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Every Anti-Racism Daily issue filed under Media & Culture, newest first.
199 issues · 2020–2023
The Zara ad campaign controversy raises questions on the social responsibility of corporations and whether companies can be apolitical.
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.
Conservatives decry “War on Christmas” every time someone says “Happy Holidays,” while ignoring actual acts of violence.
We created a guide to the grassroots and POC-led giving for social justice causes this Giving Tuesday.
Instead of taking accountability or addressing one's grievances, tone policing attempts to discredit and put the aggrieved back in their place.
The latest genre of TV programming, incarcerated reality, monetizes the continued exploitation of incarcerated people.
For Black women and girls, incidences of violence and hate, informed by misogynoir, become a throughline to each of our lives.
A Study Hall discussing how we can hold space for ourselves to grieve and how to leverage our voting power to pressure politicians.
Muslim communities have been subjected to cycles of extreme Islamophobia based on the belief that they're a threat to U.S. life.
The ARD spoke with Ray Coyne on the intersectional fight against oppression and holding space to mourn during resistance.
When the topic of immigration is discussed, the pros always center on what immigrants have to offer to white America.
Propaganda and unsubstantiated claims make it harder to filter out disinformation and feed into harmful stereotypes.
From police brutality to bombing for peace, state-sanctioned violence has been normalized as a necessary tool against "true" violent acts.
Unresolved cases like Mika Josephine Westwolf underscores the lack of attention and justice given to missing and murdered Indigenous women.
The stigma surrounding MSG is part of the broader anti-Asian sentiment that's been carefully cultivated in the U.S.
The usage of Native American caricatures in sports, including mascots and team names, has normalized the dehumanization of Indigenous people.
The record number of banned book attempts is part of a long American tradition of library censorship.
The United States' Judeo-Christian values are said to keep military AI in check, but it hasn't prevented their war crimes.
Discussions on the lack of government transparency sparked following the Congressional hearing on UAPS and the possibility of aliens.
Today, we discuss whether it's possible still to enjoy the work of an artist or company, even after they're in controversy.
Burning Man's communal and utopian vision conflicts with the reality that it follows a centuries-old imperialist concept.
A brief overview of what power and privilege means and its role in systemic oppression to help you understand how privilege shows up in your life—and what you can do to address it.
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.
When diversifying your friend group, it's important to ensure that stereotypes, biases, and assumptions don’t harm your ability to connect with others.
The white savior complex positions white people as rescuers and protectors, reducing people of color as incompetent and charity cases.
Terms Capitalizing “Black” when referring to people in a racial, ethnic, or cultural context is to make language more inclusive and accurate.
Hawai'i has been decimated by its reliance on tourism, an economic decision that fuels the inequities that cause disasters to impact those most marginalized disproportionately.
Study Hall answers questions from our community centered on a specific theme. This week we focus on the validity of ethical consumption.
“Resilient” has evolved into a word used too broadly by media to describe survivors of trauma and oppression, complicating its meaning.
James Baldwin's work serves as a gateway for all to understand race, sexuality, and the relentless pursuit of justice.
Missing Black women are twice victimized: when they're ripped away from their lives and again by ineffective policing and indifferent media.
Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” faces backlash for glorifying vigilante violence and the legacy of sundown towns and lynchings.
A group of Black boys were criminalized for breaking into a public pool, echoing a history of banning Black people from public swimming spaces.
From Indigenous appropriation to the exclusion of marginalized youths, the legacy of summer camp racism persists to the present day.
The push for greater accessibility and inclusivity in outdoor recreation is led by the communities historically excluded from these spaces.
Before five wealthy men perished in the Titan submersible, 500 migrants died in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece with minimal news coverage.
Black athletes might be overrepresented but deal with discrimination and stereotyping, unlike their white counterparts.
It is important to not only talk about race and identity but also have conversations with children about racism.
Silencing criticism of Israel by claiming that anti-Zionism and antisemitism are identical is unacceptable. We can fight antisemitism while also supporting Palestinian rights and free speech.
