Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips

America at 250: Imagining a New Democracy with LaTosha Brown of Black Voters Matters

As the our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, LaTosha Brown, organizer and Black Voters Matter co-founder, joins us to reflect on the unfinished struggle for democracy in the wake of the Supreme Court's assault on the Voting Rights Act. She shares her thoughts on the enduring importance of the South, the lessons of Selma, and how people-powered organizing can meet this political moment with hope, courage, and vision. 
LaTosha also argues that this moment requires us to think bigger than this year’s midterms, or even the next election. Building a multiracial democracy will require more than electing better leaders—it will require reimagining the architecture of American democracy itself, she says.
She reminds us that our responsibility is not merely to defend democracy as we inherited it, but to build the democracy that has never yet fully existed.
REFERENCES:
LaTosha Brown - @mslatoshabrown // latoshabrown.com
Black Voters Matter - @BlackVotersMtr // blackvotersmatterfund.org
 

LIVE! Ibram X. Kendi on Democracy and the Politics of Fear

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi joins Steve for a live conversation at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle about the growing threat of authoritarianism in the United States and around the world.
Drawing from his new book, Chain of Ideas, Kendi explains how fear, division, and "Great Replacement" narratives are being used to undermine democracy and consolidate power. Together, he and Steve explore the connections between racism, political power, demographic change, and the fight for a multiracial democracy.
They discuss why expanding democracy—not retreating from it—is the path forward and what it will take to build the broad coalition needed to meet this moment.
REFERENCES:
Ibram X. Kendi - ibramxkendi.com // @ibramxk
Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age - Penguin Random House
 

Part 3 - Draining the Money Management SWAMP

In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question.
In the final installment of the Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else? series, Robert Raben, founder and president of Raben and executive director of the Diverse Asset Managers Initiative (DAMI), sheds light on one arena where power operates largely out of public view: asset management and investing.
He shares the historical context of inequality in the industry, impact of the racial reckoning following George Floyd’s murder, and the systemic biases and challenges faced by women and people of color in this field.
Robert also discusses the need for more aggressive, data-driven approaches to identifying discrimination, holding institutions accountable, and using existing state and local authority to create fairer outcomes. 
REFERENCES:
Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America by Steve Phillips - available now!
Robert Raben - Website - @RobertRaben
Diverse Assets Managers Initiative

The Billion-Dollar Funding War on Democracy with NCRP’s Aaron Dorfman

President and CEO of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy Aaron Dorfman breaks down how right-wing donors and foundations spent money to curtail voting rights and reshape the broader political landscape.
He explains the often unseen role philanthropy plays in politics and the retreat from racial justice funding after the murder of George Floyd. He also shares why long-term investment in organizing and movement-building matters, and why he believes there is still an opportunity to build stronger, more aligned infrastructure for democracy, particularly in the South. 
REFERENCES:
Aaron Dorfman - ncrp.org

CNN’s Abby Phillip on How Jesse Jackson Transformed American Politics

CNN NewsNight anchor Abby Phillip delves into the legacy of Revered Jesse Jackson and her new book, A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power. 
She discusses Jackson’s groundbreaking 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns and what they mean for the fight we're in today.
She also traces Jesse’s role in shaping modern progressivism and his influence on figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders, his complex relationship with President Barack Obama, and the continued relevance of Rev. Jackson’s political strategies in today’s landscape.
She discusses the multiracial coalition he assembled and what Democrats can learn about reconnecting with working-class Americans and adapting to the changing political climate.
REFERENCES:
Abby Phillip - @abbydphillip
A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power

