We live in a society that often seeks to avoid or erase difficult stories. More and more, books that deal with critical themes—racism, sexism, and homophobia—are banned, though these issues affect us all. When we don’t tell these stories, it makes it harder to find solutions to difficult problems. 

In today’s Race + Power newsletter, we’re not shying away from stories about hard topics, but we’re also looking at ways that impacted people are working to build power and shape their own narratives.

First, Charlotte Jones Voiklis—the granddaughter of author Madeleine L’Engle—reminds us that literature isn’t meant to make us feel “safe” but to prepare us for the real world. Next, as Congress inches closer to passing sweeping new legislation, we look at the devastating toll that proposed Medicaid cuts would have on people all across the country. Then, contributor Anmol Irfan explores how social media feeds overconsumption and what we can do to break free from it. Finally, we look at how organizers of the State of the People Power Tour are working to shape narratives and build power in local communities.

Thanks for reading,

Rebekah Barber
Staff Writer, NPQ