Kat Stafford
@kat__stafford
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Journalist | Global Race & Justice Editor @Reuters | Past: @AP investigative writer | UofM Knight-Wallace Fellow alum | Contact: kat.stafford @thomsonreuters .com
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I was awarded the
@PressClubDC
’s Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Reporting last night. It was the first time in the Press Club’s history that two Black women were honored for their work. Meet the Press moderator
@kwelkernbc
received the amazing Fourth Estate Award.
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Mike Pence said: "Our water is among the cleanest in the world..."
Flint, Michigan would like a word.
#VPDebate
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DETROIT (AP) — The AP has learned ex-Michigan Gov. Snyder and others have been told they’re being charged in Flint water scandal.
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Another officer received a text with the photos taken at the public memorial for Elijah McClain and replied, “haha.”
Aurora, Colorado, police have released photos showing three officers smiling as they reenacted a chokehold their colleagues used on Elijah McClain, a Black man who died after police stopped him last year. The officers have all been fired or resigned.
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Michigan AG Dana Nessel has filed felony charges against two well-known out-of-state Republican operatives for allegedly orchestrating robocalls aimed at suppressing the vote in the Detroit area.
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WHEW: A Detroit man sued his employer for racial discrimination & settled. Then he went to the bank to cash his settlement check but they refused to cash or deposit his check. Instead, they called the police & initiated a fraud investigation.
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Five-year-old brings toys downstairs. I ask what she’s doing as she puts them in a circle. “They’re having a meeting.” I ask what they’re meeting about. “Oh, you.” Then she walked away.
Me: 😳
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Trauma-informed reporting should be required training in every newsroom and journalism program.
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If anyone I know ever referred to me as their “Black friend,” we wouldn’t be friends after that.
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NEW: Michigan is now reporting the racial breakdown of COVID-19 cases. So far, 10,791 positive cases have been reported & 417 deaths. Of that, African Americans account for 35% of cases & 40% of deaths. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, just 14.1% of MI’s population is black.
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Before he took his last breaths, Gary Fowler had scrawled on a piece of paper: "Heart beat irregular ... oxygen level low."
Fowler, 56, went to three different emergency rooms in the weeks leading up to his death, & begged for a coronavirus test.
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What's so disturbing is this man went to the hospital twice & was sent home, even though he was clearly ill, according to his wife:
"I said, “Well, what about the oxygen?” His fingertips were blue. They said that there was no reason to do anything."
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Note the racial dynamics here: Happening in Detroit -- a 78% Black majority city.
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Black folks have been sounding the alarm for years about Michigan. Don't get it twisted that just because it is home to Detroit, a majority-Black city, that racism and bigotry isn't rampant in this state. This has been present and bubbling under the surface for a very long time.
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Why is this significant? Detroit is the nation's largest Black-majority city, it will play a major role in deciding which way Michigan goes in Nov. & in turn, a role in the overall outcome of the election. Suppression tactics like this could impact turnout.
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A career first: A Republican state legislator in Tennessee introduced a resolution Thursday in response to our AP investigation of racism in the U.S. military. He accused us of “incendiary journalism” & wants the legislature to “reprimand the AP.” We stand by our reporting.
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I cannot shake this thought: We are living in a world & time where the poisoning of an entire city (Flint)— a Black majority city— the ensuing attempt by public officials to cover it up & their eventual criminal charges, should be the *top* story across the nation but it isn’t.
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“I preach about my people and I preach about equality, social injustice, racism, systematic voter suppression, things that go on in our community," LeBron James said.
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She is the first African American woman to become a managing editor in the Washington Post’s 143-year history.
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In this moment, it's incredibly important to hear & amplify the voices & perspectives of Black Americans & Black parents who are repeatedly forced to explain to their children the fundamental fact that America was not designed or built with their safety and well-being in mind.
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From the story: The calls were made in late Aug to nearly 12K residents with phone numbers from the 313 area code. They stem from a false robocall that discouraged mail-in voting by saying their personal info would be part of a public database used by police if they vote by mail.
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NEW: More than 100 Black male leaders sign letter demanding Joe Biden pick Black woman as VP. “Failing to select a Black woman ... means YOU WILL lose the election ... Black women are defining the future of politics so it's time you let one define the future of your campaign.”
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The "journalists should get off Twitter" stance doesn't take into account that for Black/POC journalists, social media platforms provided a necessary outlet to challenge status quo and hold powerful newsrooms and editors accountable for toxic newsrooms, racism & poor treatment.
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We need to talk about the perpetual trauma Black Americans are experiencing in this country right now on so many levels. I've never seen so many things collide at once, creating a collective sense of loss and detrimental impact.
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*Professional news*
I'm happy to announce I've transitioned into a new and expanded role at the
@AP
as a national investigative writer, focusing on race & inequity. I'll be pursuing deep dives and investigations about how structural racism has fueled inequity in America.
