James Baldwin Centenary

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 26 September 2024 > Celebrate

2024 marks the centennial of the birth of James Baldwin, novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, civil-rights campaigner and social critic, as well as self-proclaimed American “Native Son”. Born in 1924 in Harlem, New York, Baldwin grew up in poverty, the eldest of nine children. Harlem was home to many black families who had moved from the … Continue reading “James Baldwin Centenary”

Paris 2024 Paralympics

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 26 August 2024 > Celebrate

Here’s a quick guide to the 17th Paralympic Games in Paris. Since the first games for disabled athletes in 1948 to the first official Paralympics in Rome in 1960 to today’s games, the size and the exposure of the games has increased enormously. In Rome, 400 athletes from 23 countries participated in eight sports. Since … Continue reading “Paris 2024 Paralympics”

Becoming American on the Fourth of July

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 01 July 2024 > Celebrate

Independence Day is a celebration for all Americans, but for some it has special significance. It’s a traditional day for holding naturalisation ceremonies, welcoming new citizens to the U.S.A. A total of 878,500 people obtained U.S. citizenship through naturalisation in 2023. Ceremonies take place all year round, but a lot take place in honour of … Continue reading “Becoming American on the Fourth of July”

Let’s Dance at the Olympics

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 27 June 2024 > Celebrate

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games welcomes a new sport: breaking, or break dancing. Breaking originated in the Bronx in the 1970s. It has its roots in hip-hop culture, but has long been a competitive sport. In Paris, 16 men and 16 women (known as “B-Boys” and “B-Girls”) will engage in an epic battle for the … Continue reading “Let’s Dance at the Olympics”

Operation Overlord: the Turning Point of World War II

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 06 June 2024 > Celebrate

On June 6, 1944 at dawn, Operation Overlord, the largest airborne and naval offensive in history, was launched by the Allied forces to open a second front in Western Europe against Nazi Germany. After months of titanic preparations mobilising nearly 5 million men and immense logistics, an armada of 4,300 landing ships and 500 warships, … Continue reading “Operation Overlord: the Turning Point of World War II”

Time to Put on a Red Nose

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 13 March 2024 > Celebrate

Red Nose Day is back on Friday 15 March in the UK.  British charity Comic Relief has been encouraging people to don a clown’s red nose and “do something funny for money” since 1988.  Red Nose Day is an occasion for many people across the country, and especially schools, to have a laugh while raising … Continue reading “Time to Put on a Red Nose”

Happy Leap Day!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 28 February 2024 > Celebrate

If you are born on 29 February, you can consider yourself very special… or very unlucky! The chances of being born on a leap day (the extra day we have every four years in leap years) are 1 in 1461. So, people born on that day are rare. But they also only have one “real” … Continue reading “Happy Leap Day!”

Remembering Presidents

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 14 February 2024 > Celebrate

On the third Monday in February, Americans celebrate Presidents’ Day, in honour of all 46 Presidents but especially George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. A good time to brush up on what qualifications you need to be President. Today’s Presidents’ Day grew out of individual celebrations of George Washington’s birthday on 22 February and Abraham Lincoln’s … Continue reading “Remembering Presidents”