Why Not Pass?
“The Vanishing Half” deals with the theme of racial “passing” in the 1950s. Passing is different today, but still presents a choice between safety and authenticity.
Racial Justice
The Deep Roots of the Racial Wealth Gap—and How We Undo It
The racial wealth gap exists by historical design. In order to undo that divide, we need to be just as intentional.
Race and Religion Have Always Played a Role in Who Gets Refuge in the U.S.
The treatment of Ukrainian versus Black and Brown asylum seekers has prompted criticism that the administration is enforcing immigration policies in ways that favor White, European, mostly Christian refugees.
Why Fatal Police Interactions Are Avoidable
Police too often claim that confusion during an encounter caused them to fire fatal shots, as in the case of Patrick Lyoya. But there are solutions.
A Night Market Creates Opportunity for Black Communities
A North Nashville market that showcases Black-owned small businesses helps invigorate their community.
30 Years After the L.A. Uprising, Multi-Racial Organizers Rebuild the City
The 1992 L.A. rebellion was a wake-up call for a deeply segregated city. Where authorities have failed over 30 years to rebuild what was lost, multi-racial organizing has succeeded in leading progressive change.
Instead of “Tough on Crime” Policies, California Could Fund Better Solutions
State legislatures and elected officials around the country have almost always responded to crime with more police funding in spite of little to no positive results. Instead, they could tackle the recidivism rate, solve the housing crisis, and reduce poverty.
Unlearning Racism As a Non-Black Person of Color
A young, mixed-race Iranian American realized during the 2020 racial justice uprisings that being a person of color didn’t mean she was automatically an expert on race and racism.
Interrupting Cycles of Harm, Inside and Outside Prison Walls
Formerly incarcerated mental health care providers are supplementing traditional resources for those still in prison—with mutually beneficial results.
Alopecia Is No Laughing Matter for Millions of Black American Women
Black women like Jada Pinkett Smith and Representative Ayanna Pressley are coming forward to shed light on a little known hair loss condition that disproportionately affects Black women.
Who Gets to Define Classical Music?
The recent outrage over the Grammy nominations of two Black artists in classical categories is part of a long-standing problem in the White-dominated genre.
Unpacking Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court Nomination Hearings
Republican Senators on the Judiciary Committee engaged in aggressive political attacks on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Supreme Court confirmation hearings. But they couldn’t take away from the historic significance of the first Black women to be nominated to the court.
After Hurricane Ida, a Historic Black Community Races to Save Its Future
Residents of Ironton, Louisiana are rallying for their share of recovery funds.
Abolitionists and Environmentalists in Atlanta Band Together to “Stop Cop City”
“The people who are killing us can’t also be the people who are keeping us safe.”
Joe Biden and the Politics of Black Womanhood
Joe Biden's nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson is historic, but we need to be mindful of all the cultural factors at play, and not let this moment devolve into tokenism.
Why Is Breonna Taylor’s Father Still in Prison After Decades?
Everette Taylor has been as good a father as the prison system has allowed. He’s one of millions of Americans who remains incarcerated for far too long.
Why Everette Taylor Is a Victim of Our War on Drugs
Breonna Taylor's father, who remained close to all six children, including Breonna while she was alive, is being held in a Michigan prison. An incarcerated writer makes the case for Everette’s freedom.
In Conversation with Everette Taylor, Breonna Taylor’s Father
Everette Taylor didn’t get to say goodbye to his daughter. Stuck behind prison walls, Taylor speaks with YES! about how he remains connected to his surviving children despite decades of incarceration.
Critical Race Theory Opens Up New Opportunities for Student Learning
Amid the heated national controversy about CRT in schools, some Black educators are openly using the framework to help students better understand history and contextualize current events.
What I Didn’t See as a Jewish Israeli
After 59 years in Israel, visiting the Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah shook my identity.
Supporting BIPOC Communities Requires Investing in BIPOC Leaders
The philanthropic sector needs to shift its focus toward those organizations that best understand the communities they serve.
How to Address Poverty Among Latinx Children
There is a crisis of poverty among Latinx immigrant children in the U.S., particularly among undocumented, mixed-status, and single-parent households. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The U.S. Constitution Was Meant to Be a Work in Progress
Author and legal scholar Elie Mystal’s first book argues that the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights are deeply flawed, but that it’s still possible to use them to protect the rights of women and people of color.
Inhabiting Worlds Where Black Lives Really Matter
If we’re not governed by subconscious beliefs and dread, what becomes possible?
What Black Disabled Women Want
The basic human rights of proper health care and opportunities through work should be available to everyone.
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