Race Inquiry Digest (April 2) – Important Current Stories On Race In America

Feature – We Forgot What Dr. King Believed In. Dr. King passionately believed that a commitment to God is a commitment to bettering humanity, that the spiritual practices of prayer and worship must be translated into concern for the poor and vulnerable. Dr. King would want us to live his specific faith: work to defeat racism, speak out in principled opposition to war and combat poverty with enlightened and compassionate public policy.  Read more 
How Memphis Gave Up on Dr. King’s Dream. The 50th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4 should have been an opportunity for the nation — and especially those who live in the city where he was killed — to reckon with the issue that he died fighting for: the right of workers to earn a living wage. Read more 

This is what one tragedy-filled month says about race and justice in America.  “A young man who was bombing homes in Austin, Texas, police followed him for hours. He wasn’t shot once,” Crump said, referring to the bomber, who was white. “But an unarmed black man holding a cellphone was shot 20 times.” Observations like these have resurfaced with fervor after a series of incidents across the country this month. Read more 
The Jamie Weinstein Show – An Interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates. In the latest episode of The Jamie Weinstein Show, Coates discusses his worldview, Donald Trump, his thoughts on America’s racial history, the letter he wrote President Obama, the lessons he learned over his career, his influences, and much, much more. Read and Listen.

A Snapshot Of How Asian-Americans Are Changing The South. The Asian-American population in the South has grown by 69 percent in 10 years, and now has the power to influence elections, schools and culture. Read more 

Watching the Story of LeBron James, Jr., Unfold. There’s the boy himself, thirteen and already in possession of immense talents, and there’s his father, perhaps the greatest basketball player of all time, who, at thirty-three, continues to play like he’s in his prime. Read more 

There’s No Scientific Basis for Race—It’s a Made-Up Label. It’s been used to define and separate people for millennia. But the concept of race is not grounded in genetics. Read more 

How Not To Talk About Race And Genetics. This open letter was produced by a group of 67 scientists and researchers. Read more 

The Frederick Douglass Rival Who Shocked With His Call to ‘Resist.’ The Reverend Henry Highland Garnet has largely been forgotten by the history books, but the fiery preacher was one of the most influential figures in the abolitionist movement. Read more 

The FBI is using its ‘Black Identity Extremist’ report to crack down on activists. The report pointed specifically to the August 2014 police shooting of Black teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri as a catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement. The document predicted worsening resentment in the African American community which could “feed the resurgence in ideologically motivated, violent criminal activity within the BIE movement,” it stated. Read more 

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