Opinion & Essay
The Philadelphia Experiment
And a little child shall lead them: King Hill’s death brings call for change
A chaotic week featuring Trump, John Lewis, coronavirus and federal troops is overshadowed by the murder of a 2-year-old child.
5 years ago
Eyes on the Street
Monuments to America’s racist past don’t belong in our public parks
The Philadelphia Art Commission’s decision on Marconi’s Christopher Columbus statue will influence how our city heals from injustices.
5 years ago
Eyes on the Street
Mayor Kenney, stop putting optics before solutions — your city needs housing now
An open letter to Mayor Kenney and Philadelphia Housing Authority CEO Kelvin Jeremiah about the city’s homeless encampments and demands for housing.
5 years ago
Eyes on the Street
Breonna Taylor’s death reveals link between urban development and racist policing
Lawyers for Breonna Taylor’s family have tied her murder by police to a West Louisville revitalization plan. The allegations resonate in Philadelphia.
5 years ago
Elijah McClain and the invisibility of ‘different’ Black and brown boys
I challenge all of us to see, understand, and appreciate the uniqueness and individual qualities of different Black and brown boys, writes Whiquitta Tobar.
5 years ago
Eyes on the Street
Remembering my Uncle Stephen McFadden, the SEPTA conductor who was slick with words
Stephen McFadden was loved by so many, but to me, he was simply my Uncle Stephen.
5 years ago
Eyes on the Street
Quarantine inspired us to explore parks. Science suggests the habit could stick.
Park and trail use skyrocketed during our stay-at-home period. Social science gives us reason to believe these healthy habits will stick.
5 years ago
Billy Penn
When the police watch your family picnic, none of the options are good
Black Philadelphians shouldn’t have to choose between having a “good day” and addressing racism.
5 years ago
Eyes on the Street
Reparations would help cities. Now is the time for urbanists to advocate for them.
It’s time for cities to take a reparative framework that addresses impacts of past harm.
5 years ago
The 2020 budget process was complicated. So was my ‘yes’ vote.
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, who is frustrated at how much tax dollars are spent on police, explains why he voted yes on a budget that didn’t “defund the police.”
5 years ago
Eyes on the Street
Parenting amid a revolution: How to raise an anti-racist kid
“Mommy, you’re Black,” my three-year-old boldly said to me. It came out of the blue while we were sitting in our living room. I wasn’t ready. I had to be.
5 years ago
Eyes on the Street
I’m a Black woman living in a mostly white Philly neighborhood — on my own terms.
I’m a Black woman living in a mostly white Philly neighborhood during the pandemic and civic unrest. I won’t tone myself down to make you more comfortable.
5 years ago
White urbanists: let’s use our privilege to advocate for anti-racist design
Urban anthropologist Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman argues that in order for cities to be “human-centered,” white urbanists need to actively be anti-racist.
5 years ago
Broke in Philly
The future is uncertain for stateless people like me
Karina Clough, a stateless person and a DACA recipient under final removal proceedings, wants meaningful immigration reform. And she and others want it now.
5 years ago
The Notebook
POWER: Pa. state education funding is a textbook example of structural racism
Member of interfaith grassroots organization expresses support for Student Union calls on redirecting resources from security to support.
5 years ago