The Invisible Power of Privilege
How often do you think about the privileges you have in life? What life experiences may have looked a bit different if you had darker skin or lighter skin?
An Untold Narrative of Africa & the Modern World
This week – we highlight a lesser-known narrative about how Europe exploited African gold and labor in order to fuel its expansion.
Working In Childcare: The Heavy Cost of Raising Someone Else’s Kids
We speak with two experts about the growing early childcare gap in the U.S. and why bettering the sector starts with valuing these workers more.
Paving a New Future For Classical Music
Less than 2% of all classical musicians are African American. Two classical music experts join us this week to help us understand the barriers for entry into classical music and how those in the field are helping younger populations gain exposure and greater access to the genre.
A Breakdown in Housing
In some cities, people are seeing as high as 30 percent increases on monthly rent. For middle and low-income citizens already on a tight budget, it’s impossible to make ends meet – especially as prices for food, gas and other basics keep ticking upwards. We speak with two housing experts about the complete lack of affordable housing in this country and the …
Living in Poverty in the Rural U.S.
Poverty exists, but it’s hard to grasp what it’s really like if you’ve never experienced it firsthand. Journalist Sarah Smarsh joins Viewpoints this week to share her story of growing up poor in rural America. She shares memories from her childhood and her perspective on how modern culture stigmatizes and traps people stuck in the cycle of poverty.
Fighting for the Future of Clean Water
Gold mining has been a lucrative business for many generations. Today, it’s still a booming industry with global mining companies expanding into new markets each year. This week – we highlight the incredible story of activists in northern El Salvador who stood up to mining company, OceanaGold and won.
The Private Sector Space Race
Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson both made history last month as they rocketed out of Earth’s atmosphere and successfully reached space. This trip was many years in the making as both billionaires built their own respective companies, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, to transport them to space as private civilians. Now, people are lining up and paying hefty …
Fair Labor: The Importance of Worker Centers
Unions, which are organized labor groups, are prevalent across the U.S. You’ve probably heard of the term in the media or may know someone who’s part of a union. But, have you ever heard of a worker center? It operates in similar functions as unions; however, this resource is much more community-based and is more of a guiding advocate in responsive …
The Top One Percent & The Accrual of Billions in Wealth
The 50 richest families in the world have a combined net worth of $1.2 trillion. The Koch family, the second richest name on the list, is worth a staggering $100 billion. For many families, it isn’t just about success and business growth, but the business of building wealth through loopholes like philanthropy and loose taxation laws.
Culture Crash: Literature Tackling Race & Inequality (2021)
The perspectives of black authors are vital in understanding why racial bias still plagues our country. We offer up some timely recommendations to add to your 2021 reading list.
The Unending Toll of Discrimination
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.
The Modern Diamond Business
The northwestern coast of South Africa & Namibia has been a mining hub for diamonds since the 1900’s. Local workers labor through long shifts and hazardous working conditions in order to feed their families. The pay? Roughly five cents per carat of rough diamonds found. While some may argue that the industry stimulates the local economy, once a company …
Culture Crash: A Greater Diversity Within Television
We examine how television series have grown to be more diverse and inclusive in the Peak TV era. One such show is Ramy, a new Hulu original, which candidly follows the life of a young, first-generation Muslim man and the challenges that arise with the melting pot of cultures.
Growing Up Poor in Rural America
Sarah Smarsh is a journalist and author who grew up poor on a farm in Kansas. She discusses life in rural America, how our culture treats people living in poverty, and the causes she attributes to America’s wage gap.
The Fight for Paternity Leave
Bringing a new baby home is exciting... and chaotic. The last thing parents want to worry about is their work life. But for many dads, the stigma and financial burdens of trying to stay home means they have little time to bond at home. We talk to Josh Levs, a journalist who took the fight for paternity leave head-on.
Charlton Heston’s Politics: MLK Marches and NRA Speeches
Charlton Heston was a soldier, a liberal, and a conservative in his 84 years. Biographer Marc Eliot discusses how Heston's politics impacted his career and legacy.
Financial Anxiety: What it is and how to alleviate it
A new survey shows that many Americans are suffering from “financial anxiety” and it’s affecting their health and happiness.
Men, Women and Equality
Our guests talk about issues of gender equality, why they happen, and how we can level the playing field for both women and men.
Wage Inequality: Why We Have It and How to Narrow It
It’s campaign season, and we’re hearing from politicians about the wage gap between the top 1% of earners in this country and the rest of us. What is the gap? When did it begin to develop and why? And what can we do to narrow it? Our guests offer their opinions on the subject and some solutions.