Even in contemporary contexts, racist designs and decorative arts are rooted in incredibly painful histories that are still harmful today.
Hysteria about drag performers “grooming” children is part of a coordinated campaign to eliminate LGBTQ+ people in public life.
The Taylor Swift controversy highlights a problem with mainstream feminism: it's white-centric and relies on performative virtue signaling to prove allyship.
Discussions of political or social issues commonly include loaded language that inhibits clear conversation.
The Asian dog meat trope has been used for years to disguise racism and bigotry by portraying Asian people as barbaric and inhumane.
Some schools are switching from the universally used Mercator projection, igniting discussions on how maps influence our worldview.
A new docudrama on Queen Cleopatra has been “canceled” because it cast a mixed-race actress in the role of the pharaoh.
Traditional Pride Month celebrations call for inclusivity and remembrance. But this year, go a step further. Here’s how you can amplify your impact this year and next.
The anniversary of the "Ain't I a Woman" speech and recent MLK Jr revelations are a reminder of why history must not only be preserved but corrected.
Calls for more NHPI representation in media and government policies underscore the limitations of identity labels.
The recent "Citi Bike Karen" incident has reignited conversations on how white women have weaponized their emotions and status against communities of color.
Amid recent bans, children's book authors face pressure to censor race and racism in culturally and historically sensitive books.
Different South Asian groups actually created the food that many diners reflexively associate with Indian cuisine.
The Texas Mall shooter's ethnicity seemingly disqualifies him from being a far-right extremist, but white supremacy beliefs can exist even amongst people of color.
Therapy-speak is about using specific phrases from professional-class work environments or therapy as trump cards in everyday interactions.
Neo-Nazism has a long history in the United States, but there is an equally long history of counter-organizing and community defense.
This is the first Hollywood strike in 15 years, and insiders believe this stalemate could last months and have major rippling effects in the industry.
“In God We Trust” is a key example of U.S. civil religion: an ideology that has often cloaked abuses of power in the trappings of religious faith.
The problematic racist grandparent has become a trope for younger white people willing to excuse behaviors as “a product of their time.”
The differences between the Central Park Five and the Donald Trump indictments highlight the disparities and bias in the legal system.
There's a persistent narrative in U.S. history that pits the innocence of white women against a false notion of Black aggression.
The addition of a MENA category would recognize a community that has been rendered invisible by the government.
As our communities continue to reel over the latest school shooting, attention to the types of victims of gun violence is left out of discussions.
Historically, the term “white passing” was used to disenfranchise Black Americans with white ancestry.
Though Irish people suffered from colonization, the “Irish were slaves first” story is used to attack the struggle for racial justice.
Conversations about authentic food and dining often center white people's version of authenticity.
White women’s inaction throughout history has brought us to this point, one where we are standing on the precipice of full-blown fascism.
Learn how Seattle’s decision to ban caste discrimination addresses how caste discrimination affects the workplace.
Anti-colorism advocate TK Saccoh investigates the intersecting oppressions that contribute to the erasure of Black girls.
The “Dilbert” comic has been removed from newspapers after its creator advised white people to stay away from Black people, whom he characterized as a “hate group.”
The ARD spoke with poet and educator Walidah Imarisha on the power of seeking justice in social movements by exploring science fiction.
To understand the complexities of intersectionality and how it affects Black girls and women today, we need to understand the term’s history.
Student and U.K. radio host Nila Varman writes about misrepresentation and the need for authentic South Asian characters in the media.
We know that the responsibility of advancing DEI doesn’t just lie with individuals who hold positional power—it requires all of us.
Participatory Action Research can help build the collective power needed to create more liberatory futures of social justice and equity.
In a recent interview, singer Gwen Stefani responds to a question about her cultural appropriation past by claiming a fake ethnic identity.
Recent discussions of ethnocentrism often fall short of interpreting the relationship between ethnocentrism and racism.
