Archive Author
Issues from the Anti-Racism Daily team, including issues whose original byline was not recorded.
140 issues · 2020–2026
Five essays on how racial bias gets built into the AI tools we use every day.
A Study Hall where we review the progress made since 2020 and what's at stake in our collective response.
As 2023 comes to an end, we prepare for the new year by sharing ARD readers' visions of justice and liberation for 2024.
We compiled some of our favorite pieces over the year as we prepare for the next stage of the ARD journey.
A review of the word "woke" and how it's been wielded against the communities it once aimed to protect.
Editor and organizer Andrew Lee discusses his latest book and unpacks what people get wrong about gentrification.
A Study Hall where we discuss how to address the latest uptick of Islamophobia and antisemitism more locally.
A Study Hall on showing up for our communities, whether it be supporting GoFundMe campaigns, mutual aid, or those asking on the street.
A Study Hall discussing what seeking justice in the legal system looks like for some survivors of domestic violence.
A Study Hall discussing what constitutes a "genocide" and "apartheid," and whether or not the current crisis in Palestine fits that criteria.
A Study Hall discussing how we can hold space for ourselves to grieve and how to leverage our voting power to pressure politicians.
A Study Hall discussing how we can hold space for ourselves to grieve and how to leverage our voting power to pressure politicians.
Although voting is a powerful tool for democracy, going beyond the ballot is critical for our collective wellbeing.
A Study Hall discussing how we can support the Native and Indigenous communities beyond learning the history of the land and their legacy.
A Study Hall discussing self-determination in a free Palestine and the connotation of attributing violence to specific groups of people.
A Study Hall discussing how solidarity and allyship aren't contingent on what other groups can do for you and how discomfort can't interfere with liberation.
A Study Hall discussing the Israel-Palestinian crisis and how to hold space for the civilians caught in the middle.
With the latest re-escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, it's important to understand the broader context of the conflict.
Student activists share how we can better mentor the student and youth activists in our lives and how to stay motivated while organizing.
A Study Hall discussing book bans, parent's rights, and their roles in ensuring their kids receive a quality education.
A Study Hall in response to questions on the recent wave of strikes and the importance of advocating for good labor practices, even when it's inconvenient.
A Study Hall discussing the recent strikes and the importance of advocating for good labor practices, even when it's inconvenient.
A Study Hall in response to a question on the ramifications of supporting causes and acts of civil disobedience considered "unlawful."
Today, we discuss whether it's possible still to enjoy the work of an artist or company, even after they're in controversy.
A Q+A on diversifying your bookshelves and paving the way for more representation in your industry.
A Q+A on diversifying your bookshelves and paving the way for more representation in your industry.
Study Hall answers questions from our community. This week, we discuss the next steps after learning about your coworkers' salaries.
Black August honors the revolutionary work of Black freedom fighters who were enslaved, persecuted, incarcerated, and murdered while resisting against the state.
Study Hall answers questions from our community centered on a theme. This week we focus on teaching children about diversity and differences.
Study Hall answers questions from our community centered on a specific theme. This week we focus on the validity of ethical consumption.
Sparked from the murders of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, the Black Lives Matter movement has been a global movement for over a decade.
A Study Hall in response to a question about the role of white women addressing a patriarchal society.
A Study Hall in response to a question about whether white people can take a leadership role in organizing work in nonwhite spaces and issues.
Before five wealthy men perished in the Titan submersible, 500 migrants died in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece with minimal news coverage.
Even in contemporary contexts, racist designs and decorative arts are rooted in incredibly painful histories that are still harmful today.
Thousands of white servicemen and civilians attacked Mexican American, Black, and Filipino youth during the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots.
An activist since she was a teen and a supporter of the civil rights, anti-war, and Black Power movements, Angela Davis has been integral in the fight for social justice.
The last remaining survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre seek reparations as the city continues to skirt justice.
The recent "Citi Bike Karen" incident has reignited conversations on how white women have weaponized their emotions and status against communities of color.
Youth homelessness is a national problem causing many to face assault, trauma, and structural barriers to education and employment.
Philadelphia's Chinatown has successfully fought off previous developments, and a coalition of organizations has formed to stop the planned arena.
The City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Police Foundation's plan for Cop City would result in a community being pushed out through terrorism, fear, or poverty from taxes rising.
The ARD spoke with poet and educator Walidah Imarisha on the power of seeking justice in social movements by exploring science fiction.
