Month: July 2022

Arthur Ashe (1943)

Ashe rose from his hometown’s public courts to become the first African-American male to reach prominence in tennis. Noted for his grace, hard-hit topspin, and outstanding backhand, Ashe won three Grand Slam tournaments, including Wimbledon. He helped to form the Association of Tennis Professionals and worked to expose the injustices of apartheid in South Africa. Infected with HIV through a blood transfusion, he also worked to raise awareness of AIDS. Why was Ashe arrested in 1985 and 1992? Discuss

The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona

The festival of San Fermin is a deeply rooted celebration held annually, from July 6 to July 14, in the city of Pamplona, Spain. It commemorates San Fermin, who was allegedly dragged to his death by bulls. The festival’s most famous event is the encierro, the running of the bulls, which involves many residents and visitors running in front of bulls down a stretch of narrow streets. Hundreds of people are injured during the encierro each year. How many people have been killed? Discuss

The Great Train Wreck (1918)

During the morning rush hour of July 9, 1918, Nashville, Tennessee, became the site of one of the deadliest rail accidents in US history. The head-on collision between two passenger trains killed 101 people and injured 171. Many of the victims were laborers traveling to work at a gunpowder plant outside of Nashville. Both trains were traveling at about 60 mph (96.5 km/h) upon impact, and the sound of the crash could be heard as far as two miles (3.2 km) away. What caused the collision? Discuss

Argentina Independence Day

Independence Day in Argentina is a national holiday commemorating the day in 1816 when delegates from various provinces of the country met at the home of the prominent Bazán family, in Tucumán, to proclaim their independence from Spanish rule. Civil war and various forms of government followed, but the date of the original Independence Day celebration has been continuously honored. It is now marked across the country by speeches and patriotic displays, as well as parties, family reunions, and live music. Discuss

King Hassan II of Morocco (1929)

Hassan II became king of Morocco upon the death of his father in 1961. In 1965, political unrest caused him to assume full executive and legislative control, and although an abortive coup led him to yield some of his powers to parliament, the dictatorial period during his rule became known as the “Years of Lead.” During his reign, he claimed Western Sahara for Morocco and resolved long-standing border issues with Algeria. What two assassination attempts did Hassan survive in the 1970s? Discuss

The Kennedy Center

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts opened in Washington, DC, in 1971 as a living memorial to its namesake. Designed by architect Edward Durell Stone, the center is surfaced in marble and makes use of the ornamental facade screens for which the architect was known. Its Grand Foyer faces the Potomac River. The cultural complex houses six stages, the largest of which—the Concert Hall—has been designated a national monument. Who ceremoniously broke ground on the Kennedy Center? Discuss