Here's an explainer on voter ID laws, how the contentious legislation came to pass, who they affect, and why they're so controversial.
The inadequate size of airplane seats is one manifestation of fatphobia, the discrimination against and hatred of fat people.
Halloween is culturally a time when many people wear costumes that include blackface or cultural appropriation, in addition to other oppressive or racially charged attire.
As they grapple with common economic and personal hardships, structural and cultural hurdles place an additional burden on immigrants' mental health.
Cultural pressures in South Asian communities that often force women to stay in abusive situations result from gender-based violence.
Linking mass shootings and other violence to mental illness has become routine, but the connection is not that clear-cut.
A pair of vintage Levi's jeans sold in an auction had the brand's old slogan, "the only kind made by white labor," printed on its pockets.
How the tenets of effective altruism and billionaire philanthropy often come at the expense of human exploitation.
How social spaces and tech profit off the exploitative use of Blackness and racial stereotypes in a repackaged and digitized version of blackface.
How a slogan, often used to derail calls for racial justice, originated from the imagined white victimhood and upholding of white supremacy.
Learn how addressing social and racial injustices requires moving beyond self-centeredness and becoming more empathetic.
How solely blaming working-class white people for racism is a way of disguising class prejudice, and ignores their contribution to movements.
Conspiracy theories, QAnon, can promote bigoted narratives and impede our ability to fight for social justice.
There are many domestic and global issues calling for our attention, and it might be hard to know where to start. But when we can identify how we can help, the path towards change might become easier.
The backlash following the Netflix series, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story highlights how the genre re-harms victims and their families
Bystander intervention is a tool to empower people to intervene when witnessing harassment against marginalized people.
The racist backlash of "The Rings of Power" diverse casting follows a trend of excluding marginalized identities from fantastical realms.
The memorialization of social justices leaders and victims, as in the case of MLK boulevards, is meaningless without systemic change.
Police surveillance of social media often relies on data riddled with human error or interpreted with bias, which harms communities of color.
Understanding how philanthropy works is vital when advocating for change and more diversified power over how money flows to our communities.
The influx of Mexican journalists killed in the past decade are deeply connected to the U.S., which has backed the policies that increased their risk of reporting.
Hostile architecture is an inhumane corporate and governmental response to the unhoused crisis that started in the 1980s.
Is it appropriate to check in with a friend or colleague to show support in the aftermath of a major attack against a marginalized community?
Reductive statements in political and social discourse don't help resolve these injustices but further uphold a broken, inequitable system.
Estranging historical tragedies like slavery and genocide as relics of the past, unrelated to modern times, wrongly validates the hosting of plantation weddings and other cruelties in U.S history.
Cultural appropriation of Black hairstyles is harmful, considering how Black people continue to experience hair discrimination.
The use of the phrase "woke" has strayed far from its roots and has been co-opted by conservatives and mainstream culture to discredit calls for accountability and justice.
Subconscious biases present in daily life and institutions aid in criminalizing Black children for behavior deemed innocent in white youth.
Many people have experienced an abortion, and some are enduring post-abortion grief in silence with no support system.
Discussions of political or social issues commonly include loaded language that inhibits clear conversation.
The controversy surrounding Brittney Griner's case reflects the discrimination that women and LGBTQ+ athletes experience at all levels of success.
Being knowledgeable about safe drug use is vital, even if you don’t use drugs, since the stigmatization of substance use has deadly outcomes.
Sheryl Sandberg's departure from Facebook marks an end to girlboss feminism, which praised individual career success over dismantling inequitable systems.
More than 60 years later, the Loving v. Virginia case continues to be “one of the most significant legal decisions of the civil rights era.”
Gender-inclusive language in Spanish, like Latinx and Latine, comes from queer, feminist, and decolonial movements aimed at inclusion and liberation.
Following the Uvalde school shooting, here are some ways to support the victims, survivors, and the community as recovering from the tragedy.
