The American origins of May Day

Plus, the unsettling signs of a new Iron Curtain.

View this email online May 1, 2022 This week, we look at the history of May Day in the U.S., how rising tensions in Europe are spelling trouble for climate and other key Arctic issues, and the impact of Texas’ new sex-ed curriculum. Plus, a chat with Dua Lipa. Scott’s Weekly Weigh-in Milton Coronado A good weekend to you. Art can sometimes capture what the news covers — but then quickly moves on from. I was glad to speak with Milton Coronado, who has painted murals of some of those killed in Chicago’s street violence. In this week’s essay, he speaks about his mural of 8-year-old Melissa Ortega, just a few blocks from where her shimmering life was lost. Milton knows loss from his own life, too.   I have followed the post-chess career of Garry Kasparov, as a voice and human rights activist. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has put new urgency into what he’s said for years about the Putin regime. We caught up with the chess grandmaster at an appearance on a college campus this week where he said, “Evil doesn't die. It grows back through the cracks of our apathy.”   Biopics have become an entertainment staple. But they are works of fiction, not history. That’s why Aidy Bryant can say hysterical things as Ted Cruz on SNL without being sued. But HBO’s Winning Time has been criticized by two eminent figures portrayed, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jerry West, who say it impugns their current work with young people. Our great critic Eric Deggans thinks their arguments may change some biopics.   And a video for you: Willson Contreras of the Chicago Cubs grew up in Venezuela playing baseball in the street with his brothers. This week, his younger brother, William, was called up from the minors to start a Braves game against the Cubs. Brothers who played in the street now exchange hugs and major league lineups at home plate. There is crying in baseball. Scott Simon Scott Simon is one of NPR's most renowned news anchors. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and one of the hosts of the morning news podcast Up First. Be sure to listen to him every Saturday on your local NPR station, and follow him on Twitter. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Stories you might have missed   Nora Lorek for NPR A new Iron Curtain has mired routine economic and scientific dealings between Norwegians and Russians. The two border countries have cooperated for decades on key issues — from climate action to nuclear waste control. But cascading tensions in Europe are changing that. One group chaired by Russia, the Arctic Council, suspended all work, including vital climate research. And it’s not the only one to be caught in the political crosshairs. Many industry leaders worry that decades of progress may be stalled — or worse. You might associate May Day with baskets of flowers and the start of summer — but it has another meaning: worker unity. The origin of May Day in America was born out of the push for an eight-hour workday in Chicago in the 19th century, when anarchists and labor activists began a multi-day strike. What became known as the Haymarket affair of 1886 ended in a deadly melee after police attacked workers. Unlike other countries, the U.S. does not officially recognize International Labor Day on May 1. And that stems from a resistance to emboldening global working-class unity, historians say. Texas updated its sex education for the first time in decades. Advocates say a lot is still missing. The state’s first update to its curriculum since the 1990s means students will now learn about birth control and STIs — but it’s still driven by abstinence-first messaging. And LGBTQ+ and gender topics aren’t covered. Neither is consent. Plus, a new policy requires parents to opt-in to health education for their children, which means the default is no classes at all. Here’s what that could mean for kids in the state. From our member station   Steve Grayson/Getty Images An LA intersection that became a flashpoint for the Rodney King riots is still languishing — even 30 years later. In April 1992, anger and frustration boiled over at the corner of Florence and Normandie avenues in Los Angeles after a jury acquitted four LAPD officers in the beating of motorist Rodney King. After the smoke cleared, city officials vowed to rebuild but residents say, 30 years later, the area has largely remained the same: neglected and bereft of investment. “Our folks want the same things, the basic things that they see in other places, as simple as wanting tree canopies to improve the air, to beautify their community,” one community leader said. One Black entrepreneur has a vision she hopes will stick. — KPCC, Los Angeles Before you go...    Satellite image © 2022 Maxar Technologies Here’s a brief history of militarized dolphins, which Russia appears to have deployed in the Black Sea. It’s not as unusual as you may think. A national poll finds most parents don't object to their schools' race and gender curriculum — in stark contrast to culture war messaging. Disney whipped out the receipts: The company says Florida can’t dissolve its special status unless all debts are paid off because of a 1960s pledge. The pop star Dua Lipa chats with us about life in Kosovo, the “toxic currency” of social media and hard-hitting convos with Amal Clooney. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WBEZ (edit station). Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy