5 Newsletters That Don’t Drop the Ball on Race & Politics
Because you can’t talk about American politics without race.
By Fola Onifade
Like podcasts, there seems to be no shortage of newsletters from the corporate marketing email blast to the political candidate’s weekly fundraising plea begging for all your coins OR ELSE.
But good newsletters, ones you look forward to regularly and open every time they land in your inbox, are harder to come by (trust us, we try to write one every week). In the political sphere, it’s even more challenging to find newsletters that provide a sharp analysis of race and social justice in the greater discussion of politics and policy.
While we most certainly hope you’ll subscribe to our newsletter, here are five others we read to stay smart on politics, and think you should too.
The Platypus: Justice, Joy and Ideas by Deepak Bhargava and Harry Hanbury
Birthed from an informal email blast to friends in the early stages of the pandemic, The Platypus is now a (mostly) weekly newsletter from former executive director of Community Change Deepak Bhargava and documentary filmmaker Harry Hanbury. The Platypus provides sharp insights and opinions on news and politics, but doesn’t take itself too seriously as it infuses reflections on pop culture from Lil Nas X to “Schitt’s Creek” and our new favorite band, the Linda Lindas.
raceAhead by Forbes’ Ellen McGirt
Senior Editor and Writer at Forbes, Ellen McGirt writes a twice weekly newsletter centered around race and politics, especially as it relates to corporate America. At a time when the lack of cultural competency can sound the death knell of a public entity, being smart on racial and social justice impacts the bottom line. If you’re looking for a newsletter at the intersection of business, race, and politics, raceAhead is the one for you.
This Week in the South by Scalawag Magazine
Scalawag Magazine is redefining the South and shifting the narrative to help foster transformational change in the region and across the country. Rooted in liberatory practices and solidarity, Scalawag’s reporting centers the stories of movements, organizers, and the communities that drive them. As the national political center of gravity shifts towards the South and Southwest, sharp reporting that addresses race and politics in the region will continue to grow in importance, and we’re looking to newsletters like This Week in the South for the stories that lift up the folks most affected by the changing winds.
About Us by Washington Posts’ Vanessa Williams and Rachel Hatzipanagos
Twice a week, the Washington Posts’ About Us shares its best coverage on race and culture, and highlights candid conversations across the web about identity, race, and politics from TikTok’ers using the platform to build awareness for social justice issues to Post’s freelancers discussing the legacy of plantations and what they owe to descendants of slavery. About Us pulls together the Post’s sharpest insights on the broad spectrum of race and politics in one place.
The 19th News
The 19th News’ daily newsletter highlights the stories and perspectives of women and people of diverse genders, centering a large portion of the population that are still often overlooked. From assessing the impact of the pandemic on women of color to lifting up trans activists and lawmakers fighting for trans rights, the 19th News is addressing American women everywhere and giving them a news outlet of their own.
At Democracy in Color, we’re lifting up the people, places and organizations that are advancing the vision of a multiracial democracy. It’s why we look to newsletters like the ones listed above to understand the diversity of the communities that make up the New American Majority, a rising multiracial and progressive coalition.
For more pieces like this and greater insight into the intersections of race, history, and politics, sign up for our newsletter here.