The Black Pack with Adrianne Shropshire

National Guard in Memphis & Missouri Fights Mid-Decade Power Grab Sep 15, 2025

Tennessee State Rep. Vincent Dixie joins to discuss Trump's latest escalation against Black-led cities by sending in the National Guard under the false premise of "fighting crime." Later in the show, Missouri NAACP State Conference President Nimrod Chapel Jr. joins to discuss the "Show Me" state's fight against rigged maps and the mid-decade power grab.

Processing Political Violence and Another Shutdown Showdown Sep 15, 2025

Political strategist and commentator Aisha Mills joins the show to discuss the week's news, how to address political violence, and share thoughts on the upcoming budget process.

California Prop 50 and Leveling the Redistricting Playing Field Sep 08, 2025

California State Sen. Lola Smallood-Cuevas joins to discuss the November Special Election and California Proposition 50. She shares insights from her decision to support the redistricting effort and why it’s important for California to lead the way in leveling the playing field. Later in the episode, Portia Allen-Kyle, interim executive director at Color of Change, discusses the call to action for other Blue states to take action and “fight fire with fire.”

Trump’s Attack on US Cities and Federal Court Oversight Sep 08, 2025

Vince Warren, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, joins the show to discuss the Trump administration’s escalating rhetoric and attack on Black-led cities. He and Adrianne also discuss the federal courts and whether they offer an effective check on Trump’s growing abuse of power.

Workers Over Billionaires with Stacy Davis Gates Aug 30, 2025

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates joins to discuss Chicagoans collectively standing ground against Trump's threatened military takeover. She also discusses the upcoming Workers Over Billionaire actions taking place over Labor Day weekend.

Katrina at 20: Lessons in Resilience and Community Aug 30, 2025

Adrianne is joined by New Orleans native and WFP senior digital strategist Aimee Castenell to talk about the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and how we build better as we look forward.

California Balances the Scales And Trump’s Attacks on Black Culture Aug 26, 2025

California Assemblymember Sade Elhawary (CA-57) joins Adrianne to discuss the California legislature’s effort to counter the power grab in Texas and the decision before voters in the November special election. Later journalist and political commentator Anoa Changa joins to talk about Trump’s latest attack on the Smithsonian and why we can’t yield to efforts to undermine our ability to learn our history and culture.

Battleground Texas: The Fight to Protect and Expand Democracy Aug 26, 2025

Resha Thomas, project director of the Texas Black Action Fund, joins Adrianne in a conversation about the Texas legislature’s racist gerrymandering scheme and its impact on Black political participation and the country as a whole.

Tech Policy for Black Lives with Danielle Davis Aug 11, 2025

Attorney Danielle Davis, Director of Technology Policy at The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, joins the show to discuss the need for technology policies, including those related to AI, that consider racial equity and the needs of Black communities. She also debunks the Trump administration's claim of "woke-free" AI policy as being fair and neutral.

Texas Legislators Fight Back & GOP Apartheid Policy Aug 11, 2025

Texas State Representative Charlene Ward Johnson joins to talk about leaving Texas to fight for fair representation and prevent Black communities from being disenfranchised by the mid-decade power grab underway. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson also joins to contextualize the GOP's attempted apartheid policy.

Voting Rights Act at 60 and Building Black Political Power Aug 05, 2025

Valencia Richardson, legal counsel for voting rights at Campaign Legal Center, joins Adrianne in conversation about the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and the current voting rights landscape. Later in the hour, movement strategist Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson joins the conversation for a look at the lessons from movement building that led to the historic act’s passage.

Black Workers and Trump’s Economy Aug 05, 2025

Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, joins the show to discuss the latest job numbers and the impact of Trump’s economic policies on Black workers and communities.

Texas Special Session Power Grab and Mid-Decade Redistricting Issues Jul 26, 2025

Rebekah Caruthers, president and CEO of the Fair Elections Center, joins Adrianne in a discussion about what's happening in Texas with the special legislative session and the issues with the attempted power grab via a mid-decade redistricting effort. Russia Chavis Cardenas, deputy director of California Common Cause, later joins to discuss Governor Newsom's response to Texas and why California shouldn't engage in a partisan gerrymandering arms race.

