Cooperstown, NY, Apr 26, 2013 — Jackie Robinson is getting the big time Hollywood treatment with the new blockbuster "42". Meanwhile, a much lesser known African American baseball hero is getting his due in the cradle of baseball history.

In 1878, John Jackson - aka Bud Fowler - became the first African-American to play professional baseball with white men. His career spanned more than 30 years as a player, manager and entrepreneur.

Fowler grew up in Cooperstown, NY, the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Last weekend, the town recognized his story of perseverance in the face of bigotry.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Aug 20, 2012 — Poetry is one of the ways we've learned to think and talk about the natural world. In the United States writers like Emerson, Dickinson and Frost have shaped the language we bring to nature and wildness.

But largely missing from that tradition and conversation is the poetry of African-American writers. For the better part of a century, black writing has been seen reflexively as an urban expression, rooted in the life of cities. Now some African-American writers and editors are trying to change that, arguing that new words and points of view can broaden the language of nature.  Go to full article

Massena, NY, Feb 14, 2012 — A St. Lawrence County community is being reminded, again, of an 80 year-old rumor many people would rather forget.

A new novel re-imagines what happened when a little girl went missing overnight in Massena. It's based on a true story from 1928. The town's small Jewish community was accused of kidnapping her for a ritual murder.

Julie Grant set out to find out what really happened. She found that after 80 years, it's not easy to parse the truth from rumors and memories.

But she did find that people from cultures around the world brought together in America's "melting pot" were easily pulled apart in a time of crisis.  Go to full article

Nov 02, 2011 — The election of a county clerk usually doesn't get much attention. The office processes paperwork: passports, pistol permits, mortgages, and vehicle registrations. But this year, people are watching the race for clerk in St. Lawrence County. And the two candidates think that's largely because the office has started making money. Julie Grant reports.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Sep 26, 2011 — A young girl who was bullied, harassed and assaulted in school because of her race has filed a $6 million federal lawsuit against the Saranac Lake Central School District.

The girl and her parents, Amy and Hiram Oliveras, filed a complaint last week in U.S. Northern District Court, alleging the school district violated her civil rights and the state's Human Rights Law by failing to protect her from bullying, racial discrimination and harassment.

Martha Foley reports,  Go to full article

Caroga Lake, NY, Jul 26, 2011 — New York's Department of Environmental Conservation has begun a process designed to eliminate the racially charged "N-word" from all its maps and regulations.

The change affects documents created decades ago and includes one small lake in the southern Adirondacks. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Jun 27, 2011 — It was a year ago last week that an incident of racially fueled bullying at the Saranac Lake Middle School made headlines and put school officials in the hot seat.

One year later, the school district has completed a series of diversity and anti-bullying programs, activities and training sessions for its students, staff, teachers, principals and school board.

The effort was designed to change the culture of the school district. As Chris Knight reports, however, school officials admit they still have much more work to do.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Dec 03, 2010 — This morning in Lake Placid, teachers and historians and activists begin a two-day conference to talk about slavery.

New Yorkers played a big role in the slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, financing and profiting from an industry that ruined the lives of more than 12 million Africans.

Slave-owning wasn't banned in this state until 1827. Modern-day activists say human trafficking and exploitation is once again on the rise.

Martha Swan is with a group called John Brown Lives.

She told Brian Mann that this conference, which is open to the public, will explore the history and present-day reality of slavery.  Go to full article

Ilion, NY, Jul 23, 2010 — Author, educator and artist Nell Irvin Painter spoke at the Elizabethtown County Courthouse on Sunday. She read selections from her new book, "The History of White People," and fielded questions from the audience. The talk was part of a series sponsored by modern day anti-slavery organizations John Brown Lives! and John Brown Coming Home. Sarah Harris attended and has our story.  Go to full article

Saranac Lake, NY, Jul 08, 2010 — Administrators and school board officials in Saranac Lake are apologizing after it was disclosed that a young girl was the subject of a bullying campaign by other students that apparently went on for more than a year. The 12-year-old girl was harassed in part because of her race. Brian Mann reports.  Go to full article