Nov 18 Why slavery as a punishment for crime was just on the ballot in some states By Nicole Ellis, Casey Kuhn The U.S. incarcerates 1.2 million people in its state and federal prisons, and incarcerated workers produce more than $2 billion in goods and commodities annually. Continue reading
Nov 09 Voters in 4 states reject slavery, involuntary servitude as punishment for crime By Aaron Morrison, Associated Press Voters in four states have approved ballot measures that will change their state constitutions to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for crime. Continue reading
Oct 20 5 states to decide on closing slavery loopholes in voter referendums By Kimberlee Kruesi, Associated Press Voters in five states are deciding whether to close loopholes that allowed convict labor as an exception to slavery. Continue reading
Jun 22 Stories of enslaved Missourians were forgotten for decades – until now By Gabrielle Hays At the base of the 14-foot memorial are the names of enslaved people as well as depictions of scenes showing them suing for their freedom… Continue reading
Jun 02 Historic California report on systemic racism in law and policy hailed by slave reparations advocates By Janie Har, Associated Press California released an exhaustive report detailing how government laws and policies perpetuated discrimination against African Americans. Continue reading
Apr 27 Watch 6:18 Harvard University details its ties to slavery and promises a reckoning By Jeffrey Brown, Courtney Norris, Dorothy Hastings America’s oldest institution of higher education, Harvard University, is beginning to come to terms with its own history and role in slavery. The school is out with a new report detailing its extensive entanglement and legacy. Tomiko Brown-Nagin, dean of… Continue watching
Mar 19 Watch 9:35 Racist language may soon be gone from Alabama's constitution By Megan Thompson When Alabama’s state constitution was written in 1901 by 155 white men, their goal was to “establish white supremacy in this state.” The document has been hotly debated ever since. Earlier this month, the state legislature took an important step:… Continue watching
Jun 18 Watch 6:26 In 'On Juneteenth,' author Annette Gordon-Reed explores how Texas' history shaped her life By Jeffrey Brown, Anne Azzi Davenport, Alison Thoet On this first federal Juneteenth holiday, Author and Historian Annette Gordon-Reed talks to Jeffrey Brown about the importance of this date through her personal history growing up in Texas. This reporting is part of NewsHour's arts and culture series, CANVAS. Continue watching
Feb 16 Watch 7:42 Universities look to the past to understand their relationships with race By Jeffrey Brown, Lena I. Jackson, Tommy Walters In the aftermath of the killings by police of George Floyd and other black men and women, American institutions of all kinds have looked to their past and present to understand their relationships to race and racism. That reckoning continues… Continue watching
Dec 02 Democratic lawmakers to introduce anti-slavery constitutional amendment By Aaron Morrison, Associated Press Democrats in the House and Senate will introduce a joint resolution Wednesday aimed at amending the 13th Amendment. Continue reading