Reckoning with Public Media Attacks and Harm to Black Communties Jul 26, 2025

Adrianne is joined by Leslie Fields-Cruz, executive director of Black Public Media to discuss the impact on Black communities and media makers after the recent removal of federal funding for public media for FY 2026 and 2027. Joseph Torres, senior advisor for reparative policy and programs at Free Press, later joined to discuss the throughline of Trump's attacks on public media, the history of racism impacting Black media makers, and what it will take to transform the field in support of our communities.

Good Trouble Lives On & LA Organizer Check-In Jul 22, 2025

April Albright, legal director at Black Voters Matter, joins for a discussion of last week's Good Trouble Lives On actions and what it means to get into good trouble 365 days a year. The episode concludes with an LA organizer check-in with the Black Alliance for Just Immigration.

Trump Administration Resegregating Public Schools Jul 22, 2025

Adaku Onyeka-Crawford, director of the Advancement Project's Opportunity to Learn, discusses a recent SCOTUS ruling made on its shadow docket, paving the way for the Trump administration to resegregate public schools.

Democracy Defenders Take Action On Birthright Citizenship Jul 14, 2025

Tianna Mays, Legal Director for Democracy Defenders Action, joins Adrianne in a conversation about the recent class action defending birthright citizenship and the importance of coalitions protecting our constitutional rights.

Decolonizing Narratives of Identity and Community with Raquel Willis Jul 14, 2025

Journalist, advocate, and co-founder of Gender Liberation Movement Raquel Willis joins Adrianne in a conversation contextualizing the real-life impact of the SCOTUS Skrmetti decision, which set the stage for a separate and unequal system of care for Trans youth. The two also engage in a deep discussion of community and connection, and why we need to expand our understanding of identity and reject divisive narratives.

Zohran Mamdani Wins Big in NYC and SCOTUS Bends the Knee Jun 30, 2025

Jasmine Gripper, co-director of the New York Working Families Party joins the show to talk about Zohran Mamdani's big win in New York City's democratic primary for mayor. And civil rights attorney Judith Browne Dianis, executive director of the Advancement Project and the Advancement Project Action Fund, offered timely analysis of the SCOTUS decision Trump v. CASA .

SCOTUS Undermining the Rule of Law and LA Organizing Update Jun 30, 2025

Civil rights attorney Judith Browne Dianis, executive director of the Advancement Project and the Advancement Project Action Fund, offers analysis of the SCOTUS term and its impact on the Constituon and the rule of law. Later in the show, Kevin Cosney joins to discuss the recent joint effort of Black led organizers in response to the increasingly chaotic and harmful ICE raids. He also talks directly to the question why should this matter to Black Americans.

Organizing People, Power, and Progress in LA Jun 23, 2025

Alberto Retanta, president and CEO of the Community Coalition, joins the show to discuss the work beyond the protests and the importance of sustaining cross-community coalitions.

LA Protests in Context and Organizing People, Power, and Progress Jun 23, 2025

Erica D. Smith, West Coast politics and policy columnist at Bloomberg Opinion, and Advance Project/AP Action Fund Executive Director Judith Browne Dianis join the show to put the recent protests in Los Angeles in context.

Political Remix: Building Black Power Jun 18, 2025

This episode revisits conversations with three Black leaders committed to building Black political power about the current stakes impacting our communities and the path forward. Featured: Kevin Cosney, co-founder and associate director of the California Black Power Network; Dr. Melina Abdullah, co-founder and director of Black Lives Matter Grassroots; and Rukia Lumumba, director of the electoral justice project at the Movement for Black Lives.

LA State of the People Power Jun 18, 2025

Nana Gyamfi, executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration joins the show to talk about the Los Angeles stop on the State of the People. She also shares some key "know your rights" tips for people across our communities.

