National

For Black History Month, Axios journalists from around the country identified local heroes in their cities.

Through the lens: Whether an executive director created the first office of racial equity in San Francisco, or a Columbus-based teacher who led efforts to desegregate the city school system, these Black trailblazers and lesser-known historical figures have made their mark. Learn more about them: 

Photo: MSS0281-PH040, Reverend Jack Yates and the Antioch Baptist Church Collection, Houston Public Library, African American Library at the Gregory School.

Jack Yates was a former slave and reverend who founded Emancipation Park in Houston to commemorate the end of slavery, and the historic Third Ward community. Yates was a strong advocate for Black ownership of land and homes.

Sheryl E. Davis is the executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, where she has worked to launch the citywide Office of Racial Equity. Davis has also launched programs including Black to the Future, Everybody Reads, and Opportunities for All.

Photo: Edna Griffin papers, Iowa Women’s Archives, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa

Edna Griffin is known as the "Rosa Parks of Iowa." Griffin's 1948 legal battle against Katz Drug Store in Des Moines became a landmark case before the Iowa Supreme Court and foreshadowed the civil rights movement. 

Jahmal Cole Founder & Executive Director of My Block, My Hood, My City speaks in Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Town & Country

Jahmal Cole is the founder of My Block My Hood My City which helps youth from divested neighborhoods find educational opportunities. Cole also organizes shovel events after snowstorms to help seniors.

In 1918, Helen B. Jenkins was one of the first Black public school teachers in Columbus. After teaching for over 30 years, Jenkins led efforts to desegregate the city school system in 1976. 

Dr. Marvin Dunn is a FIU professor emeritus and scholar in Miami whose specialty is Community Psychology. A retired naval officer, Dr. Dunn founded a high school for at-risk youth in Miami, has written several books, and produced several films related to Black history in America and in Florida specifically. 

 John Mitchell Jr. was a newspaper editor who was born into slavery shortly before the end of the Civil War. Mitchell was a talented student and orator, and became editor of the Richmond Planet at 21. Mitchell was known to wear a pair of revolvers and travel the state investigating lynchings. 

Tiffany Roberts is the public policy director at The Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta. Roberts, a former public defender, is a co-founder of Atlanta's Black Lives Matter chapter, and her career as an activist, lawyer and organizer has often focused on police accountability. 

A photograph of Wilma Rudolph holding two gold medals. 

Sprinter Wilma Rudolph wears one gold medal and holds up the two others she won at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Photo: Bettmann/Getty Images

Wilma Rudolph, originally from Clarksville, TN, was an Olympic champion and international track and field icon. Rudolph attended Tennessee State University and after winning three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics, helped turn its track program into one of the nation's best.

Photo of Chef Nicola Blaque holding out a taco.

Chef Nicola Blaque during the Austin Food & Wine Festival at Auditorium Shores in Austin, Texas. Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images

An army vet, Chef Nicola Blaque is the first Black woman in San Antonio to be nominated for a James Beard award. Blaque restaurant, The Jerk Shack, landed her in the "Best Chef: Texas" category. 

Hall of Fame player Alan Page at U.S. Bank Stadium  in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Alan Page was Hall of Fame Vikings defense tackle in the 1970s, who later became a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice in 1992, the first Black person to serve on the court. In 2018 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Go deeper: Sign up for Axios Local to learn more about the figures in your community making history. 

In photos: Local Black heroes, past and present

These Black trailblazers and lesser-known historical figures have made their mark.

Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Alan Page in is office in St. Paul, MN. Photo: Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via Getty Images

Black History Month

For Black History Month, Axios journalists from around the country identified local heroes in their cities.Through the lens: Whether an executive director created the first office of racial equity in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Francisco" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/02/23/photos-black-joy-dignity-san-francisco" data-vars-content-id="840d9ebd-121d-4f9c-93f2-1f6614fa842f" data-vars-headline="In photos: Local Black heroes, past and present" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2023/02/23/photos-black-joy-dignity-san-francisco" target="_self">San Francisco</a>, or a Columbus-based teacher who led efforts to desegregate the city school system, these Black trailblazers and lesser-known historical figures have made their mark. Learn more about them:

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

Latino

Axios Latino

Since 1990, November has been designated as Native American Heritage Month. 

