Race

National

Grand Jury Won't Indict Officers In Ohio Wal-Mart Shooting

12:53pm September 25, 2014

by Scott Neuman

The Department of Justice says it will begin a review of police department procedures in Beavercreek, Ohio, where officers fatally shot a 22-year-old black man at a Wal-Mart store.

Shonda Rhimes (left) with Scandal star Kerry Washington at a 2012 press conference.

Arts

How Not To Handle A New Voice In TV

12:26pm September 25, 2014

by Eric Deggans

The firestorm kicked off by a New York Times analysis of TV's most successful black female showrunner mostly highlights how some struggle to handle new voices taking over the cultural conversation.

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Sports

What We Talk About When We Talk About Race And Sports

1:31pm September 24, 2014

by Frank Deford

Commentator Frank Deford reflects on the owner of the Atlanta Hawks' controversial efforts to market the team to white audiences.

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Ben McKenzie (front right) and Donal Logue (left) lead the cast of Fox's Batman prequel Gotham.

Arts

Deggans Picks 'Gotham,' 'Black-ish,' 'The Flash' Among Fall TV's Best

10:20am September 23, 2014

by Eric Deggans

As the fall TV season begins this week, NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans gives his picks on new shows to watch and a few to avoid (or hate-watch, if you like).

As Friday's panel chatted on, a lively, honest and engaging conversation was also happening on Twitter. Check out #NPRBroadway for more.

Adding Color To 'The Great White Way'

11:15am September 21, 2014

by Michel Martin

NPR's Michel Martin asks a panel of award-winning playwrights how diverse artists are challenging Broadway's landscape, and whether it matters.

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Is Corporal Punishment Abuse? Why That's A Loaded Question

1:10pm September 20, 2014

by Gene Demby

An NFL star's indictment on child abuse charges has reignited a national debate about parents using corporal punishment. But how people feel about this issue is tied to some very personal questions.

The Cosby Show starred Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad as Cliff and Clair Huxtable, an upper-middle-class couple in New York. Tempestt Bledsoe, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet and Keshia Knight Pulliam played four of their five children.

Arts

Examining Bill Cosby's Legacy As 'The Cosby Show' Turns 30

6:59pm September 19, 2014

by Eric Deggans

On the anniversary of the iconic series, NPR's Eric Deggans talks with the author of a new Bill Cosby biography about how the show and the comedian have shaped perceptions of black families.

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World News

Sierra Leone: Where Colin Powell Felt His Roots

6:04pm September 19, 2014

by Roff Smith

The West African nation is in the news today because of the tragic Ebola outbreak. It once played a part in another tragedy: the U.S. slave trade.

Author Jacqueline Woodson reads from her newest novel, Sept. 15.

Jacqueline Woodson On Being A 'Brown Girl' Who Dreams

2:37pm September 19, 2014

by Kat Chow

In her new memoir for young adults, Woodson uses free verse to tell the story of growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. Her work for young readers often touches on themes of race and identity.

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Neonta Williams (left) shares family letters dating back to 1901 with preservationist Kimberly Peach during the Smithsonian's Save our African American Treasures program at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Peach advises her to use archive-quality po

Preserving Black History, Americans Care For National Treasures At Home

12:28am September 17, 2014

by Debbie Elliott

The relics of African-American families help tell the story of America, the Smithsonian says. Museum experts are traveling the country to help identify and care for items of cultural significance.

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