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A painful reminder that Black history is often treated as if it isn’t a foundational and fundamental part of America’s history. It’s a pervasive unwillingness to recognize the contributions of Black Americans and also the atrocities inflicted upon them.
Utah school allowing parents to opt students out of Black History Month curriculum
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In my city (Detroit) there’s only one answer here.
Black folks let's settle this which one is the best.?? 👀
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You haven’t been paying attention if you’re surprised by this story.
After white students displayed Confederate flag at school, Black students suspended for planning protest
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On the House floor, MI Rep.
@RashidaTlaib
called President Trump "racist-in-chief," & said: "Those who incited an attack on the people’s house do not get to talk about healing and unity. ... They have stoked the fire & then handed the gasoline to Donald Trump."
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A statement from
@AP
staff:
We love the AP. We also want it to change.
We hope the institution that we serve with bravery and tenacity every day will join us in charting a more equitable future.
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I tested positive for Covid-19 today. This isn’t how I imagined bringing in the new year but I’m still grateful. As someone who has asthma, I realize my symptoms could be a lot worse right now if I weren’t fully vaccinated.
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Whenever the unpaid internship conversation resurfaces, I think of Black/POC journalists who couldn't afford to take one & were unable to break into the industry. Unpaid internships are barriers for many, not a badge of honor. I almost didn't pursue journalism because of it.
I posted an opportunity for an unpaid internship and I’m amazed the comments I get. It’s not even for me. It’s for someone else and I would have jumped at it in college. I had 3 unpaid internships in school, double majored and had a job. SMH
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The disconnect between white folks putting BLM flags & signs in front of their houses while simultaneously arguing against affordable housing and welcoming Black and brown kids into their school districts.
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This interview is a glimpse into the misogynoir Black women face on a daily basis.
#MeghanAndHarry
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How many Black journalists — Black people in general— have experienced being told or insinuated that they didn’t deserve a role or opportunity?
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I love Detroit. We always find a way.
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This was hard to write:
912.
That's the number of Detroiters we've lost to COVID-19.
So amid the pandemic, Detroit — the nation’s largest black city, the birthplace of distinctive soulful music and black cultural significance — grieves collectively.
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It should not be lost on anyone that this occurred on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington & Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic“I Have a Dream” speech. Sixty years later, racism remains embedded in this nation.
A white man shot and killed three Black victims, and then himself, at a Jacksonville, Florida Dollar General store in what officials described as a hate crime
The shooter “hated Black people,” officials said
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Some professional news: I'm thrilled to share I have been named the Global Race and Justice Editor at
@Reuters
. I'll start my new role in early September. I'm excited to step into a leadership opportunity that will allow me to shape coverage across Reuters' global report.
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To put in scope how COVID-19 is impacting Detroit, one of the nation's largest African American majority cities: Officials said two weeks ago there were zero reported coronavirus cases. As of noon today, there are 868 cases & 15 deaths.
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I guess it’s AP *official* now. ✨ If I’ve learned anything from this past year and recent weeks, it’s that centering marginalized communities in coverage and investigating structural racism is deeply needed in America.
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The amount of journalists of color who are losing their jobs just a few short years after newsrooms worldwide made commitments to better reflect the communities we cover. Journalists, who without them, coverage will lack proper nuance and inhibit community trust.
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It’s telling how easily some transitioned from labeling folks “essential workers” to “low skilled workers.”
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Heading into the weekend grateful I didn’t listen to the editor who laughed a long time ago when I said I wanted to be an investigative reporter.
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Some personal news: After nearly six amazing years, I’m leaving the Detroit Free Press. I will soon begin a new journey, joining The Associated Press' national team to cover race and ethnicity. I'm thrilled to be part of such an amazing team.
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FROM BIRTH TO DEATH: I spent the past year exploring how the legacy of racism in America has laid the foundation for the health inequities Black people face from their first breath to their final moments.
Five stories. Five families and communities.
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Kanye West does not = Black voters. These takes are just flat out wrong. If anything, this moment is showing the deep disconnect the media has in truly understanding Black voters/people.
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The microaggressions that Black people face in the ____ industry are exhausting.
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This is the Detroit I know.
#Election2020
Just past 6am on this day 2 of electing a US President, and in Detroit a new shift of workers cheers for motivation before they continue the process of counting absentee ballots in the city. Michigan has yet to be decided.
#ElectionDay
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Every time someone gets in my mentions or face saying “racism is dead,” I’ll be sure to send this story their way as exhibit infinity.
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EXCLUSIVE: The federal government deliberately targeted Black Lives Matter protesters via heavy-handed criminal prosecutions in an attempt to disrupt the global movement that swept the nation last summer, according to a new report via the
@Mvmnt4BlkLives
.