Many corporations capitalize on Pride Month by rainbow-washing while actively causing harm to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Names hold a significant role in American culture, as it represents your identity and shapes your past, present, and future. For immigrants caught between two worlds, a name evolves into something more.
The far-right conspiracy, or the "great replacement" theory, has gained popularity globally, fueling racial violence and attacks like the Buffalo mass shooting.
While necessary in a democracy, having diverse political representation fails to ensure that marginalized people or their needs will be addressed.
Cinco de Mayo is meant to be a day of solidarity and respecting Mexican and Latine culture, but the Americanization of the holiday has obscured its true historical significance.
Sexual violence has been used as a form of social control and a way to further oppress marginalized people throughout history.
Disability justice is critical as disabled folks continue to be excluded by capitalist and social barriers like inaccessible design, architecture, and organization.
As many traditional news organizations have closed down operations, many communities exist in news deserts with minimal to no news coverage.
Due to discriminatory design practices, "flesh-colored" and "nude-colored" products are coded to mean white, despite being universally marketed.
Discussions of political or social issues commonly include loaded language or politically charged terms charged that inhibit clear conversation.
Marginalized people are prone to imposter syndrome and self-doubt in the workplace due to unaddressed gender and racial biases.
Book bans are escalating across the country. But banned books do little to foster a better learning environment for students.
Unlike the unjust trials of the Scottsboro Boys, white vigilantism often ended in lynchings, one of which inspired the song "Strange Fruit."
Due to period stigma, misconceptions about periods shame menstruators into thinking they are unclean, forcing them into isolation and period poverty.
News coverage of the war in Ukraine has revealed a trend of some racist media bias that perpetuates harmful notions of people based on their racial/ethnic identity, class, or country.
The idea that racism will cease to exist in a post-racial society of multiracial Americans ignores America’s deep-seated racist framework that affects mixed-race people today.
AAPI hate crimes have disproportionately been against women who already experience a specific type of racialized, sexualized, and gendered violence.
The deaths of Black women and girls are often missing from the headlines, despite routinely being victims of violence. Bias stereotypes and racial disparities in the media coverage further victimize Black women and girls by tarnishing their names and repetitions, hindering justice.
A popular time management myth argues that the key to success is discipline and utilizing one's time wisely. However, this tip ignores how wealthy people free themselves from menial tasks by hiring other people to do them, often at poverty wages.
Like many leaders, Audre Lorde's work is often misappropriated and shared out of context. Here we offer a way to explore more of her perspective in full.
Black poetry in the U.S. has been a revolutionary space throughout history, acting as a reminder of American cruelty and strife.
Podcast host Joe Rogan has received backlash for helping spread COVID-19 conspiracies and his repeated use of the N-word. Yet, Spotify refuses to deplatform him.
Most Black institutions, including the NAACP Image Awards, were created because Black people were openly and systematically excluded. In recent years, the desire to make Blackness palatable to white markets and audiences has meant the erasure of Black people from the same spaces created for them.
Representation in media helps shape how marginalized groups are viewed by society and how they view themselves. While far from perfection, Encanto signals a positive shift in authentic storytelling in the media.
While some people have lost their jobs after being canceled, "cancel culture" is far from being effective against individuals or institutions.
Non-Black people's use of N-word alternatives is a harmful attempt to get close to the original slur. Even with modifications, the N-word is not theirs to reclaim.
The rise and fall of former CNN host Chris Cuomo shows how media bias is an ongoing danger.
Multigenerational living remerges due to the health and economic disparities, a rapidly aging population, and unaffordable housing.
We asked ARD team members and contributors to share their New Year’s resolutions related to creating social change in 2022.
This year, allyship had its moment and was even named word of the year by Dictionary.com. But what does it mean to be an ally?
As we enter a season of holidays created from migration, displacement, and shelter, there is no better time than now to recenter immigration justice.
Allyship is word of the year. As our country grapples with racial and social inequity, we reflect on whether we lived up to its definition.
“Equity v. Equality” illustration breaks down the difference between the two terms and how the distinction impacts the necessary work for social change.
