“Harry Belafonte’s unfinished fight.”
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The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Featuring stories from Hannah Dreier, Jason Fagone and Julie Johnson, Shruti Swamy, John Jeremiah Sullivan, and Kristen Arnett.
We ❤️ Librarians (and the Week’s Top 5)
“I still work as a librarian . . . . But my work has changed drastically. I’m trained in violence de-escalation, trauma-informed reference, and medical and mental health first aid, which includes overdose prevention training. I have intervened in fights, talked people down from suicide, removed domestic violence victims from their abusers, hugged strangers, and […]
How Brooklyn Lost Itself
On the way from the old Brooklyn to the new branded, post-industrial Brooklyn, the city got lost.
Under the Influence: White Lies
When you read “influencer,” do you think “white woman”? That’s not a surprise: the stereotypes originally established offline are reaffirmed on social media by the same systems.
RomCon: Our Failure to See Black Romantic Comedies
Despite the growing popularity of black romcoms, they remain segregated in public perception due to cultural white-washing.
Above It All: How the Court Got So Supreme
Secrecy and speechifying, collegiality and hierarchy, exceptionalism and opulence on the Supreme Court.
How Did the Blues Become the Blues?
In one simple sentence in 1914, Columbus Bragg, an African American writer, helped codify the Blues genre, though he’s largest forgotten.
Longreads Best of 2017: Under-Recognized Stories
Here are the best stories we thought deserved more attention this year.
The Third Life of Richard Miles
Richard Miles spent 15 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. The state of Texas compensated Miles for his wrongful conviction, but life after vindication has come with its own set of challenges.