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Newsrooms will literally wring their hands over finding journalists of color, as if we are mythical unicorns that can only be found on a rare full moon. Stop. It.
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Do not couch racist acts of violence and atrocities in coded or soft language. Be emphatically clear.
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This Jeopardy pick is giving deja vu vibes. Reminds me of how newsrooms bring in (overly) qualified journalists of color, make a big deal about said interview, only to go with the candidate everyone knew they were going to go with in the first place. 🙃
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D Nice is out here making history tonight and blessing everyone with
#ClubQuarantine
on IG Live. This feels like a black family reunion in the middle of summer.
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This ongoing national narrative that‘s been peddled for the past few years about Detroit being saved by [insert trendy business] is glaringly false and ignores many of the longstanding issues that contain to plague the city—poverty, crime and much more.
Green Book director Peter Farrelly shouts out Shinola at the
#Oscars
: “They’re saving Detroit!” 🤔
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“Cruel irony” — A source said of the imagery of Black essential workers cleaning up the aftermath of an armed standoff in the Capitol led by a violent white mob during the COVID-19 pandemic which has disproportionately infected and killed Black Americans.
The same House chamber doors where the armed standoff took place hours ago is being cleaned for members to return for the joint session:
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This.
When black Detroiters gathered at a park, it was framed as Detroiters "defying" stay-at-home orders. When a near all-white crowd gathers at the MI capitol amid the same stay-at-home order, they're framed by some outlets as protestors exercising their rights.
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A case study to be taught in every journalism school and newsroom: Journalism is not stenography. We must verify everything — including “official” police accounts.
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I’ll never forget when a white editor told me not to post “so much” about my accomplishments because it might offend my colleagues. I listened at the time. But later realized Black women are frequently told & expected to diminish ourselves. Don’t. Revel in your growth & talent.
Stop apologizing for being dope. As a Black woman, I’m no longer dimming my light. I work hard, I started from nothing, and I’ve always believed I was here for a purpose and that I was great. When men are humble, it’s called confidence. When women do it- it’s conceited. Over it.
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Reminder: A Black woman has never been governor in the United States of America.
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Every newsroom in this moment should be significantly ramping up coverage and resources around climate change, with a sharp focus on communities of color and the inequities that exist and are likely to widen.
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NEW: Midwest governors Gretchen Whitmer, Mike DeWine, Tony Evers, Tim Walz, JB Pritzker, Eric Holcomb and Andy Beshear just announced they will coordinate to reopen the economy in the Midwest region.
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Journalists: If an editor says your deadline is Monday, are you turning your story in at 9 a.m, 5 p.m. or 11:59 p.m.?
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At a presser, MI Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: "Hatred, bigotry & violence have no place in the great state of Michigan. If you break the law or conspire to commit heinous acts of violence against anyone, we will find you, we will hold you accountable, and we will bring you to justice."
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I think often of how reporters are told to work their way up in newsrooms by starting out on a night cops shift/covering police. Breaking news is seen as an entry level, easy to do gig. But it's not. Nor is it a throwaway beat, it's an integral part of community coverage.
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A first-generation British national of Sri Lankan descent, Daisy Veerasingham is the first woman, first person of color and first international citizen to lead The Associated Press.
Daisy Veerasingham named president and CEO of The Associated Press:
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I told my mom earlier that my sleep schedule has been off since our stay at home order. Y’all already know what her response was: “Drink some Vernors.” Adding sleep deprivation/insomnia to the list of things Detroiters swear Vernors can cure.
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We need to have a conversation about what “allyship” truly means. Standing/supporting black folks and protesting? Cool. Coming into a majority-black city to stir up trouble? That ain’t it. This is life or death for black folks. This isn’t a trendy moment to latch on.
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Wow: The FBI thwarted what they described as a plot to violently overthrow the government and kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer & federal prosecutors are expected to discuss the alleged conspiracy later Thursday, according to the
@detroitnews
.
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I remember when folks tried to tell me that covering race would box me into a professional corner that I wouldn't be able to emerge from. I can't think of a more important beat and topic to shed light on in this moment and beyond.
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My daily reminder: We need more Black investigative journalists. More specifically, we need Black journalists to be given the opportunity to pursue investigative stories/join I-teams.
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NEW: A racial gap has opened up in the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, with Black Americans in many places lagging behind white people in receiving shots, an
@AP
analysis found. It’s a troubling trend given COVID-19’s impact on Black Americans.
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So many newsrooms pledged to address their own racial disparities last summer. Where do those pledges stand now? Oh, you've hired more POC? But are they entry-level roles or senior/management roles? Let's see the real breakdown of "diversity" numbers.
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NEW AP investigation w/
@JimLaPorta
: The Pentagon has pledged to stamp out extremism for decades. Yet, it doesn't outright ban troops from being members of hate groups like the KKK. And the military’s judicial system has no explicit category for hate crimes.