Through the lens: These photos show how Indigenous people keep their heritage, customs, and truth alive today. 

2022 Miss Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Queen Cajun Cleveland, who is Diné (Navajo), stands for a photo after the ceremonial rodeo near Gallup, New Mexico. 

2022 Miss Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Queen Cajun Cleveland,  who is Diné (Navajo), after the ceremonial rodeo on Aug. 14 near Gallup, New Mexico. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

A mural honors the famous Navajo code talkers, who are credited with American victories in World War II on September 12, 2022.

A mural honors the famous Navajo code talkers, who are credited with American victories in World War II by transmitting coded messages in their native language that the Japanese military was unable to crack, on Sept. 12. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

People participate in the first Annual Indigenous Peoples Of the Americas Parade in Manhattan on October 15, 2022 in New York City.

People participate in the first Annual Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Parade in Manhattan on Oct. 15 in New York City. Photo: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Performers at a Red Dress Powwow The 1st Annual Red Dress Powwow was held to bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People.

Performers at a Red Dress Powwow held to bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People in Reno, Nevada in May. Photo: Ty O'Neil/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Traditional dancers from Mexico and the U.S. perform the Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers) at the 100th Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial at Red Rock Park  near Gallup, New Mexico.

Traditional dancers from Mexico and the U.S. perform the Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers) at the 100th Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial at Red Rock Park on Aug. 12 near Gallup, New Mexico. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Navajo artist Vanessa Bowen wears her "Make American Native Again" hat.

Navajo artist Vanessa Bowen wears her "Make American Native Again" hat in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in July 2016. Photo: Russell Contreras/Axios

Maya Eagle, an Oglala Lakota girl, takes a selfie while inside a teepee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, on May 1, 2015.

Maya Eagle, an Oglala Lakota girl, takes a selfie while inside a teepee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, on May 1, 2015. Photo: Russell Contreras/Axios

Kewa Pueblo Pueblo cartoonist Ricardo Caté works with Oglala Lakota youth on art in Allen, South Dakota.

Kewa Pueblo Pueblo cartoonist Ricardo Caté works with Oglala Lakota youth on art in Allen, South Dakota. Photo: Russell Contreras/Axios

Go deeper: Photo essays by Native photojournalists in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian

In photos: Indigenous Heritage Month

Since 1990, November has been designated as Native American Heritage Month.

US artist Nicholas Galanin's piece, "Never Forget," on display in the Coachella Valley, the giant, white letters resemble the Hollywood sign, but reads "INDIAN LAND."

US artist Nicholas Galanin's piece, "Never Forget," on in the Coachella Valley, California, on March 11, 2021. Photo: Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Native Americans

Since 1990, November has been designated as Native American Heritage Month. Through the lens: These photos show how Indigenous people keep their heritage, customs, and truth alive today.

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

Chicago

The Chicago Public Library is working to preserve the city's Korean American history, especially for those in the second- and third-generations who may not speak Korean nor remember Albany Park's short-lived Koreatown.

Driving the news: On this last day of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we're looking into the Korean American Archives project, which is making photographs and documents from Chicago's Korean community digitally available to the public.

How it works: Members of the Korean community have donated photos, flyers and brochures that document their social, cultural, and political history in the city.

The library is cataloging and digitizing the materials to give the public access to them through the library system, Axios' Aïda Amer writes.

Context: Young Park, who works for the Popular Library (a department in the Harold Washington Library Center), helped conceptualize the KAA project after Illinois passed the TEAACH Act in 2021.

The legislation mandates Asian American history in all public elementary and high school curriculum.

What she's saying: Park, who immigrated from South Korea to Chicago two decades ago, tells Axios that the project grew out of her work with youth in the community, where she saw a desire to hear stories of the people who came before them.

What's ahead: CPL is working to translate and summarize the first round of documents donated to the project, which will be digitized and available for researchers by year-end.

Chicago Public Library shines light on local Korean American history

The Korean American Archives project is making photographs and documents from Chicago's Korean community digitally available to the public.

