Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast features movement voices, stories, and strategies for racial justice. Co-hosts Chevon and Hiba give their unique takes on race and pop culture, and uplift narratives of hope, struggle, and joy, as we continue to build the momentum needed to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Build on your racial justice lens and get inspired to drive action by learning from organizational leaders and community activists.
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Episodes
Episode 10: Season Finale: Building Power with DEMOS President K. Sabeel Rahman and Recognizing a Historic Win in North Carolina
In our season finale, Demos President K. Sabeel Rahman joins Hiba and Chevon for an exciting conversation addressing racial and economic inequities to boldly fight for the future of American democracy. Sabeel shares his experiences growing up as a first generation Muslim Bangladeshi- American to become an Associate Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School and his current role, leading the innovative work at Demos.
Episode 10: Season Finale: Building Power with DEMOS President K. Sabeel Rahman and Recognizing a Historic Win in North Carolina
In our season finale, Demos President K. Sabeel Rahman joins Hiba and Chevon for an exciting conversation addressing racial and economic inequities to boldly fight for the future of American democracy. Sabeel shares his experiences growing up as a first generation Muslim Bangladeshi- American to become an Associate Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School and his current role, leading the innovative work at Demos.
In the conversation, Sabeel talks to our hosts about the inspiration behind his books, Democracy Against Domination, and Civic Power, his take on the fight for constitutional law to be applied equitably, and the important reconciliatory work that will be essential beyond the November election.
Chevon and Hiba also talk about the recent win in Asheville, North Carolina which will see the city provide investment based reparations to its Black residents, and give a big shout out to our GARE (Government Alliance on Racial Equity) team members for their important contributions in this step towards racial justice.
Thank you to all who submitted ratings and reviews –– we shout out some of our listeners, and we’re looking forward to continuing to share the love!
Season Two of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast will premiere in mid-August, but in the meantime, stay tuned for a special bonus episode about our upcoming Facing Race 2020 announcement!
Resources (by order of mention)
In historic move, North Carolina city approves reparations for Black residents (via USA Today)
Asheville, NC, approves investment-based reparations for Black residents (via Twitter Moments)
https://twitter.com/i/events/1283493252067258368
Government Alliance on Race and Equity
https://www.racialequityalliance.org/
Demos
K. Sabeel Rahman (Demos Introductory Video)
Democracy Against Domination (Oxford University Press, 2016)
https://bit.ly/2ZRrle6
Civic Power (Cambridge University Press, 2019)
Uprising (via Demos)
https://www.demos.org/blog/uprising
We Need a Truth and Reconciliation Process for the Trump Era (via In These Times/ Demos)
https://www.demos.org/media/we-need-truth-and-reconciliation-process-trump-era
K. Sabeel Rahman (Twitter)
Episode 09: Superheroes and Representation in the Comic Book Universe
We’re in the full swing of summer, and Chevon and Hiba are diving into a conversation about representation in the superhero universe and the comic book world!
Episode 09: Superheroes and Representation in the Comic Book Universe
We’re in the full swing of summer, and Chevon and Hiba are diving into a conversation about representation in the superhero universe and the comic book world!
DC Comics authors Gene Luen Yang and Minh Le join our hosts to talk about their projects “Superman Smashes The Klan” and “Green Lantern Legacy” and how their art and stories fit into the broader context around diversity and inclusion in superhero narratives. The conversation explores the origins of some of our modern superheroes, the influence of the events of WWII and the Civil Rights movement, and why comics are as important as ever to young readers of color.
Next time on our season finale, we’ll be shouting out some of our fans that have left us reviews –– stay tuned, same Momentum time, same Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast!
Resources (by order of mention)
Wes Moore Talks Fighting Poverty, Budget Priority, Systemic Change + His New Book (via Breakfast Club Power 105.1)
Gene Luen Yang
Official Website
https://twitter.com/geneluenyang
Gene Luen Yang: Comics Belong in the Classroom (via Ted Talks)
https://www.ted.com/talks/gene_luen_yang_comics_belong_in_the_classroom
Superman Smashes The Klan (via DC Comics)
Minh Le
Official Website
https://twitter.com/bottomshelfbks
Green Lantern Legacy (via DC Comics)
https://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/green-lantern-legacy
March (series) by US Congressman John Lewis
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/1MA/march
Thich Nhat Hanh: The Monk Who Taught the World Mindfulness Awaits the End of This Life (via Time Magazine)
https://time.com/5511729/monk-mindfulness-art-of-dying/
The Shadow Hero
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465601-the-shadow-hero
The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye by Sonny Liew
Captain America Truth: Red, White & Black
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/670341.Truth
Executive Producers:
Hendel Leiva and Melissa Franqui
Episode 08: Honoring Junteenth, and a Conversation with Race Forward’s President, Glenn Harris
Glenn Harris, President of Race Forward and Publisher of Colorlines, joins Hiba and Chevon for a timely conversation on “the moment” our nation is facing, and the disproportionate impacts COVID-19 has had on communities of color. Race Forward responded swiftly to the crisis, and the work being undertaken within the racial justice movement to safeguard our democracy in another tumultuous election year.