Community Movement Builders joins the fight to stop the construction of a sprawling police training facility that activists call Cop City.
The ARD is only possible because of the commitment of its subscribers and readers. Everyday people committed to transforming themselves and the society around them are our best hope for the future.
The ARD is only possible because of the commitment of its subscribers and readers. Everyday people committed to transforming themselves and the society around them are our best hope for the future.
This year has proven that the fascist threat is not an un-American deviation but the most developed form of the sickness at the heart of the American project.
Though the home is the center of our lives, housing in the United States is not a right but a privilege for those able to afford it.
For a just society, the working class must build solidarity with each other and reject the falsehood that the wealthy elites are aligned with our plight.
The ARD is only possible because of the commitment of its subscribers and readers. Everyday people committed to transforming themselves and the society around them are our best hope for the future.
A protest movement to stop Cop City and protect an Atlanta forest continues despite a brutal police raid on the protest encampment.
The ARD is only possible because of the commitment of its subscribers and readers. Everyday people committed to transforming themselves and the society around them are our best hope for the future.
The pandemic and halted railroad strike underscore the need for universal paid sick leave, especially for low-wage workers.
A poor and Indigenous people-led movement is changing how poor people are discussed and empowering their own solutions by centering themselves.
Despite compounding economic troubles, there’s debate as to whether or not the United States is in an economic recession. So what is a recession? Today, we’re looking into what they are, why they occur, and what we can do about them.
State and local governments, organizers, and activists are worried about violence on Election Day and over the coming weeks.
Cultural appropriation of Black hairstyles is harmful, considering how Black people continue to experience hair discrimination.
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, here are the ways we can further prepare and mobilize for safe abortion access and reproductive health.
Following the Uvalde school shooting, here are some ways to support the victims, survivors, and the community as recovering from the tragedy.
Foster care and adoption are not “simple” solutions for forced pregnancies and cause additional trauma for those children.
Despite 420 celebrations and growing support to legalize it, people of color continue to be incarcerated for marijuana and excluded from the cannabis industry.
Black Americans were less likely to take advantage of the mortgage refinancing boom due to unaddressed racial inequities in banking and real estate.
Mass student strikes over COVID safeguards continue a long history of student activism in the United States.
We asked ARD team members and contributors to share their New Year’s resolutions related to creating social change in 2022.
A list of ways to begin to unlearn the harmful narratives around Thanksgiving and support the wellbeing of Indigenous communities.
A reflection on Citizenship Day from teh perspective of undocumented immigrants.
Hispanic and Latino have been used to describe people with roots in Spain or Latin America, but the terms blur multiple diasporas' experiences and identities.
Law and Order. CSI. Hawaii-Five-Oh. American Sniper. TV shows and movies about law enforcement and the police permeate the screens of Americans across the country. Media portrayals about police officers, detectives, judges, crime fighters, and more firmly implemented into the cultural lexicon. Just because they are on TV does not mean that these shows exclusively exist for entertainment. Many shows actively depict criminal justice without showcasing the many ways it harms the lives of communities of color. These shows often work to bolster law enforcement in the eyes of white supremacy while simultaneously reducing compassion for the disproportionately Black victims of its system.
As more and more women are turning to sex work opportunities, especially during this time of a global pandemic, a need to repeal the 2018 Fosta-Sesta laws is on the rise. The laws were set during the Trump administration and the main goal was to prevent online sex trafficking. Currently, people like Sinnamon Love—a professional sex worker—are pushing for the Biden administration to decriminalize it under its criminal justice reform (Marketplace). Sex work is known as one of the most common offenses for women to make and can have repercussions related to health, safety, and quality of life for years to come. There are many grassroots organizations beginning to take action to push for the decriminalization of sex work. According to the ACLU, Black and trans women stand to benefit the most from the decriminalization of sex work because they are already disproportionately targeted not only by the police but also by violent patrons (ACLU).
According to the Pew Research Center, white men are the largest demographic to own guns at 48 percent, while 24 percent of white women are gun owners (Pew Research Center). Twenty-four percent of non-white men and 16 percent of non-white women own guns. Although many people use guns for safety, white supremacists have increasingly used guns as their new weapon of choice against people of color (The Trace). And these white supremacists are able to get guns easily and legally.
