Tag: Race

‘A State Of Absurdity’: Author Damon Young Takes On Black Life With Humor

March 28, 2019

Growing up in Pittsburgh, co-founder of the cultural commentary website VerySmartBrothas and the author of the memoir “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker,” Damon Young is bringing his “living while black” experiences to the Kranzberg Arts Center on Friday. Young, 40, harbored the idea of writing a book for while. His agent suggested he take his punchy racial, … More ‘A State Of Absurdity’: Author Damon Young Takes On Black Life With Humor

The Role Of Race In The Race For Kansas City Mayor

March 28, 2019

Eleven candidates in the primary for Kansas City mayor. Two women. Four black. One openly LGBT candidate. Five white men, with two of them named Scott. No candidates who are Latino, Asian or Native American. While the field of candidates isn’t representative of the city’s demographics, that still doesn’t ignore that demographics are an element … More The Role Of Race In The Race For Kansas City Mayor

Mapping our race, identity and culture coverage

March 20, 2019

Education and evacuees in the Hartford area. Segregation and housing matters in and around St. Louis. Diverse voices in Kansas City (in both Missouri and Kansas).  Coming to terms with race in Portland, Oregon. These are just a few of the themes Saving America has explored so far. This map shows where our coverage is … More Mapping our race, identity and culture coverage

Group of Midwestern artists of color creates safe spaces and takes on cultural appropriation

November 13, 2018

Art is inextricably tied to culture. Whether it’s the imagery of visual artists or the narrative themes of writers, race and culture influence the artists and the art. Members of a two-year-old Kansas City group called the Artists of Color Alliance understand this. “I think the benefit of our group is that we can create … More Group of Midwestern artists of color creates safe spaces and takes on cultural appropriation

In ‘itty-bitty Fairmont City’ library is heart of a fast-growing Latino community in Illinois

November 7, 2018

It’s a common sight at the Fairmont City Library Center: Students discussing the grammar and syntax of English sentences in small groups. On a recent night, the teacher wanted to know what another word for “per” is. The word got lost in translation. Some students suggested “for,” but in the sentence the teacher gave the … More In ‘itty-bitty Fairmont City’ library is heart of a fast-growing Latino community in Illinois

For minority voters, will ‘status quo’ candidates be enough on Election Day?

November 6, 2018

The nerves are kicking in, said Constanza Segovia, talking politics outside her house in Hartford before Election Day. The stakes are high — nationally and in the Connecticut gubernatorial race. “Everything’s kind of on the line,” said Segovia, 36, a graphic designer, artist and registered Democrat. And to be “completely honest and straightforward,” she said, … More For minority voters, will ‘status quo’ candidates be enough on Election Day?

Organizations rally people of color in Oregon to get out the vote

November 6, 2018

Last weekend the women of color-led organization Forward Together hosted a rally to bring together dozens of organizations that support communities of color and to encourage voters to reject Measures 105 and 106, the latter barring the use of public funds to pay for abortions. Forty-five people knocked on more than 1,200 doors as part of the … More Organizations rally people of color in Oregon to get out the vote

Democrat Jahana Hayes goes ‘full steam’ in historic race for Congress

November 6, 2018

Team Hayes brought out the bullhorn. A League of Women Voters debate was starting in an hour in Danbury, Conn., so a crew of volunteers set up on the side of the road, waving campaign signs at passing cars and chanting about change. “Who’s going to bring it? Jahana!” the cheer went. Volunteer Mary Weber, 66, … More Democrat Jahana Hayes goes ‘full steam’ in historic race for Congress

Black women entrepreneurs start small businesses to close the wealth gap

October 26, 2018

Despite shrinking income and education gaps between white and non-white families, black families in the United States still trail others in wealth accumulation, economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said in a recent report. Although black wealth increased at a faster rate than white wealth in 2016, blacks still owned less than … More Black women entrepreneurs start small businesses to close the wealth gap

Portland racial nonprofit seeks to heal communities with Reparations Power Hour

October 19, 2018

The concept of repaying African-Americans for generations of slavery began even before the end of the Civil War. The argument is that generations of enslavement and unpaid labor created an irreparable wealth gap. But how to erase that legacy of unfairness is an open question. The talk back then was of providing everyone 40 acres and a … More Portland racial nonprofit seeks to heal communities with Reparations Power Hour

Grassroots approach boosted black voters’ turnout in primary — What about midterms?

September 25, 2018

After the August 2018 primaries, it’s clear many people — young, black and progressive — played a major role in helping former Ferguson Councilman Wesley Bell defeat incumbent St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch in the Democratic race. “We’re saying bye to Bob and ushering in, hopefully, a new era in prosecutor politics,” Rodney Brown … More Grassroots approach boosted black voters’ turnout in primary — What about midterms?

How does ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ play with Asian Americans in the heartland?

September 11, 2018

The media is replete with reaction and commentary about the movie “Crazy Rich Asians” from people on the coasts and even overseas. As guest host of the KCUR show Central Standard, Sharing America’s Michelle Tyrene Johnson invited three Kansas City residents to talk about the film–its impact, its resonance, even its “Easter eggs.” The guests … More How does ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ play with Asian Americans in the heartland?