A bestselling author sours on Brooklyn

+ in vitro fertilization access US Edition - Today's top story: Betty Smith enchanted a generation of readers with 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' − even as she groused that she hoped Williamsburg would be flattened [View in browser]( US Edition | 2 March 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( To kick off Women’s History Month, Rachel Gordan, a scholar of religion and Jewish studies at the University of Florida, wrote an article about Betty Smith, the author of “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” Gordan explains why Smith’s semi-autobiographical novel resonated so strongly with so many readers – and changed the way Americans thought about immigrants, Brooklyn and the Big Apple. The [novel removed the veil of shame]( that had accompanied growing up as an immigrant in poverty; suddenly, that history and those tight-knit communities became something to revere. “Even readers who had never set foot in the borough nonetheless found themselves enchanted by it through Smith’s portrayal,” Gordan writes. Many critics viewed the work as a paean to Brooklyn and assumed that Smith, who had moved out of the old neighborhood years prior, longed to one day return to it. She didn’t. To her, the neighborhood had gone to the dogs. She believed the wrong kinds of immigrants were moving in – a reminder that the prism of prejudice can be nuanced and layered. This week we also liked articles about an elementary school teacher who got results when she [infused her lessons with hip-hop and dance](, [20th-century AI scares](, and tips from surprising sources that might help you avoid getting [too worked up over work](. [ [Get a global perspective on the news, with the best of The Conversation’s journalism from around the world, twice weekly.]( ] Nick Lehr Arts + Culture Editor Betty Smith’s novel sold millions of copies in the 1940s. Weegee/International Center of Photography via Getty Images [Betty Smith enchanted a generation of readers with ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’ − even as she groused that she hoped Williamsburg would be flattened]( Rachel Gordan, University of Florida No other 20th-century American novel did quite so much to burnish Brooklyn’s reputation. But Smith rarely saw her hometown through rose-colored glasses − and even grew to resent it. Frank Rosenblatt with the Mark I Perceptron, the first artificial neural network computer, unveiled in 1958. National Museum of the U.S. Navy/Flickr [We’ve been here before: AI promised humanlike machines – in 1958]( Danielle Williams, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis Enthusiasm for the capabilities of artificial intelligence – and claims for the approach of humanlike prowess –has followed a boom-and-bust cycle since the middle of the 20th century. Movement was an essential part of Gloria Merriex’s lessons at Duval Elementary School in Gainesville, Fla. Courtesy of Boaz Dvir [How educator Gloria Jean Merriex used dance, drills and devotion to turn around a failing elementary school in a year]( Boaz Dvir, Penn State A new documentary highlights teaching techniques of an educator who went the extra mile for her students. - [What is IVF? A nurse explains the evolving science and legality of in vitro fertilization]( Heidi Collins Fantasia, UMass Lowell IVF is a decades-old procedure that has allowed increasing numbers of prospective parents to have children. Evolving legislation may put it under threat. - [The ‘average’ revolutionized scientific research, but overreliance on it has led to discrimination and injury]( Zachary del Rosario, Olin College of Engineering The average might come in handy for certain data analyses, but is any one person really ‘average’? - [What’s next for $25B supermarket supermerger after FTC sues to block it, saying it could raise prices]( Christine P. Bartholomew, University at Buffalo Turning two big supermarket companies into one even larger one could harm consumers and workers, the government says. - [The tools in a medieval Japanese healer’s toolkit: from fortunetelling and exorcism to herbal medicines]( - [US temporarily avoids government shutdown but threat remains: 4 essential reads]( - [The true cost of food is far higher than what you spend at the checkout counter]( - [How is snow made? An atmospheric scientist describes the journey of frozen ice crystals from clouds to the ground]( - [How media coverage of presidential primaries fails voters and has helped Trump]( - [COVID-19 rapid tests still work against new variants – researchers keep ‘testing the tests,’ and they pass]( - [What the ancient Indian text Bhagavad Gita can teach about not putting too much of our identity and emotions into work]( - [Where does lightning strike? New maps pinpoint 36.8 million yearly ground strike points in unprecedented detail]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( Mitch McConnell has announced that he will step down as Senate minority leader later this year. But in his speech on Feb. 28, he said, "I still have enough gas in my tank to" do what? - A. "Help Ukraine defeat Vladimir Putin" - B. "Block the woke agenda at every turn" - C. "Thoroughly disappoint my critics" - D. "Dance on the grave of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get a daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](