World's First Shopping Mall? Istanbul Grand Bazaar
Even though America is the undisputed center of consumerism, it is here, in Istanbul, where the original shopping mall was created. On today's episode of Kult America, I'm discovering the secrets of the Grand Bazaar - an enormous...
Wonderscape
Challenges of the American Dream for Black Men in the U.S.
Examine the disparities faced by Black men in America in pursuit of the American Dream. Learn about the impact of public policies, particularly within the criminal justice system, and how these have contributed to inequalities. Explore...
Great Big Story
From Auschwitz to the White House, Martin Greenfield's Craft
Martin Greenfield, a Holocaust survivor, creates perfect suits for U.S. Presidents with unparalleled craftsmanship.
Great Big Story
This Is the Only School for Refugees in the U.S.
Explore the inspiring journey of the Fugees Academies, the only school system for refugees in the United States. Founded by Coach Luma, an immigrant from Jordan, these academies provide education and hope to students who have experienced...
Curated Video
Materialism and the American Dream in The Great Gatsby
The green light and the looming eyes of Dr. TJ Eckleberg are two of the most iconic images in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, "The Great Gatsby." The green light is a multifaceted symbol representing Gatsby's love for Daisy, the elusive...
Curated Video
The Great Gatsby: Characters, Plot, and Setting
"The Great Gatsby" is narrated by Nick Carraway, and observer to the story of Jay Gatsby, an enigmatic millionaire chasing the American Dream in the hopes of reclaiming his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, despite the societal divide and her...
Financial Times
Are high petrol prices killing the American dream?
FT Energy Source - To many Americans cars aren’t just a mode of transport, they’re a symbol of freedom. But who do US consumers hold responsible when soaring petrol prices mean there’s pain at the pump? The FT delves into the psychology...
Schooling Online
John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men - Theme of Friendship
George Milton and Lennie Small sure are an odd pair. Why do they cling to their friendship? Join us as we analyse the theme of friendship in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. You’ll find out why this is an important idea in the novella,...
Schooling Online
John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men - Theme of Dreams vs Reality
Having something to dream about can really get you through tough times. Dreams give us hope. But what happens when reality gets in the way? Join us for an in-depth discussion of Dreams vs Reality in John Steinbeck’s masterpiece Of Mice...
Schooling Online
John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men - Chapters 5-6 Summary
Things aren’t going well on the ranch. The fact that Lennie doesn’t know his own strength leads to shocking mishaps - but the worst is yet to come. When Curley’s lonely wife goes looking for attention, she finds it in the wrong place....
Schooling Online
F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - Context
Ever heard of the phrase ‘life imitates art’? Well, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s case, it was ‘art imitates life’! If you think The Great Gatsby is a wild tale, wait until you hear about Fitzgerald’s ride from rags to riches and back again!...