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My Dad the Politician

author image Alice, whose father Dan Cantor is executive director of the Working Families Party, describes what it's like to grow up in a political family.

I grew up with a common enough household rule: no cell phones at the dinner table, not even parents’ cell phones. However, at my father’s pleas, my mother eventually amended the law—Dad could answer his cell, but only if the person on the other end was a governor, senator, or city council member... [more]

Anxiety Anxiety
Plus: "Smut Page" Survivor - My Dad the Politician - Occupy Wall Street Explained - Standing Up to the Cyberbullies - Sexonomics 101
[more stories]
FEATURED STORIES
No More Hand-Holding No More Hand-Holding
A college visit is a wake-up call for Edgar, who realizes that to succeed he will have to take more responsibility for his education. [more]
Dirty Dancing Dirty Dancing
Janill is appalled by the openly sexual “dancing” that goes on at her school dance. [more]
Princess Oreo Speaks Out Princess Oreo Speaks Out
Dwan is teased by fellow blacks for “acting white” and wonders why people can’t be more open-minded. [more]
Womanhood Can Wait Womanhood Can Wait
Most girls are in a hurry to grow up, but Nicole wants to take it slow. [more]
Enjoy the Moment Enjoy the Moment
Ngan-Fong wants to spend time enjoying herself in the present, instead of constantly worrying about the future. [more]
Why I Failed the 9th Grade Why I Failed the 9th Grade
Why did the girl with the best reading score in her whole junior high get left back in 9th grade? [more]
A Short Cut to Independence A Short Cut to Independence
Anita is raised to believe that being a “good Indian girl” means having long hair. Then she gets a haircut. [more]
Color Me Different Color Me Different
Jamal speaks standard English, can’t dance, and prefers baseball to basketball. Does this mean he’s less black than his peers? [more]
She's Cool, She's Funny, She's Gay--and She’s My Sister She's Cool, She's Funny, She's Gay--and She’s My Sister
Sandra’s friends have lots of stereotypes about lesbians—but Sandra’s gay sister proves them wrong. [more]
A New World Full of Strangers A New World Full of Strangers
Edwidge describes the bewilderment, culture shock, and stereotypes she faces on arriving in the U.S. from Haiti at 12. She will later credit this essay with helping to inspire her novel "Breath, Eyes, Memory," which becomes a New York Times bestseller. [more]
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