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In 2019, Black Americans represented 14% of the total U.S. population, but 33% of the total prison population and 46% of the prison population who had already served at least 10 years. (Framestock/Adobe Stock)

Report cites racial disparity in imprisonment

Tennessee's incarceration rates stand out internationally, and there are glaring racial disparities in prisons and jails. New research examines the …

The Tennessee House passed House Bill 2106 last year, which requires that Black history be taught to 5th through 8th graders. It takes effect July 1, 2025. (Adobe Stock)

TN Group Heads to State Capitol for 'Day On The Hill'

Advocates and leaders are headed to the state capitol next week to voice their concerns over issues affecting Black communities in Tennessee…

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation offers Racial Healing Conversation Guidelines that include five steps to help facilitate meaningful and impactful conversations. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

"Changing the Narrative" for National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday, designated as a National Day of Service, and tomorrow, the same spirit carries over to the seventh …

Nashville State Community College and other partners offer what's known as

TN School Works to Attract More Students of Color to Higher Ed

A new report on Black students in the community college system found fewer are signing up to attend two-year schools, an enrollment downturn made …

While the number of public school teachers of color has grown substantially, the increase has not kept pace with changes in the nation's student population, <a href=

according to the National Council on Teacher Quality. (Adobe Stock)">

Race, Gender Factors in TN Teacher Classroom-Observation Scores

New research suggests Tennessee's system for rating a teacher's effectiveness by observing them in the classroom may not be equitable - at a time when…

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

Protestors clash with police on a highway in Hong Kong. (Adobe Stock)

TN “Anti-Protest" Bill Would Make Highway Obstruction a Felony

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- State Senate lawmakers are considering a bill today that would increase the penalty for obstructing a highway from a class A …

Upward mobility is shrinking among Tennessee's young people, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Kids in TN Less Likely to Out-Earn Parents

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A new report finds children in Tennessee are less likely than kids from similar families nationwide to out-earn their parents in …

Pervis Payne is in Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Tennessee. (The Innocence Project)

Gov. Lee Delays Execution in Case Spotlighting Intellectual Disability

MEMPHIS -- Gov. Bill Lee has delayed the execution of Pervis Payne until next spring, citing challenges and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 …

TN adopta Enfoque a Través de Datos para Ayudar a Estudiantes a Terminar su “College”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Siguen las disparidades entre las líneas racial y socioeconómica cuando se trata de quién tiende más a …

About half of Black student borrowers who entered college in 2004 defaulted on their student loans within 12 years. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Shrinking Number of Black Students at UT-Knoxville, Other Public Institutions

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Most public colleges and universities are failing to enroll numbers of Black students representative of their state populations - …

About 30% of Black workers and 20% of Latinx workers hold bachelor's degrees, compared to 44% of White workers. (Adobe Stock)

Wage Gap Persists for Students of Color with College Degrees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The percentage of students of color enrolled in Tennessee colleges has steadily increased in the past decade, but national figures …

Aprendizaje en línea, un reto para los Programas Carcelarios de Educación Superior

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Muchas universidades han migrado a clases en línea para el resto del año escolar, pero para las personas que están …

African-American culinary historians are exploring how enslaved people influenced American cuisine. (Adobe Stock)

Culinary Historian Examines Slaves' Influence on American Foods

By Ruth Terry /Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan Reporting for the YES! Magazine-Tennessee News Service -- YES! MEDIA COLLABORATION -- NASHVILLE…

Divers Rebecca Hunter-Wimberley, left, and Ayeta Heatley recording in situ (meaning

Diving With a Purpose: Black Divers Search for Lost Slave Ship Wrecks

By Ruth Terry Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan Reporting for the YES! Magazine Media-Tennessee News Service Collaboration NASHVILLE, Tenn -- …

U.S. Customs and Border Protection detention facilities are hotbeds for potential flu epidemics. Children and older people are especially vulnerable. (Adobe Stock)

Some Docs Voice Concern about Flu Vaccines for Migrants

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Peak flu season is here, when most people check in with their doctors about whether to get a flu shot. But for migrants …

Atheist students in one Tennessee public school district were told they would be better off

ACLU Sues TN School District Over Official Prayers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a freedom of religion lawsuit on behalf of parents whose children attend Smith …

A judge has temporarily blocked a Tennessee law that outlines strict new rules for voter registration, including fines and criminal charges for anyone who doesn't comply. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Federal Court Blocks TN Law Restricting Voter Registration

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Just weeks from going into effect, a federal district court judge has temporarily blocked a Tennessee law that would make it …

