Category Archives: Voices of Color

Securus Technologies: How a Carceral Conglomerate Makes Millions from Mass Incarceration

Posted on 03/29/2015 by Brian Dolinar

Miguel Saucedo grew up in the Latino neighborhood of Little Village in Chicago. Now almost 30, Miguel recalls as an eight year old taking a five-hour drive to visit his older brother who was incarcerated downstate at Menard Correctional Center. … Continue reading →

Posted in UC-IMC, Voices of Color | Comments Off

#BlackLivesMatter Protests Locally

Posted on 01/30/2015 by Public i

Along with others across the nation, people of Champaign-Urbana have held protests, die-ins, and marches. Below are photos from some of the events. On Tuesday, November 25, CU Citizens for Peace and Justice held a demonstration outside of the county … Continue reading →

Posted in Policing, Voices of Color | Comments Off

Important Questions Related to the Steven Salaita Case at the U of I

Posted on 11/13/2014 by GaryStorm

For university faculty, when, if ever, is speech that includes what may be perceived as vulgar, discourteous or uncivil language protected from putative action by university administrators and/or boards of trustees? Is speech which uses such language, even swear words, … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Voices of Color | Comments Off

Chuco’s Justice Center in Los Angeles: Home of “College Prep, Not Prison Prep”

Posted on 10/01/2014 by James Kilgore

In August I travelled to California as part of my research into the use of electronic monitoring in the criminal justice system. My first stop was a converted factory along the border between South Central Los Angeles and Inglewood, Chuco’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Policing, Voices of Color, Youth | Comments Off

Mandela Remembered by Historian Teresa Barnes

Posted on 02/01/2014 by Teresa Barnes

Appeared originally at U of I News Bureau, 12/6/2013 Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president and an icon in the struggle that ended the country’s system of racial apartheid, died Dec. 5. He was 95. Teresa Barnes is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Human Rights, International, Voices of Color | Comments Off

CU Immigration Forum Steps Up Push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Posted on 08/01/2013 by Richard Esbenshade

(Compiled from material provided by CU Immigration Forum) Champaign-Urbana activists and other supporters of immigrants and a diverse and stable community have been working on a number of new initiatives to pressure legislators to make immigration reform a reality. During … Continue reading →

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A Poem by T’Aari D. Hunter, “ME”

Posted on 05/24/2013 by T'Ari D. Hunter

ME by: T’Ari D. Hunter They said I wasn’t Pretty, They Lied. To be like them, I tried. But being like them wasn’t for me. Being like them, I didn’t feel pretty. I felt ashamed, Like I was a follower. … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Arts, Voices of Color, Women | Comments Off

C-U Marches for Immigration Reform

Posted on 05/24/2013 by Richard Esbenshade

(Compiled from C-U Immigration Forum materials) On Wednesday, April 10th, over 200 students and community members braved steady rain and cold to support comprehensive immigration reform (CIR). Families, students, community and church leaders marched in solidarity from the University Y … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Immigration, Politics, Voices of Color | Comments Off

BTP Poetry

Posted on 04/03/2013 by Books to Prisoners

soccer mom by raisheme worlds insects curdle my hysteria except the bumble-bee. fuzzy, black and yellow skin an outfit of my intrigue. the shiny shells of 6 leg’d things may speed the heart and yield my breath— spiraling webs of … Continue reading →

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Inmate Poetry

Posted on 02/24/2013 by Books to Prisoners

These poems were written by Illinois prison inmates and collected by Urbana Champaign Books to Prisoners. The Public i thanks Books to Prisoners for making them available. We will be publishing more inmate poetry in upcoming issues. For more information, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts, Prisoners, Section, Voices, Voices of Color | Tagged prisons | Comments Off

Her Name Was Hadiya, And She Was Killed By A Gun

Posted on 02/08/2013 by Amira Davis

More than 500 young children have died from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” (from an anti-gang violence PSA by Hadiya Pendleton and crew) “none among us should feel unsafe moving about/through the world, on the earth, … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Policing, Politics, Voices of Color | Comments Off

CUCPJ Public Forum on New Jail Proposal

Posted on 04/22/2012 by Public i

Champaign Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice Present A Public Forum on: The County Board’s Proposal to Spend $20 Million on a New Jail Speakers: Carol Ammons, County Board member who opposes the jail proposal Members of Decarcerate Monroe County, … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Community Forum, Policing, Politics, Prisoners, Voices of Color | Comments Off

S.P.E.A.K. Cafe is Back!

Posted on 08/23/2011 by Public i

SPEAK CAFE’…RACE, ROOTS, AND RESISTANCE: REVISITING THE BLACK POWER MOVEMENT! (OPEN MIC POETRY/SPOKEN WORD SET) Thursday Sept 1, 2011 Doors open at 6:30pm, set from 7-9pm Krannert ART Museum located at 500 E. Peabody on campus. take 4th St. south … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Voices of Color | Comments Off

SOLHOT Saving Yourself First

Posted on 02/24/2011 by Porshe Garner

Here in the local community, I am a part of a phenomenal group called Saving Our Lives Hear Our Truths (SOLHOT). SOLHOT is a space organized for and by Black women and girls. Within SOLHOT, female student volunteers from the … Continue reading →

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Racial Microaggressions and its Impact on Campus Climate at the University of Illinois

Posted on 02/23/2011 by UIUC Center on Democracy in a Multiracial Society Racial Microaggression Research Group

On November 4, 2008, the first person of color was elected President of the United States of America and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. It is true that President Obama did break down some racial barriers, However, many … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Human Rights, Indigenous, Latino/a, Voices of Color, Women | Leave a comment

A Letter to a Black Girl

Posted on 02/22/2011 by anonymous

To Whom It May Concern (and those who may think it doesn’t): So, when exactly did it start? As I sit and ponder on when I can recall my first moment of interaction with sexuality, I realize I can’t do … Continue reading →

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In Search of Coretta Scott King

Posted on 02/22/2011 by Courtney Suzanne Pierre

They say that behind every great man lies a great woman. This popular phrase holds true in the case of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. As Martin led marches and protests during the Civil Rights Movement, Coretta … Continue reading →

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A Great Literacy Campaign for African America in the 21st Century

Posted on 01/27/2011 by Amira Davis

SOME BACKGROUND The crisis in public education has been likened toa modern day Civil Rights crisis and a human rights tragedy. At center is the debate over educating ex-slaves. Big business insiders in seats of educational authority, like Arnie Duncan … Continue reading →

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New Book of Poetry from Aaron Ammons

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Public i

A second book of poetry is now out from local poet Aaron Ammons, a.k.a. A-Dub, titled As I Travel My Creation. It includes dozens of new poems such as “Do I Remember,” reprinted below. This self-published book was funded in … Continue reading →

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Challenging the Media Monopoly: Introducing the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center’s public i

Posted on 08/17/2001 by Sascha Meinrath

This inaugural issue of the public i represents the birth of the only news-focused, collectively-run, non-profit newspaper in Urbana-Champaign. Continue reading →

Posted in Arts, Community Forum, Education, Environment, Human Rights, IMC, International, Labor/Economics, Media, National, UC-IMC, Voices of Color | Leave a comment