Bernice Johnson Reagon, a founder of The Freedom Singers and Sweet Honey in the Rock, has died
The songleader, civil rights activist and scholar died Tuesday at the age of 81.
Race
NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis says he was handcuffed and removed from United flight
The former NFL player says the “traumatizing experience” took place when the plane landed on Saturday. He says six FBI and other law enforcement agents boarded the plane and placed him in handcuffs.
Dvontaye Mitchell died after being held down by hotel security. Here’s what we know
"Our office is reviewing Mr. Mitchell’s death as a homicide case," the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office told NPR on Wednesday. Dvontaye Mitchell's family want accountability for his death at a Hyatt hotel.
Tessie Prevost, pioneer of Deep South school desegregation, dies at 69
Tessie Prevost was one of the young Black girls who integrated New Orleans public schools in the 1960s after federal courts forced the system to abide by the Brown vs. the Board of Education ruling.
Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage
This week, the legendary singer and civil rights figure Mavis Staples is turning 85 and there's no sign of her slowing down: She released a new song, "Worthy," and a children's book, Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples.
Today, Mavis joins host Brittany Luse to share stories from her life: what it was like to be mentored by Mahalia Jackson, how she helped create the soundtrack for the Civil Rights movement, how she was spurned by the church then welcomed back, and what it was like to collaborate with Prince.
Want to be featured on IBAM? Record a voice memo responding to Brittany's question at the end of the episode and send it to ibam@npr.org.
Today, Mavis joins host Brittany Luse to share stories from her life: what it was like to be mentored by Mahalia Jackson, how she helped create the soundtrack for the Civil Rights movement, how she was spurned by the church then welcomed back, and what it was like to collaborate with Prince.
Want to be featured on IBAM? Record a voice memo responding to Brittany's question at the end of the episode and send it to ibam@npr.org.
Louisiana plantation where historic slave revolt started now under Black ownership
The Louisiana plantation home where one of the largest slave revolts in U.S. history began has Black owners for the first time. They say the 1811 uprising can inspire a new generation to fight racism.
What could reparations look like in California?
Cash payments to Black descendants of the formerly enslaved have been a key part of the reparations movement. California lawmakers have set aside $12 million, but cash payments aren’t in the plan.
California is trying to lead the way on reparations but not clear on the path to take
California recently allocated $12 million for reparations for the state's Black residents as a way to compensate them for the harm caused by the legacy of slavery and current discrimination.
Although it's not clear what the money will be spent on, it is clear it won't be directed toward cash payments at the moment, which many in the reparations movement say is the best way to atone for the legacy and harm of slavery.
NPR's Adrian Florido speaks with NPR race and identity correspondent Sandhya Dirks about the latest on California's attempts to lead the way on reparations.
Although it's not clear what the money will be spent on, it is clear it won't be directed toward cash payments at the moment, which many in the reparations movement say is the best way to atone for the legacy and harm of slavery.
NPR's Adrian Florido speaks with NPR race and identity correspondent Sandhya Dirks about the latest on California's attempts to lead the way on reparations.
Road to Rickwood: The Holy Grail of Baseball
Birmingham, Alabama was one of the fiercest battlegrounds of the Civil Rights Movement. And in order to understand the struggle, you don't have to look any further than Rickwood Field, the oldest baseball stadium in the country. Over more than a century it's hosted Negro League baseball, a women's suffrage event, a Klan rally — and eventually, the first integrated sports team in Alabama.
Today on the show, we're joined by host Roy Wood, Jr., to bring you the first episode of Road to Rickwood, an original series from WWNO, WRKF, and NPR telling the story of America's oldest ballpark.
Today on the show, we're joined by host Roy Wood, Jr., to bring you the first episode of Road to Rickwood, an original series from WWNO, WRKF, and NPR telling the story of America's oldest ballpark.
Med schools face a new obstacle in the push to train more Black doctors
Schools like the University of Mississippi School of Medicine are trying to recruit more Black students. But they face a swell of Republican opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.