Tennessee's state Capitol building in Nashville, where a bust of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest is on display. (Adobe Stock)

TN Proclamation Law Aimed at Keeping “Memory of the Confederacy Alive”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Bill Lee's recent signing of a proclamation making July 13 Nathan Bedford Forrest Day, in observance of the Confederate …

It may come as no surprise that a new poll finds Tennessee is becoming more politically polarized. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: The Political Divide Widens in Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A new poll from Vanderbilt University finds Tennessee is becoming more politically polarized. Pollsters surveyed by phone 1…

Currently, the Affordable Care Act makes legal immigrants, including green card holders and temporary visitors, eligible for subsidies to purchase private health insurance. (Twenty20)

Tennesseans Can Weigh In on Green-Card Policies

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As they prepare to vote in the November midterms, Tennesseans can also weigh in on a proposal by the Trump administration …

Many arrested in the April raids outside Morristown required help from friends and family to settle affairs since they were abruptly taken into custody. (Twenty20)

TN Delegation Meets with Congress Members on ICE Raids

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The April Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that took place outside Morristown continue to have an impact on …

Tennessee communities will be prohibited from offering sanctuary to undocumented immigrants, and the law may actually lead to increased incidences of unreported crime when immigrants are afraid to call police for help. (yummypixels/Twenty20)

Anti-Immigrant Law Sits on TN Governor's Desk

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee may claim the moniker "Volunteer State," but a bill awaiting Gov. Bill Haslam's signature frames the state as less …

Tennis star Serena Williams reportedly had problems getting doctors to take her medical issues seriously upon the birth of her child last year. (motivationforgood/Pixabay)

TN Observes First-Ever Black Maternal Health Week

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Black women are three to four times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. It's just one startling statistic …

Most human trafficking victims will encounter a medical professional, and Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., sponsored legislation that would give medical professionals tools to identify people who are being exploited. (ACF OPA)

TN Congressman Leads Way in Preventing Human Trafficking

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Human trafficking is a significant problem in Tennessee, with its size, number of interstate highways and relatively healthy …

Pulaski, Tenn., is considered the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan. Pictured here, klansmen march in a New Jersey funeral for a Klan member. (Bundesarchiv, Bild)

Hate Groups: Study Looks at Cause and Rise

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee is the home state of one of the most infamous hate groups, the Klu Klux Klan – but the Southern Poverty Law …

More than 30 young people from Tennessee who are at risk of deportation are in Washington this week to talk with members of Congress about the importance of passing a Dream Act. (Wally Gobetz/flickr)

TN Youths Demand Congress Pass Dream Act

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- More than 30 young people from Tennessee are in Washington, D.C., today to share their message with government leaders. They …

The gap between opportunities in education, health and the economy is smaller when compared with most other states, according to a new Annie E. Casey report, but there is more work to be done. (Eli Duke/flickr)

Equal Opportunities for Children: TN Takes Steps to Eliminate Racial Disparities

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee is moving in the right direction when it comes to eliminating racial disparities for children and their families…

Incidents such as this fire in a church in Mississippi, where arson is suspected, are believed to be on the rise in the United States. (ProPublica)

Groups Work to Track Hate Crimes in TN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, there were 275 incidences of hate crimes against people or their …

This statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest is one of two that some Memphis residents are asking be removed. (Ron Cogswell/Flickr)

Thousands Demand Removal of Memphis Confederate Statues

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - More than 4,500 people are asking the city of Memphis to remove two Confederate statues. The group "Take Them Down 901" wants the …

Critics say U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' renewed

Directive from Washington Could Create Crowding in TN Jails

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A directive from U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions could place additional burdens on the state's already crowded prison system …

There's a racial disparity in Tennessee when it comes to who owns homes. (Lucy Krosble/flickr.com)

Effort Mounted to Reduce Disparity in Home Ownership

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- White residents in Tennessee are more than 1.6 times more likely to own a home than people of color. That's according to the …

Experts say closing the racial achievement gap could be achieved by addressing the mass incarceration problem in states such as Tennessee. (Penn State/flick.com)

Unlocking the Truth: Incarceration Tied to Racial Achievement Gap

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The mass incarceration of African Americans has contributed significantly to the racial achievement gap in the nation's schools…

Moms United believes the war on drugs, attacks on immigrants and on the poor all are interconnected. (A New PATH)

Moms Resolve to Defend Human Rights

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With 2017 upon us, one organization has issued a set of New Year's resolutions calling on mothers everywhere to preserve advances …

This weekend, hundreds will gather for the National Immigrant Integration Conference, marking the first time the event has been held in the Southeast. (NIIC)

