Learning to Swim Through My Hybrid Cultures
A poem, “Swimming,” explores themes of crossing borders, survival, and resilience.
Social Justice
In Photos: Rallying for Roe
After a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion signaled the court’s intention to overturn the landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, advocates for reproductive justice took to the streets in cities nationwide.
30 Years After the L.A. Uprising, Multiracial Organizers Rebuild the City
The 1992 L.A. rebellion was a wake-up call for a deeply segregated city.
How Muslims Are Rebuilding Ramadan’s Community Spirit
Even though Ramadan is about community, the pandemic forced us into isolation. Now, we are cautiously emerging, rebuilding our ties, and reimagining how to mark the holy month of fasting.
Art and Identity on the Spectrum
What does creativity look like on the spectrum? We asked four autistic artists to show us how they would like to be seen.
Instead of “Tough on Crime” Policies, California Could Fund Better Solutions
State legislatures and elected officials around the country have almost always responded to crime with more police funding in spite of little to no positive results. Instead, they could tackle the recidivism rate, solve the housing crisis, and reduce poverty.
To Save a Forest, Look to the Women
Women often suffer the most from environmental degradation. A nonprofit in Colombia is trying to make their needs central to conservation.
On Mass Migration and Not Becoming Immune
How much suffering must a human go through to be seen as equal?
Unlearning Racism As a Non-Black Person of Color
A young, mixed-race Iranian American realized during the 2020 racial justice uprisings that being a person of color didn’t mean she was automatically an expert on race and racism.
Interrupting Cycles of Harm, Inside and Outside Prison Walls
Formerly incarcerated mental health care providers are supplementing traditional resources for those still in prison—with mutually beneficial results.
Alopecia Is No Laughing Matter for Millions of Black American Women
Black women like Jada Pinkett Smith and Representative Ayanna Pressley are coming forward to shed light on a little known hair loss condition that disproportionately affects Black women.
Who Gets to Define Classical Music?
The recent outrage over the Grammy nominations of two Black artists in classical categories is part of a long-standing problem in the White-dominated genre.
The Two-Spirit Diplomat Who Mediated Two Worlds
WeWha was a celebrity in the U.S. capital, and loved for their gender-fluid self at home.
Unpacking Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court Nomination Hearings
Republican Senators on the Judiciary Committee engaged in aggressive political attacks on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Supreme Court confirmation hearings. But they couldn’t take away from the historic significance of the first Black women to be nominated to the court.
How to Celebrate Holi Without Culturally Appropriating It
Each spring, millions of Indians and Hindus celebrate Holi. But as Western forces try to capitalize on the colorful tradition, there are ways to enjoy it without engaging in cultural appropriation.
Flipping the Message About Refugees, With a Poem
In form and message, a poet shows both adults and kids that the world can be looked at another way.
Native American Storytelling, One Pint at a Time
These native breweries are taking back the social and economic power of storytelling.
States Advance Anti-Transgender Agendas—Part of a Longtime Strategy by Conservatives to Rally Their Base
Some 30 states initiated anti-trans legislation in 2021, and 7 more in 2022.
Why Is Breonna Taylor’s Father Still in Prison After Decades?
Everette Taylor has been as good a father as the prison system has allowed. He’s one of millions of Americans who remains incarcerated for far too long.
Why Everette Taylor Is a Victim of Our War on Drugs
Breonna Taylor's father, who remained close to all six children, including Breonna while she was alive, is being held in a Michigan prison. An incarcerated writer makes the case for Everette’s freedom.
In Conversation with Everette Taylor, Breonna Taylor’s Father
Everette Taylor didn’t get to say goodbye to his daughter. Stuck behind prison walls, Taylor speaks with YES! about how he remains connected to his surviving children despite decades of incarceration.
Critical Race Theory Opens Up New Opportunities for Student Learning
Amid the heated national controversy about CRT in schools, some Black educators are openly using the framework to help students better understand history and contextualize current events.
What I Didn’t See as a Jewish Israeli
After 59 years in Israel, visiting the Palestinian neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah shook my identity.
Another Legal Win for South Africa’s Indigenous Communities
“Wild Coast communities are using the courts to fight for the right to determine what happens in their territory and strengthening their hand in a country heavily marred by colonialism.”
How to Address Poverty Among Latinx Children
There is a crisis of poverty among Latinx immigrant children in the U.S., particularly among undocumented, mixed-status, and single-parent households. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Inspiration in Your Inbox
Sign up to receive email updates from YES!
Our Vision to Create the Best Stories Imaginable
In 2025, we will temporarily pause the printing of YES! Magazine.
LEARN MOREHelp Fund Powerful Stories to Light the Way Forward
Donate to YES! today.