Anti-racism education is increasing, especially over the past few years after many protests for Black Lives and an increased visible, physical presence of white supremacists. However, many have questioned the importance and implementation of anti-racism education when it comes to analyzing whiteness or explaining its effect on people of color. In February, a New York City elementary school principal distributed an anti-racism curriculum called “8 White Identities” written by Barnor Hesse, an associate professor of African American Studies at Northwestern University in Illinois. According to a statement from the Department of Education given to the New York Post, the pamphlet was first given by some of the parents to school staff and then distributed by the principal to all the parents as part of the anti-racism education (NYPost).
To diversify the fashion industry, change must start at the top.
Black men and women have long been erased from television, but in the case of reality television, they are used as pawns to advance systemic racism and stereotypes.
Though Chicago is home to some of the most vibrant urban forests, prairies, and wetlands, in 2020 it set the record for having the worst, unhealthy air quality streak in ten years, ranking even higher than busy cities like Los Angeles. Coupled with COVID-19, experts and advocates predicted the damage would hit Black and Brown communities the hardest (abc 7 chicago). In addition to the many contributing factors that make this city environmentally unsafe such as daily emissions stemming from rail, road, and air traffic, Little Village—a Black and predominantly Latinx neighborhood—soon will have to endure the harsh effects of a metal-shredding operation on top of the pandemic and daily exhaustion.
Until its end in 2019, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show reigned supreme in not only pageantry and glittery wings but also cultural appropriation. Leaked photos from the 2012 live show revealed that supermodel Karlie Kloss donned a large feathered Native American headdress paired with a fringed suede bikini accessorized with turquoise jewelry. Though the immediate backlash caused the look to be cut from the broadcast, it wouldn’t stop the lingerie conglomerate from finding itself guilty for the same crime again in 2016 and 2017 (CRFashionbook).
Water is a necessary natural resource needed to live a sustainable life. Humans are made up of about sixty percent of water and, in addition to it being essential for the body, it is the most important substance for cleaning, bathing, washing, and many other things. When it comes to cities that are mostly comprised of Black and Brown citizens, proper maintenance and availability to the basic necessities—such as water, in this case—are sometimes overlooked or deemed as unimportant or not as urgent as those living in predominantly white neighborhoods. Blatant disregard for these Black and Brown populations shows up more often than not but mostly during some sort of environmental crisis or natural disaster.
As an unaccompanied minor who traveled to the U.S. for refuge, Sergio shares his story and how we can support other unaccompanied youths.
As an educator who teaches courses on histories of race in the United States, I am all too aware of the deep need to address how current events impact the things we talk about in the classroom. A week before the quarter began this year, for instance, I emailed my students in order to address the January 6 insurrection. I touched on how it would likely impact the way in which we engaged with our course, as well as why learning about histories of racial formation and activism were so critical to moving forward. As writer and professor Rebecca Schuman puts it, “college, with its structured reading environment and safe discussion spaces, can give an entire generation the tools not just to begin to understand our violent, incomprehensible world—but to make it a little bit less violent, and a lot more comprehensible” (Slate). I see my courses as giving students those tools to take with them as they move beyond the university.
Sunday, February 21 marked the 56th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X, a muslim minister and prominent human rights activist during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. As his family and the world prepared for the remembrance of his life on this tragic day in history, new evidence of devastating but also long-time speculated news came to light through the form of a written letter. Written by a former NYPD policeman, the letter serves as somewhat of a confession of his alleged helping hand in the murder of controversial leader Malcolm X, also known as el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz. The case was put to rest more than fifty years ago when three members of the Nation of Islam were charged for the heinous crimes, but the evidence presented by the Shabazz family has prompted them to revisit the case with government groups like the New York Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation in the line of fire.
Of all the hospice patients in the United States, only 14% of enrollees are people of color (The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine). While communities of color and low-income communities face the brunt of COVID-19, they also face a myriad of hurdles when navigating and accessing end-of-life care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people of color are up to 2.8 times more likely to die from the virus, underscoring the importance of end-of-life and hospice care for this population (CDC).
From wading in the water to following the drinking gourd towards the North Star, Harriet Tubman, an abolitionist, scout and spy for union soldiers in South Carolina, and conductor of the Underground Railroad, was “Bound for the Promised Land.” She fought for her own emancipation and led many enslaved people to freedom. More than a century later, Tubman still is making her mark and is set to grace the face of the twenty dollar bill, an Obama-era initiative, as soon as 2028. But fans of the renowned political activist have differing views about the banknote’s new design. While some people are excited to see this freedom fighter acknowledged on the front of the bill, others say that it goes against the very thing she fought for—liberation from the capitalistic system that slavery was built on. The fact that Andrew Jackson, an oppressor of enslaved people, still will be placed on the back of the $20 bill—some say—is utterly disrespectful (Time). But, what would Tubman think?
