Best of 2017: Essays

What happens when a Black woman decides to solo-hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine during a summer of bitter political upheaval? Everything you can imagine, from scary moments of racism to new friendships to soaring epiphanies about the timeless value of America’s most storied trekking route.

Carvell Wallace on how Barack Obama’s Presidency helped him overcome his fear of the white racism that had plagued him for much of his life.

Every parent wants to protect their child. Because my son was born with cystic fibrosis, I never got the chance.

Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah spoke with Dylan Roof's family, friends, former teachers, and the victims' families to unlock what created one of the coldest killers of our time.

It’s humbling to care for an animal that reminds you, each day, of your own imminent death.

After 30 years in prison, my father is just being introduced to technology. I, however, am trying to do less technology. We meet somewhere in the middle.

They did or said something awful, and made something great. They are monster geniuses, and I don’t know what to do about them.