Uplifting News: Good News in History, December 20 | A Sign of Progress

Uplifting News: Good News in History, December 20 | A Sign of Progress
Why this story matters: Stories like this show how communities, innovation, and determination can lead to lasting improvements. Quick summary: This story highlights recent developments related to on this day, showing how constructive action can lead to meaningful results. 22 years ago today, Gangs of New York premiered in theaters. Martin Scorsese’s colorful and gritty depiction of gangland violence among the poor immigrant residents of New York City’s Five Points received 10 Academy Award nominations. While winning none, Daniel Day Lewis’ mesmeric portrayal of street gang leader Bill the Butcher won him several other awards. Grossing nearly $200 million worldwide, the project had taken Scorsese nearly 20 years to develop after reading a book called Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld. (2002) Loosely-centered around the life and times of Irish immigrant waves to America during the Civil War and following the Potato Famine, the film was repeatedly praised for its histo…