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Race. In your face.

Friday

'Payback's A B****'

The new podcast from Erika Alexander and Whitney Dow. Courtesy of Color Farm Media hide caption

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Courtesy of Color Farm Media

Analysis

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'Payback's A B****'

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We're ending Black history month where we started it...talking about reparations. On this episode, we're joined by Erika Alexander and Whitney Dow, who have spent the past two years exploring how reparations could transform the United States — and all the struggles and possibilities that go along with that.

'Payback's A B****'

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Wednesday

A Shot In The Dark

Rev. Baums takes COVID Vaccine administered by nurse Anita Joy at the Zion AME Syracuse. Cherilyn Beckles for NPR hide caption

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Cherilyn Beckles for NPR

Analysis

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A Shot In The Dark

by  ,  , 

As the rollout of coronavirus vaccines unfolds, one big challenge for public health officials has been the skepticism many Black people have toward the vaccine. One notorious medical study — the Tuskegee experiment — has been cited as a reason. But should it be?

A Shot In The Dark

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Tuesday

Announcing The Code Switch Fellows: Help Our Team Tell Stories About Race In 2021

Code Switch is looking for fellows: Ideal candidates are mid-career journalists with multiple years of experience and a track record of dedication to covering stories about race; audio experience is preferred but not necessary. LA Johnson/NPR hide caption

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LA Johnson/NPR

Code Switch

Announcing The Code Switch Fellows: Help Our Team Tell Stories About Race In 2021

We have two brand-new opportunities: a six-month fellowship for recent college graduates, and reporting fellowships to support journalists telling stories about race.

Sunday

Thursday

The Queen Of Black Historical Romance Talks Race, Love And History

Beverly Jenkins author photo. Greg Anthony/Harper Collins hide caption

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Greg Anthony/Harper Collins

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The Queen Of Black Historical Romance Talks Race, Love And History

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Stories about Black history often focus on struggle and suffering—but Beverly Jenkins, the author of more than 40 historical romance novels, has spent her career telling stories about Black love.

The Queen Of Black Historical Romance Talks Race, Love And History

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Wednesday

Black Kiss-tory

Wild Rain is author Beverly Jenkins' newest steamy novel. Harper Collins hide caption

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Harper Collins

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Black Kiss-tory

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Too often, Black history is portrayed as a story of struggle and suffering, completely devoid of joy. So we called up some romance novelists whose work focuses on Black history. They told us that no matter how hard the times, there has always been room for love.

Black Kiss-tory

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Wednesday

Who's 'Black Enough' For Reparations?
Bee Harris for NPR

Opinion

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Who's 'Black Enough' For Reparations?

Black History Month is here, which means we're diving into big, sticky questions about what exactly it means to be Black. So this week on the show: Who is 'Black enough' for reparations? Because you know...we got some bills to pay.

Who's 'Black Enough' For Reparations?

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Wednesday

Stepping Out Of The Shadow Of 'Killer King'

An ICU nurse helps a COVID-19 patient speak to their family over an iPad. Gabriella Angotti-Jones for NPR hide caption

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Gabriella Angotti-Jones for NPR

Code Switch

Stepping Out Of The Shadow Of 'Killer King'

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For decades, residents of Compton and Watts in South Los Angeles had to rely on one particularly troubled hospital for their medical care. A new state-of-the-art hospital replaced it, but faced many of the same challenges: too few beds, too many patients who need serious help, not enough money. Then came the coronavirus.

Stepping Out Of The Shadow Of 'Killer King'

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Tuesday

The 'Racial Caste System' At The U.S. Capitol

Capitol workers remove damaged furniture on from the U.S. Capitol on January 7, 2021, following the riot at the Capitol the day before. Bill Clark/Getty Images hide caption

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Bill Clark/Getty Images

Analysis

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The 'Racial Caste System' At The U.S. Capitol

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After the Capitol was cleared of insurrectionists on January 6, there was work to be done — and it wasn't lost on many that cleaning up the mess would fall largely to Black and Brown people.

Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

From The Fringe To The Capitol
Jon Cherry / Getty / LA Johnson/NPR

Analysis

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From The Fringe To The Capitol

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Like all of you, we are still trying to make sense of Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Because even after the past four years, there are still new iterations of WTF. So on this episode, we're talking police, "terrorism", and the symbols of white nationalism that made it to the floor of the Capitol.

From The Fringe To The Capitol

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Thursday

How The Storming Of The Capitol Was — And Wasn't — About Police

Police hold back supporters of Donald Trump as they gather outside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. Olivier Douliery/Getty Images hide caption

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Olivier Douliery/Getty Images

Analysis

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How The Storming Of The Capitol Was — And Wasn't — About Police

by 

Alex Vitale, author of The End of Policing, says it's a mistake to boil Wednesday's events down to questions of police force. He argues we need a broader conversation about race, politics and justice.

Wednesday

Finding 'A Perfect Match'

Terika Haughton and Ibby Caputo Courtesy of Ibby Caputo hide caption

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Courtesy of Ibby Caputo

Analysis

Code Switch

Finding 'A Perfect Match'

Two close friends both suffered from the same aggressive form of cancer. After years of treatment, one lived and the other died. And while many variables factored into what happened, the woman who survived — reporter Ibby Caputo — couldn't help wondering what role race had played in the outcome.

Finding 'A Perfect Match'

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Tuesday