NPR's 2021 Oscars Guide; Policing In America; Is Recycling Even Worth It Anymore?

Plus, why does hair turn gray? by Jill Hudson Stories You May Have Missed Olivia Sun/NPR Is recycling even worth it anymore? People on the front lines say [maybe not](. For decades, U.S. presidents have avoided calling the World War I-era mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turkish forces an act of genocide. [President Biden made that declaration on Saturday]( as Armenians mark the anniversary of the atrocities. For years, Miriam Colvin's grandfather told the story of a boxing match between a young Indiana farm boy and a 14-year-old kid from Kentucky named Cassius Clay. [But was the story true?]( [National Guardsmen questioning an African American man in Chicago, during the summer race riots of 1919.]( Matt Sayles/A.M.P.A.S./Getty Images In the wake of Derek Chauvin's conviction for the murder of George Floyd, many people in the U.S. and around the world saw and heard about the tension between African American communities and the police. [Click here to listen to this episode]( of NPR's Througline podcast, which tracks the beginning of policing in the United States and why putting of Black Americans in violent control was and is at the heart of the system. Across the country, jubilation and relief broke out at the guilty verdicts for the former Minneapolis police officer. But the celebratory mood was tempered by a sense that the verdict represented just [a small degree of accountability]( in a greater fight against racial injustice and police violence. In at least 36 states and the District of Columbia, child welfare agencies use a child's benefit checks to offset the cost of foster care, often [leaving them with a tattered safety net]( as adults. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Your Guide To The 2021 Oscars The 93rd Academy Awards air at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC, streamed on ABC.com or the ABC app (with TV provider verification), Hulu + Live TV and YouTube. Once the show begins, you can [get live updates by clicking here](. [Oscar statuettes on display backstage at the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on March 4, 2018.] Matt Sayles/A.M.P.A.S./Getty Images Tonight's ceremony closes out the longest and most unconventional awards season in Hollywood history. [What exactly will we see]( during the TV broadcast? Several presenters and nominees will appear in person, and there's even a red carpet of sorts. And if big box office means big TV ratings, [this year's Oscars are probably in big trouble](. There are always two big questions as we approach the Oscars: Who will win, and who should win. The hosts of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour dive into both. [Click here to listen](. After years of #OscarsSoWhite and #OscarsSoMale, industry observers are crowing over the 2021 nominations. This [expanded diversity]( comes along with increased social consciousness in the year's films. [The pandemic may have also played a part](. [Chadwick Boseman attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards in 2018.]( Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images Chadwick Boseman is nominated for an Oscar this year for his performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. It's his final onscreen role — he died of colon cancer in August. [Listen here]( as NPR's critics discuss the beloved actor's essential performances. The Pop Culture Happy Hour team had lots to say about other nominees and categories in this year's race, including the [Best Original Song]( [Animated Features]( [Documentary Features]( and [International Features](. The Indicator From Planet Money podcast tracked the Oscars origin story and how the award propelled the American movie industry to the prominence it holds today. [Listen to the episode](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Podcasts Of The Week Art by Qieer Wang. The summer of 2020 a lot of folks were asking this question: what should we do? A couple of young Black people in Vermont tried a social experiment with money that was focused around a contentious topic: reparations. What happens when you demand white people give up their wealth? ([Invisibilia]( Why does hair turn gray? Stress? Age? Genetics? Dermatologist Dr. Jenna Lester has the answers. ([Short Wave]( Sam talked to actor and comedian Eric André about the evolution of the prank genre with his Netflix hidden-camera comedy Bad Trip. ([It's Been A Minute With Sam Sanders]( Last week the Senate passed a bill aimed at reducing hate crimes directed at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. And more than half of American adults have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine; reaching the rest will be harder. ([The NPR Politics Podcast]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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]( [NPR logo]