activism

Zimbabwean American singer, poet and activist Shungudzo says she finds an outlet for her activism through music.

Artist Shungudzo feels an urgency to 'use her words' to fight against racism

In her music and poetry, Shungudzo tackles the racist experiences she had growing up in Zimbabwe and the US.

Artist Shungudzo feels an urgency to 'use her words' to fight against racism
Overhead view of congregation in pews, while woman stands at podium speaking

In New York, volunteers engage in a quiet form of advocacy for immigrants facing deportation

In New York, volunteers engage in a quiet form of advocacy for immigrants facing deportation
Boxes on tables with labels: "Safety pin box," "More than a safety pin," "Effective measurable allyship"

Before taking action against hate, white people should look inward

Before taking action against hate, white people should look inward
Protesters at airport, protesting outdoors in front of airplanes

Activists, on overdrive to respond to Trump’s immigration plans, are making new alliances in Detroit

Activists, on overdrive to respond to Trump’s immigration plans, are making new alliances in Detroit
Kiler Mike

How #BankBlack could help narrow the US wealth gap

How #BankBlack could help narrow the US wealth gap
Cuban artist Tania Bruguera reads from Hannah Arendt's book "The Origins of Totalitarianism" as part of a 100-hour collective reading in Havana May 20, 2015.

Cubans 'don't understand ... things like freedom of expression are things that belong to them'

Cuban artist Tania Bruguera speaks her mind and was arrested three times last year in Havana. She's hoping President Barack Obama doesn't self-censor during his upcoming Cuban visit.

Cubans 'don't understand ... things like freedom of expression are things that belong to them'
Grace Lee Boggs

Remembering the life of trailblazer Grace Lee Boggs

Spurned by academia in the 1940s due to discrimination, Grace Lee Boggs spent the rest of her life fighting against such oppression.

Remembering the life of trailblazer Grace Lee Boggs
 Angeline Jackson is an advocate for LGBT rights in Jamaica.

It took Obama for her triumph to be commemorated in Jamaica

Angeline Jackson was sexually assaulted at gunpoint in 2009, and says she received little sympathy from the police because she's a lesbian. But now Jackson is an activist who's trying to help other lesbian and bisexual Jamaicans find safety and support.

It took Obama for her triumph to be commemorated in Jamaica
Mohammad Jibran Nasir is a 28-year-old Pakistani lawyer turned civil rights activist.

Meet the Pakistani activist fighting the Taliban, igniting Pakistani students abroad

Mohammad Jibran Nasir is a 28-year-old lawyer and civil rights activist from Pakistan. He’s touring the United States to promote his message of anti-extremism, and to raise awareness around his two social campaigns, #NeverForgetPk and #ReclaimYourMosques.

Meet the Pakistani activist fighting the Taliban, igniting Pakistani students abroad
Demonstrators gather at Monument Circle to protest a controversial religious freedom bill recently signed by Governor Mike Pence, during a rally in Indianapolis on March 28, 2015.

Does it make a difference when musicians boycott?

Wilco has announced that the band was cancelling its Indiana show because of the new "religious objections" law. But can musician boycotts bring political change?

Does it make a difference when musicians boycott?
Australian singer Conrad Sewell performs at the Spotify House at SXSW 2015.

We traveled to SXSW for the geeks at Interactive, but music grabbed a spotlight

SXSW Interactive is where you go when want to find out about the next big thing in technology. We traveled down to Austin to report on modern activism and protest culture post-Snowden. It wasn't supposed to be about music. But because Austin, it was.

We traveled to SXSW for the geeks at Interactive, but music grabbed a spotlight
Syrian activist Karam Al Hamad at work. Hamad is currently waiting for permission to leave Turkey to travel to the US for a fellowship.

After a year of torture in Syrian jail, an activist finally makes it to the US

After a year in a Syrian jail being tortured by the regime's police, activist Karam Al Hamad finally escaped to Turkey. He says he'll only feel safe once he gets to escape the region and come to the US for a fellowship, but the road is proving even harder than he expected.

After a year of torture in Syrian jail, an activist finally makes it to the US
Margie Richard stands in what used to be her front yard, across the street from Shell's chemical plant in Norco, Louisiana. Richard pushed for the company to buy out the neighborhood and move residents.

How one woman fought one of the world’s biggest oil companies — and won

It took decades of tragedies and illnesses, and a trip to see UN officials, but a retired teacher in the small town of Norco, Louisiana persuaded Shell Oil to relocate the residents of her neighborhood away from a dangerous chemical plant. Now her example may help other local activists do the same.

How one woman fought one of the world’s biggest oil companies — and won
The World

For this hip-hop artist, black lives do matter — and it's time to take a stand

On Saturday in Austin, there was a Black Lives Matter protest on the campus of the University of Texas, down the street from near the annual SXSW conference. At the protest was Texas hip-hop artist D.Hawk, who says it's time to take a stand against violence against African Americans.

For this hip-hop artist, black lives do matter — and it's time to take a stand
A compilation of people who spoke to PRI's The World at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

The faces of youth activism from SXSW

On any given day at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, activists know they have an audience for their causes. We've been asking young people on the street, "What was the last protest you attended?"

The faces of youth activism from SXSW