None of the following stories were written in 2016, but the themes of our contemporary American Thanksgiving traditions—family, identity, history—remain relevant.
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A History of American Protest Music: When Nina Simone Sang What Everyone Was Thinking
“Mississippi Goddam” was an angry response to tragedy, in show tune form.
After Marriage Equality, to Party, or to Protest?
Spenser Mestel recalls the emotionally complicated day, two years ago, when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage.
An Unforgiving Legal System Welcomes Black Immigrants to America
The Black Alliance for Just Immigration helps those affected by racial profiling and harsh immigration laws.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Our top stories of the week, as chosen by the editorial team at Longreads.
The Word Is ‘Nemesis’: The Fight to Integrate the National Spelling Bee
For talented black spellers in the 1960s, the segregated local spelling bee was the beginning and the end of the long road to Washington, D.C.
Longreads Best of 2016: Our 25 Most Popular Exclusives of the Year
The most popular stories published on Longreads this year.
Longreads Best of 2016: Arts & Culture Writing
We asked a few writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here, the best in arts and culture writing.
Father of Migrants
“When it comes to the human body, everything can be trafficked. Migrants are a product in a system that breaks them down into lucrative parts, often until there is nothing left.”
After Marriage Equality, to Party, or to Protest?
Spenser Mestel recalls the emotionally complicated day, two years ago, when the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage.

