All Society
First LookJuneteenth is celebrated on June 19. But do you know why?Juneteenth marks June 19, the day when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. For generations, Americans have celebrated the day with parades and cookouts, but knowledge of its history is also important.
Difference Maker‘A breath of fresh air’: How one group offers Black men a path to healingStigma and lack of affordability around mental health in vulnerable communities can hinder progress. A Philadelphia-area nonprofit seeks to help one segment of the population heal.
What is behind a huge drop in the murder rate this year?The murder rate in big U.S. cities spiked in recent years. This year has so far seen a big decline. A change in policing could be contributing.
First LookEnd of the line for California transit riders? Funding gets slashed.Californians have always loved their cars but now the state’s public transit system has lost $2 billion in government funding. A decline in ridership during the pandemic is partly to blame, but advocates say scaling back will weaken the system even more.
FocusOne is the loneliest number: What will help people connect again?How do Americans rediscover their spirit of community and connection after a pandemic that left behind an epidemic of loneliness?
No more ‘faceless bureaucracy’? How cities are deepening trust.Most Americans think favorably of local government. Still, citizens academies try to deepen trust by getting past “faceless bureaucracy.”
In rural Alabama, a mass shooting America ignoredThe Dadeville mass shooting saw four teens killed and 25 injured at a Sweet 16 party. It points to how and why America views gun deaths differently.
First LookRacist abuse in international soccer: Time for real change?Racist insults toward Real Madrid soccer player Vinícius Júnior expose a persistent worldwide problem in the sport, but federations are slow to sanction teams for racism. Education and stricter penalties are needed to tackle this issue, experts say.
First LookLeague of her own: Knuckleball pitcher with big baseball dreamsEri Yoshida is a Japanese baseball player who dreams her knuckleball pitch will take her to the big leagues. No stranger to overcoming the odds, she’s pitched in games – and won – in Japan, the United States, and Canada – against men and women.
Cover StoryUntangling the roots of violence: What can we learn from the South?Beneath the South’s reputation for comfort food and a friendly welcome lie deep roots of violence. Can untangling them help uproot them?
Jim Brown stood for those who stood against the establishmentJim Brown was the paragon of football running backs. But he saw himself as a man fighting for the freedom of those around him – including himself.
First LookCalifornia's Black reparations team wraps up. Are solutions coming?California is nearing the conclusion of its first-in-the-nation Black reparations task force. Black state residents say they hope the effort results in meaningful actions.
First LookBlack Jesus? How a church window is stirring discussions of race.One of the earliest public examples of Christ portrayed as a person of color was rediscovered recently in a renovated Rhode Island church. The stained glass window was commissioned in 1878 in memory of two women whose families had ties to the slave trade.
Cover StoryBetween the stacks: A day in the life of a libraryDespite legislators’ threats to defund libraries, this busy one looks toward the future, with plans to expand its embrace of the community.
Pandemic emergency is over. Societal shifts linger.The pandemic health emergency is officially over. But some related societal shifts could be lasting, from more remote work to a rise in children’s screen time.
First LookNew ground: Churches transform land into affordable housingAs affordable housing becomes harder to find, many churches with dwindling congregations find that their greatest community gift might be their real estate. Hundreds of faith groups in the United States are using their property to build much-needed housing.
For this Minnesota choir, ‘music makes community’What does it take to create unity? An amateur choir in Minneapolis fosters opportunities to connect – and spread joy.
Won’t you be my neighbor? How porch culture fights loneliness.American front porches signified community and openness, but increasingly people are suspicious when strangers approach their door. Meet the people trying to keep neighborliness alive.
‘Abortion Talks’: How six women found respect despite disagreement“The Abortion Talks” film, released during the National Week of Conversation, shows how six women never budged and inch, but still moved mountains.
First LookTen years after bombing: Boston Marathon launches its fastest fleetWorld record-holder Eliud Kipchoge is making his Boston Marathon debut. The 127th running of the event includes other world record holders, Olympic and Paralympic medalists, winners of major marathons, and a dozen Boston Marathon champions.
