The Prescient Warnings of the Kerner Commission
In his new book, historian Steven M. Gillon revisits the presidential commission created to investigate the riots of 1967.
Brandon Tensley
Brandon Tensley is a Pacific Standard contributing writer.
'Love, Simon' and the Power of Telling Your Own Story
The glossy coming-of-age dramedy is about gay people writing their own lives—and it's empowering some people to come out.
Jeanne Theoharis on the Perils of Misremembering Civil Rights History
The historian debunks myths around civil rights history and makes the case for why a more honest history is key to moving forward.
Lorraine Hansberry Was More Radical Than You Remember
A new documentary highlights how the playwright took full advantage of her talents to advance mid-century civil rights.
'Call Me by Your Name' Is a Love Letter to Missed Opportunity
Luca Guadagnino's new film shows how, for many queer people, moralistic norms can create a sense of belatedness—even when they finally find love.
How James Baldwin Gives Our Problem Back to Us
In recent years, American audiences have embraced Baldwin more fully than ever before.
Time for White Allies to Move Past Perfunctory Activism
A local chapter of Black Lives Matter tells white allies to put up or shut up.
The Language Ta-Nehisi Coates Taught Me
Coates' new book shows how he developed a set of linguistic tools that have opened up new ways for black Americans to describe the world.
A Revealing New Look at Whitney Houston
A new documentary explores the full range of the singer's artistry—the full-throated pop and the smooth R&B—and, in turn, how it shaped her balancing act of a life.
Why There's No End in Sight for Myanmar's Rohingya Exodus
The severity and speed with which the current crisis is escalating threatens to make it the worst flare-up of mass migration the country has seen in decades.
'Invisible No More' Is a Chilling History of Police Violence Against Women of Color
Andrea J. Ritchie's new book offers fresh perspective on how American law enforcement reserves particular abuse for black women.
Reconsidering the Queer Cosplay of t.A.T.u.
Fifteen years ago, the Russian duo topped charts worldwide by playing with lesbian tropes. Could they make it today?
How 'In a Heartbeat' Places Gay Love in the Romantic Canon
The viral short film reanimates clichés about love with a queer twist.
How 'Handsome Devil' Expands the Gay Coming-of-Age Canon
John Butler's new film about gay friendship puts a powerful spin on generic, feel-good Hollywood stereotypes.
How Black Leaders Embraced the Drug War
James Forman Jr.'s first book chronicles with compassion how the actions of black leaders sometimes hurt the very people they sought to save.
The Double-Edged Sword of Queer Visibility
Recent studies suggest an uptick in violence against LGBTQ Americans.
The Resilience of Gay Pride in the Trump Era
Queer people mobilized in Washington, D.C., this weekend to celebrate gains and to push back against threats.
The Brilliant Queerness of Carly Rae Jepsen
The singer's music taps into a shared queer history of escape, longing, and disappointment—while reveling in the pleasure of all those emotions.
The Long History Behind the Slaying of Richard Collins III
The fatal stabbing of a black Bowie State University student must be viewed in America's longer historical tradition of racial violence.
How TLC Changed Everything
On the eve of the group's final release, a look back at how the pioneering female R&B group represented for black women everywhere.
The New Rodney King Documentary Shows How Far We Have to Go
Twenty-five years ago, the Rodney King riots shook the country. It's unclear what we've learned.
'Dear White People' Expands the Possibilities of the Black College Experience on Television
The new Netflix series dramatizes the challenges that black students often face, while maintaining a vital focus on the fullness of the students' individual lives.
‘Burning Sands’ and the Black Fraternity Experience
The new movie shows us the various, sometimes contradictory reasons why young men pledge — and whether it’s worth it.
‘Get Out’ is a Welcome Rejection of the White Savior
In Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, the victims are black—and so are the heroes.
‘I Am Not Your Negro’: James Baldwin and a New Black History
In I Am Not Your Negro, Raoul Peck offers a devastating portrait of Baldwin — and a possible blueprint for political action.
Being Black and Watching Obama From Abroad
Celebrating one of Barack Obama's greatest feats: making the color of American citizenship less white.
America's Problem With Writers of Color
Attempts to increase diversity must be coupled with an actual effort to realize how people of color crucially influence a society barreling toward change.
You Sure You're Not Racist?
Racism doesn’t need to be open or overt to be, well, racist.