Culture

A Black woman wearing a black t-shirt holds out a microphone for another older Black woman who is seated and wearing a red t-shirt to speak into. They are at the African American Civil War Memorial in Washington, D.C. A sign that reads "Defend Black Studies" lays in the corner.

VOICES: Teaching truth in the face of book bans

By Judy Richardson
June 28, 2023 - Over the past few years, the number of attempted book bans has skyrocketed, going hand-in-hand with proposed laws to limit what can be taught in classrooms. The book titles most often targeted are those written by people of color and LGBTQ+ authors, and those featuring discussions of race, gender, and sexual orientation. In this Voices piece, we share a recent speech given by civil rights veteran Judy Richardson on the necessity of truth telling and teaching in the face of book censorship.
An open drawer of stone-like objects in the Research Center of the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology.

Who gets to rest in peace? The complications of repatriating remains for Southeastern tribes

By Maydha Devarajan
April 14, 2023 - The 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act established a process for returning burial remains to tribes across the country, but the law applies only to those with federal recognition. The Southeast’s legacy of forced displacement and contentious battles over tribal recognition has created challenges for descendants seeking ancestors’ remains, thousands of which are still in the possession of museums and research institutions across the country.
Three Black actors, two women and a man, wearing late 19th century clothing and gathered around a table

A New Orleans play aims to change the conversation on labor organizing

By Frances Madeson
February 23, 2023 - Goat in the Road Productions of New Orleans recently presented an immersive play about a family of Sicilian grocers deciding whether to make common cause with Black/Creole grocers during the city's 1892 general strike. They were joined by community partners Step Up Louisiana and the New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice to help raise awareness about the history behind the drama.