Colorlines

Investigation

Media

How Big Telecom Used Smartphones to Create a New Digital Divide

by Jamilah King, December 6, 2011

The information age's defining question is no longer who's online, but how they got there. Consumers of color are closing the digital divide with smart phones. But they've surfed into a space where telecom has the right to do as it pleases with both users and content.

Shattered Families

Thousands of Kids Lost From Parents In U.S. Deportation System

by Seth Freed Wessler, November 2, 2011

A yearlong investigation by Colorlines.com's publisher, the Applied Research Center, found more than 5,000 children stuck in foster care because their parents were detained by ICE. One in four deportees have U.S.-born kids and face total loss of parental rights.

Drop the I-Word

How the Right Made Racism Sound Fair--and Changed Immigration Politics

by Gabriel Thompson, September 13, 2011

GOP strategists have won the messaging war--and Democrats have conceded defeat. Gabriel Thompson tells the long, sad story of D.C.'s immigrant-bashing rhetoric.

The Latest Investigations in Racial Justice

Infographic: What the New Digital Divide Looks Like Infographic

Infographic: What the New Digital Divide Looks Like

by Hatty Lee on December 6 2011, 10:21AM

The defining question of the information age is no longer whether you’re online, it’s how you got there. Here’s why your connection matters.

Topics: Media, New Digital Divide, Technology

Deadly Secrets: How California Law Shields Oakland Police Violence

Deadly Secrets: How California Law Shields Oakland Police Violence

by Ali Winston on August 17 2011, 9:54AM

A dramatic rollback in transparency laws five years ago left California residents with no way to monitor police misconduct complaints—and thus prevent future violence. A Colorlines.com investigation finds Oakland is one of the cities left most vulnerable.

Topics: Criminal Justice, Police Secrets

Don't Call Them

Don’t Call Them “Post-Racial”—How Young People Actually Think About Race

by Dom Apollon on June 7 2011, 2:41PM

A three-part series in which Dom Apollon breaks down the findings from a series of focus groups with Millennials on everything from Barack Obama to criminal justice.

Topics: Politics, Schools & Youth, Youth and Race

Why Fixing Schools in a Broken Economy Isn't Simple Math

Why Fixing Schools in a Broken Economy Isn’t Simple Math

by Julianne Hing, Jorge Rivas, Hatty Lee on May 10 2011, 10:26AM

Julianne Hing spent the school year visiting families and educators in Los Angeles. She found them navigating a reality that bears little resemblance to today’s heated reform debate.

Topics: Schools & Youth

A Swamp of Predatory Lending Drowns Struggling Neighborhoods

A Swamp of Predatory Lending Drowns Struggling Neighborhoods

by Kai Wright on April 11 2011, 9:44AM

A growing number of states are trying to regulate high-cost, small-dollar loans. But the industry, with Wall Street’s backing, is moving fast to evade new rules.

Topics: Economy, Wealth Gap

Where Are the Obama Youth? Busy Building Their Own Futures Infographic

Where Are the Obama Youth? Busy Building Their Own Futures

by Jamilah King on October 29 2010, 10:58AM

Jamilah King asks Milwaukee’s crucial young voters what brings them to the polls. The answer isn’t a charismatic candidate.

Topics: 2010 Elections

Deportation Horror: A Journey From Texas to Bangladesh Play

Deportation Horror: A Journey From Texas to Bangladesh

by Seth Freed Wessler, Brian Palmer on October 7 2010, 4:59PM

Shahed Hossain describes his harrowing ordeal to ColorLines videographer Brian Palmer.

Topics: Deportation Dragnet, Immigration

How Immigration Reform Got Caught in the Deportation Dragnet

How Immigration Reform Got Caught in the Deportation Dragnet

by Seth Freed Wessler on October 7 2010, 10:36AM

Shahed Hossain’s shocking story reveals why Obama will have to use his power to halt mass deportations for any reform to work.

Topics: Deportation Dragnet, Immigration

Race-Baiting the Gulf to Exploit Black and Brown Workers

Race-Baiting the Gulf to Exploit Black and Brown Workers

by Brentin Mock on September 30 2010, 11:54AM

Keilen Williams doesn’t know where to direct his economic frustrations. Scapegoating pols and profiteering capitalists tell him and other workers to blame each other.

Topics: Economy, Jobs Crisis, Katrina Recovery

Working Together: Images from Point a la Hache, Louisiana Photo

Working Together: Images from Point a la Hache, Louisiana

by Shawn Escoffery on September 30 2010, 10:00AM

The fishers of Brentin Mock’s investigation into race-baiting in the Gulf recovery effort.

Topics: Katrina Recovery

Race and Recession: No Recovery for Communities of Color

Race and Recession: No Recovery for Communities of Color

by Seth Freed Wessler, Channing Kennedy, Hatty Lee on July 8 2010, 2:00PM

Our original report examined the racial inequity that helped create the recession—and that the crisis has in turn intensified. More than a year later, little has changed.

Topics: Economy, Jobs Crisis

America vs. the Census

America vs. the Census

by Kai Wright on May 10 2010, 12:00PM

The country’s 2010 effort to enumerate itself was more ambitious than ever—and may have been more consequential. But it’s complicated by the question it begs: Who does and doesn’t count?

Topics: Immigration, Politics

Selling Food Stamps for Kids' Shoes

Selling Food Stamps for Kids’ Shoes

by Seth Freed Wessler on February 16 2010, 12:00PM

Unable to find jobs, kicked off welfare, women in Connecticut are forced to sell food assistance to buy basic necessities.

Topics: Economy

Her Crime? Sex Work in New Orleans

Her Crime? Sex Work in New Orleans

by Jordan Flaherty on January 13 2010, 12:00PM

With police charging sex workers as sex offenders, activists hope the city’s elections will pave the way for fighting the law.

Topics: Criminal Justice

Torn Apart by Deportation Play

Torn Apart by Deportation

by Julianne Hing, Seth Wessler, Jorge Rivas on October 22 2009, 12:00PM

ColorLines investigates the effects of deportation on families of color. Introducing a four-part series.

Topics: Immigration

Torn Apart, Families Struggle to Stay Together

Torn Apart, Families Struggle to Stay Together

by Seth Freed Wessler on October 22 2009, 9:44AM

This piece was co-authored by Seth Wessler and Julianne Hing. In recent months, the Obama administration has announced plans to expand the 287(g) program despite widespread abuses and racial profiling. It’s also pouring money into “Secure Communities,” a program that…

Topics: Immigration

Home in Name Only

Home in Name Only

by Julianne Hing on October 20 2009, 12:00PM

Deportees struggle to survive in an unfamiliar and unwelcoming place: the country of their birth.

Topics: Immigration

Double Punishment

Double Punishment

by Seth Freed Wessler on October 20 2009, 12:00PM

Families of color are punished twice by immigration and criminal justice systems that don’t provide equal justice.

Topics: Immigration