During the start pandemic, women of color were disproportionately losing their job. Almost a year later, employment rates remain low, suggesting ulterior reasons for the job loss.
The minimum wage has stayed the same, while the cost of living has increased significantly. Advocates for a minimum wage of $15 an hour have been lobbying lawmakers for several years now. The federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009 when it was raised to $7.25. Since 2009, the cost of living in the United States has increased by 20%, and the cost of essentials like housing and healthcare have grown at higher rates (CNN). Currently, the median living wage in the United States is $67,690 (Insider). For reference, if the minimum wage were to be increased to $15 an hour, the annual wage would add up to $30,000. Employers are also permitted to pay subminimum wages to employees who have disabilities (DOL).
In November 2020, tens of thousands of farmers and their families took to the streets and blocked highways across India to invoke a national strike. The news about the passing of three new agricultural laws hit the fan, and just as fast as rumors travel, farmers of more than 250 million people from the northern states crowded the capital city. They joined together in a protest to fight against the Indian government and their ideas for the future of farming in India.
In a previous newsletter, I wrote about the pros and cons of using new media as a way to imagine and organize around collective change and liberation. Despite the fast and global reach of these digital tools, there is also something to be said about distributing knowledge through a more low-tech option: the zine.
Sustainability is fashion’s latest trend. All over, marketing buzzwords like “ethical” and “eco-conscious” float around the likes of ads, press releases, and influencer Instagram pages. Although bringing awareness to the harmful impact of fashion’s waste is a positive note in the right direction, many seem to exclude a significant part of the discussion: the manufacturer workers, often women of color, earning significantly less than a liveable wage.
As President Biden transitions to life in the White House, he’s responsible for controlling the imagery that will set the tone for the next four years. His Oval Office overhaul removed an Andrew Jackson portrait but added a bust of Latino union hero César Chávez (Washington Post). Dolores Huerta, American labor leader and civil rights activist, described it as a “healing moment” (NPR). The significance of this moment, and its urgency today, may have been lost on those unfamiliar with the work of César Chávez. Here’s a bit of context.
Though the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and made involuntary servitude illegal within the U.S., it managed to preserve slavery in another form; penal labor (Center for Human Rights Education). Under Section 1 of the law: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction” (Crime Report, Find Law). As written and in practice, the amendment creates a class system that allows convicted members of society to be exploited against their will (The Nation).
Though the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and made involuntary servitude illegal within the U.S., it managed to preserve slavery in another form; penal labor (Center for Human Rights Education). Under Section 1 of the law: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction” (Crime Report, Find Law). As written and in practice, the amendment creates a class system that allows convicted members of society to be exploited against their will (The Nation).
Last summer, cities across the country were forced to address the role of law enforcement in creating unsafe spaces for its communities. Now, many are keeping the pressure on to see action. The Black Lives Matter LA chapter is addressing the intersection of law enforcement and child welfare, an often inequitable system harming the most vulnerable families (BLM LA). Today we are learning about the disproportionate representation of Black families in the child welfare system.
On January 19, outgoing-secretary of state Mike Pompeo published a tweet that excoriated multiculturalism as “not who America is” and a ploy to “make us weaker” (NYTimes). The irony that his last name is Italian is lost on no one, though his use of the government’s imprimatur to make this racist statement is no joke. Pompeo’s denouncement is in-line with the Trump administration’s goal to sow division and erode the rights of anyone who does not align with whiteness (Forbes).
Earlier this month, Twitter removed Donald Trump from their platform, citing his incitement of violence at the Capitol as against their “Glorifications of Violence” policy (Twitter). The social media platform has been abused by many, as it has provided megaphones for individuals who support policies that discriminate and enact violence upon already marginalized folks. On the other hand, it has also allowed for organizations fighting for real change to amplify their message and to a larger audience more quickly and globally than ever before.
During his first term, President Barack Obama promised to close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay (New Yorker). Yet 40 people still remain incarcerated there today (New York Times). Opened by President Bush as a response to the 9/11 attacks, Guantanamo is a prison camp in which the United States military has incarcerated over 700 Muslim men without charges or trials (New York Times). Earlier this year, Amnesty International reported the historic and ongoing human rights violations at Guantanamo Bay which include forced feedings of those on hunger strike, and improper medical care of torture survivors (Amnesty International).
