February is Black History Month, and we focused on black history and the current state of race this weekend on Aspen Institute Radio. The two-hour radio show airs every Saturday and Sunday on SiriusXM Insight (channel 121). Each episode will dive into the topics that inform the world around you. Here in our weekly Listen Longer posts, we’ll recap each episode and show you where you can read, watch, and listen to more. Don’t have SiriusXM? Try it free for a month here.
“I Have A Dream”
Delivered by Martin Luther King on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial more than 50 years ago, his call for an end to racism in the United States marks a defining moment in the nation’s move towards civil rights. The speech, offered to 250,000 people then, has reached countless millions since, and is hailed as a masterpiece of rhetoric. David Rubenstein, The Carlyle Group co-founder and co-CEO, illuminates the talk’s historic significance.
Cities and Race
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landreiu joined the 2014 Symposium on the State of Race to discuss how the two cities have addressed racial issues and divides. Get an inside look at the symposium in this social media story. Watch the full conversation here.
Who Got Hit Worst by the Recession and Housing Bust? Minority Communities
The recession and housing bust hit minority communities the hardest. Hispanic households on average lost nearly half of their home equity and black households lost 28 percent between 2007 and 2010, according to the Urban Institute. Due to the loss of homes by people of color, the wealth gap is likely to increase as minorities are finding it more difficult to enter back into the housing market. What will these disparities and demographic shifts mean for race and class in the United States? We discussed this important issue with four experts:
- Tanner Colby, author, “Some of My Best Friends Are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America”
- Lisa Hasegawa, executive director, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
- Mark Hugo Lopez, director of Hispanic research, Pew Research Center
- Richard Lui, news anchor, MSNBC and NBC News (moderator)
Supporting Affordable Housing
Impact investing is one way to support affordable housing. Our panel of experts gave tips for potential investors, including structuring investments and mitigating risk. Interested in more info about impact investing? These three infographics show how the strategy can advance economic mobility in America.
Tune in next week to Aspen Institute Radio on Saturday and Sunday, 1-3pm ET on SiriusXM Insight (channel 121) when we celebrate President’s Day.
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