Slavery

Headshot of a Black women with long wavy hair turned slightly to the right
Tiarra Mukherjee  Mar 21, 2019 6:15PM EDT

Woman Sues Harvard For Photos of Enslaved Ancestors

Tamara Lanier seeks compensation for emotional distress and Harvard University’s acknowledgement that it was “complicit in perpetuating and justifying the institution of slavery.”
Image says "Wow."
Kenrya Rankin  Feb 14, 2018 3:30PM EST

Politico Article Suggests Readers Get Their 'Own Immigrant'

No, it was not satire.
Ta-Nehisi Coates, John Kelly
Kenrya Rankin  Oct 31, 2017 10:40AM EDT

Ta-Nehisi Coates Demolishes John Kelly's Claim That 'Lack of Compromise' Caused Civil War

President Donald Trump’s chief of staff also said, “Robert E. Lee was an honorable man.”
Illustration of Black hands in grey-brown chains and cuffs with White hand grabbing amidst red-black background with red text and brown background at top
Sameer Rao  Jan 6, 2017 10:18AM EST

READ: 'Kindred' Graphic Novel Illustrator on the Difficulty of Adapting the Classic Book

John Jennings illustrated the upcoming graphic novel adaptation of Octavia Butler’s classic “Kindred,” which debuts January 10. 
Black man in greyscale image in black tuxedo with black bowtie against brown image of old city
Sameer Rao  Jan 4, 2017 9:38AM EST

New Book Collects Frederick Douglass' Brooklyn Speeches

Historian and writer Theodore Hamm gathered some of the abolitionist leader’s seminal speeches and lectures for “Frederick Douglass in Brooklyn,” which debuted yesterday.
Black woman holding brown rifle and brown-and-grey axe while wearing brown coat and white shirt against brown and green foliage
Sameer Rao  Dec 14, 2016 11:35AM EST

WATCH: Harriet Tubman Confronts Slave Catchers in New 'Underground' Promo

Season two of WGN’s antebellum drama about runaway slaves premieres March 8.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Kenrya Rankin  Sep 24, 2016 9:00AM EDT

Performing Strong Black Womanhood at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Colorlines news editor Kenrya Rankin visited the new Smithsonian museum, which opens today. Here’s what made made her time there terrible—and what made it beautiful.
Brown museum with white monument in background against blue sky
Sameer Rao  Sep 15, 2016 12:12PM EDT

10 Behind-the-Scenes Photos From the Smithsonian's Long-Awaited Black History and Culture Museum

Check out pics of a Tuskeegee Airmen plane, the P-Funk Mothership and more in this roundup from yesterday’s media day at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Black woman in White shirt looks incredulous
Kenrya Rankin  Aug 18, 2016 10:23AM EDT

Watch Franchesca Ramsey Dismantle Top 5 Slavery Apologist Arguments

From “they were well-fed” to “they were happy to have jobs,” she breaks down why defending slavery is reprehensible.
girl in white dress and green visor stands next to two black, red and yellow signs
Sameer Rao  Aug 3, 2016 2:11PM EDT

New Website Lets People of Color Request Reparations From White Folks

Reparations.me’s creator Natasha Marin: “It’s about reparations for things that happened earlier today, for yesterday, for last Thursday.”
Pink flowers in front of brown building
Sameer Rao  Jul 13, 2016 11:19AM EDT

Yale Drops Suit Against Black Ex-Employee Who Smashed Slavery-Depicting Stained Glass

Corey Menafee on his decision to break the window: “It’s 2016, I shouldn’t have to come to work and see things like that.”
Nate Parker in beige hat and gray shirt and brown vest with tress in background
Sameer Rao  Jun 22, 2016 12:19PM EDT

WATCH: Electrifying New Trailer For 'The Birth Of A Nation'

Nate Parker’s directorial debut about Nat Turner’s slave rebellion arrives in theaters on October 7.
Sameer Rao  May 24, 2016 12:05PM EDT

See LeVar Burton, Malachi Kirby Learn About Their 'Roots'

The old and new “Kunta Kinte” investigate their ancestry in a new promo for the History Channel’s “Roots” reboot.
Sameer Rao  May 9, 2016 11:12AM EDT

Sasheer Zamata Deconstructs Public Reaction to Larry Wilmore's N-word on 'SNL'

“I don’t know if we’re ever going to agree on the usage of that word. I do know that word has a lot of history behind it, and if we ignore it, it feels like we’re ignoring the history. And I don’t like to ignore history.”
Sameer Rao  Apr 25, 2016 3:37PM EDT

'Underground' Renewed For Second Season

The series’ season finale will air on WGN on May 11.
Kenrya Rankin  Apr 18, 2016 1:26PM EDT

ICYMI: The Haunting Trailer for 'The Birth of a Nation'

It’s easy to see why Nate Parker’s upcoming film secured the largest distribution deal in the Sundance Film Festival’s history.
Sameer Rao  Feb 22, 2016 11:55AM EST

LIVESTREAM: Watch Stars of 'Underground' at White House Panel Tonight

John Legend, Aldis Hodge and Jurnee Smollett-Bell join other creators and castmembers for a White House Black History Month event tonight at 5:30 p.m. EST.
Sameer Rao  Feb 18, 2016 11:58AM EST

#TBT to When Toni Morrison Checked Charlie Rose on White Privilege

The “Song of Solomon” and “Beloved” author turns 85 today. 
Sameer Rao  Jan 21, 2016 12:17PM EST

Killer Mike Claps Back at Ta-Nehisi Coates Over Bernie Sanders Criticism

The rapper and activist tweeted reactions to Coates’ piece in The Atlantic, which criticized Sanders’ position on reparations. 
Sameer Rao  Dec 15, 2015 12:33PM EST

WATCH: Two New Trailers From WGN's Slavery Epic 'Underground'

The John Legend-produced series—which stars Aldis Hodge and Jurnee Smollett-Bell as escaped slaves—premieres March 9.