Karen Grigsby Bates
Karen Grigsby Bates is the Senior Correspondent for Code Switch, a podcast that reports on race and ethnicity. A veteran NPR reporter, Bates covered race for the network for several years before becoming a founding member of the Code Switch team. She is especially interested in stories about the hidden history of race in America—and in the intersection of race and culture. She oversees much of Code Switch's coverage of books by and about people of color, as well as issues of race in the publishing industry. Bates is the co-author of a best-selling etiquette book (Basic Black: Home Training for Modern Times) and two mystery novels; she is also a contributor to several anthologies of essays. She lives in Los Angeles and reports from NPR West.
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The death of journalist Ruben Salazar was a catalyst for the nascent Chicano-rights movement. It is still at the center of deeply held belief that he was purposely killed by LA law enforcement.
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In the same week that Lupita Nyong'o was declared the most beautiful woman in the world by People magazine, Time named Beyoncé one of the world's "100 Most Influential People." -
The skirmish continues between Sriracha and Irwindale, Calif. Irwindale's city council declared that owner David Tran must curb his hot sauce factory's smelly fumes or they'll do it themselves. Tran is considering relocating, and he has already received several offers.
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Recent updates to the Army's regulations on grooming and appearance forbids natural hairstyles that are popular with many black women. The women of the CBC have asked the Army to reconsider.
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As racial tensions were rising in 1964, Mary Peabody, the mother of the Massachusetts governor, went to St. Augustine, Fla., to protest segregation.
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A new biography traces Carmichael's evolution from civil rights activist to an early proponent of the black power movement and international human rights advocate. -
The LA suburb of Irwindale has had to balance its need for business success against complaints from residents about the plant's fumes. Huy Fong Foods makes the hot sauce in the rooster bottle. -
NASCAR's fan base is about 60 percent male and 80 percent white. In an effort to embrace the country's rapidly changing demographics, the sport is pushing hard to diversify its lineup of crews, drivers and fans. -
Popular shows like Modern Family, Parenthood and Grey's Anatomy all routinely feature interracial and multi-ethnic families. It's quite a switch from the 1950s, when Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz broke barriers. -
The PBS documentary traces the progress of two African-American students through one of New York City's most elite private schools. Questions arise about the trade-off of a superior education and the psychological and cultural trauma each boy experiences at times.