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as many as 7.7 million workers had lost their jobs (Commonwealth Fund). Health insurance had left with, leaving millions of people uninsured during a global pandemic (Business Insider). Not only has the pandemic exposed the inequitable healthcare system, but has underscored the need for universal healthcare, or medicare, for all.
Black farmers lost 870,000 farms in the past 60 years. Now, Black farmers advocate for agricultural education in their communities.
In the aftermath of the violence that occurred on Wednesday, January 6, at the U.S. Capitol, news media, politicians, and observers worldwide are labeling those who participated “domestic terrorists.” At first glance, this seems to be a fair assessment: if white nationalists are engaging in the same kind of violence as other groups, we call “terrorists” have engaged in (attacking government buildings, breaking laws, endangering citizens, damaging property, etc.) then they too, should be labeled “terrorists.” Progressive politicians like Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) have referred to the incident as a “domestic terrorist attack” to ensure the gravity of this violence is not downplayed, as it often is when perpetrators are white (Huffington Post).
Barely a week into 2021, a Dallas-based company called The Mahjong Line was met with outrage on social media for appropriating mahjong, a Chinese tile-based game that dates back to the 1800s (Stanford News).
The federal government was responsible for 10 of the 15 people who were executed under the death penalty last year, the largest number of state sanctioned murders ordered by an administration since 1896 (BBC, NYTimes). The death penalty has been wielded as a cudgel to keep Black people subjugated for centuries, first as lynchings, before being codified as state-sanctioned murder.
“Black women saved us.” That’s a slogan of ill-advised praise that white people deliver for Black women whenever a horrorshow candidate loses an election. We heard it in 2017 when 98% of Black women helped to defeat Roy Moore’s Alabama senatorial ambitions, and it’s happening again with the most recent presidential election, during which 91% of Black women cast their votes for Joe Biden (USA Today, Yahoo News).
As the conversation about Black Lives Matter and racial inequity for Black Americans, particularly concerning police brutality and mass incarceration, was brought to the forefront, I decided it was a good time to re-read “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander. The book details mass incarceration in the United States and its intentions to disenfranchise Black Americans. The United States’ makes up 5 percent of the world’s population yet holds 25 percent of the world’s prisoners (ACLU). This is attributed to the war on drugs, which began in the 1970s. Nixon’s public policies led to stricter federal sentencing laws, militarized enforcement in Black and Brown neighborhoods. Incarceration has grown by ten times since then (Drug Policy Alliance). We know that the United States quickly rushes Black and Brown people into the prison system. But what happens after?
After Kamala Harris was elected America’s first Black, Indian American, and female vice president, South Asians largely reacted with enthusiasm. A September poll found that 72 percent of Indian Americans were going to vote for the Biden-Harris ticket (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace). But when the vice president-elect takes office in a few weeks, how are South Asian American communities going to grapple with their legacies of anti-Blackness alongside their celebration of this historical milestone? How will we make sure that we reject model minority tropes and also center her Black identity?
As much as we’d all love to think our sense of style is unique and that you were into hightops before they were cool, fashion and what’s fashionable doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Maybe you really are a trailblazing fashionista, but the reality is that what’s in and what’s hot is often part of a continual trend of commodifying Black culture (Medium). “Streetwear” apparel and sneakers have undergone a mass appropriation from the counterculture of hip-hop fashion to the default style of dress for young people trying to stay fresh.
It’s no secret that this year has been a chaotic roller coaster in many respects, and the ongoing census count is no exception. The census, which has taken place every ten years since 1790, ensures that every person in the U.S. is counted. It also impacts the reallocation of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the distribution of federal funding to states.
Because the United States of America has an unofficially Christian foundation, the Christmas holiday has always been front and center in winter holiday celebrations. Although the gift-giving aspect of the holiday stems from the story of the three wise men who bestowed gifts upon the newborn Jesus, the tradition has morphed into a modern-day capitalist monster. For most of history, this time of year was about spending time with one’s family. Still, after the publications of The Night Before Christmas (in 1823) and, especially, A Christmas Carol (in 1843), the idea of “Christmas shopping” flooded the Western marketplaces and changed the way we experience the holiday season forever (Bustle).
Every year, ten million people experience domestic violence (also known as intimate partner violence) in the United States. Domestic abuse (which includes physical, emotional, and economic components) is used to systematically dominate and control victims, and has long been utilized in the systematic oppression of women (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence). This year has brought a rise in domestic violence worldwide as a result of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, orders that essentially trap victims with their abusers and increase opportunities for abuse to happen (The Washington Post).
Almost seven decades after Brown v. Board of Education, school segregation continues, often within the walls of a single school building. Black students comprise 17% of our nation’s students but represent less than 10% of gifted and talented programs – and 53% of remedial programs. (The Atlantic). The process of diverting Black students from educational opportunities is known as “racialized tracking” and is practiced in many school districts across the country. The process is simple: gifted and talented programs practice gatekeeping through admissions tests that privileged students are more prepared to take, resulting in a student body segregated by the courses they are taking (The Atlantic).
As of November 11, 2020, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have deported six of the women who came forward with claims of having been coerced into sterilization at Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia and will potentially deport at least seven others, says NBC. Dawn Wooten, a registered nurse who previously worked at the detention center, came forward in September, alleging that forced sterilization procedures were widespread at Irwin. Read more about this case in our previous newsletter on the subject.
We were victims of a home burglary in 2018. By the attending officers’ own admission, we were singled out, “…targeted since you are from India.” Burglars had watched our house, learned our routines, and identified when we wouldn't be home. Officers admitted that our region, metro Atlanta was plagued with ethnically profiled burglaries for more than a decade, as was America. Their apathy and lack of urgency horrified us.
If you’re active in social justice work (or have just been on the internet in the last 20 years), you’ve probably seen some of the terms, acronyms, and phrases used to describe ethnic and racial minorities in the US. You’ve probably used them too. Language has never been known to sit still, and so as our culture changes, the words change with it. More often than not, people are trying to hurry up and find the new “right” inoffensive words and move on without taking the time to learn the significance behind each term or, more importantly, learning when to use it (Vox).
When we talk about issues of diversity in higher education, we usually are referring to the student population. While it is important to work on increasing MFGLI (minority, first-generation, and low-income) student representation on college campuses, I’d like to focus on a problem commonly overlooked outside of the academy: the lack of diversity in those who research and teach at the university level.
I sometimes joke that when I moved to the United States from Mexico, I changed races. I went from being Mexican to being identified as an Asian-American by others.“You don’t look Latino,” Americans would say when I introduced myself. I was born in Mexico City to a Chinese mother and a Mexican father of Indigenous descent. Spanish was my first language, and for a while, the only one I spoke. But when I arrived in the United States at seven years old, I quickly realized that I was not allowed to claim my Latinidad because I did not fit a narrow understanding of what being Latinx was supposed to look like.
Understandably, the general American public is confused, disinterested, and polarized on the climate crisis. Climate change, said to be the biggest crisis of our lifetime by scientists, is rarely presented as fact, but rather an issue for debate. It is also seldom presented as a social and racial justice issue. However, communities of color bear the weight of the crisis with significant health issues, limited food supply, and contaminated water (Green America).
I went to a predominantly white high school, and one thing I’ve noticed is that Black history is typically represented in the background. The Civil Rights Movement was condensed into one chapter in my American history textbook, only including the names of “peaceful” leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. In fact, in 2015, statistics showed that “1 to 2 lessons or 8–9 percent of total class time is devoted to Black history in U.S. history classrooms” (SocialStudies.org). But these narratives tend to leave out important parts of history like the Black Panther Party.
Last month I wrote an essay in Outdoors cataloging my negative encounters with white people who "didn't expect to see me”: a Black man hiking Mt. Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine and a favorite destination of extreme hikers. During my many visits to Katahdin, I have been screamed at, accused of following people, questioned about why I was on the mountain, and treated with such hostility that I have questioned whether I was doing something illegal. I was not.
Early child care education is one of the most basic needs; however, most Black and Brown women who care for and educate the nation’s youngest minds are overlooked and discounted. As the coronavirus forced public schools and universities to transition to remote learning, some early childhood centers remained open. Absent from the conversation as essential workers in need of hazard pay were early care teachers.
The coronavirus pandemic has and continues to wreak havoc on every sector of society, but perhaps the most pressing is the looming housing catastrophe. COVID-19, a virus that spreads through respiratory droplets, can be regulated with social distancing and quarantine measures, but how can it be controlled if millions of people are forced to live on the streets/
Athletes have used the spotlight to demand change for decades. Join them when they rally for change.