686 Search results for "2018"

#BanTheBox isn’t enough: Study shows prison is a symptom of economic barriers, not just a cause
A new study from the Brookings Institute reveals that around half of the prison population had no earnings in the years leading up to their incarceration. That number goes up to 80 percent when analyzing only the year before their incarceration. The study examined both IRS filings and the BJS National Prisoner Survey to come […]
Snapchat green-lit ad mocking Rihanna’s survival of domestic violence, stock sinks $1 billion
Snapchat’s stock value fell about $1 billion last week after app decision-makers green-lit an ad that invited users to play a problematic game of “Would You Rather.” Apparently, users could choose to slap Rihanna, who survived a public and extreme instance of domestic violence, or punch Chris Brown, who attacked her in 2009. Instead of […]
Maine GOPer calls Parkland survivor a “skinhead lesbian,” inspiring a challenger in his previously unopposed district
Updated on March 17, 2018, 3:40 PM EST: GOP state legislature candidate Leslie Gibson dropped out of running and called his decision “the best thing for everybody.” The article below reflects his prior remarks as a candidate, pursuit of the seat and resultant tensions. ****** Political petulance, Twitter fingers and mocking teenage gun violence survivors might […]
Assassination of anti-police brutality activist and politician shakes Brazil
Rio city councilor and outspoken anti-police brutality activist Marielle Franco was shot dead in what Brazilian authorities are calling a targeted assassination Wednesday night. Franco had become a voice for the repressed, representing those in the poor favelas who were often cracked down on by authorities. Head of Rio’s public security Richard Nunes promised “a full […]
As light-skinned people, it’s our job to make space for those silenced most by colorism
By michal “mj” jones A few years ago, I invited a group of scholar-activists to present a panel on intergenerational movement building and breaking barriers between elder and younger organizers. The conversation went well, I thought, and we gave the floor over to the attendees to share their stories. Afterwards, an older woman with a […]
National Geographic and the New York Times own up to racist, sexist legacies
It’s not everyday that mainstream publications constructively critique where they went wrong in the past, but recently two high-readership organizations shared their focus on more sensitive coverage moving forward. Both National Geographic and the New York Times admitted recently that their staffs produced coverage that often affirmed and celebrated the lived experiences of powerful white men at […]
White former U-Hart student who poisoned Black roommate receives just a slap on the wrist
Brianna Brochu, the disgraced former University of Hartford student who bragged on social media about contaminating her ex-roommate’s personal items, received a slap on the wrist in court this week. The Hartford Courant reported that Brochu will receive a special kind of probation that could enable her to skip a criminal record. Victim Chennel “Jazzy” […]
Austin bombings targeting people of color leave many questions and terror in their wake
Police in Austin, Texas are scrambling following two bombings this week which they say are connected to an earlier bombing on March 2nd that killed 39-year-old Anthony Stephan House. Initially, the Austin police suspected that House may have put the bomb together himself until the last two explosions rocked the city and the country. The […]
Oakland café refuses to serve cops, garners community support despite controversy
After turning away an officer in uniform, Hasta Muerte Coffee, which bills itself as a POC collectively run, worker-owned coffee shop on its website, sent a letter to the Oakland Police Union reminding them of their policy to not serve police officers. This is done in the interest of protecting their own and their customers’ […]
Baltimore renames former Confederate park in honor of Harriet Tubman
An area of Wyman Park Dell, which is located near Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, was renamed and rededicated on Saturday in honor of legendary abolitionist and freedom fighter Harriet Tubman. Now the Harriet Tubman Grove, the site formerly housed statues honoring Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson, as well as […]
Florida middle school teacher warns students not to date boys who act “like a n—-,” is suspended
One Jacksonville, Florida middle school teacher became his own national teachable moment after feeding students a hot mess hatred soup. David Swinyar of Kernan Middle School reportedly used the “n”-word in class, made ableist remarks (called students dumb), advised them not to date African Americans “because they are not worth it,” and acted in physically aggressive ways […]
New report shines light on staggering underrepresentation of women of color in media
According to a new report from the Women’s Media Center, women of color are still vastly underrepresented in print, television and radio platforms. They make up only 7.95 percent of U.S. print newsroom staff, 6.2 percent of local radio staff, and 12.6 percent of local TV news staff. The report analyzes the response of news […]