How Basquiat Went From Underrated to Record-Breaking
A 1982 Untitled work of Jean-Michel Basquiat broke records as the highest selling US-produced artwork. Learn how Basquiat and his work gained its fame.
The Making of Rita Hayworth
To become a Hollywood star and icon, Rita Hayworth had to transcend not just her waistline or her hairline, but her own ethnicity.
Race and Labor in the 1863 New York City Draft Riots
In July 1863, over a thousand Irish dockworkers rioted against the Civil War draft in New York City in a four-day upheaval, targeting black workers and citizens.
The 1917 Immigration Act That Presaged Trump’s Muslim Ban
Prohibitive laws like the 1917 Immigration Act barred many Asians from entering America. Cultural fears still determine who "deserves" to migrate.
How to Talk About Diego Rivera and Mexican Art
Diego Rivera’s artwork has always been intimately tied to the culture of his native Mexico, although this was not always seen as a sophisticated choice.
Humor and Race in Dear White People and White Chicks
Black producers and entertainers use the concept of physically appropriating another race to discuss racism in "Dear White People" and "White Chicks."
Unpacking the Racially-Charged Term “Superpredators”
In the ‘90s, racialized terms like “wilding” and “superpredators” conjured moral panic, which justified the Crime Bill and other similar propositions.
The Dangerous Lessons Kindergarteners Learn About Being “Smart”
Kids develop images of themselves as "smart" or "not smart" at very young ages.
On The Black Skyscraper: An Interview with Literary Critic Adrienne Brown
Early skyscrapers changed the ways we see race, how we see bodies, how we perceive and make judgments about people in the world.
Rosa Parks and the Power of Oneness
Rosa Parks shook the world of Jim Crow by refusing to give up her seat to a white man on her way home from work.