Intersectionality Matters!

African American Policy Forum
  • 4.7 (804)
  • News
  • Updated Monthly

Intersectionality Matters! is a podcast hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory.

  1. 2h ago

    84. The Cornell 7: A Familiar Failure

    When a Cornell student known as Jane Doe came forward alleging she was assaulted by seven fellow students, the "Cornell Seven", it ignited a national firestorm. It also resurfaced an old pattern of institutional betrayal that universities, police, and the legal system have repeated for decades when women report sexual abuse. In this episode, host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by philosopher Kate Manne and journalist Kirsten West Savali to examine the Cornell case alongside that of Kendall Francis, a Black student at LSU whose story received a fraction of the attention. Together, they trace the through line from Anita Hill to Tarana Burke, interrogate the "bro code" and himpathy that shield perpetrators, and ask why the public still struggles to side with the most vulnerable. This episode includes clips from: Mickey Atkins CBC News ABC News and ABC News Kendall Francis via Jess Francis 101 Music by Blue Dot Sessions Host Kimberlé Crenshaw Sr. Producer Nicole Edwards Associate Producer Aniah Francis Cover Art Ashley Julien Research from The African American Policy Forum Connect with us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate to our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Kimberlé Crenshaw's book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Backtalker: An American Memoir⁠⁠⁠

    84. The Cornell 7: A Familiar Failure

  2. 4d ago

    83. Election 2026 Round Table, Part 1

    Host Kimberlé Crenshaw launches Intersectionality Matters' 2026 election series with philosopher Jason Stanley (How Fascism Works) and journalist Kirsten West Savali. Together they connect three headlines: the raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's home, the plan to live-stream a public execution, and AOC's remark that "woke 1.0 was crazy", into a unified portrait of a democracy under fascist threat. New episodes drop weekly on Fridays through November 3rd. This episode includes clips from: MS NOW ⁠CNN Riverside Church Livestream Guardian News France 24 English Music by Blue Dot Sessions Connect with us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate to our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Kimberlé Crenshaw's book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Backtalker: An American Memoir⁠⁠⁠

    83. Election 2026 Round Table, Part 1

  3. Sep 5

    82. Linked, Not Ranked: Remembering Gloria Steinem

    Honouring the life and legacy of Gloria Steinem, host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by scholars Beverly Guy-Sheftall and Salamishah Tillet for an intimate conversation about the ways Steinem touched their lives, and affected history. This episode includes clips from: Yahoo News Time Magazine Music by Blue Dot Sessions Connect with us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate to our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Kimberlé Crenshaw's book, ⁠⁠⁠Backtalker: An American Memoir⁠⁠⁠

  4. Aug 3

    81. Backtalking with Jamilah Lemieux

    Host Kimberlé Crenshaw and author Jamilah Lemieux reflect on how it feels to release their first memoirs. On the heeels of the release of Backtalker: An American Memoir, author Kimberlé Crenshaw embarks on a series of conversations with fellow Backtalkers — those who speak truth to power and habitually challenge injustices that others deem unfixable. This is episode two. For the inaugural episode of the series, go back to episode 79 with Cheryl Harris. In this episode, you'll hear abou the reclamation of “baby mama,” how popular culture and respectability politics shaped perceptions of Black families, and Lemieux’s shifting understanding of how we define family. The conversation traces the Moynihan Report’s lasting influence across Black political thought, and connects it to debates about Black solidarity across genders, accountability for harm to Black women, and policy priorities in inititiatives like My Brother’s Keeper. Lemieux also discusses what motivates her to keep Backtalking, despite backlash. Music by Blue Dot Sessions. Connect with us: ⁠⁠⁠Donate to our show⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Kimberlé Crenshaw's book, Backtalker: An American Memoir

    81. Backtalking with Jamilah Lemieux

  5. Jul 3

    80. Whose America? Whose Story?

    America turns 250—the momentous milestone comes to us cloaked in surreality. Anniversaries usually ask us to remember. This one asks whether we are willing to remember everything. This episode explores why, after two and a half centuries, our national narrative still clings to the anti-Blackness embedded in the nation’s founding, all while insisting that this bleak history no longer deserves our attention. How do we commemorate a republic built by people whose lives, labor, knowledge, and testimony are continually erased from the stories we tell about America?  Host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by Sarah Lewis, Clint Smith, Mark Rosenbaum, and Ibram X Kendi. Music by Blue Dot Sessions Connect with us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate to our show⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Kimberlé Crenshaw's book, ⁠Backtalker: An American Memoir⁠

    80. Whose America? Whose Story?

  6. May 5

    79. Introducing Backtalker: an American Memoir

    Host Kimberlé Crenshaw and celebrated legal professor Cheryl Harris discuss the creative process and anticipated release of Crenshaw's latest book, Backtalker: An American Memoir. Crenshaw’s memoir traces the way her lived experience made her see things others didn’t. It chronicles the earliest moments she starts to talk back, and the journeys that backtalking has taken Crenshaw on throughout her life.  Music courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Connect with us: ⁠⁠⁠Donate to our show⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Kimberlé Crenshaw's book, Backtalker: An American Memoir Register for Backtalkers Academy, running throughout Spring/Summer 2026 Check out UCLA Law Review's podcast

    79. Introducing Backtalker: an American Memoir

  7. Apr 11

    78. Misogynoir, Basketball, and the Art of Accountability

    Host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by award-winning radio host Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead and playwright and feminist activist V (formerly Eve Ensler), author of The Apology. Together they discuss the 2026 NCAA Women's Final Four game, where coach Geno Auriemma aggressively confronted Coach Don Staley after she led her team to victory against his. They discuss the mysogynoir of this moment, the insufficient apologies that followed, and what genuine accountability requires. Music by Blue Dot Sessions. Clips in this episode from: ESPN Connect with us: ⁠⁠⁠Donate to our show⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Kimberlé Crenshaw's book, Backtalker: An American Memoir Register for Backtalkers Academy, running throughout Spring/Summer 2026

    78. Misogynoir, Basketball, and the Art of Accountability

  8. Mar 31

    77. Heroes, Harm and History: Chavez's Legacy and Women's History Month

    On Cesar Chavez Day and the close of Women's History Month, host Kimberlé Crenshaw and award-winning radio host Kaye Wise Whitehead unpack a painful reckoning: recent New York Times revelations of sexual abuse by labor icon Cesar Chavez, including allegations from movement co-founder Dolores Huerta, who broke her silence at age 95. Together they explore why survivors delay disclosure, how hero worship in liberation movements hurts women and girls, and the tension between honoring a movement's legacy while confronting its darkest truths. Music by Blue Dot Sessions. Clips in this episode from: PBS News Hour: Investigation uncovers sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez ABC News: Dolores Huerta: Her Words, Her Movement Connect with us: ⁠⁠⁠Donate to our show⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Pre-order Backtalker: An American Memoir and find a book tour date near you at www.kimberlécrenshaw.com

    77. Heroes, Harm and History: Chavez's Legacy and Women's History Month
See All (89)

Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
804 Ratings

About

Intersectionality Matters! is a podcast hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory.

Information

  • Creator
    African American Policy Forum
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    89
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Intersectionality Matters!

You Might Also Like