Five Years After George Floyd Black Lives Still Matter Jun 04, 2025

Dr. Melina Abdullah, co-founder and director of Black Lives Matter Grassroots and host of KBLA's "This is Not a Drill!" joins Adrianne in a conversation reflecting on the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's murder and racial justice uprisings that galvanized a nation. The conversation offers radical reflection while engaging in ongoing work to uplift and support Black communities.

Building Black Economic and Political Power Jun 04, 2025

Kevin Cosney, associate director & co-founder for the California Black Power Network, joins Adrianne in discussing the upcoming LA stop on the State of the People Power Tour and how groups are working to build Black economic and political power in California.

Protecting Our Families From The Big Ugly Republican Bill May 24, 2025

NWLC Action Fund President Fatima Goss Graves joins the show to discuss the big, ugly Republican budget bill and what people are doing to fight back.

Organizing 5 Years After George Floyd May 24, 2025

Rukia Lumumba, director of the electoral justice project at the Movement for Black Lives, joins the show to discuss the organizing work happening across the country, five years after George Floyd's murder. She also highlights the work of the electoral justice project and building governing power. Lawyer and movement journalist Anoa Changa provides opening commentary about the current political moment and the work ahead.

Trump’s Refugee Policy Hypocrisy May 24, 2025

Marissa Jackson Sow, associate professor of law at the University of Richmond School of Law, discusses the recent arrival of white South Africans known as Afrikaners and Trump's hypocritical refugee policy. Professor Jackson Sow and Adrianne also talk about the impact of Trump's feeding into the false claim of white genocide and the potential impact on our communities.

Alabama Voting Rights Win and LDF's Legacy of Resilience and Resistance May 24, 2025

Demetria McCain, director of policy at the Legal Defense Fund, joins Adrianne to discuss the recent voting rights win in Alabama and lessons in resilience and resistance from the civil rights organization’s 85-year history.

New Pope's Black Roots and Funding Public Media May 13, 2025

Adrianne is joined by Sonya Lockett, founder and chief impact officer at The New Slate, in discussing Pope Leo XIV and his possible Black roots. Tracie Powell, founder of the Pivot Fund, later joins the show to discuss recent attacks on publicly funded media and the importance of community-based media options.

Connecting Through Community and Culture May 13, 2025

Leslie Mac, founder and CEO of Leslie Mac Consulting, joins Adrianne to discuss news of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's arrest and the impact culture has on how we connect and build community. Leslie also shines light on the role of digital organizing in today's political landscape and raises awareness about support for advocates like Mari Copeland, aka Little Miss Flint.

Trump's 100 Days and How We Fight Back pt 2 May 06, 2025

Adrianne continues exploring Trump's first 100 days and spotlighting Black-led organizing efforts at the local, state, and national levels. Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates joins Adrianne to talk about the mass mobilization on May Day and how local labor organizers are standing in the gap for our communities.

Trump's 100 Days and How We Fight Back pt 1 May 06, 2025

Adrianne discusses the impact of Trump's first 100 days and how communities are stepping up and fighting back. Gabby Seay, founder and principal of Seay Strategies, and Dwight Bullard, senior political advisor at Florida Rising, join Adrianne in conversation.

The State of Our People Apr 22, 2025

Adrianne discusses the upcoming State of the People Power Tour. Angela Rye, CEO and Principal of IMPACT Strategies, and Esosa Osa, Founder and CEO of Onyx Impact, join her.

Black Health Equity Apr 22, 2025

Dr. Regina Davis Moss, President and CEO of In Our Own Voice and In Our Own Voice Action Fund, joins Adrianne to talk about reproductive justice and the impact of the current administration's policy decisions on Black health outcomes.

Building a 21st Century Labor Movement Apr 15, 2025

SEIU President April Verrett joins Adrianne in a conversation about the power and importance of organized labor.

The Save Act Won't Save Us Apr 15, 2025

Adrianne leads a roundtable discussion of the House's passage of the SAVE Act and an update on the election challenge in the North Carolina Supreme Court election. Marcus Bass, executive director of Advance Carolina, and Fair Elections Center Vice President Rebekah Caruthers join the show.