Actively pushing back against white supremacy culture in social, work, and educational settings is essential to ending racial disparities.
Muslim women are being harassed, fired from jobs, suspended from schools and denied access to public areas because they wear the hijab.
Medical illustrations are often only cisgender, able-bodied, white, thin men. Inclusive depictions are essential for healthcare treatment.
People have been forced to rely on basic needs fundraising because the U.S. government has failed to address the current public crisis.
Western museums are predominantly white spaces that profit off stolen artifacts from people of color in the pursuit of the white and European gaze.
Critiquing problematic institutions, unquestioned beliefs, or racist words isn't language policing — it's a sign of a functioning society.
A list of ways to begin to unlearn the harmful narratives around Thanksgiving and support the wellbeing of Indigenous communities.
Many workers are now leaving inadequate jobs, driving wages up for everyone. Some are calling to Blackout Black Friday to win more benefits and respect for employees nationwide.
If you're heading into the holidays expecting some tough conversations, here are some resources to help you through.
Don Abram, M. Div analyzes queerphobia in the Black church and the relationship between religious beliefs and systemic oppression.
Halloween cultural appropriation is not limited to racial and ethnic groups; any marginalized community or subculture can be appropriated. And a holiday is not an excuse to perpetuate these stereotypes.
Apologies are more than just saying sorry, but taking accountability for harm.
Pay equity can only happen with pay transparency. Talking about your salary at the office is a powerful way to contribute to change.
As we work to fight cultural appropriation, we should also reject negative stereotypes about clothing and accessories associated with working-class people and BIPOC.
The significance of moving beyond representation in leading roles and investing in Black talent on and off-screen is vital for Black media.
The private-prison industry creates profits – at the cost of those incarcerated.
Columbus Day represents the history of colonization and erasure of Indigenous communities. Learn about the movement to change it.
Columbus Day represents the history of colonization and the erasure of Indigenous communities. Learn about the movement to change it.
"Blue Bayou," authentic storytelling and the Adoptee Citizenship Act.
Despite AAVE being popularized in pop culture, Black people are still ridiculed in workplaces, classrooms, and other parts of society for using it.
The controversy of the American flag and the need for a symbol that unites, not divides.
How does "The Activist" address the threats and skepticism that community leaders face IRL?
White-led organizations are seeking federal and foundation grant money, jumping in line ahead of long-standing BIPOC-led groups.
Zaila Avant-garde’s victory at the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee will likely inspire an entire generation of young Black spellers, so it’s imperative that race and socioeconomic status don’t bar them from succeeding.
To decolonize music, we have to include Black people in punk and not forget their accomplishments.
Mostly white hobbies like birding and knitting have experienced a reckoning after discussions on racism shed light on racial gatekeeping.
Two trending videos on TikTok reignite conversations about the horrors inflicted due to white women's tears.
Our diverse, multilingual country still shames and disparages those that don't speak English.
The borders of racial categories are malleable, contested, and change over time. But believing that demographic changes will inevitably cause the racial hierarchy to fade away ignores centuries of evidence to the contrary.
Black social media creators are on strike from creating new choreography. Here's why.
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.
The fun of this segment is based on disgust: we see our famous celebrities shriek, gag, and embarrass themselves confronted with revolting foods. Some of the items featured were clearly specially created to evoke just such revulsion: hot dog juice, hot sauce and olive jello, the aforementioned ant pickle.
The Dominican Republic and Haiti share an island in the Caribbean, and there are many racial, ethnic, and cultural similarities between the two nations. Though most Dominicans in the DR identify as mixed-race, the overwhelming majority of Dominicans, like Haitians, are Black by American racial standards (Black Excellence). About half of the population of the gentrifying neighborhood of Washington Heights, Manhattan, where In the Heights is set, is Dominican (U.S. Census Bureau). Washington Heights comprises one of the largest immigrant communities from the Dominican Republic within the U.S. (Furman Center). Unfortunately, In the Heights wildly misrepresents the Dominicans living in this culturally significant neighborhood, continuing a trend where Afro-Latinos are ignored on screen.
