New details about one of Mississippi's most infamous murders are coming to light — more than a half-century later. The death of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black boy who allegedly whistled at a white woman, helped spark the civil rights movement.

As the nation watched the historic Supreme Court arguments over gay marriage, host Michel Martin recalls an affirmative action case she followed at the Court in 1979. In her 'Can I Just Tell You' essay, she explains how — as gay rights activists fight for equality in marriage — the fight for equal economic opportunity remains for many African-Americans.

Artist Tim Hernandez has uncovered a mystery behind the classic Woody Guthrie folk song, 'Deportee,' about a tragic plane crash in 1948 that killed 28 illegal immigrants. Hernandez talks with host Michel Martin about what inspired him to look into the real story.

Smoked salmon pastrami may sound heretical, but owners of a revisionist Jewish deli in Washington, D.C., say it's all part of a revival of traditional Jewish cuisine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently supported President Bashar Assad through Syria's violent crisis. Fiona Hill, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, argues that Putin's support is linked to Russia's own history.

The Supreme Court is hearing two landmark gay marriage cases this week. But Robin Shahar's case never made it that far. She lost a job offer for planning a private wedding ceremony with her same-sex partner in 1991. Shahar speaks with host Michel Martin about the cultural shift that brought about these legal challenges.