Episode 08: Honoring Junteenth, and a Conversation with Race Forward’s President, Glenn Harris
Glenn Harris, President of Race Forward and Publisher of Colorlines, joins Hiba and Chevon for a timely conversation on “the moment” our nation is facing, and the disproportionate impacts COVID-19 has had on communities of color. Race Forward responded swiftly to the crisis, and the work being undertaken within the racial justice movement to safeguard our democracy in another tumultuous election year.
We also include audio from last week’s Building a Movement: A Virtual Town Hall with Minneapolis Organizers, a powerful online event where we heard directly from long-time activists building a movement to end police violence and systemic racism in our communities.
In recognition of Juneteeth, Chevon and Hiba discuss their personal efforts to learn and engage with the spirit of the holiday, and talk about the recent landmark Supreme Court Title VII ruling, which prohibits employment discrimination against LGBTQ people.
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Resources (by order of mention)
The Time For Reparations Is Now [Op-Ed] by Yirssi Bergman, Shweta Moorthy, and Juell Stewart (via Colorlines)
www.colorlines.com/articles/time-reparations-now-op-ed
SCOTUS Says: The 1964 Civil Rights Act Protects LGBTQ+ People, Too (via Colorlines)
www.colorlines.com/articles/scotus-says-1964-civil-rights-act-protects-lgbtq-people-too
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley on Ending “Qualified Immunity”
www.twitter.com/RepPressley/status/1272575869400371200?s=20
Laverne Cox on the SCOTUS Title VII Ruling Prohibiting LGBTQ Employment Discrimination
www.twitter.com/AlexPattyy/status/1272567736707801091?s=20
Building a Movement: A Virtual Town Hall with Minneapolis Organizers (hosted by Race Forward)
www.facebook.com/RaceForward/videos/209147303485329
Angela Davis Talks 'Orange is the New Black,' Prison Abolition (via Colorlines)
www.colorlines.com/articles/angela-davis-talks-orange-new-black-prison-abolition
Glenn Harris, President of Race Forward and Publisher of Colorlines
www.raceforward.org/about/staff/glenn-harris
“What is systemic racism? Here's what it means and how you can help dismantle it” (via USA Today)
Glenn Harris and James Haslam: A New Social Contract (via Partners For Dignity And Rights)
Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's Gone, Astra Taylor (via Goodreads)
Race Forward’s Statement On Disproportionate COVID-19 Cases And Deaths In Black and Latinx Communities: It’s Time To Lead With Racial Equity
We Vote We Count Report
wevotewecount.org/report-we-vote-we-count
“Authoritarian State or Inclusive Democracy? 21Things We Can Do Right Now” by Eric Ward (via Southern Poverty Law Center)
Movement For Black Lives: Policy Platforms
Executive Producers:
Hendel Leiva and Melissa Franqui
Episode 07: BLACK LIVES MATTER
After a two month hiatus, Chevon and Hiba are back!
In this hour long conversation, our hosts address the events of the past few months, from the coronavirus pandemic to the recent Black lives lost to police violence that have sparked a movement— and the resulting rebellion happening across the nation.
In this truth-to-power episode, honest discussions are had on allyship, the insidious ways white supremacy shows up in our everyday lives, and ways to continue pushing back against systemic racism.
Episode 07: BLACK LIVES MATTER
After a two month hiatus, Chevon and Hiba are back!
In this hour long conversation, our hosts address the events of the past few months, from the coronavirus pandemic to the recent Black lives lost to police violence that have sparked a movement— and the resulting rebellion happening across the nation.
In this truth-to-power episode, honest discussions are had on allyship, the insidious ways white supremacy shows up in our everyday lives, and ways to continue pushing back against systemic racism.
Below you’ll find links to everything covered in the episode, including articles, podcasts, mental health resources, and more.
