New report finds a coordinated rise in attempted book bans According to PEN America, a growing number of local political and advocacy groups have focused their attacks on books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and characters of color. Andrew Limbong
Why Black characters in 'Rings of Power' and 'Little Mermaid' make fantasy better Producers of fantasy shows should use diversity to deepen storylines. Eric Deggans
The NBA suspended the Suns' owner for abusive behavior. Some want him gone for good Robert Sarver, the majority owner in Phoenix, faces increasing pressure from sponsors and members of his organization after a league investigation found he'd used racial slurs and demeaned employees. Christopher Dean Hopkins
Halle Bailey's 'Little Mermaid' is already making waves among young Black girls Social media has been filled with videos of Black children watching the teaser of the trailer for the new Little Mermaid movie, which stars Bailey. Jonathan Franklin
Ideas that make up critical race theory have been around long before it got its name NPR's A Martinez talks to Kimberle Crenshaw, who coined the term "critical race theory," about anti-racism and why she believes it must be part of American discourse.
The FBI monitored Aretha Franklin's role in the civil rights movement for years The agency surveilled Franklin and those around her to gauge how deeply she was involved in organizations tied to Communism, the civil rights movement and the Black Power movement. Ayana Archie
A quarter of U.S. adults fear being attacked in their neighborhood, a poll finds Americans of color were more likely than their white counterparts to say they feared being physically attacked, the NPR/Harvard study shows. Alana Wise
Despite racist vitriol, 'Rings of Power' star Ismael Cruz Córdova is not backing down As the The Rings of Power deals with a racist review-bombing campaign, Córdova reflects on the impact his inclusion in the series has for other marginalized people. Pablo Valdivia
Historians advise the president. The problem? The scholars were all white. In early August the White House invited an all-white group of historians to talk about threats to American democracy. Sandhya Dirks
A plaque with the words 'Ku Klux Klan' still hangs on a building at West Point The marker, depicting a hooded figure, was highlighted in a recent report by a special commission looking into U.S. military assets with names tied to the Confederacy. Joe Hernandez