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It’s 2020 & we’re still doing this? Stop writing parachute takes. I guarantee you Detroiters are not looking at the train station as the anchor of the city’s “resurgence.” When in doubt, ask a local journalist who covers a city or better yet some folks in the neighborhoods.
Ford’s transformation of Michigan Central station is part of the bigger resurgence of Detroit, as it tries to reinvent itself to draw new jobs and new residents
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I understand why paywalls exist but if you're supposedly dedicated to repairing relationships with underserved communities, does it make sense to put stories about those communities behind a wall? Especially if you have yet to build or earn their trust after years of neglect?
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Can we please end the normalization of putting meteorologists and reporters at risk during extreme weather events? What purpose does it serve, aside from shock value, for viewers who need vital information in this moment?
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Evergreen reminder: Use your PTO/vacation days unapologetically.
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A white neighbor displayed a KKK flag in a window facing a Black neighbor in a suburb near Detroit. "I was furious. How dare he feel comfortable putting a symbol of hatred, violence & domestic terrorism at his window facing my house? How dare he.”
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NEW
@AP
investigation: Current & former enlistees & officers in nearly every branch of the armed services say the military has a deep-rooted intractable culture of racism & discrimination that has festered, despite repeated efforts to eradicate it.
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Kamala Harris speaking for the first time as Joe Biden's running mate: "I do so mindful of all of the heroic and ambitious women before me, whose sacrifice, determination and resilience makes my presence here today even possible."
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Whew. Tulsi Gabbard hit Kamala Harris' prosecution record pretty hard. "When you were in a position to make a difference in people's lives, you did not," Gabbard
#DemDebate2
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Racism and extremism within the military has been well documented over several decades. Countless studies have been done — and the military itself has acknowledged the problem. We told much of our series through the perspectives and experiences of service members and veterans.
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Always record. No exceptions. As an investigative reporter, I’ve had countless people/officials try to claim they didn’t say what they did. Those recordings saved me. But even for non “adversarial” interviews, recordings capture things you may miss in handwritten notes.
Reporters (esp newer ones), please stop recording most* of your interviews. Using a recorder is time-consuming and leads to an overreliance on quotes in your writing. (*Exceptions include potentially adversarial interviews and those to run as Q&As.)
#journalismtipoftheday
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Happening in Detroit: A federal judge Friday evening temporarily banned Detroit police from using batons, shields, gas, rubber bullets, chokeholds or sound cannons against Black Lives Matter protesters.
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And we are much more than our professional identities. Someone asked me a few months ago “who are you?” I started to rattle off my job and title and she said: “No. Who are YOU?” Changed my perspective.
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Update: One man was killed & dozens arrested in Detroit, most of whom weren't city residents, as peaceful daytime protests gave way to more violence Friday night. Police Chief James Craig said 40 arrests were made — 75% to 80% were from outside the city.
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What cannot be overstated right now: America will have its first Black & South Asian woman as Vice President-elect of the United States. This win is built upon the legacies of Shirley Chisholm, Charlotta Bass, Fannie Lou Hamer, Barbara Jordan & so many other Black women.
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Stop expecting people to speak, host panels, trainings or perform laborious tasks for free — I especially see this happen to Black women who are highly specialized in their fields. Stop offering “exposure” as a form of payment. Pay people for their time and what they’re worth.
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I’ve seen more stories giving a platform to Capitol insurrectionists to air white grievances than the Flint mothers who still cannot bathe their children seven yrs after the crisis began. “If Flint was a white suburb, the cameras would have never left,” a Black mother told me.
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So much coverage of critical race theory centers whiteness & white perspectives. What's often missing are the voices of Black Americans & people of color -- some of whom who have fought & pressed for generations for this nation's history to finally be told in a truthful way.
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The other thing worth noting: This began as a peaceful demonstration led by several known Detroit activists. It later devolved into this, with many younger white protesters who don’t live in the majority-black city.
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Your daily reminder that race permeates everything in America. Racism is deeply embedded in the fabric of this nation. This is a fact that many still refuse to accept or acknowledge.
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My colleagues and I spent nearly a year interviewing dozens of service members and experts — some of whom could not speak publicly out of fear of retribution. We poured over copious documents & FOIAs. We did our homework. No matter how much one tries deny it, racism does exist.
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This story aside, some folks seem to be incredulous when black people who have large sums of money or great careers/jobs encounter similar situations of questioning. This happens on many levels and isn’t surprising for those who deal with targeting and racism. Every. Single. Day.
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Journalism schools/newsrooms urge aspiring journalists to vet the speeches, pressers & successes that politicians tout. Shouldn't that same vetting & skepticism be applied to coverage of police & law enforcement agencies that have historically exacted harm upon Black communities?
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