Race Matters
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Three Black Churches Burned in One Louisiana Parish
Harkening back to darker days, authorities believe a common culprit may have resorted to a tried and true intimidation tactic. Federal authorities are lending a hand after a pattern of destruction has emerged. According to the New York Times, one Louisiana parish has seen three historically black churches burned in less than two weeks. The…
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Belgium Prime Minister Apologizes to African Nations for Colonization, Kidnapping of Mixed-Raced Children
It’s no secret that colonization has introduced unspeakable horrors to communities of color throughout the world. And while an apology could never remedy those atrocities, it can serve as the impetus for long overdue healing and accountability. On Thursday, the New York Times reported that Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel began the process of doing exactly…
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White Teens in Maryland Sentenced to Weekends in Jail for Racist, Anti-Semitic Graffiti
Last year, four graduating seniors at Glenelg High School in Howard County, Md., defaced their school with racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic graffiti that they spray painted across the school—defacing sidewalks, parking lots and other parts of the high school building. Some of the graffiti directly targeted the school’s principal, David Burton—who is black—with the word…
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After UNC Monument to People of Color Defaced and Urinated on, Police Obtain Warrants for 2 Suspects
The University of North Carolina has obtained arrest warrants for two people accused of defacing a monument to people of color at the state university’s flagship campus over the weekend. According to the Associated Press, which spoke to UNC spokesman Randy Young, no arrests had been made as of Tuesday morning. The warrants were issued…
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Is Anywhere Safe? Brittany Packnett and Symone Sanders Attacked in Airlines Lounge [Updated]
You know, activists deserve vacations, too. (Possibly even more so than most.) So, as activist-educator Brittany Packnett and political pundit Symone Sanders wrapped up an otherwise blissful trip to Nairobi, Kenya on Thursday evening (where they were guests of the International Fund for Animal Welfare), they were no doubt bracing themselves for a return to…
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Elite Manhattan High School Unravels After Students Use Tampon To Unleash Racist Attack on Only Black 9th Grader
By all accounts, Eleanor Roosevelt High School is a haven of academia. Located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, “El-Ro”—as its students affectionately call it—is a sanctuary that celebrates the “joy of discovery” where “great minds” are encouraged to bask in a “rich intellectual experience” and “discuss ideas.” It has a robust, gimmick-free curriculum,…
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A Word: How We Fight White Supremacy Reminds Us That ‘We’ Have the Power
What does it mean to fight white supremacy today? After centuries of trying, those of us actively committed to doing so know that grand gestures are well outnumbered by daily acts expressed in myriad ways with varying levels of visibility. This is the message of How We Fight White Supremacy, a new African American anthology…
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Dr. Bernice King Shuts Down Fox News Claims That America Deserves 'Credit' for Ending Slavery
While our very own Michael Harriot took the time to express his gratitude to white America for being so kind as to end the barbaric institution known as slavery, Rev. Dr. Bernice King—CEO of Atlanta’s King Center for Nonviolent Social Change—opted for a different route. I’ll allow Michael to explain: On Tuesday, political commentator etiquette…
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Charlottesville Schools Close After Online Threat of 'Ethnic Cleansing'
After an anonymous threat of an “ethnic cleansing” was posted online, the Charlottesville City School District announced on Friday that all of their schools will remain closed for the second day in a row. The threat, initially posted on the website 4chan, encouraged white students to refrain from attending school in order to protect themselves,…
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Harvard Accused of 'Shamelessly' Profiting From Slavery Photos
Harvard University has been accused of “shamelessly” profiting from photos featuring 19th-century slaves, all while ignoring repeated requests to turn over the photos to the descendants of those pictured. As a result, a lawsuit was filed on Wednesday. According to USA Today, the school is being sued by Norwich, CT., resident Tamara Lanier for “wrongful…