Social Issues

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with Twin Cities restaurateur Jared Brewington about the crowdfunding platform he’s developing, and his own experience as a Black business owner in Minnesota.
Park officials remove remainder of Powderhorn east encampment after most people leave
A sprawling homeless encampment that had hundreds of tents at its peak is gone from Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis. Sanitation workers hauled away the last few tents Monday, and police arrested about 20 people, residents and activists, who refused to leave.
Linguist John McWhorter says 'White Fragility' is condescending toward Black people
Columbia University professor John McWhorter says the bestselling book “White Fragility” supposes that "Black people's feelings must be stepped around to an exquisitely sensitive degree."
8 things teen girl activists want you to know about their pandemic life
Leaders in the global group Girl Up went to their annual conference — virtually — last week. We interviewed some of the attendees to see what's changed during the coronavirus crisis.
The researchers examined national data on nearly 173,000 operations from 2012 through 2017. Appendix removal and orthopedic operations were among the most common surgeries. And while there were few deaths, the disparities were striking: 23 black youngsters died within 30 days of surgery compared with 13 whites.
'Change can happen': Black families on racism, hope and parenting
In wake of George Floyd's killing and the Black Lives Matter protests, conversations about race in America have a new urgency. Here's how Black parents are having “the talk” with their children today.
Minnesota’s 'Redskin Lake' could see name change
The U.S. Board of Geographic Names has received a proposal to change the name of the lake in far northeastern Minnesota. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has proposed renaming the lake “Memegwesi.”