Three stories I’m pondering this week — tell me in the comments what you’re thinking about!
When Doors Refused to Open, She Kicked Them Down
by Steve Flamisch
Nannie Helen Burroughs, the daughter of formerly enslaved parents, didn’t have many options in life. Her father died when she was young, and she and her mother were on their own. But she loved school, and did well enough to qualify to become a public school teacher.
Except nobody would hire her. So Nannie did something about it.
She was able to raise enough money from small donations to open her own school, which was focused on helping Black women and girls learn skills that could help them get jobs.
She later started a labor organization, and became a civil rights activist, advocating for worker protections and higher pay for domestic work for women.
Read the rest of the story here.
We’re Getting Closer To Knowing What Animals Are Thinking
by Brittany Florkiewicz
Humans have long wondered what animals are thinking and feeling. In fact, in the movie Up, a character has invented a dog collar that does just that. (Turns out, it’s mostly along the lines of, “I just met you and you’re already my best friend.”)
But what if AI could tell you what they’re actually feeling? Scientists are currently training AI to study the faces of animals, so we can better interpret when they are feeling pain or distress.
In the case of the pigs, the AI system, dubbed Intellipig, can figure out a pig’s identity with 97% accuracy, just from a selfie.
Other researchers worked with Labrador retrievers (like Molly), and were able to detect whether a dog was happy or frustrated when waiting for a treat. Are more complex emotions next?
Learn more about this fascinating work here.
Pink Cars and Pocketbooks
by
When the automobile was first introduced to the American public at the turn of the twentieth century, it wasn’t yet coded as a “masculine” technology. The auto industry then was huge, with hundreds of small manufacturers all trying to figure out what Americans wanted in a car. They innovated countless designs, from steam-powered cars to electric cars that started with the push of a button, from long, open touring cars to tiny three-wheeled Motorettes.
In the first two decades of the century, automakers advertised widely in newspapers and magazines, to both men and to women, as they tried to find the ideal markets for their cars. Early automotive ads drew on imagery of the Gibson Girl and the New Woman, showing driving as being an activity for the healthy, outdoorsy, and free-spirited woman, and they offered positive messages about the enjoyment and independence women could find behind the wheel.
Read more about this fascinating deep dive in The Fascinating (and Surprising) History of Women Drivers here.
Would love to hear your thoughts on these stories in the comments!