In January 1948, George W. McLaurin, a 61-year-old retired professor, applied for admission to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a doctorate in education. He held a master’s degree from the University of Kansas and had taught at Langston University for 33 years. On February 2, 1948, the university denied his application solely because McLaurin was Black. At the time, an Ok...

It was the highest ski resort in the entire world–until the snow disappeared. Rising above Bolivia’s capital city, La Paz, this once glacier-laden peak was a hot spot for locals and tourists alike. Now a quiet and rocky summit, the simple structures near Chacaltaya’s peak are only a reminder of the mountain’s popularity. 

Translated from the Aymara language, the m...

Officially speaking, it is illegal to ferry tourists around on the Yamuna river. But that does not mean it isn’t possible. A few years ago, the government banned boat rides at the Taj Mahal, citing security concerns, but one man, and his one boat still float on.

There’s no ticket office, no signage, no other operators. Some days people gather along the river and wait. ...

In 1970, hand block printing in Jaipur wasn’t thriving – it was disappearing. Industrial manufacturing had pushed handmade textiles to the margins and only a few aging craftsmen remained. The traditional systems that once sustained them had begun to collapse. The rhythmic thwack of teak on cotton cloth came close to surviving only in history books until John and Faith Singh s...

When you’re crowded around a table with a smattering of friends, all with a new drink in hand, an unspoken feeling usually swells amongst the group that “clinking” everyone’s glasses together is necessary to start the round or event. Whether the action is committed with a “cheers,” “kanpai,” or “santé,” it’s a tradition that’s followed by cultures all over the world. With fri...