Photos courtesy of Chicago Public Library

South Korea

The Chicago Public Library is working to preserve the city&#x27;s Korean American history, especially for those in the second- and third-generations who may not speak Korean nor remember Albany Park&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="short-lived Koreatown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wbez.org/stories/a-sign-from-the-past-what-happened-to-chicagos-koreatown/662cbf40-4fec-4af7-937f-de5f968ef5d4" data-vars-content-id="b420bcaf-29b3-4134-ac36-72f6462ff83e" data-vars-headline="Chicago Public Library shines light on local Korean American history" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wbez.org/stories/a-sign-from-the-past-what-happened-to-chicagos-koreatown/662cbf40-4fec-4af7-937f-de5f968ef5d4" target="_blank">short-lived Koreatown</a>.Driving the news: On this last day of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we&#x27;re looking into the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Korean American Archives" data-vars-click-url="https://www.chipublib.org/news/documenting-korean-american-history-in-chicago/" data-vars-content-id="b420bcaf-29b3-4134-ac36-72f6462ff83e" data-vars-headline="Chicago Public Library shines light on local Korean American history" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.chipublib.org/news/documenting-korean-american-history-in-chicago/" target="_blank">Korean American Archives</a> project, which is making photographs and documents from Chicago&#x27;s Korean community digitally available to the public.

News

Washington D.C.

Young transgender people from all over the country came together to celebrate a Trans Youth Prom outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday. 

Why it matters: It was a chance for trans kids and their families to celebrate themselves as more states propose and pass anti-trans legislation.

Youths march in a parade after the Trans Youth Prom in Washington D.C. on May 22, 2023.

Youths march in a parade after the Trans Youth Prom in D.C. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

What's happening: People from ages 5 to 20 danced in gowns and suits and posed at a photo booth before marching from the Capitol to the Supreme Court. 

Trans activist DJ Nico played songs by Beyoncé and Lil Nas X. Drag performer Stormie Daie, dressed in a princess gown and wings, emceed.  

Youths, parents and advocates march in a parade after the Trans Youth Prom in Washington D.C. on May 22, 2023.

Youths, parents, and advocates march in a parade after the Trans Youth Prom in D.C. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

Marching at the Trans Youth Prom in Washington D.C. on May 22, 2023.

Marching at the Trans Youth Prom in D.C. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

Close up of accessorices on a youth attending the Trans Youth Prom. 

Orian, 14, attends the Trans Youth Prom in D.C. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

What they're saying: "I like trans people. I like prom. I like fashion," Orian, 14, told Axios. 

LG, 11, dances with his mother, Nai, at the Trans Youth Prom in Washington D.C. on May 22, 2023

LG, 11, dances with his mother, Nai, at the Trans Youth Prom in  D.C. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

Hildie Edwards, 12, attends the Trans Youth Prom in Washington D.C.

Hildie Edwards, 12, attends the Trans Youth Prom in D.C. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

"I'm here to celebrate myself, my beautiful gender identity," said Hildie Edwards, 12. 

Sisters Mya Figueroa, 13, and her Alana, 24, pose for portraits at the Trans Youth Prom in Washington D.C.

Sisters Mya Figueroa, 13, and Alana, 24, pose for portraits at the Trans Youth Prom in  D.C. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

"It's good to show pride that we're here," said Mya Figueroa, 13, who came from Arizona with her older sister Alana, 24, for the prom. "We're visible. We are here."

"Trans kids are kids. They deserve what every other kid deserves," Alana said. 

DaQuon Allen, 20, and Josh Baker, 26, pose at The Trans Youth Prom in Washington D.C. 

DaQuon Allen, 20, and Josh Baker, 26, pose at the Trans Youth Prom in D.C. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

Michael Coppola, 15, stands in front of the Captiol building at the Trans Youth Prom in Washington D.C.

Michael Coppola, 15, who is not trans but identifies as gender queer, stands in front of the Capitol building at the Trans Youth Prom in D.C. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

"We are equal and we deserve equal rights as everyone else," said Michael Coppola, 15.