We the People: TN Hosts Immigration Conference

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This weekend, hundreds of policymakers and advocacy groups will converge in Nashville to discuss ways to better integrate …

Some African-American and Latino voters waited much longer at the polls than white voters in the 2012 election. (justgrimes/Flickr)

TN Early Voting Begins This Week: Obstacles at Polls for Some?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Starting Wednesday, Tennesseans can begin casting early ballots for the November 8 election. And a new report from The Joint …

The University of Tennessee is confronting allegations in a federal lawsuit the university's student culture enables sexual assaults by student athletes. (J Stephen Conn/flickr.com)

We Believe You: Sexual Assault Survivor Advocates for Others

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Andrea Pino knows firsthand how devastating a sexual assault can be. She was raped by a fellow student at the University of North …

Public safety officials nationwide are voicing concerns about the death penalty. (dodgertonskillhause/morguefile.com)

New Group: Law Enforcement Officials Concerned about Death Penalty

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Gerald Galloway worked for more than 30 years in law enforcement in North Carolina, but in spite of encountering some of the …

The Tennessee Senate passed a resolution directing the state attorney general to file a lawsuit against the federal government for allegedly failing to consult with the state on refugee resettlement. Pictured here are Syrian children in a refugee camp in Syria. (Mehmet Bilgin/flickr.com)

Don't Come Here: TN Senate Passes Anti-Refugee Resolution

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Senate this week passed a resolution that directs the state attorney general to sue the federal government over …

Thousands of Syrians are displaced as a result of the country's civil war. Some are expected to arrive in Tennessee in the next few months. Credit: United Nations

Tennessee Expected to Receive Syrian Refugees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee will likely receive some of the 10,000 Syrian refugees President Barack Obama says the U.S. will admit for …

Festivals from Memphis to Bristol are now evaluating the Guns in Parks law, passed by state lawmakers earlier this year, and how it could impact their event. Photo credit: John B. Holden/Morguefile.

Controversy Over Tennessee "Guns in Parks" Legislation

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Under a law passed earlier this year, people with a concealed-carry permit can take a gun inside a private concert or event…

PHOTO: Tennessee's ban on same-sex marriage is gone, with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that marriage equality is a Constitutional right in all states. Photo credit: Ron Frazier/Flickr.

Equal Rights Fight in TN Now Focuses on Jobs and Schools

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution guarantees marriage equality to all, that doesn't mean the …

PHOTO: A new pilot program in Davidson County is designed to address underlying problems that can lead to juvenile delinquency and crime, and intervening during kids' earliest encounters with the juvenile justice system. Photo credit: Larry Farr/Morguefile.

Tennessee County Takes New Approach to Juvenile Justice

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – One Tennessee county is overhauling the way kids are treated in its juvenile justice system, in the hopes their futures will …

PHOTO: Gov. Bill Haslam has until Tuesday to decide whether to sign legislation that allows a pregnant woman to be charged with a crime for drug use if it harms her baby. Photo credit: Daniel Lobo/Flickr

Decision Looms on Bill Targeting Pregnant Drug Users

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Time is running out for Gov. Bill Haslam to make his decision on a bill that would allow Tennessee women to be charged with a …

PHOTO: A new scorecard on the progress of children in Tennessee shows the need to create more opportunity for kids of color as the state becomes more diverse. Photo credit: USDA.

Not all TN Children Have Equal Opportunity to Thrive

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As the state continues to grow more diverse, a new report shows more efforts are needed to make sure all Tennessee children are …

PHOTO: Hobby Lobby took its case to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, with company owners arguing that they shouldn't have to provide contraception coverage for workers because it conflicts with their religious beliefs. Photo credit: Nicholas Eckhart

SCOTUS Decision on Hobby Lobby Case Expected by June

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The arguments are over, and now the waiting begins as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs a challenge to the contraceptive mandate in …

PHOTO: Matthew Drumright is asking people across Tennessee and the nation to take time today to stop and think about how their words may affect others. Photo credit: Matthew Drumright

Tennesseans "Spread the Word to End the Word"

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Today is "Spread the Word to End the Word" day, an effort in Tennessee and nationwide to get people to stop using the word …

PHOTO: Dylan Brown with the Center for Independent Living in Middle Tennessee wants a new Senate vote on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Photo courtesy Tennessee Disability Coalition.

Politics of Power have Disability Treaty Stalled in Senate

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - An international human rights treaty that's been bottled up for more than a year has hundreds of organizations for veterans and …

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TN: Human Rights/Racial Justice