Spiritual bypassing is to sidestep dealing with pain, strong feelings, trauma, etc. It can be helpful when we are not ready to confront difficult emotions in our lives. However, it is commonly used to avoid acknowledging privilege because doing so is inherently messy, painful, and requires continued awareness.
Aristotle said, “Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime” (Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality). But in the wake of violence in impoverished Black communities, we often only hear the same refrain: “Why is no one doing anything about this?” The idea that nobody in Black communities works to stop community violence is racist, classist, and false.
The travel industry, one of the most profitable, fastest-growing industries globally, is worth $8.9 trillion (World Travel and Tourism Council). In 2018, Black travelers spent $63 billion on global tourism, an enormous leap from $48 billion in 2010 (Mandala Research). Additionally, in 2001, the United States Travel Association (USTA) identified African Americans as the fastest-growing segment in the travel industry. With these numbers, it’s clear that Black travelers are ready, willing, and able to spend their money on experiences in their chosen destinations, yet we are treated like we don’t belong.
The mainstream overconsumption of Palo Santo and white sage has made it impossible for Native communities to practice sacred traditions.
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.
Anti-fatness bias comprises the systemic and interpersonal oppression that fat people experience in the workplace, the healthcare system, the criminal justice system, and other aspects of everyday life.
Last week, actor Ray Fisher shared the racism and inappropriate conduct he experienced while working onset for several superhero movies (The Hollywood Reporter). One of his allegations references discrimination that he heard happened on the set Krypton, a Syfy series that focuses on Seg-El, Superman’s grandfather. Actor Regé-Jean Page, the star of Netflix phenomenon Bridgerton, had auditioned for the role. But the producer rescinded, stating that Superman could not have a Black grandfather.
The importance of diversifying music genres like country and rock so the artists celebrated reflect the diverse demographic that influenced its creation.
"This Land is Your Land” performed during the 2021 Inauguration, a song that celebrates American without acknowledging the genocide, oppression, and forced removal of Indigenous communities.
To the average American, Hawaii elicits a fantasy. Palm trees swaying in the light wind. Hot white sands reflect a radiant sun and kiss a crystal clear ocean. Hula dancers wait at the doorsteps to a hotel overlooking the vast Pacific. But this fantasy is just that, and to many Native Hawaiians, their reality is quite the opposite. This continued exploitation of Hawaiian lands and culture to visitors, many of whom fail to appreciate its deep culture and culture, contributes to the systemic colonization of the Hawaiian islands.
Historically, interpretations of classical art are based on preconceived notions of anti-blackness when whiteness is seen as the standard.
Middle Eastern representation in Hollywood reinforces racists stereotypes that a group of people should be seen as a threat.
Like members of Gen Z, younger generations' racist beliefs and actions are often seen as youthful mistakes. But white supremacy doesn't end with age.
Native women are facing a crisis of violence. Homicide is the third leading cause of death among Native girls and women aged 10 to 24, and the fifth leading cause of death for Native women aged 25 to 34. In the United States today, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women are nearly 2.5x more likely to be sexually assaulted than women in the general population. 70% of these violent victimizations are committed by persons of a different race (Department of Justice).
Until recently, I worked for a public library. Part of my department’s job was recommending books to patrons who wanted suggestions of what to read next. Unfortunately, our staff often only recommended books by writers of color if the patron asked for it specifically— if they asked for books about racism or for Black History Month or about “the immigrant experience.”
Many professional sports teams, such as the Kansas City Chiefs, have names or mascots that revere genocide and racial violence.
The "bystander effect" often de-incentivizes individuals in groups from being active bystanders and taking action during a crisis.
We must leverage our privilege to dismantle racial microaggressions in the workplace and other social spaces.
Breonna Taylor's name, like most Black women, is missing in the fight for justice against police brutality and anti-Black violence due to a lack of intersectionality.