In photos: Joy at the Trans Youth Prom

"I'm here to celebrate myself, my beautiful gender identity."

Drag performer Stormie Daie on stage at the Trans Youth Prom in Washington D.C. on May 22, 2023. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

Drag performer Stormie Daie on stage at the Trans Youth Prom in D.C. on May 22. Photo: Aïda Amer/Axios

Washington, D.C.

Young transgender people from all over the country came together to celebrate a Trans Youth Prom outside the U.S. Capitol on Monday. Why it matters: It was a chance for trans kids and their families to celebrate themselves as more states propose and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pass anti-trans legislation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/31/anti-trans-bills-2023-america" data-vars-content-id="de53d790-59b6-4314-9080-1ead78ce63b0" data-vars-headline="In photos: Joy at the Trans Youth Prom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/31/anti-trans-bills-2023-america" target="_self">pass anti-trans legislation</a>.

Talented Black artists are still underrepresented in the wider art world. A recent study showed that only 6.3% of exhibitions across 29 museums were dedicated to Black American artists. 

Why it matters: Even though pieces by big names like Mark Bradford continue to be popular, acquisitions for contemporary Black artists remains low, making up 2.2% of all acquisitions across 29 museums nationwide. While this list is by no means comprehensive, it is meant to serve as an introduction to some lesser-known contemporary Black artists making waves in the art world.

Looking for more? Be sure to check out photographs by Tyler Mitchell, Alanna Fields, and Ivan McClellan; the paintings of Kayla Mahaffey and Kadir Nelson; and the embroidered fabric canvases of Bisa Butler. 

Go deeper into Axios' coverage for Black History Month.

A wagon mounted steam calliope showing shadowy outlines of people.

An acrylic painting showing a woman with braids tied up on the top of her head. 

Courtesy of Alfred Conteh and Kavi Gupta Gallery

An acrylic, oil pastel and spray painted paiting by Hebru Brantley on canvas showing two characters about to enter a cave-like void. 

Courtesy of Hebru Brantley and Hebru Brand Studios

A linocut print by Rashaun Rucker showing a couple holding hands. 

Courtesy of Rashaun Rucker, and M Contemporary Art. Photo: Roy Feldman

An installation piece made from acrylic, Yule Quarry marble dust, and paper bags on canvas, linen, and textile with pvc marine vinyl mounted on a handcrafted wood awning structure.

Courtesy of Tomashi Jackson and Tilton Gallery, New York. Photo: Pierre Le Hors

1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know

A recent study showed that only 6.3% of exhibitions across 29 museums were dedicated to Black American artists.

Embroidered fabric artwork entitled "The Safety Patrol" by Bisa Butler. 

Bisa Butler's fabric based  "The Safety Patrol," presented as part of the 2018 Art Basel Miami Beach art fair. Photo by Sean  Drakes/Getty Images

