‘Chi-raq’ Reveals Spike Lee’s Outdated Race Politics ‘Chi-raq’ Reveals Spike Lee’s Outdated Race Politics
At its heart, Chi-raq is a critique of the hypermasculine posturing that props up so much gang violence—but it only examines what that means for men, not women.
Dec 14, 2015 / Mychal Denzel Smith
The Minneapolis Shootings Are the Kind of Violence Meant to Keep Black People in Their Place The Minneapolis Shootings Are the Kind of Violence Meant to Keep Black People in Their Place
Cracks in the status quo are showing, but they can’t come without backlash.
Nov 24, 2015 / Mychal Denzel Smith
The Movement Against Police Violence Isn’t Ignoring ‘Black-on-Black Crime’ The Movement Against Police Violence Isn’t Ignoring ‘Black-on-Black Crime’
Black Lives Matter activists are concerned about intra-racial violence. But they don’t see police and prisons as the solution.
Oct 29, 2015 / Mychal Denzel Smith
The Senate’s Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Bill Only Tackles Half the Problem The Senate’s Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Bill Only Tackles Half the Problem
If we don’t face the injustice of the very existence of prisons, the root causes of mass incarceration will go unaddressed.
Oct 14, 2015 / Mychal Denzel Smith
The Rebirth of Black Rage The Rebirth of Black Rage
From Kanye to Obama, and back again.
Aug 13, 2015 / Feature / Mychal Denzel Smith
A Q&A With Opal Tometi, Co-Founder of #BlackLivesMatter A Q&A With Opal Tometi, Co-Founder of #BlackLivesMatter
A conversation about building an inclusive movement, the importance of identity, and how to shift the narrative of justice away from jailing killer cops.
Jun 2, 2015 / Blog / Mychal Denzel Smith
Toward a New ‘Broken Windows’ Theory Toward a New ‘Broken Windows’ Theory
What change will a “peaceful” protest spark if a “peaceful” protest is so easy to ignore?
Apr 28, 2015 / Blog / Mychal Denzel Smith
Abolish the Police. Instead, Let’s Have Full Social, Economic, and Political Equality. Abolish the Police. Instead, Let’s Have Full Social, Economic, and Political Equality.
When people ask me, “Who will protect us,” I want to say: Who protects you now?
Apr 9, 2015 / Blog / Mychal Denzel Smith
A Q&A With Alicia Garza, Co-Founder of #BlackLivesMatter A Q&A With Alicia Garza, Co-Founder of #BlackLivesMatter
The force behind the burgeoning movement talks about the resurgent fight for black liberation.
Mar 24, 2015 / Blog / Mychal Denzel Smith
Where in America Are Black People Safe From Racism? Nowhere. Where in America Are Black People Safe From Racism? Nowhere.
Starbucks’ “Race Together” campaign rings false as cases of police brutality multiply.
Mar 19, 2015 / Blog / Mychal Denzel Smith