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December 12, 2012 The nation's population is now projected to become "majority-minority" in 2043, the Census Bureau says. Meanwhile, the average age will continue to rise as Americans live longer, birth rates continue to decline and immigration slows.

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November 7, 2012 The president captured nearly all of the swing states, many of which had been seen as tossups days before Election Day. How did he do it? Political observers say it came down to three major factors.

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October 24, 2012 Reactions to Thomas Nagel's recent book remind commentator Alva Noë of the foolish criticism directed toward E.O Wilson back in the 70s. Does biology give us the resources to understand ourselves? We must take this question seriously.

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September 14, 2012 An ambiguous quote about the first lady by an attendee at a Romney American Legion event did injustice to blacks, veterans and the attendee herself. Many listeners heard hate speech. If so, did NPR share blame? Should reporters even care how the audience might react?

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April 10, 2012 After a series of messy mishaps, NPR isn't doing badly when it comes to racial and ethnic diversity in its coverage and staffing. Management is trying to do better. I explore what audiences identify with NPR and who really is producing the news that you hear and read.

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March 20, 2012 Data suggest that the racial attitudes of ordinary Americans have shaped both how they feel about Obama's health care overhaul and how intense those feelings are.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

January 6, 2012 A Morning Edition report about high obesity rates among African-American girls prompted a tough question—why did NPR point the finger at one group when obesity transcends race and gender lines? The piece is, in fact, accurate and well-crafted race-related reporting.

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September 1, 2011 As 'minorities' become the majority a change is inevitable. But it could be a long time coming.

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June 27, 2011 Today on Talk of the Nation, NPR's Rob Gifford reflects on ten years in China, the gay marriage decision in New York, Sophia Nelson debunks myths about successful black women, and NPR's Linda Holmes warns culture junkies they'll never be able to get to it all.

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April 1, 2011 Manning Marable, one of the leading scholars of African-American history in the United States, has died at age 60. He had been hospitalized with pneumonia last month, according to reports. His book Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention is coming out Monday.

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August 5, 2010 A controversial Youtube video of an upset African American man goes viral, spawning numerous copycat videos. Is this Internet meme really about race, comedy, music, celebrity or a delicate mix of all of the above?

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