Last Friday, Rayshard Brooks, a black man who had fallen asleep at a Wendy's drive thru, was killed by police officers when he was shot in the back twice. Since then, the officer has been fired and the Atlanta Police Department chief has resigned. President Trump is due to sign an executive order on policing today. To discuss, we SPOTLIGHT Beverly Daniel Tatum, who resides in Atlanta. Scholar, teacher, author, administrator and race relations expert Dr. Tatum was the ninth president of Spelman College. Dr. Tatum is a clinical psychologist whose areas of research include black families in white communities, racial identity in teens, and the role of race in the classroom. For over 20 years, Dr. Tatum taught her signature course on the psychology of racism. Media includes: The Washington Post, The New York Times, Good Morning America, CNN.
In March, Breonna Taylor was killed in her own home when police officers entered her home and shot her six times. Protests have continued across the U.S. as demonstrators demand justice for Breonna and for charges to be brought to the officers that killed her. To discuss, we FEATURE Treva Lindsey. Lindsey is a Black feminist cultural critic, historian, and commentator. She is the author of the Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2017 Colored No More: Reinventing Black Womanhood in Washington D.C.. She is also a professor at The Ohio State University. Many of her pieces focus on representations and experiences of Black women, although her work on race, gender, sexuality, culture and politics encompasses the far-reaching and often untold effects of current events and pop culture moments. Media includes: Al Jazeera, BET, Complex, Vox, The Root, Huffington Post, Popsugar, Teen Vogue, Grazia UK, The Grio, Cosmopolitan.
On Monday, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies to discrimination based on sexuality and gender identity. To discuss, we FEATURE Rebecca Pilar Buckwalter-Poza. An attorney and political strategist, Buckwalter-Poza provides commentary for print media, radio, and television on law and politics. Her areas of legal expertise include the Supreme Court, the federal judiciary, civil rights law, military law, and Indian law. As a lesbian and a Latina, Buckwalter-Poza's topics of particular interest include LGBT rights, racial justice, criminal justice reform, women’s rights, voting rights, immigration, and gun control. Media includes: Democracy Journal, The Daily Beast, Pacific Standard, The Nation, The Atlantic, Politico, CNN, NPR.
Last week, within the span of 24 hours, two black trans women were found dead— Dominique "Rem'Mie" Fells of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Riah Milton of Liberty Township, Ohio. Since the beginning of the year, 14 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been violently killed. To discuss, we FEATURE Zahara Green. Green is the Founder and Executive Director of TRANScending Barriers, a trans-led group whose mission is to empower the transgender and gender non-conforming community in Georgia through community organizing with leadership building, advocacy, and direct services. Green's experience inspired her as an advocate. As executive director of TRANScending Barriers, Green specializes in reducing the harms of the criminal punishment on transgender people. Media includes: Buzzfeed, Rolling Stone, INTO, AJC.
COVID-19 is still spreading in the United States and globally and health researchers continue to work to find treatments for the virus. To discuss, we FEATURE Myiesha Taylor. Taylor is an Emergency Medicine physician based in Keller, Texas. She completed her medical training at Los Angeles County King Drew Medical Center in South Central Los Angeles. She chose emergency medicine as a specialty after the untimely death of her father who was shot and killed during the civil unrest sparked by the Rodney King trial verdict in 1992. Media includes: Associated Press, Ebony, Essence, MSNBC, NPR.
As states further relax social distancing rules, health officials are concerned as COVID-19 cases have been steadily rising in places that have reopened. To discuss, we FEATURE Stephanie Morain. Morain is an Assistant Professor in the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy. Morain's research examines political and ethical issues concerning the scope of government authority in public health and the role of stakeholder opinion in shaping decision-making in public health policy. She has expertise in public opinion towards controversial public health laws including those targeting “lifestyle choices” like obesity, physical inactivity, and tobacco use. Media includes: The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, ABC, NPR.
The FBI and other federal agencies are reviewing local investigations into two black men who were recently found hanging in trees in California — Robert Fuller in Palmdale and Malcolm Harcsh in Victorville. In both cases, the sheriff's departments claim there was no foul play involved in the deaths despite Fuller and Harcsh's family members saying they do not believe their loved one died of suicide.. To discuss, we FEATURE Koritha Mitchell. Mitchell is an associate professor of English at Ohio State University. She earned her PhD at the University of Maryland-College Park and is author of the award-winning book Living with Lynching: African American Lynching Plays, Performance, and Citizenship, 1890 - 1930. Her research centers on African American literature, racial violence in United States history and contemporary culture, and black drama and performance. Media includes: ColorLines, Vox, Feministing, The Huffington Post, ABC, CNN, NBC, PBS.
