The community of Sanford, Florida, continues to remember the life and legacy of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Black teen killed there in 2012. A local Black history museum displays many of the items left at the memorials created for Martin soon after his death. In this interview with the woman who founded the museum and set up the very first memorial for Trayvon Martin, she recalls when she learned about his death and what happened in her community in the days following the killing. Listen to hear about the impact of Trayvon Martin’s death, and learn why the woman compares him to Emmett Till.
Story Length: 4:30
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December 7, 2021
4:04
Three men in Brunswick, Georgia, were found guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery. Arbery, a Black man, was chased by the men in a pickup truck while he was jogging through a primarily white neighborhood, where they cornered him and then shot and killed him. The men were not charged with a crime until months later, after a cellphone video was released. The incident sparked outrage and prompted protests over racially motivated violence. A nearly all-white jury decided the case. Listen to the voices of community members and leaders as they react to the jury’s guilty verdict.
Read MoreJune 9, 2020
7:12
Protesters throughout the U.S. and the world are speaking out against racism and police brutality after the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others. In this interview, a state representative from Louisville, Kentucky discusses why the demonstrations are fueled by frustrations, built up over decades, about inequities between white and minority communities. Listen to hear the representative describe how a peaceful protest she attended turned violent and how she hopes the movement will motivate young people to act.
Read MoreMay 19, 2020
4:06
A videotaped act of violence in Georgia has highlighted the challenges Black men around the country face in their everyday lives. Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed young Black man, was shot by two white men who said they believed he was a burglar. Arbery was jogging when he was attacked and killed. Research shows that Black men of all social classes often feel threatened as they go about their daily routines. Listen to a sociologist describe his research on what Black men do to appear less threatening and how the threat they regularly feel impacts their lives.
Update: Since this story aired, Ahmaud Arbery’s attackers have been arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault.
Read MoreOctober 14, 2016
4:33
Implicit racial bias has been discussed in recent police shootings, preschool suspensions, and in both the presidential and vice-presidential debates. Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes can lead us to draw conclusions about each other that are sometimes opposite of what we consciously think or believe. In this study on bias, over one hundred preschool teachers looked for disruptive behavior in some children more than in others. Listen to hear how race and empathy are involved in how children are viewed, and debate whether you think everyone has a bias.
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