Journalism around the world is under attack. In Myanmar, journalists are being arrested for reporting on the deadly coup, as the nation’s military kills and terrorizes civilians. And in neighboring Bangladesh, anyone using words or images to criticize the government can be arrested. Shahidul Alam is an award-winning photojournalist from Bangladesh. He spent 107 days for criticizing the government’s deadly crackdown against protesters. Soledad O’Brien talks with him about his fight for freedom of the press.
While the coronavirus forced some libraries to physically shut their doors, many have found new ways to help people during the pandemic. Some are offering wi-fi hotspots and book deliveries or even becoming hubs for health care. Before the pandemic we took you inside America’s library with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden who says no matter what happens, they’ll continue to serve their communities.
This week on Matter of Fact, we visit Evanston, Illinois where some residents could get a form of reparations for housing discrimination. Special Correspondent Joie Chen shows us how where you grow up can have a major impact on your success in life. Plus, next week is National Library Week. Soledad talks with Dr. Carla Hayden, the first woman and African-American to serve as the Librarian of Congress. And, how street artists in Washington, D.C. are using art as a voice of protest against racial injustice.
The debate over who counts as an American and who doesn’t is as old as the nation. African Americans, indigenous peoples, and immigrants have all struggled to belong in a nation they helped to build. Enslaved African Americans built our monuments to democracy. Indigenous iron workers raised and riveted the beams of the buildings creating New York’s skyline. Special Contributor Ray Suarez shares the story of one of the most important contributions from immigrants seeking acceptance: the building of the transcontinental railroad.
Stay up to date with the Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien newsletter!
Get the latest news and stories from the show in your email every Monday afternoon.
On Friday evenings, you’ll get a sneak peek of what’s coming up in the next episode.
Click to subscribe to the Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien newsletter
Thanks for watching!
This week on Matter of Fact, we look at gun reform in the U.S. After the Sandy Hook massacre, when a gunman killed 20 little kids and 6 adults, Shannon Watts founded “Moms Demand Action.” She talks to Soledad about how her group is working to pass stronger gun laws, in the wake of two mass shootings less than a week apart. Plus, we look at the possible future of the coronavirus pandemic by studying the history of the deadly 1918 flu pandemic. And, Soledad talks to poet Sonia Sanchez about her legacy and why she’s still hopeful her words can bring peace in a chaotic world.
When she recited “The Hill We Climb” in January, Amanda Gorman became the youngest poet to read at the presidential inauguration. She was influenced by a long tradition of Black women writers who focused on feminism, identity, and oppression, including Toni Morrison and Audre Lorde. Another one of Gorman’s major influences in Sonia Sanchez. Soledad O’Brien talks to the poet and activist about finding the right words in times of turmoil and turbulence.
Even as millions of vaccine shots continue to roll out, the U.S. could be on the edge of another coronavirus surge. Right now, COVID cases are spiking across Europe as the more contagious variants spread. Dr. Anthony Fauci says this could be a foreshadowing of what’s to come for the U.S., but other health officials say it’s too soon to tell. This is not the first time the world faced a deadly virus and ignored the warnings of scientists. Special Contributor Joie Chen shows us the lessons learned from the 1918 Flu Pandemic.
This week on Matter of Fact, we’re taking a look at the Biden administration’s attempts to overhaul immigration policy. A federal judge who oversees criminal immigration cases gives us an inside perspective on what he sees in his court room every day. Why he says he has presided over a process that destroys families. Plus, Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to Juarez, Mexico to talk to a Honduran mom who was deported in 2017 and hasn’t seen her two sons ever since. And, dozens of landowners living along the southern border have been fighting for years to keep their property from being used for a barrier wall. After the Biden administration paused construction, they’re now in legal limbo.