Murmurations: The Wisdom Behind Prison Walls
A note from adrienne maree brown: Gilda Sheppard directed a film called Since I Been Down, in which Kimonti Carter was a protagonist as a transformed man leading his community
YES! Article archive
Who’s Helping Asylum Seekers?
While politicians on both sides of the aisle embrace “tough on immigration” policies, asylum seekers hoping to enter the U.S. are turning to grassroots organizations for information, safety, and dignity
Protecting Black Pregnant People’s Health—and Data
Birth workers serving Black pregnant people maintain the holistic methods—and data privacy—that distinguish doula care from the medical-industrial complex.
Environmental Justice as Birthright
On Aug. 8, 2023, 13-year-old Kaliko was getting ready for her hula class at her mother’s house in West Maui. The power was out, and she heard there was a
How Black Women Can Protect Their Peace This Election Cycle
In the months prior to Vice President Kamala Harris’ nomination to the Democratic presidential ticket, I felt a lingering fear in my body about what it would mean for Black
What Is Progress 2025?
In response to Project 2025’s regressive political agenda, YES! has launched this hub for the big ideas—and grassroots methods—that offer solutions for democracy.
In Defense of the Herring People
Efforts to decolonize the herring roe harvest in Alaska highlight the contrast between tribal subsistence practices and the Department of Fish and Game’s management strategy.
Punjabi Californians Find a Lifeline Through Community Health Workers
Facing a health care system without sufficient translation services and a grueling economic landscape, Punjabi residents in Fresno, California, have created an organization to help meet their community’s unique needs.
We Don’t Need Misogynoir to Critique Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris can and should be critiqued for her political résumé—but criticism rooted in misogynoir should have no place in political discourse.
Listen to the Lessons of Appalachia
In this excerpt from “Beginning Again,” Nikki Giovanni offers an ode to the great people who call Appalachia home.
Ballroom Is Still About Black Queer Joy
More than 130 years after the first ball was held, ballroom continues to be an essential place for Black and Brown LGBTQ people to find care, connection, and chosen family.
Making Equity Part of the Equation in Math Education
Most Americans report they don’t know enough math to make routine financial decisions.
The Quiet Success of the Israel Divestment Movement
The United States has historically provided hundreds of billions of dollars in foreign aid to Israel. The flow of taxpayer funds to Israel’s military has only increased since Israeli forces
Nurturing Seeds of Freedom in Palestine
Surrounded by a 26-foot-high separation wall, barbed wire, and a watchtower, a group of young Palestinians prepares a 3.5-acre piece of land for the growing season in spring. The noise
The Communal Kitchens Fighting Famine in Sudan
Most international aid groups evacuated Khartoum when the fighting began and haven’t returned, so locals are finding ways to feed one another.
Murmurations: From Rupture to Repair
Now more than ever, we must learn ways to make ourselves—and each other—whole in the aftermath of rupture.
The Complexity of Harris’ Historic Candidacy
Women of color want demographic and political representation, just as wealthy white men have had for generations.
What’s in a Name? For Abortion Providers, Quite a Bit.
Even before abortion became illegal in 14 states, some reproductive health care clinics were rebranding to better reflect the broad spectrum of gender-inclusive care they provide.
Why Protest Works—Even When It’s Unpopular
High-profile, disruptive protests can lead to increased polarization—but often still yield increased public support for the protest’s goals, even if the tactics are criticized.
Meet the Couples Upending India’s Caste-Based Marriages
In stark contrast to the billionaire Ambanis’ wedding, some Indians are subverting patriarchy, caste, and class in their ceremonies.
Rooting for Black Land Ownership
Exploring the history of land theft in the U.S., Brea Baker argues that the Black reparations and Indigenous Landback movements are stronger together.
Courage By Any Other Name
In times of trouble, cowards choose the easiest path. It is only the courageous—and almost always those who are most marginalized—who dare to say and do the hard, but right, thing.
The Movement to Ban Plastic Production
Frontline communities continue to pay for plastics—from production to pollution. Now advocates are trying to reach consensus on a global plastics treaty before it’s too late.
AI Can’t Fix Our Broken Health Care System, But People Can
AI is trained on data from our health care system as it exists, which means the data is contaminated by racial, economic, and regional disparities. But there are solutions.
Political Violence Is Not Violence Against Politicians
Indigenous communities have long resisted the false narratives of imperialist nations and are experts at countering the political violence of white supremacy.
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