Remembering bell hooks, a Revolutionary Who Led With Love
Leaving behind a prolific body of work and a powerful legacy, Black feminist writer and thinker bell hooks taught us about radical intersectional politics—and love.
Racial Justice
Martin Luther King Jr., Labor Activist
One often-overlooked aspect of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and career was his strong support of labor unions, calling them America’s first anti-poverty program.
MLK’s Global Vision of Justice
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence went beyond street protest to include abolishing what he called the triple evils: racism, poverty, and militarism.
60 Years of Intersectional Feminism: An Interview with Selma James
From anti-communist witch-hunts to independence movements to wages for housework and rights for sex workers, 91-year-old Selma James has been in the struggle for a lifetime.
Photo Essay: The Dignity of Custodians
“I’m singing. I’m praising the Lord when I’m working.”
Custodians Ensure Our Well-Being. It’s Time We Ensure Theirs
Evalynn Romano, the daughter of custodians, offers clear, achievable solutions to affirm the dignity and health of this largely BIPOC workforce.
Desmond Tutu and the Power of Apology
YES! co-founder Sarah van Gelder reflects on her conversations with the late Rev. Desmond Tutu, who spoke with YES! for our 2015 “Make It Right” issue.
How Scholars Are Countering Well-Funded Attacks on Critical Race Theory
There is a long history of right-wing forces fighting against progressive educational curricula. Now, scholars like Robin D. G. Kelley are working to level the playing field against the moneyed political interests behind the attacks.
Black Farmers Are Rebuilding Agriculture in Coal Country
Jason Tartt saw opportunity in the terraced hillsides of his native West Virginia, both for restoring the land and for other Black farmers.
Waiting at the Border, Migrants Lean on Tradition
Stitching mantas—tortilla covers—is a traditional craft among Latin American women. As migrants wait out the U.S. immigration bureaucracy in a Mexican border city, mantas are increasingly a lifeline.
Housing Justice for Oakland’s Black Community
Unaffordable housing is a major factor that drives Black Oaklanders out of the California city—so what can we do about it?
Pushing Back Against Gentrification, One Home at a Time
A team of Portland activists is working to keep Black residents in their homes with maintenance and upgrades.
California Forms a State-Level Reparations Task Force
The first of its kind, the nine-member task force will study and develop reparations proposals in order to start repairing the harm done to African American families and communities by U.S. policies.
Community Organizers Are Helping Immigrants Navigate COVID Misinformation
Lies, conspiracy theories, and quack cures about COVID-19 are all over the internet—and immigrants are particularly vulnerable. But concerted community efforts can combat it.
How One Czech City Is Supporting Its Migrant Population
The city of Brno’s growing migrant population had been mostly served by NGOs. It wasn’t enough. So the city brought the work in-house.
Community Efforts to Clean Up Contaminated Water in One California Town
“Lawmakers need to figure out better ways to balance the interests of industry with protecting people’s health.”
Incarcerated Seniors Deserve a Chance to Come Home for the Holidays
Years of “tough-on-crime” policies have resulted in growing numbers of elderly people remaining in prison for decades. It’s past time to enact policies that help them come home.
Why Are Women of Color in Academia Expected to Do Diversity Work?
Female faculty members of color are disproportionately called upon by both colleagues and students to do diversity, equity, and inclusion work—with no compensation for this labor.
Facial Recognition Tech Perpetuates Racial Bias. So Why Are We Still Using It?
This unregulated technology has served to enhance discriminatory practices by law enforcement and further endanger the lives of communities of color.
Why Supporting Black-Run Child Care Centers Benefits Everyone
President Biden has already committed to addressing systemic racism. Here’s a good place to start.
Facing Eviction from an Urban Farm, Baltimore Activists Continue Their Fight for Food Sovereignty
After years of relying on fresh produce from a local urban farm, Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood is rallying together to save their farm from the city’s eviction notice.
A Guide to Climate Reparations
Reparations, debt cancellation, and climate justice are all regular features in climate solutions—but what do they mean in practice?
How to Show Solidarity with Black Lives Matter this Holiday Season
Melina Abdullah of Black Lives Matter explains how the 3 core tenets of the Black Xmas campaign are building Black, buying Black, and banking Black.
Rittenhouse Verdict Highlights Statistical White Supremacy in Our Judicial System
White vigilantes get the benefit of the doubt in U.S. courtrooms.
The Gentrification of Wilderness
“Maybe people are indeed loving places and species to death, but since BIPOC are largely disconnected from the organized outdoors, it’s white people who are spreading this toxic form of tough love.”
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