Questions about inequality and policy seldom resolve in a single news cycle.
About W. Smith III
Why I’m Not on Social Media—and Why I Don’t Miss It
Too much bad information, too much cynicism, can stymie a person’s character and, I believe, rot the soul.
Too much bad information, too much cynicism, can stymie a person’s character and, I believe, rot the soul.
The Meme Says ‘Black-Only.’ the Law—and History—Say Otherwise.
If you encounter a venue advertising “whites only” or “Black only,” you’re looking at a relic, a hoax, or something headed to court.
If you encounter a venue advertising “whites only” or “Black only,” you’re looking at a relic, a hoax, or something headed to court.
How Global Media Myths Distort Black America’s Image
What happens when the world believes a lie so deeply, they can’t see the truth — even when it’s standing right in front of them?
What happens when the world believes a lie so deeply, they can’t see the truth — even when it’s standing right in front of them?
Oh My God! What Country Are We Living In? — And What Year Is This?
This is Nazi America.
This is Nazi America.
The Most Segregated City in the United States: A Microcosm of Black Life
What Milwaukee’s data, divisions, and daily realities tell us about race, resilience, and inequality across the United States.
What Milwaukee’s data, divisions, and daily realities tell us about race, resilience, and inequality across the United States.
The Foundation From the Background: What Happens When Black America Isn’t the Headline Anymore
Every backlash, every new target, starts with us.
Every backlash, every new target, starts with us.
When Citizenship Isn’t Guaranteed: The United States Is Drawing Its Line in the Sand
What happens when the rights we thought were permanent suddenly slip away, not with force at first, but with the slow turning of the political tide?
What happens when the rights we thought were permanent suddenly slip away, not with force at first, but with the slow turning of the political tide?
The Art of Critical Thinking — and the Fear Behind the Voice
Critical thinking means questioning yourself as much as the world around you.
Critical thinking means questioning yourself as much as the world around you.
I Got Called Out — And It Matters
Using the language of dominance — calling the U.S. ‘America’ — can feel imperialist to people in places like Mexico or elsewhere across the Americas.
Using the language of dominance — calling the U.S. ‘America’ — can feel imperialist to people in places like Mexico or elsewhere across the Americas.
My Thoughts on the State of America
In this moment, it feels as if America is at a crossroads.
In this moment, it feels as if America is at a crossroads.
Fish Out of Water, or the Oxygen in the Room: History Isn’t Safe — And That’s Exactly Why They Want It Gone
People say the work is too hard.
People say the work is too hard.
How the World Learned to See Blackness — Scientific Racism and Its Enduring Legacy
The people who did this were not confused or naïve.
The people who did this were not confused or naïve.