Racial Justice | Penn Today

Book launch reestablishes economic legacy of Sadie T.M. Alexander

A new book spotlights the speeches and writings of Sadie T.M. Alexander, the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in economics from Penn and in the U.S.

Philadelphians react after Congress approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday

Eve Higginbotham of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the significance of Juneteenth. "It's a day of reflection as well as an acknowledgment that, going forward, we still have work to do," she said. “We still need people engaged, but we need people to translate their reflections into action.”

A Juneteenth parade in Philadelphia streets

How businesses have begun to recognize Juneteenth

This Saturday marks Juneteenth, the oldest known holiday honoring the end of slavery in the U.S. Wharton professor Matthew Bidwell looks at how businesses are recognizing the holiday.

The ideas of the first Black economics Ph.D. offer solutions to our problems today

Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, the first African American with a doctoral degree in economics, advocated for economic justice after graduating from Penn in 1921.

Q&A

The use and misuse of race in health care

In a Q&A, PIK Professor Sarah Tishkoff, the Perelman School of Medicine’s Giorgio Sirugo, and Case Western Reserve University’s Scott Williams shed light on the “quagmire” of race, ethnicity, genetic ancestry, and environmental factors and their contribution to health disparities.

Black, Latinx and female entrepreneurs are still ignored by most venture capitalists

Katherine Klein of the Wharton School spoke about the lack of diversity in venture capital funding. “The disparity in who the venture capitalists are and where their money goes is just phenomenal,” she said.

Black Lives Matter has grown more powerful, and more divided

Daniel Gillion of the School of Arts & Sciences said public disputes within the Black Lives Matter movement may ultimately strengthen it. “It is truly grass roots, involving multiple people chiming in. And that’s what you want,” he said.

‘Traveling Black:’ the fight for freedom on roads, rail, and in the air

Mia Bay of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about her new book, “Traveling Black: A Story of Race and Resistance.”

Aerial view of several blocks of rowhouses in Philadelphia.

A fair housing law proposal to promote racial and economic integration

A research brief co-authored by Provost Wendell Pritchett proposes the use of fair housing law to work toward the end of segregation, and emphasize that the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing provision of the Fair Housing Act extends to all federal agencies.

People on a commuter vehicle with face-coverings on

Q&A

Wharton professor discusses the economics of racism

Bernard E. Anderson, the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Professor Emeritus at the Wharton School, discusses how racism hurts the economy and affects all Americans.

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