Slate Race and Identity

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What Next: When Cops Police Your Vote Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

Law enforcement units looking to prevent voter fraud are popping up from Texas to Virginia—but are they trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist—or simply targeting groups they’d prefer didn’t vote?

Guest: Ari Berman, national voting rights correspondent for Mother Jones, author of “Minority Rule: The Right Wing Attack on the Will of the People and the Fight to Resist It.”

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Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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A Word: How Kamala Harris Stumped Trump Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

It wasn’t even close. That was the verdict of most of the media—and millions of Americans—after the presidential debate on Tuesday. After Vice President Kamala Harris dominated former President Donald Trump on the debate stage, Trump has pledged not to debate her again. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Christina Greer, a professor of political science at Fordham University, and the author of Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream. The two break down the finer points of the debate, and what impact it could have on the race going forward.

Guest: Christina Greer, professor and author of Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream.

Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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A Word: Prayer, Politics, and Power Shifts Aug 30, 2024

Show notes

Election season brings politicians of all parties to the doors of Black churches, looking for photo ops, votes, and support from powerful pastors. But the traditional Black church is—like many American faith communities—shrinking. And a growing number of middle-class African Americans are worshiping in more diverse congregations. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Dr. Jason E. Shelton, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. They discuss his new book, The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion, and how changes in African American faith communities are playing out in everything from politics, to education, to music.

Guest: Dr. Jason E. Shelton, author of The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion.

Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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A Word: Masters of the House…and the Senate Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

Many congressional staffers and workers on Capitol Hill have argued that, regardless of the party in power, the institution hasn’t evolved much on diversity in the workplace. And that means African Americans are frequently underrepresented in high level jobs, and can often be targets of racism and abuse during their work. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Dr. James R. Jones, the author of The Last Plantation: Racism and Resistance in the Halls of Congress. The two discuss bias and inequality among the workers on Capitol Hill, and what that says about Congress’s ability to represent an increasingly diverse nation.

Guest: Dr. James R. Jones, professor and author of The Last Plantation.

Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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What Next: Chicago's Mayor on the Democrats' Toughest Issue Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

What happened when a blue city inherited a red state problem.

Guests:

Brandon Johnson, mayor of the city of Chicago.

Dr. Kenneth D. Phelps, senior pastor at Concord Missionary Baptist Church (CMBC) in Chicago.

Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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What Next: Can Kamala Harris Win “Uncommitted” Democrats? Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Democrats frustrated by Joe Biden’s policy towards Israel and Gaza voted for “uncommitted” in the primaries, notably in the crucial swing state of Michigan. Does Kamala Harris have an opportunity to reach those voters now?

Guest: Yazan “Yaz” Kader, uncommitted DNC delegate from the state of Washington and registered nurse.

Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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A Word: Seeds of Justice for Black Farmers Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

In a recent CBS News interview, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance charged that the Biden administration was favoring Black farmers over white farmers in federal policy. That came days after the US Department of Agriculture began distributing more than $2 billion in relief to Black and other marginalized farmers who suffered historic discrimination from the agency. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by John Boyd, Jr., a family farmer and the president of the National Black Farmers Association. They discuss Vance’s allegations, the long road to the discrimination settlement, and the continued work of preserving African American farming communities.

Guest: John Boyd Jr., founder, and president of the National Black Farmers Association

Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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A Word: Project 2025: A Contract on Black America? Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

Project 2025, the massive Heritage Foundation policy blueprint, has become a major issue on the campaign trail for Democrats. While former President Trump has tried to distance himself from the document, many members of his administration and inner circle worked to draft it. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Brandon Tensley, national political reporter for Capital B News. They discuss Project 2025, what it could mean for the Black community, and what elements may already be in effect.

Guest: Brandon Tensley, national political reporter for Capital B News

Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola

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What Next: The Olympics Meet the Culture Wars Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

How Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting—two women boxers fighting in the gender category they were assigned at birth—became the targets of trans panic and subject to another round of “but is she woman enough?” at the Olympics.

Guest: Rose Eveleth, reporter and host of the podcast Tested, from NPR and CBC.

Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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What Next: How Trump Got Ice Cube Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

Once one of the most politically confrontational artists in music, Ice Cube has become a surprising asset to Donald Trump.

Guest: Joel Anderson, staff writer for Slate and the host of Seasons 3, 6, and 8 of Slow Burn.

Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme and Rob Gunther.

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