Maansi Srivastava for NPR |
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| More people across the U.S. are showing interest in the centuries-old tile game Mahjong and creating community connections in the process. The game, which consists of tiles that players must place in specific combinations, was first introduced in the nation in the 1920s. Over the last year, Mahjong has increased in popularity, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials. The trend is driven by social media content focused on gameplay and the game’s history. NPR saw the interest firsthand during a Sunday afternoon meetup at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. See photos of the gathering. You can also listen to people from the event discuss why they enjoy the game or read the transcript. |
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| | by Cheryl Corley, NPR’s Midwest Bureau Chief at the National Desk |
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Sean Rayford/Getty Images |
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I’ve covered Jesse Jackson for many years, including his run for the presidency in 1988. So it was somewhat surreal to see this giant of the civil rights movement enclosed in a casket covered by a glass top when he lay in repose. During an interview with Jackson’s mentee, the Rev. Al Sharpton, he mentioned what I had been thinking — how ironic and fitting that when one of the last leaders of the civil rights era died on Feb. 17, it was during the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.
Thousands paid tribute over several days. Jackson’s sons and daughters stood in line to greet mourners. His daughter Jacqueline — rarely seen in public — clasped my hand and then held it longer as I began to walk away. There are moments as a reporter when the official moment becomes a personal one. That interaction will stand out for me, along with many of the stories people told about how Jackson impacted their lives. Later at her father’s funeral, Jacqueline would talk about feeding Jackson in his last days. How he taught her to read and write when she was homeschooled. How this activist man, who traveled the country and the globe calling for and making change, was sometimes called Reverend at home but more often just Dad.
There were so many dignitaries, political and religious leaders, entertainers and Jackson allies at his funeral. The breadth of Jackson’s influence was visible. There were three former U.S. presidents: Joe Biden, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Two African presidents: Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was a moment to embrace the fact that the man who was “walking history” was no longer with us, and that others, including his son Yusef Jackson, the now CEO of the Rainbow Push Coalition, would have to make new history as they continue Jackson’s civil rights and human rights fight. |
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What does it mean to be an American? There’s no single answer. At NPR, we think of American identity as a story, one that’s constantly being rewritten by the people who live it.
The American Storytelling collection brings together stories from local stations across the NPR Network, from small-town struggles to natural wonders to the layered histories that shape our nation. These are some of our biggest little-known shows, all in one place.
Explore the American Storytelling channel on Apple Podcasts or find it in the NPR App. |
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| | GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic can reduce the risk of addiction, according to a study in The BMJ. The medical journal reported that the drug helped people with a history of substance use disorder avoid overdose, drug-related hospitalization, drug-related death or suicide attempts. |
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| | A study published in the journal Nature suggests that rising seas may affect as many as 132 million more people than previously thought. |
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