The Mexican American Story
Sometimes learning about history hurts. But if we want to heal from these wounds, we first have to learn the truth.
Books
‘Tech Doesn’t Just Stay at the Border’: Petra Molnar on Surveillance’s Long Reach
“The border is like a free-for-all, this frontier zone that is a perfect laboratory for tech experimentation.”
A Small-Town Texas Librarian’s Big Stand Against Book Bans
In Llano County, a local librarian fought back against censorship, prompting a federal court fight and national recognition but losing the job of her dreams.
‘In All My Childhood Dreams, I Was a Boy’
An excerpt from "Pretty: A Memoir" by KB Brookins, a new book on coming up Black and queer in Texas
‘The Chicano Time Traveler’
Daniel Chacón's latest short story collection, The Last Philosopher in Texas, shows how fiction and superstition often mix with reality in the lives of many Chicanos.
Rick’s Requiem: The Serious Impact of an Unserious Politician
A new book seeks to paint a more measured portrait of the oft-mocked Texas politician.
Surviving Baptistland
A well-known warrior in the #ChurchToo movement reveals in a new book how she escaped from an abusive Texas home and an abusive Southern Baptist church.
SIGN UP FOR TEXAS OBSERVER EMAILS
‘Forever Chemicals,’ Religion, and Family Tragedy in Texas
PFAS do not break down but rather persist indefinitely. It is possible that Dad drank carcinogenic water for most of his life.
Saving Lone Star Literary Life
A literary website that has connected bookish Texans since 2015 nearly closed this year. Then one of its readers saved it.
A Roadmap to Rebuilding Communities
Texas highways have destroyed and dominated our built environment. Megan Kimble's book "City Limits" offers a new vision.