Cory Booker’s Defiance and Louisiana Black Voters Hold The Line Apr 06, 2025

Culture critic and journalist Soraya McDonald joins Adrianne to talk more about Senator Cory Booker’s history making speech and why a little symbolism can go a long way. Ashley Shelton, president and CEO of the Louisiana based Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, also joined the show to talk more about the amazing show of force by Black voters who led a major rebuke of four constitutional amendments championed by the state’s governor.

Hands Off National Day of Action, Faith, and Resilience Apr 06, 2025

Adrianne discusses the April 5 Hands Off National Day of Action with Joel Payne, chief of comms at MoveOn. She is later joined by Reverend Cece Jones-Davis in a discussion about faith and resilience and how we can sharpen our discernment in how to get involved in these times.

Education Equity or Else with Jitu Brown, National Director of Journey for Justice Alliance Mar 28, 2025

Jitu Brown, national director of Journey for Justice Alliance, joins Adrianne in the first of two conversations to discuss the role of the Department of Education and the first for education equity.

Standing Ground in the Senate and Medicaid Matters with Former U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Dr. Regina Davis Moss Mar 28, 2025

Adrianne is joined by former U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman to discuss Senate Democrats' failure to hold the line on the recent funding showdown in Congress. Dr. Regina Davis Moss, President and CEO of In Our Own Voice and In Our Own Voice Action Fund, later joins to talk about the impact of potential Medicaid cuts and what it means for Black families.

Neo-Segregation and Protecting Our Civil Rights with Jitu Brown (Part 2) Mar 25, 2025

Adrianne continues the discussion of neo-segregation and the importance of leadership and organizing at the state and local level.

Neo-Segregation and Protecting Our Civil Rights with Amanda Hollowell (Part 1) Mar 25, 2025

Adrianne discusses the rise of neo-segregation and how communities are stepping up to protect our civil rights.

Protecting Public Education with Dr. Weadé James Mar 25, 2025

Dr. Weadé James joins Adrianne to discuss attacks on public education and the effort to dismantle the Department of Education.

History-Making Black Media Makers with Leslie Fields-Cruz Mar 25, 2025

Leslie Fields-Cruz, executive director of Black Public Media, talks with Adrianne about the importance of supporting and resourcing Black filmmakers and other creatives who take on the noble task of telling our stories.

Black Political Participation with Christopher Towler Mar 25, 2025

Adrianne talks with Christopher Towler, principal investigator of the Black Voter Project about the power and importance of Black political participation and what the pundits get wrong about Black voters. Listen, share and subscribe!

Just Immigration with Nana Gyamfi Mar 25, 2025

Adrianne discusses the impact of Trump's immigration policies on Black migrants and the throughline of Black resistance and resilience with Nana Gyamfi, executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). Listen, share and subscribe!

Protecting Public Education and History-Making Black Media Makers with Dr. Weadé James Mar 03, 2025

Dr. Weadé James, Senior Director of K-12 Education Policy at the Center for American Progress, joins Adrianne to discuss attacks on public education and the effort to dismantle the Department of Education. Also, Leslie Fields-Cruz, executive director of Black Public Media, talks with Adrianne about the importance of supporting and resourcing Black filmmakers and other creatives who take on the noble task of telling our stories.

For the Culture: Organizing Across Communities with Judith Browne Dianis Mar 03, 2025

On this episode of “The Black Pack,” Adrianne is joined in studio by civil rights attorney Judith Browne Dianis, executive director of the Advancement Project Action Fund reflecting on the importance of celebrating the culture and other moments of joy even amid the daily crisis coming out of Washington. They are first joined by Florida State Rep Angie Nixon who gives an update from the field and shares some insights about building community and connection at the Jacksonville-based Cafe of Resistance. And later in the show, WFP Senior Digital Strategist Aimee Castenell joins to talk about the importance of organizing through culture.
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