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Reggie Jackson: Why the denial of Black oppression is growing as another false American narrative

“If some groups are simply meant to be at the bottom, then there are no questions to ask about their deprivation, isolation and poverty. There are no questions to ask about the society which produces that deprivation, isolation and poverty. And there is nothing to be done, because nothing can be done: Those people are just the way they are.” – Jamelle Bouie I have read more and more recently about people claiming that the observation of America being a nation where some have been oppressed is a lie. As efforts by people of color to express their true...

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Meow Meow Meow: Celebrating our furry companions ahead of the midterm elections on National Cat Day

Cats have had a significant role in the lives of people, going back to the start of human history. Of the many holidays that America celebrates, it should be no surprise that one honors the feline species on October 29 for National Cat Day. The day is a celebration of the family pet, and the expression of unconditional love for kitty companions. Considering the current political climate and upcoming midterm elections on November 8, it comes at the perfect time. Cats have an amazing ability to reduce human stress and anxiety. The act of petting a cat’s fur releases...

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A Black Lives Matter Anthem: Hip-hop is the latest soundtrack in the history of racial equality protests

By Tyina Steptoe, Associate Professor of History, University of Arizona The sound of Public Enemy’s 1989 song “Fight the Power” blared as face-masked protesters in Washington DC broke into a spontaneous rendition of the electric slide dance near the White House. It was the morning of June 14, and an Instagram user captured the moment, commenting: “If Trump is in the White House this morning he’s being woken up by … a Public Enemy dance party.” Coming amid widespread protests over police brutality and structural racism in the United States, the song is an apt musical backdrop. It opens...

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Milwaukee residents fall under increasing police surveillance in effort to choke Black activism

“There’s definitely something going on,” said 39-year-old Milwaukee activist Frank Sensabaugh, better known locally by the long-held nickname “Frank Nitty.” Most of his days recently have been spent either organizing or participating in Milwaukee’s slice of the nation’s re-invigorated Black Lives Matter movement. Nitty, and many others, also suspect the demonstrations have become the targets of electronic surveillance. For Nitty, it started with difficulty livestreaming the events from his Facebook page. “They do that a lot, live feeds will cut out,” he said. “It’ll start getting blurry … or sometimes I’ll be live and I’ll be talking, and my...

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Thousands ride in unity across Milwaukee to affirm the message “Black is Beautiful”

© PHOTO NOTE: All the editorial images published here have been posted to the Milwaukee Independent’s Facebook Page. That collection of photos contains the MI copyright and watermark for attribution, and may be used for private social media sharing. Thousands of people from all over Milwaukee participated in a special “Black Is Beautiful Ride” on June 21. Led by WebsterX, Darius Smith, and Zed Kenzo, the effort was designed to dispel the negative perceptions within white society about people who have a dark skin color. The 16-mile route on the last day of the Juneteenth weekend went across Milwaukee’s...

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How Ansel Adams used his creativity to harness the communicative power of photography

By Rebecca Senf, Chief Curator, Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona The bold style of black-and-white landscapes from the American wilderness are so iconic that most people know an Ansel Adams photograph when they see it. Yet they may be surprised to learn that Adams did not learn his craft by attending an elite art institution or by apprenticing with a master photographer. My new book, Making a Photographer: The Early Work of Ansel Adams, charts the early years of Adams, demonstrating how this self-taught expert learned from experience to identify his audience, hone his message and imbue...

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