In our next episode, Race Forward’s President Glenn Harris will be joining Hiba and Chevon for a discussion on the current moment and looking ahead to the future of racial justice work and building a just democracy — stay through to the end to hear a special message from Glenn.
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Resources (by order of mention)
“Momentum” in roundup lists
#BlackoutTuesday Resources
Educate Yourself: 13 Podcast Episodes About Black Life in America to Download Right Now
Anti-Racism Resources for White People
Asian Boss Girl: Resources For Allyship
Episode Resources
“My Role in a Social Change Ecosystem” by Deepa Iyer
http://bit.ly/SocialChangeEcosystemIyer
Eater: Mutual Aid Groups Band Together to Feed Communities Through Crisis
Mapping Police Violence
Colorlines Reporting
“The Unmattering of Black Lives” by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw
https://newrepublic.com/article/157769/unmattering-black-lives
Race Forward’s Race Reporting Guide
www.raceforward.org/reporting-guide
Drop the I-Word
www.raceforward.org/practice/tools/drop-i-word
Public Health Experts Weigh In on COVID-19 Risks at Protests
https://www.colorlines.com/articles/public-health-experts-weigh-covid-19-risks-protests
Unsung: The Series
Mental Health Resources
Open Path Collective
Therapy For Black Girls
The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema
Dive in Well
HealHaus
Inclusive Therapists
Ethel’s Club
The Nap Ministry (resources)
https://linktr.ee/thenapministry
Music Credit:
HaTom - Asleep
Executive Producers:
Hendel Leiva and Melissa Franqui
Episode 06: Hyping Census 2020: My Family Matters, My Family Counts!
We’re talking all about the upcoming Census 2020, and the “My Family Matters, My Family Counts” campaign!
In this episode, Maria Dautruche, Vice President for Foundation Partnerships at the National Urban League joins Hiba, Chevon, and Elana Needle, to talk about her work in fundraising, racial equity, civic engagement, and discusses her role in the reproductive justice field as co-founder of New Voices For Reproductive Justice.
Episode 06: Hyping Census 2020: My Family Matters, My Family Counts!
We’re talking all about the upcoming Census 2020, and the “My Family Matters, My Family Counts” campaign!
In this episode, Maria Dautruche, Vice President for Foundation Partnerships at the National Urban League joins Hiba, Chevon, and Elana Needle, to talk about her work in fundraising, racial equity, civic engagement, and discusses her role in the reproductive justice field as co-founder of New Voices For Reproductive Justice.
Maria describes the framework of the “My Family Matters, My Family Counts” campaign, answers questions about families being accurately counted on Census Day, and talks about the impact of the census on communities of color in the next decade.
We preview “What is Energy Democracy?”, our new video available on YouTube, that uplifts the events of the 2019 Strategic Energy Democracy Convening. Thirty-six energy democracy leaders from across the nation convened to build collective power around the mission of advancing the movement to democratize energy, while placing an important emphasis on the centrality of race to energy issues.
*Producer’s note: In this episode there are references to in-person organizing for Census 2020. In the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency, we encourage all organizing to take place by phone or online. Please see our official statement below.
Resources (by order of mention)
My Family Votes, My Family Counts
Census Website (take the census online)
What Is Energy Democracy? (Video)
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
https://www.wkkf.org/who-we-are/overview
National Urban League
New Voices For Reproductive Justice
http://www.newvoicespittsburgh.org
Racial Equity Anchor Twitter
Maria Dautruche Twitter
https://twitter.com/MariaDautruche
Maria Dautruce Instagram
https://twitter.com/MariaDautruche
My Black Counts Instagram
Episode 05: Kenrya Rankin, Fighting White Supremacy, and Black Romance Literature
Author, activist, and doula Kenrya Rankin (of Colorlines), joins Chevon and Hiba to talk about everything from ‘freedom dreaming’ to Black love and sex in books and podcasts. Kenrya talks about her beginnings in Cleveland and her move to New York, what her book How We Fight White Supremacy: A Field Guide To White Resistance means to her one year later, and her own journey as co-host of The Turn On, a podcast about sex and literary erotica.
Episode 05: Kenrya Rankin, Fighting White Supremacy, and Black Romance Literature
Author, activist, and doula Kenrya Rankin (of Colorlines), joins Chevon and Hiba to talk about everything from ‘freedom dreaming’ to Black love and sex in books and podcasts. Kenrya talks about her beginnings in Cleveland and her move to New York, what her book How We Fight White Supremacy: A Field Guide To White Resistance means to her one year later, and her own journey as co-host of The Turn On, a podcast about sex and literary erotica.
