The Forgotten History Of African-American Jockeys
Many of the early jockeys in the Kentucky Derby's history were black — unlike today, as Professor Pellom McDaniels of Emory University explains.
Race
In Commencement Speech, Obama Advises Howard University Grads On Creating Change
In his impassioned call for civic engagement, Obama says that race relations have improved but there's more to be done. He advises the historically black university's graduates on shaping the future.
2016: Age Of The On-Screen Black Superhero
From Black Panther to Luke Cage, filmmakers say audiences today demand superheroes that better reflect their world. Comic creators say it's about time TV and movies caught up with diversity in comics.
Churchill Downer: The Forgotten Racial History Of Kentucky's State Song
"My Old Kentucky Home" is sung every year at the Kentucky Derby. Written in 1852 as an anti-slavery ballad, the song has a more sinister meaning upon closer examination.
A Long, Complicated Battle Over 9,000-Year-Old Bones Is Finally Over
The 1996 discovery of Kennewick Man, one of the oldest North American human skeletons ever found, erupted in an unprecedented fight between scientists and Native American beliefs.
Do The Words 'Race Riot' Belong On A Historic Marker In Memphis?
On May 1, 1866, Memphis was home to a massacre that killed 46 African-Americans and injured many others. Now a historical marker shows an ongoing rift between white historians and black activists.
Was It Good, Bad, Or Ugly? Takes On Larry Wilmore's Jokes At Correspondents' Dinner
Some say the Nightly Show host utterly bombed his routine at Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner. Others say he simply had a different crowd in mind.
At Food World 'Oscars,' Category Sneakily Redefines All-American Cuisine
Most James Beard awards go to haute cuisine, but one prize recognizes classic neighborhood joints. And increasingly, the winners are immigrants whose cultures haven't yet dissolved in the melting pot.
W. Kamau Bell Meets The KKK In 'United Shades Of America'
Comedian W. Kamau Bell says his new CNN show, United Shades of America, follows "a black guy where he shouldn't go or where you don't expect him to go."
#NPRreads: Take Your Pick Of Space, Race Or Celebrity
In this weekly story roundup, NPR reporters, editors and producers share what they have been reading. Today's mix explores life away from Earth, forgotten photos and fallen stars.