Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips

Top Races to Watch This Fall

School is back in session! 
Our in-house data expert, Dr. Julie Martinez Ortega, joins Steve and Sharline for a data deep dive into the electoral landscapes of Kentucky and Mississippi, two states in the heartland of America with unique opportunities for Democrats to lean in and win this November.
We also touch on Virginia for a quick discussion about the state legislature races also happening this fall. We wrap with an update on the current slate of Republican presidential candidates, and Steve shares who he thinks poses the biggest threat to Democrats if he or she were to win the Republican presidential primary.
RESOURCES:
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White People and the Fight for Racial Justice with SURJ’s Erin Heaney

It’s our 100th episode! 
Erin Heaney, executive director of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), joins us to discuss the role of white allyship in the fight for justice and a multiracial democracy. 
Erin shares her path to organizing, her hopes for SURJ, and details on the White Stripe Project—a new initiative between the Sandler Phillips Center, the Working Families Party and SURJ focused on increasing the number of white voters committed to progressive causes.
 
REFERENCES:
Erin Heaney, Executive Director, SURJ - @heaney_erin
SURJ - @showup4rj and surj.org
"Progressives want to grow the ‘White Stripe’ of a multiracial coalition" Politico
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40 Years of the Rainbow Coalition

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 Kemp
Pierre Barolette
Theresa Montaño 
Ellen Spears

Rep. Jamaal Bowman on Restorative Justice for the Classroom and Beyond

Congressmember Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) joins Steve and Fola to talk about his time as an educator, from being a crisis intervention teacher to founding his own school. He shares what he sees as the role of the Squad; how he got involved with Justice Democrats; and what led him to run for office in the first place. He shares his thoughts on the major issues we’re facing in K-12 education, from attacks on LGBTQ+ youth to the conservative backlash against so-called “critical race theory,” and Republicans’ refusal to take action on gun legislation. Rep. Bowman also shares what’s giving him hope and answers a very important weight-lifting question.
REFERENCES:
Representative Jamaal Bowman - @JamaalBowmanNY // IG: jamaalbowmanny

Steve to the Class of 2023: Rise and Take Control

In a personal and moving conversation with Sharline, Steve shares the winding, yet connected roads that led to his first keynote speech at the City University of New York’s School of Labor and Urban Studies’ fifth commencement ceremony.
Steve discusses the art and poetry that inspired his speech and the childhood memories that resurfaced as he wrote. In his advice to the graduates entering the workforce at one of the most critical times in our country’s history, he shares key lessons from his time in political and labor movements to his time spent writing How We Win the Civil War. He also honors Susan’s legacy and the friends they gained in their joint effort to make a difference in the world.
REFERENCES:
CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies Commencement 2023 - https://slu.cuny.edu/current-students/commencement
Barbara James-Hogu - "Rise and Take Control" - https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/rise-and-take-control-117946
Margaret Walker - "For My People" - https://poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/21850/for-my-people
Sonia Sanchez - "Middle Passage" - https://youtube.com/watch?v=P98JZhWUijY

Going Viral with Former Buzzfeed EiC Ben Smith

Ben Smith, author of the new book Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral, joins the podcast to discuss how the media revolution has changed the political landscape and the implications for the future.
Ben and Steve talk about his new book, the historical relationship between media and politics, and the transformation of Facebook from a social platform into a media juggernaut. Ben also shares details about Semafor, the news platform he’s building and who on the Left is actually doing media well.
REFERENCES:
Ben Smith - @semaforben https://twitter.com/semaforben
Semafor - https://semafor.com
Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral - https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/678592/traffic-by-ben-smith

Newbery Medal Author Amina Luqman-Dawson on Freewater

In honor of Juneteenth, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the 2023 Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award Amina Luqman-Dawson joins us to talk about her award-winning debut children’s novel Freewater.
Amina shares how she learned about the Great Dismal Swamp(where Freewater is set) in Virginia, the former home to the real-life maroon colony of thousands of formerly enslaved Africans who lived there in the 1700s and 1800s. She also explains why she chose to use fiction to tell the story about this important piece of American history. She and Steve reflect on the years leading up to Amina’s successful debut and Susan’s contribution to Freewater.
Amina reads a passage from Freewater and Sharline’s daughter shares her thoughts on the novel.
REFERENCES:
Amina Luqman-Dawson - https://aminaluqman-dawson.com // https://twitter.com/AminaLuqman
Freewater - https://goodreads.com/en/book/show/58275990

Reporting on Trans Rights with The 19th News’ Orion Rummler

The 19th News’ LGBTQ+ reporter Orion Rummler breaks down the scope of the attacks against the LGBTQ+ community and the importance of having trans journalists out in the field telling these stories.
Orion shares his thoughts on the Biden administration’s response, the state legislators speaking truth to power, and what’s giving him hope despite the ongoing assaults on LGBTQ+ rights.
REFERENCES:
Orion Rummler - @i_oriion https://twitter.com/i_oriion
The 19th News - https://19thnews.org/author/orion-rummler

Not Your Grandparents’ Greenpeace with ED Ebony Twilley Martin

Greenpeace’s new executive director Ebony Twilley Martin shares her path to climate activism and the significance of her position as the first Black woman to lead a national legacy environmental organization.
She discusses Greenpeace’s recent lawsuit victory and the legal strategies corporations use to silence environmental activists. She also shares her thoughts on President Biden’s response to the climate crisis, the proposed Cop City in Atlanta, and the role of young people in the fight for climate justice.
REFERENCES:
Ebony Twilley Martin - @Ebony_4_Justice
To support Greenpeace:
Text 86799
1-800-722-6995
engage.us.greenpeace.org

George Floyd’s America with Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa

The Washington Post’s White House Bureau Chief Toluse Olorunnipa and The New Yorker’s Robert Samuels join us to discuss their book, His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and The Struggle for Racial Justice. The book was a finalist for the 2022 National Book Award for Nonfiction.
The writers discuss how the concept for the book came to be and why it was important to trace George Floyd’s ancestry as far back as the Civil War.
They also share their outlooks on where we are as a country today and what they hope readers take away from their book.
REFERENCES:
Robert Samuels - @newsbysamuels
Toluse Olorunnipa - @ToluseO
His Name Is George Floyd - https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/703358/his-name-is-george-floyd-by-robert-samuels-and-toluse-olorunnipa