49 Years Ago, Harry Belafonte Hosted the Tonight Show—and It Was Amazing 49 Years Ago, Harry Belafonte Hosted the Tonight Show—and It Was Amazing
He interviewed RFK and MLK months before their deaths. Fifteen of 25 guests were African American.
Feb 16, 2017 / Feature / Joan Walsh
The Final Shaming of Mitch McConnell The Final Shaming of Mitch McConnell
When he silenced Elizabeth Warren for criticizing Jeff Sessions, the majority leader disgraced himself and the “Party of Lincoln.”
Feb 8, 2017 / John Nichols
Barack Obama Radically Expanded Our Appreciation of African-American History Barack Obama Radically Expanded Our Appreciation of African-American History
By preserving sites that have been central to the black experience, Obama helped revitalize our civic religion.
Feb 2, 2017 / Robert Greene II
President Obama Exits With an Embrace of John Lewis and the Idea of a Just America President Obama Exits With an Embrace of John Lewis and the Idea of a Just America
The last tweet from the Obama White House showed the president clasping hands with the congressman who has become a symbol of the resistance to Trump.
Jan 21, 2017 / John Nichols
Understanding Jim Brown’s Ugly Support of Donald Trump Understanding Jim Brown’s Ugly Support of Donald Trump
His latest comments are disappointing, but not all that surprising.
Jan 18, 2017 / Dave Zirin
The Congressional Resistance Grows as Dozens of House Members Boycott Trump’s Inauguration The Congressional Resistance Grows as Dozens of House Members Boycott Trump’s Inauguration
More than 10 percent of House members have now announced they will protest rather than celebrate on Inauguration Day.
Jan 17, 2017 / John Nichols
Cities Have the Power to Finally Bridge MLK’s ‘Two Americas’ Cities Have the Power to Finally Bridge MLK’s ‘Two Americas’
The solutions to the enduring problem of economic inequality will have to come from the ground up in our cities, not from Washington, DC, down.
Jan 16, 2017 / Ras J. Baraka and Ryan P. Haygood
All the Human Be-In Was Saying 50 Years Ago, Was Give Peace a Chance All the Human Be-In Was Saying 50 Years Ago, Was Give Peace a Chance
Then, as now, many in the political classes looked down on supposedly impractical efforts to change consciousness.
Jan 13, 2017 / Danny Goldberg
How to Understand the Struggle for Black Freedom After Emancipation How to Understand the Struggle for Black Freedom After Emancipation
Five important books tell the tale.
Nov 30, 2016 / Erica Armstrong Dunbar
Wideman’s Ghosts Wideman’s Ghosts
A profound sense of hope and despair haunts John Edgar Wideman’s new work of nonfiction.
Nov 29, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Jesse McCarthy