On February 27, 1942, USS Langley, America’s first aircraft carrier, was attacked and sunk by Japanese bombers south of Java during the early months of World War II. Once a pioneering symbol of naval aviation, Langley was ferrying fighter aircraft when multiple bomb strikes disabled her. Sixteen crew members were killed, and more than 470 survived. This is the full story of how the ship that changed naval warfare was lost in transition.

In 1910, Black farmers owned 14 million acres of land. Today, that number is under 2 million. The loss of Black-owned farmland did more than erase generational wealth. It reshaped local food systems and helped create the food deserts many communities face today. This article connects stolen soil to empty shelves and explains why this history still affects every American.