Part 2 - The History and Science of Inequality

In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question.
White men are 29% of the U.S. population, but dominate positions of power across nearly every sector. 
In Part 2 of this special series, Steve and Sharline turn to historical and scientific research to explore the existing justifications of inequality. They trace a throughline from slavery and Reconstruction to elite universities and modern-day DEI backlash. They also unpack how systems of power were deliberately engineered to defend “natural inequality” and how definitions of “merit” were rewritten to protect them.
Then, UC Berkeley law professor john a. powell explains how unconscious bias influences our everyday decisions and how small, invisible assumptions add up to massive disparities that eventually start to feel normal, and even inevitable.
REFERENCES:
Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America by Steve Phillips - available now!
john a. powell - About
Jennifer Eberhardt - About
Jerome Karabel - The Chosen
Isabel Wilkerson - Caste
 

Part 1 - The Myth of Meritocracy

In conjunction with the release of Steve Phillip's new book, Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America, Democracy in Color presents a three-part podcast series exploring one crucial question.
In Part 1 of this special podcast series, three young people share their thoughts on the overrepresentation of white men in positions of power and influence. We ask them: is this reality the result of meritocracy or something else?
As part of this first episode, we also delve further into issues of diversity and equity in America,  from centuries of exclusion and systemic barriers to the lived realities of navigating power as young people today, the students discuss the myriad reasons inequality persists despite claims from leaders across sectors of society that America is a meritocracy. 
REFERENCES:
Are White Men Smarter Than Everybody Else?: Playing Offense in the Fight for Racial Justice in America by Steve Phillips - available now

A Battle for the Future of Higher Education at New College of Florida

Three key voices behind the new documentary First They Came for My College join Steve to share how community, art, and activism became tools to fight back against censorship and ideological warfare at the New College of Florida.
Harry Hanbury, a seasoned filmmaker and alumnus of New College, shares behind-the-scenes insights to documenting the fight to save a campus under siege. Amy Reid, a former professor and board member, recounts the courage it took to stand up and resist the systematic erasure of LGBTQ+ and Black studies programs. And Gaby Batista, a former student journalist on campus, offers a frontline view of how students survived the fascist takeover while using arts and culture to preserve their community’s spirit.
REFERENCES:
First They Came for My College - Website
Harry Hanbury, New College Alum, Producer, Camera Operator - /harryhanbury
Amy Reid, Program Director, Freedom to Learn at PEN America - About
Gaby Batista, Protagonist, Cameraperson - About

Stacey Abrams on Defeating Authoritarianism

Our guest needs no introduction. Stacey Abrams returns to the show to unveil her latest initiatives and share insights on building systems of justice and advancing equity.
She reflects on what this moment demands and shares her “10 Steps to Freedom and Power” framework. She explains how authoritarian tactics are evolving, how we must adapt in response, and why DEI has become such a central battlefield in the broader struggle over democracy and corporate accountability.
She also discusses the hard but necessary work of engaging non-voters and underserved communities, the lessons emerging from recent campaigns, and how progressives can counter fear and resentment without abandoning their values. 
Stacey also shares the first thing she would change if she could redesign the Democratic playbook.
REFERENCES:
Stacey Abrams - Website // @staceyabrams
10 Steps Campaign - Sign Up Here
 

40 Years of the Rainbow Coalition (Rerelease)

This is a rerelease of an episode from 2023 with a new intro from our founder, Steve Phillips.
In honor of the 40th anniversary of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, Eddie Wong, former national field director for Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign, joins Steve and Sharline to reminisce on the alliance that transcended boundaries of race, gender, and socio-economic status to create a powerful force for change.
Steve, Sharline, and Eddie delve into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs that marked the coalition's journey, as well as its influence on shaping today's movements for social justice and equity.
Original coalition members also share personal anecdotes, insights, and reflections on how the Rainbow Coalition ignited a transformative movement that redefined the landscape of social and political activism, and the impact of Reverend Jackson’s visionary leadership in their own lives.
REFERENCES:
Eddie Wong
Jesse Jackson 1984 Democratic National Convention Speech
Rainbow Coalition Recordings:Dr. Amanda KempPierre BaroletteTheresa MontañoEllen Spears