9 books that offer inspiration and comfort at the end of a challenging 2020
USC English professors reflect on the books that soothed and uplifted them during a tumultuous year.
Why the Puritans cracked down on celebrating Christmas
It wasn’t because they were joyless and humorless. USC’s Peter Mancall, who researches the Puritans, says it was about their desire to impose their will on the people of New England – natives and immigrants alike.
History professor traces Black women’s migration from the Caribbean
Joan Flores-Villalobos brings to life the women who journeyed to Panama for money, love and adventure during the construction of the famous canal.
Virtual reality project will recreate a 15th century religious experience
USC Dornsife’s Sabina Zonno and Lynn Dodd have received a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to develop an immersive world around a Renaissance-era manuscript.
USC alum looks at history of Thai Americans — beyond just food
Mark Padoongpatt’s examination of Thai immigrants landed him air time on a Hulu show hosted by Padma Lakshmi.
COVID-19 proves to be a test of faith for believers, churches and communities
While in-person worship remains risky, some congregations are reimagining their communities online. USC experts address the intersections of religion, a pandemic and a historic social movement.
The complicated legacy of the Pilgrims is finally coming to light 400 years after they landed in Plymouth
The glory heaped on the Pilgrims puzzles USC historian Peter Mancall: Native Americans had met Europeans in scores of places before 1620, the Plymouth colony attracted relatively few migrants and it lasted only 70 years.
The belief that demons have sex with humans runs deep in Christian and Jewish traditions
Accounts of demon sex go as far back as the Book of Genesis, a USC scholar of early Christianity notes.
How have people responded to pandemics throughout history?
Through their research on plagues dating back to the late 19th century, USC Dornsife historians have discovered striking parallels between the coronavirus and previous outbreaks.
‘Say it again’: Is this meme entertaining or belittling?
A USC Annenberg doctoral student discovers how social media can cut both ways.
Transgender doctorate of social work student’s work to be archived by Library of Congress
Lourdes Ashley Hunter and her Trans Women of Color Collective focus on those in their community who have not had access to resources, opportunities and support systems.
Read these 11 books to better understand race and privilege in America
As protestors take to the streets, USC Dornsife faculty offer reading suggestions that provide historical and cultural background on the roots of American racism.
No virus can keep USC scholars from their books
Staff scan centuries-old gilded pages and send them to eager faculty and students from behind closed doors at USC Libraries.
Throughout American history, economic interests have trumped human life
A USC Dornsife historian revisits several moments when Americans had to choose between human health and making money, noting that the money usually wins out.
How are religious groups responding to the coronavirus pandemic?
As the faithful celebrate Passover and Easter from home, a USC expert on religion and media describes how spiritual institutions are adapting in response to COVID-19.
What did early Christian communities think about donating during crises?
Modern society could learn a thing or two from the generosity of early Christians, writes a USC Dornsife professor of religion.
How Arab Americans found identity and belonging in California
A new book from USC Dornsife’s Sarah Gualtieri counters a long-held stereotype of Arab Americans as outsiders, exploring how they were integrated into Southern California.
Now more than ever, talking about food means addressing global issues
The conversation around what we eat has grown to include issues of community, identity and food justice, especially in a global hub like L.A. USC Annenberg professors and alumni explain why.
Islamophobia in the U.S.: a long history of equating Muslims with terrorism
USC Dornsife scholar Evelyn Alsultany traces key moments in the spread of anti-Muslim sentiments across the United States.
How language evolves — and ‘they’ became the word of the decade
Language changes as culture changes, and in the 2010s pronouns were the words on center stage. A doctoral student in linguistics at USC Dornsife examines how that came to be.
Revisiting the 1969 storm that defined California surfing
In 1969, an El Nino storm pounded the coast of California, producing epic waves and a legendary winter of surf. USC Dornsife experts weigh in on the past — and future — of surfing in the Golden State.
In Mexico, USC Students Find Connections to Cities Lost to Time
Each summer, USC archaeology students travel to Mexico and follow in the footsteps of history.
Teacher bias devalues math skills of girls and students of color, USC research finds
According to the study, white teachers and teachers of color showed implicit biases toward white-sounding names and boys over girls.
Writing Unites USC Students and Ex-Prisoners Seeking a Better Life
Released prisoners share their stories while USC students write their own in an unusual partnership that has changed lives.