Leah Donnella
Stories
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Education
In a debate over a school name, it's not just parents who are attached to the past
At the height of the racial reckoning, a school district in Virginia voted to rename two schools that had been previously named for Confederate generals. This month, that decision was reversed.
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Arts & Life
Jerry Seinfeld and the fraught history of comedians and 'political correctness'
Jerry Seinfeld has the become the latest in a string of public figures to blame "political correctness" for the death of comedy (among other societal ills). But what does the term actually refer to?
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Politics
How ageism against Biden and Trump puts older folks at risk
Recently, conversation about the age of the 2024 presidential candidates has risen to a fever pitch. That's the sign of a deeper problem with how our culture views aging.
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Race & Identity
Martin Luther King is not your mascot
Everywhere you look, people are vocally celebrating MLK Day. But many are cherry-picking which parts of his legacy to recall, and which will be conveniently relegated to the dustbins of history.
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Books
NPR staffers share their non-fiction picks from Books We Love
NPR staffers recommend non-fiction reads from our Books We Love list: "On Minimalism," "Anansi's Gold," "Asian-Americans in an Anti-Black World," and "The Wager."
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National
Black immigrants are growing in numbers, but in the U.S. many often feel invisible
One in five Black Americans are either immigrants or the children of immigrants. But feeling embraced or understood by the U.S. can seem daunting for some, and impossible for others.
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National
In Tennessee, Black immigrants navigate a tricky course to a coveted driver's license
Being able to drive makes life easier. It can open up job opportunities. But it also has challenges, especially if there's a language barrier. And traffic stops can be especially high stakes.
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Books
NPR's favorite food books of 2021
There's nothing like a good book to chew on. From NPR's annual reading round-up, Books We Love, here are four suggestions for books about food.
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Law & Courts
How Much Do We Need The Police?
For many Americans, it goes without saying that the police help maintain public safety. But many others — especially black Americans — see the police as more of a threat than a protective force.
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Movies
Harriet Tubman's 'Visions'
Harriet, the biopic of Harriet Tubman is almost a superhero tale. Even her fainting spells — epileptic seizures, in reality — are depicted as a way for her to communicate with God.