Intersectionality Matters‪!‬ African American Policy Forum

In this episode, host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by Cheryl Harris, Robin D.G. Kelley, and Janai Nelson. They explain what has been happening with the College Board’s proposed AP African American Studies course, share a close reading of what the revisions are and what they mean, and discuss what we can all do about it. Kimberlé also shares exciting news about the launch of the Freedom to Learn Network, including information on the national day of action happening on May 3rd, 2023. With: Cheryl Harris, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Chair in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at UCLA School of Law Robin D.G. Kelly, the Gary B. Nash Professor of American History at UCLA Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks) Produced by Nicole Edwards, with support from Kristin Penner, Kevin Minofu, Marjorie Bostwick, and Heather Malveaux. Mixing by Sean Dunnam. Music by Blue Dot Sessions Follow us at @intersectionalitymatters, @IMKC_podcast Resources Go to www.freedomtolearn.net for more information on the campaign, including resources like social media toolkits, and to access Freedom to Learn TV. Register here for the Freedom to Learn Rallies and NYC Reception: https://bit.ly/F2LNYCRally https://bit.ly/F2LDCRally https://bit.ly/F2LNYCReception Find out what people are doing in your area on the Freedom to Learn National Day of Action on May 3rd: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mlNoKD0xvfy372T6tNcm1qDWMdb3GBrTn9hhhAp05pU/edit?usp=sharing Sign the Open Letter on Fighting “Anti-Woke” Censorship of Intersectionality and Black Feminism: bit.ly/NoErasure

**TRIGGER WARNING -- THIS EPISODE CONTAINS DESCRIPTIONS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND SOUNDS OF GUNFIRE. PLEASE TAKE CARE WHILE LISTENING.**

In this episode, the sisters of Atatiana Jefferson, Amber and Ashley Carr, share a portrait of Atatiana’s life. Atatiana was killed by former police officer Aaron Dean in 2019. He is currently on trial.

Host Kimberlé Crenshaw reflects on the Mothers Network and the 8th anniversary of the #SayHerName campaign, which supports Amber, Ashley, and other mothers, sisters, aunts, and loved ones of Black women killed by police. She also reflects on the importance of using an intersectional race and gender lens as we demand police reform.

Join us at the #SayHerName: Reclaiming Our Legacy event, where along with the #SayHerName Mothers Network we are looking forward to celebrating, reflecting and engaging in ritual to center the lives of women, girls, and femmes that should have been.

Link to virtual attendance: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sayhername-8th-anniversary-tickets-470145436657

Read our #SayHerName report: https://www.aapf.org/sayhername

This episode features:

Amber and Ashley Carr, the sisters of Atatiana Jefferson, and members of the #SayHerName Mothers Network

Find out more about The Atatiana Project https://www.atatianaproject.org/

Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks)

Produced by Nicole Edwards

Mixed by Sean Dunnam

Support provided by Rebecca Scheckman, Kevin Minofu, Aniah Francis, Alex Van Biema, and Alisha Grech

Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Follow us at @intersectionalitymatters, @IMKC_podcast

This episode marks the beginning of a new IMKC series called Author Talks, where host Kimberlé Crenshaw sits down with the authors of books banned by anti-CRT legislation. They break down why the featured author’s work is so crucial to an understanding of America's racial history, and why its opponents have labeled the work’s subject matter as forbidden knowledge.

On this episode, Kim is joined by Ibram X. Kendi, founding Director of Boston University Center for Anti-Racist Research, and the youngest winner of the National Book Award for his non-fiction work Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. They discuss the importance of talking to kids about racism, and unpack the fear-mongering around Kendi’s critically acclaimed books about racism for kids, including Stamped: Racism, Anti-racism, and You, and Stamped (For Kids), both co-authored by Jason Reynolds. These vital books have been challenged or pulled from school libraries across the country.

To attend the next Author Talk, sign up for updates about the African American Policy Forum’s new book club, called Books Unbanned: From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers Book Club. Learn about our Reading Circles for kids and adults, Author Talks, and more by clicking here: bit.ly/3On4miA

This episode features:

Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults, and five books for children.

Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks).

Produced, mixed and edited by Nicole Edwards.

Support provided by Kevin Minofu, and the team at the African American Policy Forum.

Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Follow us at @intersectionalitymatters, @IMKC_podcast

Host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by Cliff Albright, cofounder of Black Voters Matter. Together, Crenshaw and Albright discuss voter suppression, gerrymandering and intimidation tactics -- and the ways they intersect to suppress the voices of Black communities today, and throughout history. They reminisce about their recent cross-country tour, bearing witness to erasure of history at stops along the way -- like the fact that there is not so much as a plaque at the site of a Black newspaper that was burned to the ground during the Wilmington coup in 1898. Listen as Crenshaw and Albright unpack how these moments, when they're erased, separate Black history from American history, and how the struggle for democracy and the struggle against racial suppression are one and the same.

To learn more about the Books Unbanned: From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers Tour, and our new book club, visit www.booksunbanned.org

This episode features:

Cliff Albright, Cofounder, Black Voters Matter

Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks)

Produced and edited by Nicole Edwards

Mixed by Sean Dunnam

Support provided by Kevin Minofu, Rebecca Scheckman, Alex van Biema, Nadia Ncube

Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Follow us at @intersectionalitymatters, @IMKC_podcast

From October 8th to the 21st, we’re hitting the road with the 10 Million More Black Voters initiative. We call our tour Books Unbanned: From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers, and we're handing out 6,000 copies of books banned by anti-CRT laws across the country. This effort is to ensure that everyone has access to critical literature — especially stories that teach America's true racial history.

Host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by friend and collaborator Barbara Arnwine, president and founder of the Transformative Justice Coalition. They unpack the connection between these banned books, voter suppression, and the vital importance of the upcoming midterm elections.

To learn more about the Books Unbanned: From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers tour, visit www.booksunbanned.org

This episode features:
Barbara Arnwine, Founder/President, Transformative Justice Coalition

Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks)

Produced and edited by Nicole Edwards
Mixed by Sean Dunnam
Support provided by Kevin Minofu and Julia Sharpe-Levine

Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Follow us at @intersectionalitymatters, @IMKC_podcast

Drawing on the history of Freedom Summer, the African American Policy Forum launched its Critical Race Theory Summer School in 2020 as a response to the state-sanctioned murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless Black lives that spurred the subsequent summer of racial reckoning. Next week (7/18-22), in the face of a rapidly advancing assault on racial justice, we convene for another edition of Summer School under the theme: “Teaching Truth to Power”. The program will take place over the course of 5 jam-packed days, and will feature 100 instructors, 21 channels and 85+ classes.

In anticipation of next week’s gathering, which we encourage all listeners to attend, we’re going to spend today’s episode taking a stroll down memory lane. For the last two years, Intersectionality Matters! has been tracking and analyzing the right wing attacks on CRT and other social justice education. Listen along as Kimberlé revisits our continuing coverage of this backlash- pulling out some of her favorite clips from past episodes to elevate how CRT offers a prism that allows us to see what is truly at stake. In addition to resurfacing highlights from past episodes like Story of Us, The Insurgent Origins of Critical Race Theory, Educators Ungagged, and Having Our Say, this episode also shares information about some of the fascinating classes lined up to be taught next week by a Who’s Who cast of academics, activists and advocates committed to defending and expanding our multiracial democracy.

Check out our website to register now! https://www.aapf.org/crtsummerschool.

CRT Summer School is running from July 18-22, 2022 and all content for our students will be available on demand until September. There’s a sliding scale for tuition, group rates, and scholarships so everyone can attend. CE/CLE/CTLE credits are available. There is no daylight between democracy and antiracism, and CRT Summer School could not come at a more important or poignant moment than now to show us exactly why that is.

Today’s episode features:
DAVID BLIGHT - Professor of American History, Yale University; Author, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
SUMI CHO - Director of Strategic Initiatives, AAPF; Former law professor who taught CRT for 25 years
ALICIA GARZA - Co-Founder, Black Lives Matter; Principal, Black Futures Lab
MATTHEW HAWN - 10-year educator and baseball coach; Former teacher at Sullivan Central High School in Blountville, Tennessee
GLORIA LADSON-BILLINGS - Pedagogical theorist & educator; Author, The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children
KIRSTEN WEST SAVALI - VP, Content: iOne Digital
BRYAN STEVENSON - Founder and Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative; Author, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks)
Produced and edited by Julia Sharpe-Levine
Co-produced by Ashley Julien
Supported provided by Destiny Spruill, Kevin Minofu, Rebecca Scheckman, and the African American Policy Forum
Music by Blue Dot Sessions
Follow us at @intersectionalitymatters, @IMKC_podcast