Talented Black artists are still underrepresented in the wider art world. A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recent study" data-vars-click-url="https://studioburns.media/the-data-visualized/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://studioburns.media/the-data-visualized/" target="_blank">recent study</a> showed that only 6.3% of exhibitions across 29 museums were dedicated to Black American artists. Why it matters: Even though pieces by big names like Mark Bradford continue to be popular, acquisitions for contemporary Black artists remains low, making up <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2.2%" data-vars-click-url="https://studioburns.media/the-data-visualized/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://studioburns.media/the-data-visualized/" target="_blank">2.2%</a> of all acquisitions across 29 museums nationwide. While this list is by no means comprehensive, it is meant to serve as an introduction to some lesser-known contemporary Black artists making waves in the art world.Looking for more? Be sure to check out photographs by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tyler Mitchell" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tylermitchell.co/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tylermitchell.co/" target="_blank">Tyler Mitchell</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Alanna Fields" data-vars-click-url="https://www.alannafields.com/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.alannafields.com/" target="_blank">Alanna Fields</a>, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ivan McClellan" data-vars-click-url="https://eightsecs.com/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://eightsecs.com/" target="_blank">Ivan McClellan</a>; the paintings of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kayla Mahaffey" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kaylamay.art/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kaylamay.art/" target="_blank">Kayla Mahaffey</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kadir Nelson" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kadirnelson.com/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kadirnelson.com/" target="_blank">Kadir Nelson</a>; and the embroidered fabric canvases of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bisa Butler" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bisabutler.com/porfolio" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bisabutler.com/porfolio" target="_blank">Bisa Butler</a>. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Go deeper" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/black-lives-matter-movement" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/black-lives-matter-movement" target="_self">Go deeper</a> into Axios&#x27; coverage for Black History Month.<figure><img alt="A wagon mounted steam calliope showing shadowy outlines of people." height="1080" id="a48f6b8b-4450-495b-a827-0eae2e5a95fb" src="https://images.axios.com/dQbhu75B3s5u76jCH3E-dcHOX3w=/2023/02/21/1677014225661.jpg" width="1920"/><figcaption>Artwork © <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kara Walker" data-vars-click-url="http://www.karawalkerstudio.com/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://www.karawalkerstudio.com/" target="_blank">Kara Walker</a>, courtesy of Sprüth Magers and Sikkema Jenkins &amp; Co. Photo: Alex Marks</figcaption></figure><figure><img alt="An acrylic painting showing a woman with braids tied up on the top of her head. " height="1080" id="6ae48138-8cd8-4963-a35b-21143d3cc0b0" src="https://images.axios.com/cD3oC9L52vIoGZG_Wu3TyBi6Afk=/2023/02/21/1677015771160.jpg" width="1920"/><figcaption>Courtesy of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Alfred Conteh" data-vars-click-url="https://www.alfredconteh.com/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.alfredconteh.com/" target="_blank">Alfred Conteh</a> and Kavi Gupta Gallery</figcaption></figure><figure><img alt="An acrylic, oil pastel and spray painted paiting by Hebru Brantley on canvas showing two characters about to enter a cave-like void. " height="1080" id="187dc400-ebdb-4b4a-8e7f-ba1dc518f145" src="https://images.axios.com/ljJDORlLF8i3gB2g0gb6Xz45ixY=/2023/02/21/1677015854904.jpg" width="1920"/><figcaption>Courtesy of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hebru Brantley" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hebrubrantley.com/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hebrubrantley.com/" target="_blank">Hebru Brantley</a> and Hebru Brand Studios</figcaption></figure><figure><img alt="A linocut print by Rashaun Rucker showing a couple holding hands. " height="1080" id="6ec53e77-5886-4cee-8d8d-29722b5bafc2" src="https://images.axios.com/eO_6Hcf3lkHlZgYtah0-9Jv6SUA=/2023/02/21/1677015938797.jpg" width="1920"/><figcaption>Courtesy of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rashaun Rucker" data-vars-click-url="http://www.rashaunrucker.com/" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://www.rashaunrucker.com/" target="_blank">Rashaun Rucker</a>, and M Contemporary Art. Photo: Roy Feldman</figcaption></figure><figure><img alt="An installation piece made from acrylic, Yule Quarry marble dust, and paper bags on canvas, linen, and textile with pvc marine vinyl mounted on a handcrafted wood awning structure." height="1080" id="1a55150d-6d8d-4506-aaab-1b59e0acec67" src="https://images.axios.com/nULm9e-MICr-jHDgKYwYTfs6Hb8=/2023/02/21/1677016039567.jpg" width="1920"/><figcaption>Courtesy of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tomashi Jackson" data-vars-click-url="https://www.jacktiltongallery.com/artists/tomashi-jackson/a-nl1" data-vars-content-id="ead50269-24f5-44ea-a146-c9a83a79fed2" data-vars-headline="1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.jacktiltongallery.com/artists/tomashi-jackson/a-nl1" target="_blank">Tomashi Jackson</a> and Tilton Gallery, New York. Photo: Pierre Le Hors</figcaption></figure>

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Aïda Amer

Stories

Chicago Public Library shines light on local Korean American history

In photos: Joy at the Trans Youth Prom

1 🎨 thing: Some Black artists you should know

In photos: Local Black heroes, past and present

In photos: Indigenous Heritage Month