In Florida: A Throughline from Trayvon Martin to Andrew Gillum
Andrew Gillum, the first African-American candidate to win the Democratic nomination for governor of Florida, helped inspire the movement against the ”Stand Your Ground” law, launched after the murder of Trayvon Martin.
What’s Going on With Aretha Franklin’s Birth House in Memphis?
A community developer is hoping to turn Aretha Franklin’s birth home in Memphis into a place that honors her soul music legacy and the gospel music legacy of her father, Rev. C. L. Franklin.
Courts to Memphis: No, Spying on Protesters Is Not Good Police Work
A judge rejects the city of Memphis’s argument that an unpermitted protest is unlawful and therefore fair game for police surveillance.
Yes, Black People Brew Beer, Too
As craft beer breweries pop up in cities across America, Michael Potter and Day Bracey want to make sure that African American brewers are not left off the map.
Memphis: Spying on Activists Is Just Good Police Work
As an activist, Tami Sawyer was monitored by the Memphis Police Department. She was elected to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners on August 3, and can now keep track of the agents who were tracking her.
Drake’s Latest Video Is a Throwback to a New Orleans That No Longer Exists
“In My Feelings” surfaces the places where you can find a good po’ boy. That’s great for the tourist, but doesn’t mean so much for the people and cultures that define the soul of the city.
CityLab Daily: ‘We Can't Get Out of This Area That Is Killing Us’
Also: When paying high rent is “saving” for the future, and the case for renaming Austin.
How to Fight Police Violence, Pollution, and Poverty, at the Same Time
Summer Lee is the first black woman elected to represent the Pittsburgh region in the state legislature. And she wants to set the record straight on the confluence of factors eating her constituents alive.
Environmentalists by Necessity
In the old steel town of Braddock, Pennsylvania, the toxic footprint is emblematic of what it means to suffer environmental injustice in the U.S. And nobody invested in the town’s future can afford to ignore it.
Memphis Police Spying on Activists Is Worse Than We Thought
As ACLU lawyers prepare for an upcoming trial with the Memphis Police Department, the things they’ve learned about the law enforcement agency’s spying habits have “surprised” them.
It’s Time to Stop Calling it ‘The Great Migration’
For people of color watching over their shoulder this Independence Day, the fear of police interference harkens back to a historical moment with a much-too-benign label.
Police Killings and Violence Are Driving Black People Crazy
Two new studies point to how police killings and violence harm the mental health of African Americans and students—even those who have not been exposed to the incidents.
The Problem with Suburban Police
The East Pittsburgh police department that is responsible for killing the unarmed teenager Antwon Rose, Jr. is one of more than a hundred police departments across metro Pittsburgh—and that’s a problem.
The Tax on Black and Brown Customers When Dealing With Community Banks
According to a new study from New America, African Americans and Latinx incur more bank account costs and fees than whites even when dealing with small financial institutions.
The Story of South Dallas in the Cover Art of Nas’ New Album
A photo of five young black boys holds the story of drugs, racial segregation, and despair in South Dallas.
Ohio’s Voter Purging Process Is About Disenfranchising Cities
People who live in cities and are vulnerable to displacement will be most heavily affected by the SCOTUS decision to let Ohio continue its questionable purging practices.
Mapping Childish Gambino’s Atlanta
A transplant to Atlanta from Pakistan (via London) has mapped the story of Atlanta as told through the songs of some of the city’s most famous rappers.
In Search of the ‘Just City’
Toni Griffin, one of the leading black women in architecture and design, is leading her students at Harvard in envisioning and designing the "just city." And it looks different in Boston than it does in Rotterdam.
Mapping the Segregation of Metro Atlanta’s Amenities
A new mapping project shows how segregation is a matter of whether you have close access to a grocery store, hospital, bank, or park—amenities that influence your quality of life.
Wyatt Cenac Is Here to Solve Your Policing Problems
In his new HBO series “Problem Areas,” comedian-actor Wyatt Cenac takes a crack at solving police racism.
The Deal That Might Just Break Georgia Into Pieces
This would be the de-gentrification of the city of Stockbridge, with its wealthy areas carved away for a new city while remaining residents pick up the substantial tab left behind.