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Racial Rumors
As one of the primary functions of urban legends is the expression of societal concerns and fears, they often take the form of tales that serve to reinforce prejudicial views of different races, ethnicities, and classes.
Hand holding a small knife.

Did 'Muslim Immigrants' Commit the Most Knife Crimes in London in 2017?

Written by:
Dan MacGuill
May 22, 2018 A right-wing Facebook page published a meme that was heavy on Islam-blaming but light on evidence.
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Did Obama's Portraitist Paint an Image of a Black Woman Holding the Severed Head of a White Person?

Written by:
David Emery
Feb. 13, 2018 Artist Kehinde Wiley is best known for reimagining classical heroic paintings using black men an ...
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Did an American Teenager Who Killed a 'Muslim Refugee' for Raping His Sister Get 30 Years in Prison?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Feb. 12, 2018 A anti-Islam, anti-refugee video widely shared on Facebook was blatant fake news.
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Close image of wire fence

What Happens When You Cross the United States Border Illegally?

Written by:
Dan MacGuill
Jan. 16, 2018 A viral Facebook post comparing U.S. immigration policy to that of North Korea and Afghanistan g ...
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Were DACA Recipients Photographed Burning an American Flag?

Written by:
Dan Evon
Jan. 3, 2018 A photograph of a protest was shared with unfounded claims and an inaccurate and misleading desc ...
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Were Hate Crime Charges Against 'BLM Kidnappers' Dropped?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Nov. 29, 2017 Hate crime charges were not dropped, and there is no evidence any of the suspects are associated ...
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Slice of watermelon on a table

Was a Detroit Firefighter Fired for Bringing a Watermelon to His Station?

Written by:
David Emery
Oct. 9, 2017 Detroit's fire commissioner confirmed that a probationary firefighter was terminated for work be ...
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Are 'Liberals' Getting Offended over Hobby Lobby's Cotton Decor?

Written by:
Kim LaCapria
Sept. 20, 2017 Blogs claimed "liberals" were offended over Hobby Lobby cotton decor products because a single F ...
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Milk carton with "radioactive" symbol on it

U.S. Government Ships Radioactive Milk to Black Communities as Part of a Genocide Plot?

Written by:
Dan MacGuill Alex Kasprak
Sept. 15, 2017 A conspiracy theory involving radioactive milk and diabetes fails on both historical and scienti ...
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Close-up of Swiss hotel sign

Did a Hotel Owner in Switzerland Ask Jewish Guests to Shower Before Using the Pool?

Written by:
Dan MacGuill
Aug. 15, 2017 News articles accurately describe real signs posted around a hotel in Arosa, Switzerland that we ...
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Graduation mortarboard hat on a pile of $100 bills

Is a Kentucky University Giving Black Students Free Tuition as an 'Apology' for Slavery?

Written by:
Dan MacGuill
June 2, 2017 A non-binding vote by student leaders on a largely symbolic resolution has been misrepresented a ...
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Crime scene tape

Was a Pregnant Woman Raped by a Muslim Refugee in Michigan?

Written by:
Dan Evon
May 16, 2017 A false story used photographs of an Argentinian domestic abuse survivor to advance a claim with ...
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Delta Ejects Passenger for Speaking Arabic

Written by:
Kim LaCapria
Dec. 20, 2016 Adam Saleh, who shared a video of what he claimed was his removal from a Delta flight for speaki ...
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Trump Says Africans Are Poor Because They Think of Sex Instead of Farming?

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Dec. 12, 2016 The quote originated on questionable blogs in 2015.
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Klan Marches in North Carolina to Celebrate Trump Victory

Written by:
Bethania Palma
Nov. 9, 2016 A misleading picture circulating on social media claims to depict the KKK marching on a bridge t ...
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Was a Las Vegas Pool Drained Because Dorothy Dandridge Dipped Her Toe in It?

Written by:
Kim LaCapria
Aug. 13, 2016 Prevalent racism legend holds that a Las Vegas hotel once completely drained their pool because ...
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You're a Racist, Charlie Brown?

Written by:
Dan Evon
Dec. 24, 2015 A closer look at some allegations of racism supposedly displayed in the comic strip "Peanuts" an ...
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Did Trivia Crack Post a Racist Question?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
March 13, 2015 Rumor: A racist question was featured in the game Trivia Crack.
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Did Timberland's CEO Say 'I'd Rather Not See Blacks in My Boots'?

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Dec. 3, 2014 Several legends posit CEOs saying derogatory things about black customers using their companies' ...
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Man saluting an American flag.

An Old Black Vet Speaks Out

Written by:
David Mikkelson
Nov. 16, 2014 Is a circulating e-mail really the opinion of a dying "old black vet" named William G. Lillas?
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