Episode 150: Our Brothers Keeper, Our Sisters Protector
Every parent wants their child to get a good education in a safe and nurturing environment. How do we ensure that our children have the opportunity to learn, are supported to grow, and be their best selves? L. Joy brings two people who are best suited to give us what we need to know to fight for our children’s futures, Dr. Adriana Villavicencio and Joanne N. Smith, to the front of the class for this important discussion.
Black Reproductive Justice
On June 15, 2021, the Black Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda was released. More than 30 Black Women’s organizations and Reproductive Justice activists came together to create this important document which addresses issues at the intersections of race, gender, class, sexual orientation and gender identity within the situational impacts of economics, politics and culture. L. Joy brings Marcela Howell and Dazon Dixon Diallo to the front of the class to give us a lesson on Reproductive Justice and share the fine points of this agenda.
Juneteenth!
On June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, the enslaved peoples of Galveston Texas were freed. That day became known as Juneteenth. On June 17, 2021 President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday. To explain what Juneteenth is and what it means to America, L. Joy brings noted scholars Chaédria LaBouvier, Dr. Melanye Price, and Dr. Melynda J. Price to the front of the class. Then, L. Joy has a special Juneteenth treat for the class-the incomparable Stephanie Mills comes to the front of the class to share her new single “Let’s Do The Right Thing.”
Episode 147: Protect and Deliver Our Vote
One of the most important ways we have to get our voices heard is through our vote. Barriers to our ability to vote through restrictive ID laws and the like, are being erected every day. L. Joy brings Leigh Chapman to the front of the class on this episode to discuss protecting our vote and share the work Deliver My Vote is doing now to protect it.
Episode 146: Funding Public Education
Four years ago, L. Joy began #SundayCivics with a conversation on the importance of, and lack of funding for Public Education. Zakiyah Ansari came to the front of the class back then to educate us on her years long advocacy around public education funding. In one of our many full circle moments, Ansari is coming back to the front of the class because the billions allocated to states for public education in the CARES Act, the COVID relief package in December of 2020, and the American Rescue Plan may mean an end to the fight for funding, but the fight for how that money is allocated on the ground continues. L. Joy also revisits our interview with Dr. Lester Young, Jr. for history and context on the great equalizer, public education.
Chairman Eric H. Holder, Jr.
L. Joy is excited to bring on someone who has been on her wish list for a while. The 82nd Attorney General of the United States, Eric H. Holder, Jr. comes to the front of the class to discuss the role of Attorney General, his present role as Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and the work they are doing around redistricting. He also shares his thoughts on skepticism, civic engagement, and how we can reimagine policing.