Race: Conversations around race and racial justice

The May 25 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody has ignited an urgent push for racial equality across Minnesota and the United States. Here are the latest on the fight against racism, voices calling for racial justice and in-depth stories on communities of color and other racial issues from MPR News.

Voices of Minnesota Calls for change across the state

Protests and pain The killing of George Floyd

Call To Mind Spotlight on black trauma and policing

Amplifying voices Share your experiences and hopes for the future

Racist incidents in schools point to deep-seated, structural problems

August 1, 2019 1:29 PM

By Julie Siple and Angela Davis

An MPR News report explores what happened at a Burnsville middle school after the principal was caught on video repeating a racial slur. Angela Davis spoke with two experts about racist incidents at schools, the structural racism that underlies them, and the way it affects student learning.

A brick school building

At Burnsville’s Metcalf Middle School, racial slurs poisoned the culture

July 31, 2019 12:13 PM

By Elizabeth Shockman

John Metcalf Middle School Principal Shannon McParland apologized in December after she was filmed repeating a racial slur at school. But teachers, students and parents say the video seemed to give others license to use the epithet. They say a culture of racism and retaliation, enabled by school leadership, poisoned the school.

Divisive school district borders.

This Supreme Court case made school district lines a tool for segregation

July 25, 2019 5:17 AM

By Cory Turner and Elissa Nadworny

Today, "inequality is endemic" in America's public schools, according to a new report.

Civil rights activist Ron Edwards remembers seeing several blocks of businesses vandalized and set ablaze in July 1967.

'A Fiery Unrest: Why Plymouth Avenue Burned'

July 22, 2019 10:00 AM

By MPR News Staff

A new documentary explores the causes and consequences of violence that broke out in north Minneapolis in July of 1967.

At his Wednesday rally, President Trump misrepresented words from Rep. Ilhan Omar.

Fact check: Trump goes after Omar at rally

July 18, 2019 6:26 AM

By The Associated Press

President Trump on Wednesday misrepresented words from Rep. Ilhan Omar to make her sound like an al-Qaida sympathizer and exaggerated the performance of the economy under his watch.

President Trump gestures to the crowd during a Keep America Great rally in Greenville, N.C. on Wednesday.

Trump attacks congresswomen at N.C. rally, as crowd chants 'send her back'

July 18, 2019 3:59 AM

By Ayesha Rascoe and Jessica Taylor

President Trump piled on four freshmen congresswomen of color after tweeting this weekend that they should "go back" to the countries they came from, even though three were born in the United States.

Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley

We asked for your #goback stories. You delivered.

July 16, 2019 1:36 PM

By Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

When President Trump told four congresswomen of color to “go back” to where they came from, he touched a nerve.

President Trump speaks during a Made in America showcase event.

Trump-Omar feud intensifies over racism, patriotism

July 16, 2019 6:58 AM

Following a day of dueling press conferences and withering accusations of racism on one side and unpatriotic hatred on the other, the Trump-Omar standoff continues.

Central American migrants are stopped by federal police officers

Counter Stories: There's a humanitarian crisis at the border. Why aren't we angry?

July 11, 2019 2:11 PM

By Marianne Combs and Jo Erickson

The Counter Stories team look at America's history of immigration, and what's changed.

"Children of Blood and Bone" by Tomi Adeymi.

'Children of Blood and Bone' is a feast for hungry readers

March 10, 2018 12:00 AM

By Caitlyn Paxson

Tomi Adeyemi's debut novel is a fast-paced hero's quest through a rich, West-African-inspired fantasy world -- and a seamless mix of empowerment and rip-roaring storytelling.