Mychal Denzel Smith

Mychal Denzel Smith is a blogger at TheNation.com and a Knobler Fellow at the Nation Institute. He is also a freelance writer and social commentator. His work on race, politics, social justice, pop culture, hip hop, mental health, feminism and black male identity has appeared in various publications, including The Guardian, Ebony, theGrio, the Root, Huffington Post and GOOD.

Articles

The End of Stop-and-Frisk as We Know It (Police and Law Enforcement, Profiling)

Mayor Bloomberg and Ray Kelly lost big: a federal court ruling and a new law ban the racial profiling that undergirds the discriminatory practice.

Mychal Denzel Smith

Our Lives on the Line (Social Justice, Race and Religion)

How long are we supposed to remain calm when the laws we are called on to respect are an open assault on our humanity?

Mychal Denzel Smith

It's Not the Bad Guys—It's the Guns (US Politics, Guns and Gun Control)

Let's face the truth: anyone with a gun can be a "bad guy." What we need is fewer guns, period.

Mychal Denzel Smith

No, Backing Marriage Equality Won't Cost Obama Support of Black Voters (Barack Obama, US Politics, Gender and Sexuality)

The math doesn’t add up. It shouldn't cost Obama votes—and it won’t.

Mychal Denzel Smith

Charges for Trayvon Martin's Killer Are No Guarantee of Justice (Racism and Discrimination, Trayvon Martin, Law)

Those new to the cause of defending black life will soon have to face the bleak truth black people have lived with for so long: we don’t often win.

Mychal Denzel Smith

Justice for Trayvon Martin (Trayvon Martin)

Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law puts the threshold for self-defense so low that major questions in this case will likely go unanswered.

Mychal Denzel Smith

Blogs

What Does #Justice4Trayvon Look Like?

Even if George Zimmerman is convicted of murder, we have a long way to go to ensure things like this never happen again.

Mychal Denzel Smith

Trayvon Martin and Black Manhood On Trial

George Zimmerman’s innocence rests on the notion of a 17-year-old black boy’s inherent criminality.

Mychal Denzel Smith

Thank You, Rachel Jeantel

In her emotional testimony during the Zimmerman trial, the star witness stands up for more than herself.

Mychal Denzel Smith

What Will We Do Without Affirmative Action?

While the Supreme Court didn’t close the door on race-based programs, it has left their future up in the air.

Mychal Denzel Smith

Why Aiyana Jones Matters

Increased militarization of police forces led to the 7-year-old’s death. It’s time we all recognize that.

Mychal Denzel Smith

White America Is Here to Stay

There may be fewer white babies being born, but power still rests in the hands of this privileged racial category.

Mychal Denzel Smith

Sean, Oscar and Trayvon

As George Zimmerman’s trial approaches, here’s to hoping no more young black men will become martyrs.

Mychal Denzel Smith

To Be Young and Black in America: Always Considered a Threat

An unarmed 14-year-old black teenager was choked by police because they considered him a threat. Of course they did.

Mychal Denzel Smith

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Mychal Denzel Smith | The Nation