Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now
Jenée Desmond-Harris

Jenée Desmond-Harris

Former Race, Law, and Politics Reporter

    Latest articles by Jenée Desmond-Harris

    Video
    Serena Williams is constantly the target of disgusting racist and sexist attacksSerena Williams is constantly the target of disgusting racist and sexist attacks
    Play
    Video

    This bigotry has followed her for her entire career.

    By Jenée Desmond-Harris
    archives
    Vogue Brazil digitally removed limbs from actors to promote the Paralympics and completely missed the pointVogue Brazil digitally removed limbs from actors to promote the Paralympics and completely missed the point
    archives

    Paralympic athletes are inspiring. Celebrities edited to look like them are not.

    By Jenée Desmond-Harris
    The only reason Racists Anonymous seems weird is that almost nobody in America admits they’re racist
    archives

    The group’s goal is to “deal with the racism” among members and to “eliminate the racism within ourselves.”

    By Jenée Desmond-Harris
    If you think millionaire athlete Colin Kaepernick is too rich to protest, you don’t understand activism
    Culture

    You don’t understand racism, either.

    By Jenée Desmond-Harris
    Covered, naked, or in between: artist shows how women are scorned regardless of what they wear
    Criminal Justice

    This illustration, titled “The Lottery of Indecency,” is as depressing as it is accurate.

    By Jenée Desmond-Harris
    Culture
    Donald Trump is what happens when you don’t know many black people. Michelle Obama has a solution.Donald Trump is what happens when you don’t know many black people. Michelle Obama has a solution.
    Culture

    The first lady suggests pop culture could be a place to start.

    By Jenée Desmond-Harris
    The Olympics left Rio with a few improvements. And a frightening police violence problem.
    Sports

    The victims are mostly young and black. During the games alone, police killed eight people.

    By Jenée Desmond-Harris
    archives
    No one was held responsible for Freddie Gray’s death. Now the officers are getting cash.No one was held responsible for Freddie Gray’s death. Now the officers are getting cash.
    archives

    A total of $167,000 in back pay is going to officers Alicia White and William Porter.

    By Jenée Desmond-Harris
    Olympics coverage and commentary managed to offend, annoy, and alienate almost everyone
    Media

    Rio 2016 didn’t create racism, sexism, and homophobia — it just gave them a two-week platform.

    By Jenée Desmond-Harris
    Criminal Justice
    Allegations against Nate Parker have reinvigorated a push to understand sexual consentAllegations against Nate Parker have reinvigorated a push to understand sexual consent
    Criminal Justice

    Yes, the Birth of a Nation director was acquitted. All the more reason to tackle these dangerous myths.

    By Jenée Desmond-Harris