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Diversity and Democracy

“The Coronavirus Is a Disaster for Feminism” by Helen Lewis, The Atlantic

Lifestyle changes due to the coronavirus outbreak are creating challenges for many working women who must learn to adjust to a life without childcare providers and schools. Mortality factors related to pregnancy and domestic violence have been noted to increase during pandemics as well and disproportionately affect women.

 

Slavery and Its Aftermath

“Last survivor of transatlantic slave trade discovered” by Sean Coughlan, BBC News

New research has found that the last survivor of the transatlantic slave trade passed away in 1940, much more recently than previously assumed, showing how closely interwined the history of slavery is with modern day America.

 

Water, Equity and Security

“Poor water infrastructure puts world at greater risk from coronavirus” by Fiona Harvey, The Guardian

More than half of the world lacks access to clean water according to a recently published UN report. Chronic underfunding of water infrastructure historically may lead to widespread social and economic turmoil in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, as people who lack access to proper sanitation are at a higher risk for contracting the disease.

 

The Future of Work

“Is the Coronavirus Shaping the Future of How We Work?” by Miriam Powell, The New York Times

The coronavirus is actualizing many workplace changes that had previously seemed part of the distant future, including the widespread use of telecommunication in work, more sick days for workers, solutions for homelessness, and sustainable wages for service workers.

 

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Slavery and its Aftermath

"Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker," Netflix (2020)

Based on a true story, this television series chronicles the life of Madam C.J. Walker, an impoverished African American washerwoman, who establishes her own hair care line for black women and becomes America’s first female self-made millionaire.  

Watch on Netflix

 

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Diversity and Democracy

“The Limits of Empathy” by Gene Demby, Natalie Escobar, and Sarah Kate Kramer, Code Switch (2020)

In 1968, journalist Grace Hassel disguised herself as a black woman in a controversial effort to understand the influence of racial identity on everyday experiences. Scholars discuss the implications of Hassel’s experiment as it pertains to race relations in America and why empathy alone may be insufficient for achieving racial justice.

Listen on NPR, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify