NPR

Black-and-white photograph of Bruce Lee with black hair in black shirt in front of stone wall and grass and trees
Sameer Rao  Aug 20, 2018 1:19PM EDT

How Bruce Lee's 'Enter the Dragon' Opened Doors for APIA Film Heroes

NPR commemorates the film’s 45th anniversary with a retrospective on its accomplishments and lead actor.
Yo-Yo Ma. Man of Chinese descent smiles while wearing a white button-down shirt and playing a brown cello
Kenrya Rankin  Aug 17, 2018 10:33AM EDT

WATCH: Yo-Yo Ma Revisits His Very First Cello Piece for Tiny Desk Concert

The Grammy Award-winning cellist turns to the music of Bach for his “ability to speak to our common humanity at a time when our civic conversation is so often focused on division.”
Beyoncé flips blond hair while wearing gold sweatshirt and blue jean shorts behind Black marching band members in yellow shirts and black hats in front of dark background with grey smoke
Sameer Rao  Aug 16, 2018 3:20PM EDT

Listen to This Show About the Enduring Strength of the Black National Anthem

Beyoncé’s Coachella performance may have introduced “Lift Every Voice and Sing” to a new audience, but the song maintains more than a century of deep ties to African-Americans’ struggle against racism.
Lalah Hathaway with black and purple dreadlocks in gold jewelry and green and brown camouflage and grey shirt in front of Black woman with black hair and t-shirt and brown bookshelf
Sameer Rao  Jul 25, 2018 11:25AM EDT

Let Lalah Hathaway's NPR Tiny Desk Concert Soothe Your Soul

The powerhouse singer performs three songs in the latest edition of NPR’s intimate concert series. 
Gaby Moreno in black outfit with multicolored cover in front of white wall with black text and red and blue and green logos
Sameer Rao  Jul 11, 2018 3:27PM EDT

Latinx Musicians Fight Xenophobic Policies Through Song

NPR’s Alt.Latino explores how outrage over the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies have mobilized Latinx artists on both sides of the border.
Indigenous man with black hair in grey suit with purple tie smiles in front of crowd behind red carpet and white wall with orange text
Sameer Rao  Jul 2, 2018 3:04PM EDT

LISTEN: Michael Greyeyes On 'Sea Change' for Indigenous Actors

“I’ve started to see a dimensionality finally appear in the materials I was being sent, the scripts I was reading. And I started to see it in other places—in the treatment of our cultures, of our characters.”
Black man with black afro in black shirt and glasses raises fist in front of green trees
Sameer Rao  Jun 28, 2018 2:48PM EDT

LISTEN: W. Kamau Bell Discusses Journey Into His Ancestry

The comedian talks about the challenges of researching his roots for his new docuseries, “Finding Kamau.”
Black man in red sweatshirt and black hat and shirt in front of White and Black men in black clothing and brown bookshelf and grey wall
Sameer Rao  Jun 26, 2018 1:25PM EDT

Rakim Performs 'Paid in Full' For NPR Tiny Desk Concert

Watch the hip hop pioneer dive into two Eric B. & Rakim classics, plus a new song from the second season of “Luke Cage.”
Black man in white shirt with black text and white hat in front of people in black clothing and brown bookshelf with multicolored books
Sameer Rao  Jun 14, 2018 3:51PM EDT

GoldLink Brings It Home for Tiny Desk Performance

The “Crew” MC visited his hometown for an intimate set at NPR’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.
Ayana Byrd  Jun 14, 2018 11:34AM EDT

New Reports Confirm How Ill-Prepared Puerto Rico is For Hurricane Season

With ongoing problems with both its electrical and water infrastructure, the island is in a weakened state.
Black man with black beard in black fedora and brown sunglasses and grey jacket with black and white cuffs holds black microphone in front of blue curtain and yellow screen with blue text
Sameer Rao  Jun 1, 2018 3:31PM EDT

WATCH: Black Thought On The Healing Power of Art

The Roots frontman discussed his journey to rap distinction and late-night stardom in an interview with NPR ahead of the release of his new project, “Streams of Thought Vol. 1.”
Black woman with grey hair in green shirt speaks into black microphone in front of brown background
Sameer Rao  Jun 1, 2018 11:23AM EDT

Remember the Tulsa 'Black Wall Street' Massacre Through Its Last Known Survivor

“They tried to destroy every Black business, school and church.”
Latinx woman with grey hair and black glasses in black and red dress smiles in front of gold walls with black logos and text and audience in black and white clothing
Sameer Rao  May 14, 2018 12:37PM EDT

Rita Moreno to Latinx Community: 'Don't Give Up'

The award-winning actress and singer discussed her decades-long career and her hopes for the Latinx community in an interview with NPR.
Black man in black shirt and sunglasses and grey derby cap holds white and brown guitar in front of brown and black shelves with multicolored books and records and other items
Sameer Rao  May 14, 2018 11:44AM EDT

WATCH: Tiny Desk Contest Winner Naia Izumi Shows Off

The virtuoso guitarist and singer performs three original songs for his first Tiny Desk Concert after winning NPR’s contest for emerging artists.
Brown pieces of bread next to silver knife on black and white plate and near glass container with brown sauce
Sameer Rao  May 4, 2018 1:19PM EDT

READ: How Filipino-American NPR Staffers Built Community Over Potlucks

“Now I had a new reason to make rellenong talong—and in some ways, a better reason.”
Black man in brown hat and blue denim shirt and grey t-shirt sits next to brown guitar head in front of multicolored posters on white wall
Sameer Rao  Apr 24, 2018 12:42PM EDT

Meet Your New Fave: Naia Izumi Just Won the 2018 Tiny Desk Contest, And He is Everything

Listen and learn why the Georgia-raised, Los Angeles-based singer and guitarist came out on top.
Two Brown people in white shirts with black and grey tattoo sleeves in front of red and grey walls
Sameer Rao  Apr 12, 2018 4:29PM EDT

LISTEN: NPR Traces Black and Grey Realism Tattooing to Mexican-American East L.A.

World-famous tattoo artists Freddy Negrete and Chuey Quintanar discuss the progression of their discipline.
Black woman in navy blazer and dark and light blue striped shirt holds black bass with brown pick guard in front of black background and behind black microphone stands
Sameer Rao  Mar 8, 2018 2:43PM EST

LISTEN: Meshell Ndegeocello Travels Through the '80s and '90s on 'Ventriloquism'

Stream the cover album, featuring versions of Prince and TLC hits, before it debuts on March 16.
Black man in maroon sweater and hat and brown sunglasses hold up one finger while standing behind black microphone and in front of brown and grey wall and cabinets
Sameer Rao  Feb 20, 2018 4:54PM EST

WATCH: Big Daddy Kane Gets 'Raw' for Tiny Desk Concert

The “Smooth Operator” delivered a few of his biggest hits for the NPR concert series. 
Black men in green football uniforms with white numerals walk under black sky with green light beams
Sameer Rao  Feb 8, 2018 10:55AM EST

Eagles Reader: Five Must-Read Articles on the Philly Team and Racial Justice

As Philadelphia prepares to celebrate the “wokest team” in the NFL’s Super Bowl win, here’s what you should be reading right now.