B irmingham, Alabama, 1963: A city so consumed by racial injustice that black and white people cannot legally play checkers together. It is hard to imagine such a world, but for writer Diane McWhorter, then a sixth-grader growing up in Birmingham, laws like this were routine and accepted. "I wish I could tell you that all this was shocking and exceptional. But my attitudes were wholly average for

don't walk around naked. I have never had a spear in my hand, chasing lions." So says Axelle Atchade, 18, a native of Benin and one of about 50,000 Africans who have immigrated to the United States each year since 2000. She has had to dispel a lot of misinformation that Americans have about her country. There are close to 1 million African immigrants in the United States, according to the U.S. Cen

Earlier this month, an estimated 300,000 people from around the country met at Indiana Black Expo to celebrate the accomplishments of African-Americans. During the event, Expo released a report produced by the Indiana Youth Institute that showed Indiana's black youth continue to be more at risk of failure than white youth. The study, based on data from federal, state and local sources, found low b

A lcoholism. In brief, the dictionary says it's a disease where a person drinks to excess. Sarah, a 13-year-old local student and daughter of an alcoholic father, goes a step further. "It's a disease where a person drinks too much. They get addicted to it, and they keep wanting it. It's just a disease based on lies." For many young people in similar situations, finding support can be difficult. Al

Allison, 17, is a typical Indianapolis teenager in many ways -- she goes to school, works a summer job and hangs out with friends. But she lives in fear that her secret may be uncovered. Allison, who asked that her name be changed to protect her privacy, is not concerned about her race, ethnicity, gender or sexual preference. However, she is Wiccan, and she has seen the hardships suffered by her f

Last fall, the toy manufacturer Mattel introduced a new version -- a pregnant one -- of Midge, Barbie's friend. She comes with a removable abdomen and is sold as part of the "Happy Family" set, along with her husband, Alan, and toddler, Ryan. Some shoppers felt the toy introduced "adult issues" that might be inappropriate for Barbie's target audience of girls between the ages of 3 and 12. Some sto

Though unfamiliar to Americans and home to a painful past, the West African nation of Benin quickly is becoming the center of hope in the region. Home to a population of nearly 8 million in a geographical area a bit larger than Indiana, Benin used to be a part of the powerful Dahomey kingdom that extended into present-day Nigeria. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Benin's coast was a prominent p

Though unfamiliar to Americans and home to a painful past, the West African nation of Benin quickly is becoming the center of hope in the region.

Jarell Davenport is a three-sport athlete at Tech High School. So, he's skeptical about a new Indianapolis Public Schools proposal that could cut sports teams. "It's not fair to anybody," said Jarell, 17, who plays football, wrestles and runs track. His doubt is echoed by many IPS student-athletes. Some believe the new program could turn students away from the state's largest school district.