History

On May 3, 2021, NPR turns 50 years old. To mark this milestone, we're reflecting on and renewing our commitment to Hear Every Voice. Spencer Gabor hide caption

Isabel Wilkerson speaks at TEDWomen 2017 — Bridges, November 1-3, 2017, Orpheum Theatre, New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Stacie McChesney / TED Stacie McChesney/Stacie McChesney / TED hide caption

James Baldwin poses while at home in Saint Paul de Vence, South of France during September of 1985. Ulf Andersen/Getty Images hide caption

Susan Stamberg co-hosted All Things Considered from 1972 until 1986 — she's the first woman to anchor a daily national news program in America. She is now an NPR special correspondent. NPR hide caption

Protesters who have just been arrested during the 1971 "May Day" demonstrations continue to shout their opposition to the war in Vietnam. Wally McNamee/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

The Penn Museum is home to the The Morton Cranial Collection, which includes nearly 900 human skulls obtained during the early 19th century by Philadelphia scientist Dr. Samuel Morton. His research was used to lend scientific support to white supremacy. R. Perez/Penn Museum hide caption

In this 2017 photo, Gavin McInnes (center), founder of the far-right extremist group known as the Proud Boys, is surrounded by supporters after speaking at a rally in Berkeley, Calif. McInnes told NPR that the group is made up of "funny dudes, not Nazis." At least 25 members of the far-right group are facing charges related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP hide caption

Miriam Colvin's podcast "Competition With The Best" was one of two grand prize winners in the college edition of NPR's Student Podcast Challenge. Elissa Nadworny/NPR hide caption

Earth Day on April 20, 1970 in New York, New York. Santi Visalli/Getty Images hide caption

The Black Panthers march in protest of the trial of co-founder Huey P. Newton in Oakland, California. Bettmann/Getty hide caption