About This Project
Summary
In this three-part series, Trace staff writer Mensah M. Dean explores the roots and realities of gun violence in Black America, sharing the stories of Philadelphians shaped by impoverished upbringings that contributed to their involvement in gun violence. The series draws parallels between contemporary Philadelphia — particularly the so-called Bullet Belt — and the Black community W.E.B. Du Bois chronicled in his landmark 1899 study, “The Philadelphia Negro.”
Goals & Objectives
The “Roots and Realities” examines the lasting impact of institutional discrimination on the Black community, tracing its origins to slavery and segregation. It asks a crucial question: Why do Black men die from gun violence at a rate 15 times higher than the national average?
Results & Impact
The stories received local and national attention, with Dean contributing to the Apple News Today podcast and a segment on WURD Radio.
JOIN THE NEWSLETTER