Singing to survive in a strange land

+ why more minority patients don’t have minority doctors [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 13 February 2020 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair [Kalpana Jain] A note from... Kalpana Jain Senior Religion + Ethics Editor The lives of slaves in early America were characterized by loss, terror and abuse. Enslaved people sang out their sorrows as their hope for a better life – a musical genre that came to be known as the Negro spiritual. The University of Dayton’s Donna M. Cox sang the songs of her ancestors in the small churches in Virginia and North Carolina during her childhood. Now her scholarship is centered on explaining the power of spirituals. They are not songs of anger, she writes, but of survival that convey the “abiding faith” of enslaved people in the [“ultimate triumph of good over systemic evil.”]( Also today: - [In praise of the Negro Leagues]( - [What happens to candidates’ cash after they drop out?]( - [Why isn’t Malentine’s Day a thing?]( Top story A studio group portrait of the Fisk University Jubilee singers. James Wallace Black/American Missionary Association [The power of a song in a strange land]( Rev. Dr. Donna M. Cox, University of Dayton Spirituals were created out of the experience of enslaved people in the US. They weren't songs of anger – but of an abiding belief in the victory of good over evil. Arts + Culture - [On the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues, a look back at what was lost]( Rob Ruck, University of Pittsburgh While segregation was a shameful period in baseball history, the Negro Leagues were a resounding success and an immense source of pride for black America. - [Galentine’s Day has become a thing – why hasn’t Malentine’s Day?]( Deana Rohlinger, Florida State University Men seem less comfortable celebrating their friendships – to their own detriment. Politics + Society - [When presidential campaigns end, what happens to the leftover money?]( Richard Briffault, Columbia University When political campaigns end, candidates often are left with a fair amount of money. They have a lot of options about how to spend it. Environment + Energy - [The secondhand smoke you’re breathing may have come from another state]( Sebastian Eastham, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Steven Barrett, Massachusetts Institute of Technology According to a new study, about four in 10 air pollution deaths in the US are due to emissions crossing state lines. Ethics + Religion - [Restoring the reputations of charities after scandals]( Nives Dolsak, University of Washington; Aseem Prakash, University of Washington Save the Children's reputation appeared to bounce back faster than Oxfam's after public perception of both groups soured around the same time. Economy + Business - [Transgender Americans are more likely to be unemployed and poor]( Christopher Carpenter, Vanderbilt University; Gilbert Gonzales, Vanderbilt University In a national survey, transgender individuals had worse employment outcomes, lower incomes and higher rates of poverty than cisgender people. - [How to convince your loved ones to get the flu shot this year]( Helen Colby, Indiana University; Meng Li, University of Colorado Denver The flu shot is a bargain – and people are more likely to get it if they know that. Health + Medicine - [Minority patients benefit from having minority doctors, but that’s a hard match to make]( Ryan Huerto, University of Michigan; Edwin Lindo, University of Washington Minority patients do better when treated by doctors who share the same race or ethnicity But there's a problem. Most doctors are white, and only 6% of doctors are black. Science + Technology - [How did I get my own unique set of fingerprints?]( Sarah Leupen, University of Maryland, Baltimore County You've had your own personal set of fingerprints since before you were born, and they'll be with you throughout your whole life. Most Read on Site - [The silent threat of the coronavirus: America’s dependence on Chinese pharmaceuticals]( Christine Crudo Blackburn, Texas A&M University ; Andrew Natsios, Texas A&M University ; Gerald W Parker, Texas A&M University ; Leslie Ruyle, Texas A&M University While US residents may feel safe from the effects of the coronavirus, the aftershocks could be damaging in unexpected ways. The disruption to China's supply chain could cause drug shortages. - [Real pay data show Trump’s ‘blue collar boom’ is more of a bust for US workers, in 3 charts]( David Salkever, University of Maryland, Baltimore County In his State of the Union address, Trump said workers are experiencing a boom in wages. The numbers say different. - [A 4-step maintenance plan to help keep your relationship going strong]( Gary W. Lewandowski Jr., Monmouth University After the intensity of early courtship, even a healthy, happy relationship can feel lackluster. Psychology researchers have ideas for what can help you perk up your relationship rather than give up. Today’s chart - [Enable images to see the chart]( From the article: [Hundreds of county jails detained immigrants for ICE]( [Emily Ryo] Emily Ryo University of Southern California [Ian Peacock] Ian Peacock University of California, Los Angeles [Do you think the public needs trustworthy information? Help us reach more people]( [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111