The W. K. Kellogg Foundation has hosted its annual Day of Racial Healing for six years. The foundation’s president and CEO, LaJune Montgomery Tabron says the event follows the Martin Luther King holiday so the civil rights leader’s life of service can be used to inspire action. Tabron says racial healing is needed for racial..
Author Randal Jelks casts Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision forward to 2022 in “Letters to Martin”
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..
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..
Matching IDs for Transgender People Is Life-Saving for the Community, Local Activist Says
Members of the trans community are disproportionately impacted by violence -- and some of the hostility has been state-sanctioned. Governmental entities have outed trans individuals by refusing to acknowledge their gender or chosen name. That trickles down into other areas of their life -- like getting health insurance. Late last year, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced..
Why a New Lawsuit is Seeking to Undo Michigan’s New Political Maps
Not everyone is happy with Michigan’s new legislative and congressional maps. There’s plenty of criticism coming from all sides of the political spectrum. On Monday, a group of current and former lawmakers and political activists announced their intention to file the first major lawsuit challenging the maps themselves. “We have rights in this country just like everybody..
Looking Back on 2021’s Most Significant Court Cases and News Stories, from Racial Justice to Oxford Shooting
There have been several high-profile trials and legal challenges this year that have dealt with everything from racial justice and abortion rights to how we treat minors and their parents in court. "I thought that [the conviction of Derek Chauvin] was incredibly important to show that police officers can be held accountable." --Barbara McQuade, University of Michigan Law..
Introducing “Tracked and Traced,” a New Podcast from WDET and MSU’s Science Gallery
You are being surveilled. In the street, at home, on your phone. Police, governments, and corporations are collecting more data than ever before in the name of safety and security. "Tracked and Traced" asks: Is it worth it? Is it working? Listen to the trailer and subscribe to the podcast to be alerted when new episodes..
Michigan Would Revert to Restrictive Abortion Ban If Roe v. Wade Is Overturned
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on a Mississippi abortion law could have a big impact in Michigan. The nation’s highest court recently heard arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization last week, and a decision by the court is expected this summer. As part of the weekly series MichMash, Slate’s Cheyna Roth and WDET’s..
How to Knock Down Barriers That Get in the Way of Students of Color and Low-Income Students
Low-income students and students of color disproportionately face educational barriers, which were only exacerbated as the pandemic forced children to adapt to virtual learning. Education Trust-Midwest is attempting to provide disinvested schools with the tools they need, while also recognizing the schools in Southeast Michigan that have been working to overcome these challenges. “We need a..