Latest Stories — History & Culture

Editorial package on the Culture page of nationalgeographic.com

Stories: This writer just traced his enslaved ancestors all the way to Africa. Here’s how. — Prior to 1870, records rarely noted names of enslaved and formerly-enslaved people, creating a genealogical brick 'wall.' But new records and tools are changing things.; Inside the ‘factory of the world,’ there is still a corner untouched by machines — Even in China, one of the most hyper-industrialized societies on Earth, our correspondent found a fading corner where modernity hasn’t yet replaced ancient ways.; The early history and evolution of modern drag — Today’s drag queens trace their roots back to clandestine balls hosted by Black performers in the late 19th century.; Shabana Basij-Rasikh is the Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year — Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year Shabana Basij-Rasikh was driven away by the Taliban. Undeterred, she hopes to build a global model for educating displaced children.; A 'women-only' village? The truth is much more complex—and fascinating — Noiva do Cordeiro in southeast Brazil is a community of tolerance and acceptance. Women have played a major role in shaping it.; They were taken from their families as children. Can they heal? — Love the convenience of clicking “place your order” but concerned about the environmental impact? Here are some ideas to be a more thoughtful online shopper.; Is your favorite ‘green’ product as eco-friendly as it claims to be? — Not all environmental claims are created equally. Here’s how consumers can spot misleading labels.