As anti-racism comes to the forefront of conversations, many have come to speak up against statues of confederate soldiers and other racist historical figures and and are demanding that they be taken down. To discuss, we FEATURE Sarah D. Beetham. Beetham is an assistant professor of art history at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, specializing in American art and particularly the monuments erected to citizen soldiers after the Civil War. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in art history from the University of Delaware and a B.A. in art history and English from Rutgers University. Her current book project, Monumental Crisis: Accident, Vandalism, and the Civil War Citizen Soldier, focuses on the ways in which post-Civil War soldier monuments have served as flashpoints for heated discussion of American life and culture in the 150 years since the end of the war. Media includes: The Washington Post, Associated Press, U.S. News & World Report, Mic.
NFL season is approaching and, as protests continue across America, there is a likely chance that players will participate in protests and kneeling. To unpack race-based issues within the league, we FEATURE Alexis McCombs. McCombs is an On-Air Sports Contributor with appearances on CNN, NBC News | NBCBLK, HLN Network and Entertainment Tonight's The Insider on CBS. She discusses NFL football, sports, pop-culture, business and female-centric issues. After numerous women admitted to being intimidated by NFL football but wanted to speak intelligently about the game, McCombs penned Girls Guide to Go: Football 101 & The Big Bowl Game. Media includes: The New York Times, USA Today, Essence.com, Inc., Black Enterprise, ABC.
As conversations on race, anti-racism, and police brutality continue, we FEATURE Dr. Reneé Carr to discuss the psychology behind police brutality, police selection, psychology of racism, and justice reform. Dr. Carr is a Political & Corporate Advisor. She is known as "The Problem Solver" because of her solutions to help states, countries, and corporations rebuild, reform, and transition. With expertise in human thinking, behaviors, emotions, and communications, Dr. Carr advises political leaders on the solutions to improve their governments, economy, and impact on citizens. She provides insight on the likelihood of future events, how to prevent problems, and solutions for current problems or crises. Media includes: Baltimore Magazine, Pyschology Today, Huffington Post, BET, NBC.
On Saturday, President Trump is planning his first campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. To discuss, we FEATURE Amanda Clinton. Clinton, who is based in Tulsa, is the vice president of communications for Cherokee Nation and its wholly owned corporate arm, Cherokee Nation Businesses. For more than 10 years, Amanda has directed public relations for everything from tribal health care, housing and education to the Cherokee Nation's business interests in gaming, manufacturing, information technology and more. Media includes: Tulsa World, KTUL in Tulsa, ABC.
On Saturday, the Poor Peoples March will take place digitally to demand an end to interlocking injustices such as systemic racism and poverty. To discuss, we FEATURE Jennifer Epps-Addison. A leader with deep roots in Milwaukee, Epps-Addison, is the Network President and Co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy, one of the mobilizing partners of the Poor People’s March. Formerly, she was the Chief Program Officer of the Liberty Hill Foundation, a social justice foundation in Los Angeles that funds grassroots community organizing campaigns for social change. She was also the Executive Director of Wisconsin Jobs Now, a nonprofit fighting for social and economic justice with collective, direct action as a fundamental organizing principle. Media includes: The Washington Post, The Guardian, Politico, MSNBC, NPR.
Juneteenth is on Friday. The day is commemorated as the day that enslaved people were freed. To discuss, we FEATURE Janet Dewart Bell. Bell is the author of Lighting the Fires of Freedom: African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement. She is a social justice advocate, activist, executive coach, and motivational speaker, with a doctorate in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. She has been a key strategist and senior executive at a number of national organizations including PolicyLink, the National Urban League, and National Public Radio (NPR). She was the Director of Communications at the National Urban League, where she redesigned, edited, and marketed the League’s signature annual publication, "The State of Black America." Her special projects included the Stop the Violence campaign and the National Urban League/Merrill Lynch Scholarship Builder program. Extensive media experience.
June is LGBTQ Pride Month, which is celebrated annually to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots. To discuss, we FEATURE Glennda Testone. Testone joined New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center as its first female Executive Director in 2009. Since then, she has strengthened The Center’s programs for adults, youth and families, ensuring all LGBTQ New Yorkers have an opportunity to live happy, healthy lives. Media includes: The Boston Globe, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, MSNBC, CNN.
Alicia White
Liz Theran
