Young Activists Plot the Future of the LGBT Rights Movement

by Shani O. Hilton on January 30 2012, 9:00AM

Over 2,000 people showed up at the annual Creating Change conference in Baltimore to talk about building an inclusive agenda for queer activists and allies.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality

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How San Francisco Organizers Rewrote the Rules to Save Minimum Wage [Video]

by David Zlutnick on January 27 2012, 9:04AM

Thanks to an innovative multiracial organizing campaign, San Francisco’s minimum wage is the first in the nation to pass the $10/hr mark. Colorlines.com’ video team speaks with the organizers about how they did it and what’s next.

Topics: Economy

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All I Want For Christmas Is Change I Can Believe In

by Terry Keleher on December 23 2011, 9:29AM

Dear President Obama, I’m no longer expecting miracles. And I know it’s gonna take a whole movement to raise some real hope and change. But in the spirit of the season, I’m just making my wishes clear.

Topics: Politics

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The Arc Is Bending Toward Justice. But That Doesn’t Make Our Work Easier

by Rinku Sen on December 19 2011, 9:43AM

Quiet as it’s kept, we’re making real progress toward a just society. So next year, writes Rinku Sen, I’m keeping three imperatives: avoid triumphalism, put an explicit racial analysis front and center in national debates, and fight like hell.

Topics: 2012: What's Ahead?, Politics, Rinku Sen

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Elected Officials Run and Lock Doors as Jobless Storm Capitol

by Jorge Rivas on December 8 2011, 1:04PM

Jobless demonstrators have stormed Capitol Hill this week, but are seeing (and recording) doors shut in their faces by elected officials, who must vote on an extension of unemployment benefits this month.

Topics: #Occupy, Jobs Crisis, Politics

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Join the Colorlines.com Family at Facing Race 2012 in Baltimore

by Rinku Sen on November 16 2011, 10:29AM

Exactly one year from now, 1,000 racial justice activists will gather in Baltimore for the fourth Facing Race.

Topics: Facing Race 2012, Rinku Sen

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Forget Diversity, It’s About “Occupying” Racial Inequity

by Rinku Sen on November 1 2011, 9:47AM

The Occupy movement is clearly unifying, and centralizing racial equity will help to sustain that unity. This won’t happen accidentally or automatically. It’ll take more of the difficult work that’s already underway in several local movements.

Topics: #Occupy, Politics, Rinku Sen

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Ohio Univ. Activist Explains ‘We’re a Culture, Not a Costume’ Campaign

by Jorge Rivas on October 31 2011, 10:08AM

Activist Stephanie Sheeley talks to Colorlines.com about the anti-racist Halloween campaign that’s gone viral.

Topics: Halloween, Schools & Youth

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Occupy Oakland Faces a Troubled Police Dept.—and Historic Mayor

by Roberto Lovato on October 26 2011, 9:31AM

Oakland’s first Asian-American mayor, Jean Quan, has authorized violent police raids on the Occupy Oakland encampment. For many protestors of color, the move raised questions about the face—and complexion—of the power they’re fighting.

Topics: #Occupy, Politics

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Ohio Univ. Students to Classmates: ‘We’re a Culture, Not a Costume’

by Jorge Rivas on October 25 2011, 9:26AM

Controversy surrounding racist Halloween costumes have become a routine part of the holiday on college campuses. Some Ohio University students decided to get in front of the problem this year—and they’re making a national sensation doing so.

Topics: Halloween, Schools & Youth

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Occupying, Organizing and the Movements That Demand Both

by Rinku Sen on October 19 2011, 10:23AM

It’s unlikely that anyone knows how to predict when “movement moments” will strike. But the question is how we make the most of them when they come, because you never know how close you are to freedom.

Topics: #Occupy, Rinku Sen

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Which Occupy Movements Are Doing Right by Race? [Reader Forum]

by Kai Wright on October 13 2011, 1:48PM

One commenter says Occupy L.A. has built a stronger movement by being intentional about race. Any other examples from the ground?

Topics: #Occupy, Kai Wright

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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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Harry Belafonte: ‘You Can’t Wish the Issue of Race Away’

by Kai Wright on October 12 2011, 10:30AM

The 84-year-old artist and activist has published a memoir of his life and career. Colorlines.com’s publisher Rinku Sen spoke with him a year ago about the wisdom that career generated for today’s generation of change makers.

Topics: Kai Wright, Politics

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More Thoughts on SlutWalk: No Attention is Better Than Bad Attention

by Akiba Solomon on October 6 2011, 3:09PM

I was ambivalent about SlutWalk—until I saw this picture.

Topics: Akiba Solomon, Gender & Sexuality

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Making Room for Racial Justice in the People Power Exploding Around Us

by Rinku Sen on October 5 2011, 12:00PM

Bringing our movements together is key to re-conceiving the American Dream.

Topics: #Occupy, Politics, Rinku Sen

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Here’s to Occupying Wall Street! (If Only That Were Actually Happening)

by Kai Wright on October 3 2011, 10:05AM

The Occupy Wall Street movement is building steam as protestors battle with NYPD over the right to peaceful assembly. That’s great, but the crisis at hand—crippling economic inequity—is once again lost in the din.

Topics: #Occupy, Economy, Kai Wright

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Does White Make Right? Racism and Gay-Shaming Drown BART Protests

by Channing Kennedy on August 31 2011, 9:49AM

BART police have a plainly terrible record on shootings and accountability. So how did these protests become all about “Uncle Tom” caricatures, naked party pics and screwing up workers’ commutes?

Topics: Politics

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Real Diversity Looks Like Inclusion

by Rinku Sen on August 9 2011, 9:45AM

Here are three ways to tell that your organization has done more than just count off some colored and gendered faces to meet a diversity requirement.

Topics: Rinku Sen

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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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