L.A. County: Sorry for Tens of Thousands of Deportations in Depression

by Jorge Rivas on February 22 2012, 8:38AM

L.A. County Board of Supervisors formally apologized for deporting “tens of thousands of Mexicans and Mexican Americans living in L.A. County” during the Depression because they were supposedly taking jobs from white U.S. born citizens.

Topics: History, Now

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The Asian American Basketball Leagues That Helped Create Linsanity

by Jamilah King on February 21 2012, 9:57AM

It’s estimated that in Southern California alone, there are 14,000 Japanese Americans who play in regular club tournaments. Some teams have been around for more than 50 years.

Topics: Arts & Culture, History, Jeremy Lin

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What America Hasn’t Learned 70 Years After Japanese Internment

by Julianne Hing, Hatty Lee on February 17 2012, 9:00AM

Sunday, Feb. 19, marked the 70th anniversary of President Franklin Roosevelt’s signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced internment of more than 120,000 Japanese-Americans.

Topics: History

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Activist Patricia Stephens Due Dead at 72

by Jorge Rivas on February 8 2012, 4:59PM

The 72-year-old, whom they called the Joan of Arc of the civil rights movement in Tallahassee, Fla., succumbed on Tuesday after a long fight with thyroid cancer.

Topics: History, Now

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‘Little Known Black History Facts’ Talks Outside the Family. So What?

by Channing Kennedy on February 6 2012, 9:30AM

“It’s not in my job description as a black woman to never laugh about my history,” says Tracy Clayton, the humorist behind the Tumblr.

Topics: Arts & Culture, History

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A Political Obituary of Etta James

by Kenyon Farrow on January 24 2012, 9:09AM

James’s personal and artistic journey has a lot to teach us about the shifting politics of race, class and feminist politics over the course of the last half century. Kenyon Farrow explores the late icon’s history.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Etta James, History

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Melissa Harris-Perry Deconstructs Stereotypes to Colbert [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on January 10 2012, 11:41AM

MSNBC contributor and political analyst Melissa Harris-Perry was a guest on Monday’s ‘The Colbert Report.’

Topics: Arts & Culture, History, Now

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2011 in Review—in 90 Seconds [VIDEO]

by Jorge Rivas on December 22 2011, 9:30AM

From Troy Davis to Occupy Wall Street, Oprah Winfrey to the National Book Awards, the jobs crisis to the fight for humane immigration policy—we look back at 2011’s biggest stories. Watch Colorlines.com’s year in review.

Topics: 2011: Year in Review, History

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New Documentary Shows Unseen Footage of Martin Luther King’s Murder

by Jorge Rivas on December 8 2011, 1:36PM

The Smithsonian has uncovered footage from the day Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered that has not been seen since it aired live on April 4, 1968.

Topics: Arts & Culture, History

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A History of Georgia’s 1%: Why You Must Face Race to Occupy Atlanta

by Kung Li on October 13 2011, 10:12AM

When Occupiers decided civil rights icon John Lewis was no exception to their process of ordering speakers, critics said it revealed the movement’s blind spots on race. Kung Li explains how race defines the very space protestors occupy.

Topics: #Occupy, History, Politics

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Dr. Tiya Miles Discusses Cherokee Nation Freedmen Controversy

by Jorge Rivas on September 28 2011, 2:57PM

The McArthur Genius grantee offers her opinion on the Cherokee Nation’s freemen controversy.

Topics: History

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Trove of Unseen Footage Revives History in ‘The Black Power Mixtape’

by Channing Kennedy on September 6 2011, 9:15AM

Swiss filmmaker Goran Hugo Olsson has unearthed hundreds of hours of intimate footage of black power movement leaders. Colorlines talks to Olsson about his remarkable new documentary.

Topics: Arts & Culture, History

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Would Dr. King ‘Rise Up From His Grave’ Over New Memorial? [Reader Forum]

by Channing Kennedy on August 26 2011, 8:41PM

Dr. King’s new memorial, designed and built in China, has attracted criticism of a certain tone. Our readers put it in context.

Topics: History

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Irene Rain on Your MLK Memorial Parade? Sing These Songs Instead

by Jorge Rivas on August 26 2011, 3:30PM

NewsOne has compiled a list of the top ten songs from the civil rights era.

Topics: History

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King’s Memorial Is Finally Here (Even Without Its Dedication)

by Shani O. Hilton on August 26 2011, 10:15AM

After years of controversy dogged its creation, stormy days upend the grand dedication of King’s long-awaited memorial on the National Mall.

Topics: History

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Cherokee Nation Revokes Tribal Citizenship From Descendants of Slaves

by Jorge Rivas on August 24 2011, 10:54AM

The decision will immediately terminate the tribal citizenship of about 2,800 so-called “non-Indians.”

Topics: History

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North Carolina Woman on Eugenics Program: ‘I Was Never Feebleminded!’

by Jorge Rivas on August 17 2011, 1:07PM

Elaine Riddick, one of thousands of mostly black women who were forcibly sterilized under the state’s eugencis program, speaks out for other victims.

Topics: History

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Why I’m Just Saying No to ‘The Help’ and Its Historical Whitewash

by Akiba Solomon on August 10 2011, 12:50PM

Despite the hype and the ensemble of fine black actresses, I’m opting out of “The Help.” The trailer alone features too many group hugs to be trusted as an accounting of the civil rights movement.

Topics: Arts & Culture, History, The Help

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The Revolutionary Everyday Courage of “The Barber of Birmingham”

by Katti Gray on August 9 2011, 9:35AM

James Armstrong was neither a national movement leader nor a star-power elected official. He was just a guy with a barbershop and heart big enough to fight for his community’s dignity.

Topics: Arts & Culture, History

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Remnants of an African-American Past Found Beneath Central Park

by Jamilah King on July 29 2011, 11:12AM

Researchers are working to reconstruct the lives of black residents who were pushed out by developers in the mid-19th century.

Topics: History

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