Media

A brown woman wearing a black floral dress and a light peach hijab smiles while holding up a fist
Akiba Solomon  May 16, 2018 12:51PM EDT

Dear America: Linda Sarsour Has Advice for Some of Us Who Are Brave

In the aftermath of Israeli soldiers killing more than 60 Palestinian protestors on Monday, the Palestinian-American organizer urges “brave Americans” to “choose to be on the right side of history.”
Donald Trump and Kanye West. White man with blonde hair in black and white suit and tie stands next to Black man with blonde hair in black shirt and gold necklace in front of gold and grey stone elevator and lobby walls
Sameer Rao  May 7, 2018 11:29AM EDT

The One Passage You Must Read From Ta-Nehisi Coates' Essay on Kanye West

Coates’ latest piece for The Atlantic frames the musician’s high-profile support for President Donald Trump as a quest for “White freedom.”
Black woman in yellow shirt in front of black background with red border and behind white and yellow text; Black woman in grey and blue and green dress in front of black background with red border and in front of white and grey text
Sameer Rao  Apr 19, 2018 5:21PM EDT

Tarana Burke and Tiffany Haddish Cover Time's '100 Most Influential People' Issue

The activist and actress join Issa Rae, Chloe Kim and several other people of color on this year’s list of global changemakers.
A group of people protest inside of a Starbucks
Akiba Solomon  Apr 17, 2018 4:43PM EDT

Starbucks to Close 8,000 Stores in May for a Daylong Racial Bias Training

The company is doing damage control after the release of a viral video of Philadelphia police arresting two Black men at the behest of a store manager who accused them of trespassing. 
Black man with black beard and cornrows in black coat and shirt holds gold statue while walking beside Black man in black suit with blue embroidery in front of black background with pink lights
Sameer Rao  Apr 16, 2018 5:13PM EDT

Kendrick Lamar, James Forman Jr., Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah Honored With Pulitzer Prizes

This year’s winners include artists and journalists who fearlessly explored contemporary racial identity and oppression.
April Ryan. Black woman in black dress on stage behind a podium, smiles to camera.
Kenrya Rankin  Mar 28, 2018 4:45PM EDT

That Time April D. Ryan Asked Why Trump Has No Comment on Police Killing Black People

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders: “That’s something that we feel should be left up to the local authorities.”
Brown woman in pink hijab and black jacket and pants holds black microphone while sitting on yellow chair in front of pink and yellow and white wall
Sameer Rao  Mar 27, 2018 12:24PM EDT

Muslim Women's Day Founder Fights Islamophobic Sexism Through Narrative

“Muslim Women’s Day is a call to action.”
A black and white newsclipping of a Black woman wearing a lacy collar with her hair pulled back
Jessica Brown  Mar 23, 2018 3:00PM EDT

No, I Won't Get Your Coffee. Now Can You Hire More Women of Color? [OPINION]

Journalist and educator Jessica Brown on why newsroom diversity efforts fail so frequently.
Assorted book titles in a grid
catherine lizette gonzalez  Mar 16, 2018 2:34PM EDT

A Very Serious Roundup of Race-Focused Books Coming Out This Spring

Transition into spring with this cross-section of titles.
Brown girl in White dress next to Black girl in white dress in front of grey background and behind white text
Sameer Rao  Mar 13, 2018 5:09PM EDT

Critics Say National Geographic's Attempt to 'Rise Above' Its 'Racist' Past Falls Short

They argue that the magazine’s new special issue on race relies on old habits. 
A white frost pattern surrounds a black hole
Tanner Howard  Mar 13, 2018 1:05PM EDT

The Surprising Reason Why All Google Searches Aren't Created Equal

Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble, author of the new book, “Algorithms of Oppression,” explains how racism is baked into the way you find information online. 
Protesters in street, one sign reads, "No racist USA, #Charlottesville."
Kenrya Rankin  Mar 5, 2018 2:43PM EST

LISTEN: Why Does the Media Have So Much Trouble Covering Racists?

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi on “Face the Racist Nation”: “When you make it about ignorance, you’re also making it about individual people and you’re not making it about power and policy and structures and systems.”
A collage of news clippings symbolizes urban unrest in the late '60s
Rinku Sen  Feb 28, 2018 6:25PM EST

As the Kerner Report Turns 50, I Actually Have Some Good News About the Media [OP-ED]

Rinku Sen: “I’ve read thousands of justifiable words about how little has changed and has even gotten worse for people of color in the media. But there’s no question that the last 50 years would have been immeasurably worse without the actions of reporters and news consumers of color.”
A collage of news clippings symbolizes urban unrest in the late '60s
Janine Jackson  Feb 28, 2018 2:56PM EST

The Kerner Report Called for More Black Journalists. Major Newsrooms Remain a 'White Man's World' [OP-ED]

When the Kerner Commission indicted U.S. journalism for its misrepresentation of Black communities in 1968, the report called on media companies to hire, train and promote Black journalists. FAIR program director Janine Jackson argues that corporate media is still failing to confront its own racism.
A collage of news clippings symbolizes urban unrest in the late '60s
Joseph Torres  Feb 28, 2018 2:29PM EST

50 Years After the Landmark Kerner Report Called Out Media Racism, the Power Structure Persists [OPINION]

Created to study the urban rebellions of 1967, the Kerner Commission revealed in 1968 how racist media played a role. As the Kerner report turns 50, Free Press’ Joseph Torres argues that large media companies continue to uphold White supremacy. 
Image says "Wow."
Kenrya Rankin  Feb 14, 2018 3:30PM EST

Politico Article Suggests Readers Get Their 'Own Immigrant'

No, it was not satire.
Black-and-white photo of black man in fedora and overcoat and tie on white shirt in front of white stone building and grass
Sameer Rao  Feb 8, 2018 4:16PM EST

#TBT: How Harry McAlpin Broke the White House Press Corps Color Barrier

The White House Correspondents’ Association barred the Black journalist for decades.
Black woman with blonde dreadlocks wears grey sweater and smiles behind glass stand and black microphones in front of dark grey background
Sameer Rao  Jan 16, 2018 11:09AM EST

Upon the Release of Her New Memoir, Patrisse Khan-Cullors Reflects on the Power of Storytelling

The Black Lives Matter co-founder talks, state repression, “survivors’ guilt” and why she gets so personal in her new book, “When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir.” 
Black woman in red dress stands next to Black woman in black dress behind red podium in front of red and gold curtains and gold sign
Sameer Rao  Jan 4, 2018 12:06PM EST

Essence Acquisition Brings Magazine Back Under Black Ownership

The executive team, consisting entirely of Black women, will now co-own the company that’s behind the magazine and its annual music and arts festival. 
Brown woman in pink dress smiles in front of white wall with pink insignia and black text
Sameer Rao  Jan 2, 2018 3:39PM EST

WATCH: Celebrate Hoda Kotb's New 'Today' Job With These 3 Memorable On-Air Moments

The Egyptian-American news personality now officially co-anchors NBC’s flagship morning talk show.