Statue of late civil rights leader John Lewis replaces Confederate monument in Georgia
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A monument honoring the life and work of civil rights icon John Lewis was unveiled in Decatur, Georgia, marking a major step in confronting America's racial past. For more than a century, a Confederate obelisk stood in the square where the new memorial now Read More...
Top 5 Martin Luther King Jr. speeches that aren't "I Have a Dream”
Martin Luther King Jr.'s impact on the Civil Rights Movement extended beyond his well-known "I Have a Dream" speech. According to Jason Miller, an English professor at North Carolina State University, King's oratory was his most significant contribution, serving as a medium for transformation. As Read More...
Immersive art installation reminds people to take a moment and breathe
A new public art installation in Brooklyn calls attention to the issue of social injustice and mindfulness in an unconventional and compelling way. Dubbed Breathing Pavilion, the temporary art installation is designed by Brooklyn-based artist Ekene Ijeoma who wanted to create a safe public space Read More...
To address racism today, companies must back words with action
Much has changed in the corporate world since 2014. Back then, brands went largely unchallenged for standing on the sidelines or issuing noncommittal statements during the Black Lives Matter protests in Ferguson, Missouri. Calls for the Washington football team to change its name at that time Read More...
Connecticut just passed a major bill to start holding police accountable
After months of protests against racism and police brutality, it would be a great waste if all that effort doesn’t translate into real change. Fortunately, in some states that change is already happening. This past week, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed sweeping police accountability Read More...
The founder of Netflix just donated $120 million to black colleges
Many prominent public figures have donated towards causes that support racial justice in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, but no donation has gone further than that of Netflix founder Reed Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin. The duo recently put forth $120 million that will be Read More...
English soccer players take the field and a stand for racial justice this week
English soccer is back this week, and when Manchester City and Arsenal take the field this week, all players’ jerseys will feature “Black Lives Matter,” rather than their names. The change comes after a push from players to demonstrate their support of the global anti-racism movement. Read More...
How K-Pop fans led a virtual protest for racial justice
As protests for racial justice took place around the globe, the Black Lives Matter movement found an unusual ally in the world of K-Pop where fans and artists alike led an online anti-racist movement. In a truly 21st century moment of activism, K-Pop fans flooded Twitter with “fancams,” or Read More...
“Black Lives Matter” is popping up along more streets across the country
Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser made headlines last week after she renamed the intersection at H and 16th streets “Black Lives Matter Plaza” and commissioned artists to paint the words in big, yellow letters on the pavement. Although some criticized the move as a symbolic gesture lacking Read More...
You can help Black Lives Matter by watching these videos on YouTube
For those who want to support the ongoing movement against racial injustice but are unable to donate money, YouTubers are creating monetized videos that allow you to support Black Lives Matter just by streaming with your adblocker off. Zoe Amira, a beauty YouTuber currently with about 69,000 Read More...