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Racial Justice

More thoughts on the state of American democracy
george floyd protest

More thoughts on the state of American democracy

In part two of this series, five Penn experts offer their insights on public health, election legitimacy, student loan debt, and more.

Michele W. Berger , Erica K. Brockmeier , Kristen de Groot , Louisa Shepard

Historian Mia Bay on ‘Traveling Black’
Historical photograph of Union Terminal waiting room with African American travelers

Jacksonville Union Terminal segregated waiting room during the Great Migration.

Historian Mia Bay on ‘Traveling Black’

The professor of history’s new book explores the intertwined history of travel segregation and African American struggles for freedom of movement.

Kristen de Groot

University of Pennsylvania doctor brings transparency to COVID vaccine for Black community

University of Pennsylvania doctor brings transparency to COVID vaccine for Black community

Florencia Greer-Polite of the Perelman School of Medicine is working to show that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe. “I was losing sleep about the idea that Black people in this country were dying at higher rates of coronavirus and were not going to take the vaccine,” she said.

Systemic racism and its impact on health and wellness
a crowd of peaceful masked protesters with one sign in the middle that reads racism is a pandemic too

Systemic racism and its impact on health and wellness

The fifth of 13 conversations in Penn’s “Racism and Anti-Racism in Contemporary America” preceptorial highlighted racial health disparities and discussed policies that could support a more equitable future.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Ruby Washington is poised to make her mark in bioengineering
Ruby Washington holds a bioengineered cast in the shape of a human leg.

Ruby Washington is poised to make her mark in bioengineering

The senior in Penn Engineering’s Department of Bioengineering weds biomedicine and her pursuit in addressing healthcare disparities in the Black community.

From Penn Engineering Today

The influence and importance of language
A person in an American flag outfit and bandana carrying an American flag in front of a large group of people at the U.S. Capitol building. Many hold flags that read "Trump 2020."

On Jan. 6 2021, a group of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building, resulting in the death of five people. (Image: Tyler Merbler)

The influence and importance of language

Labels for what happened Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol were very different from those used to describe the Black Lives Matter movement or the 2020 election results. How much weight do individual words actually have? It depends on the context.

Michele W. Berger

The state of U.S. democracy
the capitol building in washington dc

While a new administration transitions into office, the past four years have left the country asking, “How strong is our democratic foundation?”

The state of U.S. democracy

On the eve of a presidential inauguration following a historic election and its aftermath, experts from across the University weigh in on where we stand as a country.

Brandon K. Baker , Michele W. Berger , Kristen de Groot , Kristina Linnea García , Dee Patel , Louisa Shepard