Obama Walks the Minefield

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Mar 19, 2008 Barack Obama tells the columnist why he chose to ignore the collective political wisdom and confront the issue of race head-on. Having survived the encounter, his speech on the subject could change the way Americans understand one another. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Ferraro Resigns, Clinton Apologizes

Staff / Truthdig Mar 13, 2008 After a good 48 hours or so of pandemonium triggered by her racially charged comments about Barack Obama's candidacy, a still-not-sorry Geraldine Ferraro resigned Wednesday from her post as "Honorary New York Leadership Council Chair" for Hillary Clinton's campaign Meanwhile, Clinton herself said she did regret Ferraro's comments and then some. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Defiant Ferraro Defends Her Obama Comment

Staff / Truthdig Mar 12, 2008 As Barack Obama supporters reacted angrily to her claims that the Illinois senator wouldn't have gotten as far as he has in the '08 race if he was white or female, former VP candidate and Clinton fundraiser Geraldine Ferraro said her statements were taken out of context and warned that Obama "shouldn't antagonize people like me." Updated Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Republicans Probe Race, Gender Boundaries

Staff / Truthdig Feb 26, 2008 The Politico reports that Republican strategists have been clandestinely polling and focus-grouping to determine how America might react to campaign attacks on an African-American or woman presidential candidate. As one strategist explained, "You can't allow the party to be Macaca-ed," a reference to former Sen. George Allen, whose use of a racial slur cost him certain victory in the last election. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Shadows Trump Hope

Will Durst / Truthdig Jan 10, 2008 The humorist explains Clinton's New Hampshire win without polling data or political science but with candid insight into the dark recesses of American prejudice. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Disappointment Doesn’t Have to Be Normal

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Dec 11, 2007 Is it foolish to think that a nation stained by centuries of slavery and racism is prepared to elect a black president? Rarely phrased so bluntly, that's the central question posed by Barack Obama's candidacy -- especially for many African-American voters, whose doubts are informed by having seen many an oasis turn out to be a mirage. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Supreme Court Rules Against Mandatory Minimums

Staff / Truthdig Dec 11, 2007 The Supreme Court decided on Monday that federal sentencing guidelines, a kind of back seat judging considered by many to be racist, should be treated as "advisory" and not at all mandatory. Justices Alito and Thomas, to no one's great surprise, were the only dissenters. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Paris Is Burning Again

Staff / Truthdig Nov 27, 2007 French youths rioted for a second night in the suburbs of Paris, injuring nearly 80 police officers and torching more than 70 buildings and cars. Police officials said the violence was "far worse" than two years ago, when rioters set fire to 10,000 cars and 300 buildings over three weeks. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Nicholas von Hoffman on ‘The Conscience of a Liberal’

Nicholas von Hoffman / Truthdig Nov 16, 2007 Why is it that so many voters continue to elect reactionaries who do their best to disenfranchise them? The answer, says Paul Krugman in his new book, is racism. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

DNA Scientist Apologizes for Race Remarks

Staff / Truthdig Oct 20, 2007 Nobel-winning scientist James Watson, half of the DNA-pioneering team Watson and Crick, is undergoing a firestorm of criticism for recent comments he made in London's Sunday Times about how he was "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours -- whereas all the testing says not really." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Time Is Running Out for Brother and Sister

Amy Goodman / Truthdig Oct 10, 2007 Troy Anthony Davis and Martina Correia are fighting for their lives. He faces death by lethal injection at the hands of the state of Georgia, and she has breast cancer. Their parallel battles against insuperable odds deserve the public's attention. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

United by Hate

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Sep 21, 2007 How did thousands of African-Americans come to descend on the town of Jena, La., on Thursday for a march and rally that brought to mind the heady days of the civil rights movement? The answer says as much about what has changed over the past half-century as it says about what hasn't. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )