Castine, Maine is a small seaside town populated by vacationers in the summer and dedicated Mainers year-round. However, its primary economy hasn’t always relied on summer visitors. In Castine’s “glory years” (1840-1865), much of its wealth was built off a trading pattern fully complicit in the enslavement of Africans and African Americans. The legacy of this trade not only affects the known history of Castine but impacts many erased and unprotected histories of African and African American Mainers. Through the lens of sugar, we can trace the ripples of its impact.

Do you know how many people in your community can digest dairy? It might surprise you to learn that only 30% of the world can tolerate lactose (referred to as “lactase persistence”). Much of the United States society considers dairy to be a regular part of daily life. Children are often encouraged to drink milk for strong bones; one might indulge in ice cream as a treat or put a little butter on bread for a snack. However, this dairy culture is not as ubiquitous as some may think.

The creation of beaded accessories is an art form that plays a significant role in the culture of the Zulu people in South Africa.