Americans have been having some very serious conversations about race, inequality and police brutality in the past two years. I think we often miss King as this radical democrat all the time." —Dr. Randal Maurice Jelks, author of "Letters to Martin" A new book looks at those themes through the lens of democracy, ruminating on..
Liberals need to center race and class in political conversations, says Roosevelt Institute’s CEO and president
After ignoring the topic of race for a long time, there is a new debate emerging in Democratic political circles: How should liberals deal with the topic of race in politics? Should they lean into it, and push hard for not only racial justice but a pervasive racial consciousness, potentially shaping a nation dedicated to..
Filmmaker dream hampton remembers bell hooks, talks feminism in 2022
Every now and then a writer comes along and challenges current frames of thinking. They critique and analyze and puncture in order to create new spaces for imagination, and to establish a more beautiful world. bell hooks was that kind of intellectual, pushing feminism to expand its boundaries to include Black perspectives and to more..
The weird, wild and illuminating story of how a libertarian utopia was foiled by bears
Political identity and the ways we describe the way we see the world are changing in America. On the right and the left, the doors have been flung open to the acceptance of ideas and structures that once were political taboo. Socialism, and calling yourself a socialist, for instance, no longer carries the stigma it..
Stabenow reacts to Biden’s renewed call for voting rights and changing the filibuster
President Joe Biden is doubling down on his push to expand and protect voting rights across the country. In fact, Biden said during a speech on Tuesday that he’s willing to get rid of the filibuster to achieve those goals. In every state, including ours, they're trying now to restrict our choices to take away..
Washington Post investigation takes a look at the 1,700 congressmen who owned slaves and their impact on America
Slavery is an integral part of the American story, and while slavery does not exist today, its history has shaped American institutions, government structures – even its culture, religions and music. On Monday, a new article by The Washington Post uncovered a disturbing fact that further elucidates this idea: That more than 1,700 congressmen once enslaved..
MLK and civil rights movement were more radical than we often remember, says Smithsonian historian
Wayne State University will be one of many local institutions celebrating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy as we approach MLK Day. This year, the theme of Wayne State’s celebration is “Looking Back to Look Ahead,” which the university says “will reflect on Dr. King’s teachings and how we live them today..
James Webb Space Telescope is a huge leap forward for understanding the universe, Wayne State astrophysicist says
There was big news from NASA recently with the launch of a new telescope that could reveal some of the most fundamental information about the origins of our universe. "We'll actually be able to see the signature, for instance, of water vapor around planets around other stars and potentially see the signatures of life on..
Political scholars weigh in on the highs and lows of President Biden’s first year in office
There was a lot of anticipation for the Biden presidency. For those tired of the Trump presidency, Biden offered a reprieve and the promise of a more stable democracy. The Biden administration has gotten some things done. It passed the American Rescue Plan, a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill, put 100 million shots in 50 million arms..
No Field Hospitals Yet for Omicron Surge In Part Due to Staffing Issues, Whitmer Says
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer points to staffing problems as one major reason why the state has not begun to organize and build large field hospitals to help relieve the burden on Michigan's overloaded health care systems. "Every one of us is at risk if our hospital systems are at breaking points, like we know Beaumont is at the..