Race

Politics & Government

Why Democrats Can't Take Latino Voters For Granted

7:42am February 23, 2021

by Steve Inskeep

Democrats did not do as well in the 2020 Election with Latino voters as they had hoped they would — particularly in South Florida, where the Latino vote is crucial. So what happened?

Queue Listen Now

Winter Storm Delivers Another Blow To Communities Of Color

7:18am February 23, 2021

by Elizabeth Trovall

Last week's deep winter freeze exposed a series of inequities. Among them, communities of color in Houston face unique challenges recovering from the storm after already being hit hardest by COVID-19.

Queue Listen Now

National

Virginia On Track To Be 1st Southern State To Abolish Death Penalty

7:14am February 23, 2021

by Whittney Evans

Lawmakers in Virginia have voted to repeal the death penalty in part because of its disproportionate effect on Black residents. Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam says he will sign the bill.

Queue Listen Now

Arts

HBO's 'Black Art' Indicts The Forces That Marginalize It

6:25am February 23, 2021

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to director Sam Pollard about the HBO documentary, Black Art: In the Absence of Light. The film celebrates the rich history of art by Black Americans.

Queue Listen Now

News Brief: Vaccine Equity, Insurrection Hearing, Storm's Effect On Minorities

6:05am February 23, 2021

Vaccination speed and racial equity don't always go hand in hand. Congressional hearing will delve into Capitol insurrection. Damaging winter storm delivers another blow to communities of color.

Queue Listen Now

National

Illinois Becomes First State to Eliminate Cash Bail

9:35pm February 22, 2021

by Cheryl Corley

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed sweeping criminal justice legislation Monday that also requires police agencies to equip officers with body cameras and sets stricter rules for their use of force.

National

Despite Illinois' Promise, State Lacks Black-Owned Cannabis Dispensaries

6:40am February 22, 2021

by Mariah Woelfel

When Illinois legalized recreational marijuana, lawmakers promised those who were harmed by the war on drugs would be able to cash in. That is not what happened.

Queue Listen Now

Vanessa Leroy says attending a racial justice protest in 2014 helped her realize she wanted to be a photographer. She photographed a helicopter that day, saying, "I took it out of the context that it was originally in to make it feel you're entering into

Arts

Vanessa Leroy Once Used Daydreaming To Escape. Now, It's The Heart Of Her Photography

2:20pm February 21, 2021

by Michele Abercrombie

"There isn't a lot of space for dreaming in an oppressive world," says Leroy, "so I use photography as a tool to create a space where I can freely navigate the various facets of my life."

Racism Controversy Rocks 'Bachelor' Nation

5:19pm February 20, 2021

NPR's Michel Martin discusses the most recent Bachelor controversy with Brandy Monk-Payton, a scholar of media and Black cultural studies at Fordham University.

How The Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles Is Diversifying Music

8:01am February 20, 2021

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Charles Dickerson, founder and conductor of The Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, and cellist Hanna Innis about fostering diversity in orchestras.