Nina Jablonski breaks the illusion of skin color

Nina Jablonski says that differing skin colors are simply our bodies' adaptation to varied climates and levels of UV exposure. Charles Darwin disagreed with this theory, but she explains, that's because he did not have access to NASA. -->

[St. Louis Beacon] Conversations in Black and White video

On Wednesday night, the Beacon, KETC - Channel 9 and the Missouri History Museum kicked off our project on race with an event at the Missouri History Museum. The evening featured music, performances and discussion. Here's a sampling of what happened.

Is Harvard scholar's arrest at his home a case of racial profiling?

UPDATE: Charges against Henry Louis Gates Jr. were dropped Tuesday after allegations of racism. Read the latest here, then add your own comments.

[St. Louis Beacon] Are you color blind? Do you even want to be?

[St. Louis Beacon] The view from here: Personal perspectives on race, part 2

When the Beacon sent out a query on our Public Insight Network asking about people's experiences with race, we got more than 100 responses from old and young, black, white, Hispanic, American Indian and foreign-born. Here, we share some of those stories, from a black woman who saw a Middle Eastern man refused service, to an Iranian family business who found community support when they least expected it. Part 2 of two parts. -- >

[St. Louis Beacon] The view from here: Personal perspectives on race, part 1

When the Beacon sent out a query on our Public Insight Network asking about people's experiences with race, we got more than 100 responses from old and young, black, white, Hispanic, American Indian and foreign-born. Here, we share some of those stories, from a black woman who saw a Middle Eastern man refused service, to a white woman who refused to inherit her family's prejudices. Part 1 of two parts. -- >

The Lloyd Gaines story remains a mystery

After the University of Missouri was ordered to admit Gaines to its law school in 1938, despite the fact that it barred black students, he disappeared and was never seen again. You can read the New York Times version of the story here.

[St. Louis Beacon] Profile: Frankie Freeman led legal efforts for civil rights

Frankie Freeman, 92, became a lawyer at a time when few blacks and few women -- much less black women -- entered the profession. She dedicated herself to public service, as the lead NAACP attorney in a case that ended discrimination in public housing, a presidential appointee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and a member of numerous charitable boards. In her spare time, she enjoys a blues cruise or two. -->

Race-related swimming pool incident brings echoes of the past

President of suburban Philadelphia swim club says children were barred for safety concerns, not racial ones -- >

[St. Louis Beacon] The assumption game

[Missouri History Museum] Event: Conversations in Black and White

join us for an evening of thought-provoking theatre exploring assumptions and identity. Performed by the museum's Teens Make History actors, these vignettes address an array of topics, including a recent St. Louis Post-Dispatch article illustrated with an interracial couple kissing. Enjoy a DJ spinning in th background while your conversations are sparked by the scenes. Event details >

[St. Louis Beacon] Why do we need to talk frankly about race?

Race is a social construction. Science tells us that there is more commonality across what we know as racial groups than within groups. Beacon columnist Dr. Kira Hudson Banks looks at why we continue to see race, when it has no scientific basis? >

[St. Louis Beacon] Why this project?

Editor's note from Beacon editor Margaret Freivogel on why the Beacon is embarking on this project >

Upcoming Events

Tuesday 10/13, 6pm - At the next desk - Join the Beacon and the Royale for a lightly moderated discussion series on issues effecting the St. Louis region. This week: Have you had found difficult situations at work that sprang from racial or ethnic differences? We would like to hear them and to discuss them frankly. We would like to talk especially about difficulty getting jobs in the first place, and the obstacles found on corporate ladders for non-whites. Presented by the St. Louis Beacon and The Royale. In conjuction with the yearlong series of content and events produced by Missouri History Museum and the Beacon in conjunction and KETC/Channel 9. More >

Friday, 10/16, 6-7:30 pm - The Children Left Behind Aram A. Schvey, JD, Staff Attorney & Teaching Fellow at Georgetown University of Law will give a presentation on anti-Roma discrimination, which focuses on his work on educational segregation of Roma children. Mr. Schvey teaches international human rights at Georgetown Law School and is serving as a Fellow in the International Women’s Human Rights Clinic. Danforth Campus, Umrath Lounge. Presented by The Center for the Study of Ethics and Human Values, Washington University, as part of its "Ethnic Profiling - A Challenge to Democracy" series. More >


Monday, 10/19, 7-8:30 pm - Classical Music and Poetry Reading Musicians from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will perform a free concert on campus and Jason Hill, an MD/PhD student, will read original poems on the topic of ethnic poetry. Danforth Campus, Holmes Lounge. Presented by The Center for the Study of Ethics and Human Values, Washington University, as part of its "Ethnic Profiling - A Challenge to Democracy" series. More >

Friday, 10/30, 3 pm - When Experiments Travel Prof. Adriana Petryna, an anthropologist, will lecture about her work on the ethnography and ethics of global clinical trials. She recently published a book on this subject entitled, "When Experiments Travel: Clinical Trials and the Global Search for Human Subjects." Danforth
Campus, McMillan Hall, Room 149. Co-sponsored by The Center for the Study of Ethics and Human Values and the Department of Anthropology, Washington University, as part of its "Ethnic Profiling - A Challenge to Democracy" series. More >