‘Earth Has No Sorrow’: Visions of a Caldwell County Long Gone
The Observer resurfaces a 50-year-old collection of fine arts photography and unique oral history.
Culture
Forgotten for Over a Century, Border Hero Jovita Idár Is Rediscovered by Her Hometown of Laredo
Jovita Idár, born in Laredo in 1885, has only recently begun to gain proper recognition as a pivotal figure in Texas and transborder history.
“Wings of Ebony” Brings Black Girl Magic to Life
Houstonian J. Elle’s young adult novel lets Black girls soar through worlds both fantastical and familiar.
Exploring the Rise, Fall, and Lingering Trauma of the Death Penalty in Texas
In his new book, journalist Maurice Chammah ties Texas' embrace of capital punishment to the state's frontier mythos.
‘Chicano Squad’ Provides New Perspectives on Police Brutality and Unsolved Murders
Two native Texans teamed up to produce a just-released podcast that tells the story of an innovative group of Houston homicide detectives.
A Weird End for a Weird Year: Our Eight Favorite Strange Texas Stories of 2020
A wild horse chase, an alligator with a big appetite, and a cloned cat made this year a little stranger—in a good way.
Poet Claudia Delfina Cardona on Her Debut Poetry Chapbook
Born and raised in San Antonio, this poet and editor writes to and for other Texans.
A New Book Celebrates the Work of Architect John S. Chase
Chase was the state’s first licensed Black architect and the first Black person to receive a master’s degree from the University of Texas.
Selena’s Life and Legacy in Corpus Christi
Tejano history and women’s history professor Cynthia E. Orozco spoke to the Observer about Selena’s life as a new series streams on Netflix.
The Flâneur of Downtown Dallas
Zac Crain has spent four years getting to know the nooks and crannies of the Big D, which he documents in his new book, A Pedestrian’s Recent History of Dallas.