Best WireTap Stories of 2008

By The Editors, December 22, 2008

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Reprints
• Share

Our editors' and readers' favorite stories, columns, blogs and videos of the year!

---

As 2008 ends, WireTap is taking a look back and celebrating some of our most insightful stories and voices of the year. From this year's historic presidential election to education reform, activism in China, changes in New Orleans, The Wire cable series, Scraper Bikes and fashion, our writers and bloggers have been at the forefront of this year's most important events. Thanks to your daily support, these stories were also among the most read in 2008.

Please help us keep this momentum going. At the end of each year, WireTap asks our community for a small donation to help us keep developing (and paying) new writers. This year, as we dive further into the depths of this economic recession, instead of asking for a donation we hope that you will take a moment to forward this list of stories to at least one person who you think might enjoy reading this website.

Thank you for your continued support!

Happy Holidays,

Jamilah King, Kristina Rizga and Tomas Palermo

========

Feature Stories:

Snoop's Survival: An Interview with The Wire's Felicia Pearson
By Suemedha Sood
Felicia "Snoop" Pearson talks to Wiretap about working through her past to get to her future -- and the success she's gained along the way.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/arts/43486/

China Marches to a Green Beat
By Jamie Henn
Students from around the world gather in China's march to protect the environment. Learn how youth are looking beyond Olympic feuds to forge a sustainable future.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/environment/43681/

Stargazing in Kabul
By Anand Gopal
10 days in the life and struggles of a young Afghan woman.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/stories/43641/

Free Wheels: The Scraper Bike Movement Rolls On
By Jamilah King
This youth-led bike movement began as a way to combine entrepreneurship and creativity. Can it also help save Oakland?
http://www.wiretapmag.org/activism/43927/

(VIDEO) Young Black Men and Voting
By Donny Lumpkins
While youth voting is on the rise, barriers to civic engagement among working-class black youth persist.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/elections2008/43760/

(VIDEO) America's Next Top Immigrant
By Global Action Project
Follow seven immigrants as they battle it out for the American Dream.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/immigration/43884/

New Orleans: Three Years After Katrina
By Rebecca McDonald
Our contributing photographer Rebecca McDonald revisited life in New Orleans, three years after Katrina, and two weeks before Gustav.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/race/43717/

Kick Flipped: How Skateboarding Rides With Race
By Adrian Castaneda
Skateboarding culture is known for its progressive art, music and fashion. But is it as forward-thinking on issues of race and class?
http://www.wiretapmag.org/race/43836/

Gluttony on a Budget: The White Tee Makes a Comeback
By Anika Brown
Will the white T-shirt trend end any time soon? If girls have their way, it will.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/arts/43540/

Getting Out the (Rest of the) Youth Vote
By Kristina Rizga
It's been an unprecedented year for young voters, but the battle isn't over yet. How can we make sure that all youth, in and out of college, are able to vote in November?
http://www.wiretapmag.org/elections2008/43605/

(VIDEO) Mentally Incarcerated
By DeNishia Yearby
Understanding the school-to-prison pipeline.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/rights/43930/

Columns:

Silence Broken: South African Journeys
By Kameelah Rasheed
Travels to South Africa challenge me to reflect on my privilege as an American "foreigner."
http://www.wiretapmag.org/arts/43601/

Free Association: Sound of Silence
By Larisa Mann
Music bloggers beware: Your posts could vanish without warning.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/arts/43899

K Chronicles: From Cars To Rail
By Keith Knight
K Chronicles offers the perfect solution for failing U.S. automakers.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/arts/43899

Blogs:

Making the Numbers Work
By Aaron Tang
Will stronger recruitment from the nations most exclusive colleges fill the gap of high quality K-12 teachers?
http://www.wiretapmag.org/blogs/education/43831/

Kabobfest Culture
By M. Junaid Levesque-Alam
Popular blogger offers insight into the importance of Arab American women on the web.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/blogs/race/43732/

Can We Have Real Democracy in a Two Party System?
By Karlo Barrios Marcello
Studies show that Millennials want more choices than Democrats and Republicans. Let's create a multi-party system from the ground up.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/blogs/elections2008/43545/

My Big Gay Blog
By Adrienne Maree Brown
Responding to propositions of hate from coast to coast.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/blogs/elections2008/43862

Heavy Rotation: The Rise of Filipino Radio Representation
By Ninoy Brown
Filipino music takes a step up with the launch of Heavy Rotation.
http://www.wiretapmag.org/blogs/immigration/43390/