The Travesties of India’s Tribal Boarding Schools

Two researchers argue that India’s large-scale tribal boarding schools revive features of 19th- and 20th-century boarding schools in North America and elsewhere that sought to strip Indigenous peoples of their families, languages, and cultural identities.

Spelling a Nation’s Name

An archaeologist grappling with the recent history of war and genocide in the Balkans dives into the debate over how to name the territory known as either “Kosova” or “Kosovo.”

The Casual Menace of a Trump Rally

As the U.S. closes in on Election Day 2020, an anthropologist remembers the chilling mix of cruelty and cheer he witnessed at a Trump victory rally after the 2016 election.

What White Power Supporters Hear Trump Saying

The term “political correctness” can be readily deployed as a racist dog whistle—one that President Donald Trump has been blowing with increasing vigor since his election in 2016.

Why White Kids Need Hamilton More Than Ever

The retelling of one of America’s Founding Fathers showcases how some people need to hustle to get ahead—highlighting the problems of systemic racism in U.S. society.

Why Capitalizing “Black” Matters

SAPIENS supports and adopts the recent change made by many publications to capitalize Black in recognition of the significance of a person or group’s identity—yet, as an anthropology magazine, we must dive deeper into the “myth of race.”

As the Statues Fall: A Conversation About Monuments and the Power of Memory

In this webinar, scholars and artists share their insights on the power of monumentality and the work they are doing to reconfigure historical markers.

One

An anthropological poem journeys to the eye of the storm to understand how “race” has no biological basis—and is instead rooted in discrimination. What future for our species?

Preppers and the Pandemic

Were preppers more prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic than others? The SAPIENS podcast turns to an anthropologist on the inside of the preppers movement to find out.

COVID-19 and the Turn to Magical Thinking

From bogus miracle cures and dangerous conspiracy theories to powerful shows of weaponry, across the globe, the coronavirus pandemic is evoking all manner of magical thinking.