Segregation not only divides cities but leads to divided people as well. It fuels biases against people who may look or act different than us, leading to generations of inequity and discrimination. Viewpoints speaks with social justice activist, Tonika Johnson about the many impacts’ segregation has had on the city of Chicago.
20-46 Segment 1: The History of Football as the NFL Celebrates its 100th Anniversary
The National Football League was founded in 1920 – and it’s no surprise that a lot has changed since then. Viewpoints speaks with three sports experts about the evolution of the football industry, its humble beginnings and why the NFL is still so pervasive and popular in American culture.
20-44 Segment 1: The Native American Vote: A Group Plagued By Voter Marginalization
There are more than 5.2 million Native Americans living in the U.S., yet only a small fraction cast a ballot each election cycle. What factors lead to this low turnout? Viewpoints speaks with two experts about how historical bias feels into the current challenges facing this group.
Culture Crash 20-37: The Lasting Legacy Of Actor Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman passed away from cancer at the age of 43 on August 28. We honor his legacy and his many contributions to film from starring in Black Panther to his portrayal of baseball player, Jackie Robinson in the 2013 movie 42.
20-35 Segment 1: Rehabilitation While In Prison: Getting To The Root Of The Problem
The U.S. has the largest prison population in the world with more than 2.3 million inmates. Each year, prisons cost taxpayers 80 billion dollars. But with two thirds of those incarcerated returning back behind bars within a few years, clearly something is broken. We discuss how some popular reforms do more harm than good and what needs to change within the system.
20-33 Segment 1: The Holocaust: Surviving The German Occupation Of The Netherlands
When Dutch forces surrendered to the Germans in May of 1940, the Nazis gained control of the Netherlands and set in action a plan to exterminate hundreds of thousands of Jews and minorities. Arguably, the most famous voice from that region is Anne Frank – the young teenage girl who wrote of her daily life in hiding until she was discovered in 1944 and died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. While Anne Frank is a prominent voice, there are many other stories of those who hid out for years, evading capture and awaiting freedom.
Culture Crash: The Voices Of African American Authors
Reading the works of black authors is an important part to better understanding why racial inequities still plague our country. We offer up some recommendations to add to your reading list.
20-08 Segment 2: Born Into Slavery: Firsthand Perspectives Of Formerly Enslaved Men And Women
Imagine being born into slavery in the South. You don't have a dime to your name, received no education and all you know are the surrounding fields of the plantation you worked on. What would you do after the abolishment of slavery? How would you start over? February is Black History Month - and as we remember the past and the period of slavery in America, it’s important to not only take in the perspectives of historians and educators, but also direct firsthand accounts from those formerly enslaved. Viewpoints’ speaks with historian and photographer, Richard Cahan, co-author of the new book River of Blood: American Slavery From the People Who Lived It.
19-43 Segment 2: A Shift in Sweden: Similarities and Differences to the U.S.
International influence is pervasive in today’s interconnected, social media-driven world. Swedish author Elisabeth Åsbrink joins Viewpoints to discuss how her home country of Sweden has changed in recent years, and the perception of the country versus the reality of what’s happening within its borders.
19-37 Segment 1: The Lasting Prevalence of Skin Whitening
In the U.S., most women are always hoping to achieve a healthy glow or bronzed tan. But in much of the world and in many ethnic cultures, having lighter skin is widely preferred and is viewed as a status symbol of beauty and wealth. To achieve this look, millions of women use black-market whitening creams, pills and even IV drips filled with a myriad of ingredients. We speak with three experts about why the beauty regimen of skin whitening is still so widely upheld and some of the harmful side effects caused by these beauty products.
19-32 Segment 2: The Complexities of Implicit Bias
What exactly is implicit bias and how does it form? We breakdown this complicated issue and discuss why it’s so important for parents to address implicit bias with kids early on through candid conversations and exposure to diverse environments.
19-21 Segment 1: Color of Law
Racial segregation still persists throughout the U.S. One factor contributing to this inequality is the structure of our towns and cities. Richard Rothstein and Tonika Johnson talk about how past laws and our government created a divided demographic and the impact this has on certain populations.
19-18 Segment 1: Diversity in Sci-Fi
For decades, science fiction was a genre written almost exclusively by white males. Now, the genre is flourishing with diverse voices, thanks in part to the trailblazing writer Octavia E. Butler. Historian Gerry Canavan discusses the obstacles Butler faced and her legacy on one of the most popular genres in American literature.
18-12 Segment 1: Racism In 2018
We talk to experts on sociology and racism about what racism looks like in our modern world and what we all can be doing to help make the world more tolerant and less racially biased.
15-14 Story 1: Teaching Race and Diversity in Schools
Synopsis: Can race be taught as a school subject, like chemistry and foreign language? And if so, what kinds of curricula are best for making students understand how different races fit into and benefit society? We talk to two researchers about the answers to these questions and take a slightly different look at race, ethnicity, … Continue reading 15-14 Story 1: Teaching Race and Diversity in Schools