We preview a new Mass Freedom FRED Talks conversation between Dawn Harrington, Executive Director at Free Hearts, and Jessica Rodriguez, an immigrant rights activist and Director of the Southside Workers Center. They explore why it’s important to build solidarity across movements to end mass incarceration and mass detention.
In celebration of Black History Month and Valentine’s Day, Hiba and Chevon discuss the late Eva Rutland’s contributions to the romance novel genre, and talk about the importance of uplifting Black romance writing and representation.
Resources (by order of mention)
Eva Rutland, Browne Popular Culture Library (Thread)
Entwined Destinies Digital Gallery: Elsie B. Washington, Vivian Stephens, and 40 Years of Black Voices in Romance
https://digitalgallery.bgsu.edu/exhibits/show/entwineddestinies/introduction
30 Romance Authors of Color You Should Be Reading, Twin Cities Geek
http://twincitiesgeek.com/2019/12/30-romance-authors-of-color-you-should...
Mass Freedom FRED Talks with Dawn Harrington and Jessica Rodriguez
https://www.massfreedom.org/fred_talks/
Kenrya Rankin Website
The new and updated Colorlines website
How We Fight White Supremacy: A Field Guide To Resistance
The Turn On Podcast
https://www.theturnonpodcast.com/
Executive Producers: Hendel Leiva and Melissa Franqui
Episode 04: Angela Glover Blackwell, “Who Do We Think We Are” Colorlines Series, Discussing Lizzo and Body Positivity
Angela Glover Blackwell, founder in residence at Policylink, and host of the new Radical Imagination Podcast, joins Chevon and Hiba to talk about her longtime work as a leading voice in the movement for equity and racial justice. In this conversation, Angela talks about the “racial moment” we are currently living, and challenges us to think radically in creating narratives that will lead to concrete solutions.
Episode 04: Angela Glover Blackwell, “Who Do We Think We Are” Colorlines Series, Discussing Lizzo and Body Positivity
Angela Glover Blackwell, founder in residence at Policylink, and host of the new Radical Imagination Podcast, joins Chevon and Hiba to talk about her longtime work as a leading voice in the movement for equity and racial justice. In this conversation, Angela talks about the “racial moment” we are currently living, and challenges us to think radically in creating narratives that will lead to concrete solutions. Drawing on a lifetime of experience as an activist, Angela provides a reframing of “hopelessness” in this moment in the U.S., and inspires us to use the moment as an opportunity for important social change.
We introduce our brand new Colorlines series “Who Do We Think We Are” by Race Forward’s Senior Fellow, Rosana Cruz that is timely in the wake of the recent “American Dirt” book controversy. Hiba sits with Rosana for a conversation about the creation of the series, and their experience interviewing Latinx-identified movement leaders, artists, and cultural innovators about how they define themselves racially.
Hiba and Chevon also discuss the former ‘Biggest Loser’ trainer Jillian Michaels and her recent comments on Lizzo’s body image, Lizzo’s response and self-affirmations, and place Michaels’ comments in the context of systemic racism, anti-blackness, and fatphobia.
Resources (by order of mention)
“Who Do We Think We Are” Colorlines Series
http://bit.ly/WhoThinkWeAreCLSeries
PolicyLink
Radical Imagination Podcast
“My Role in a Social Change Ecosystem” by Deepa Iyer
http://bit.ly/SocialChangeEcosystemIyer
Update on Moms For Housing Campaign
http://bit.ly/RFMomsForHousingUpdate
Angela Glover Blackwell on Twitter
Executive Producers:
Hendel Leiva and Melissa Franqui
Episode 03: Talking about Race and Marijuana, Police Abolition, and Stigma
Kassandra Frederique, managing director of policy, advocacy and campaigns at Drug Policy Alliance, joins Chevon and Hiba to talk about her work in advancing policy and community solutions to reduce the harms associated with drug use and the carceral system. They also touch on the importance of language as an organizing tool, and provide a framework that demonstrates racial justice work and marijuana policy reform are inextricably linked.
Episode 03: Talking about Race and Marijuana, Police Abolition, and Stigma
Kassandra Frederique, managing director of policy, advocacy and campaigns at Drug Policy Alliance, joins Chevon and Hiba to talk about her work in advancing policy and community solutions to reduce the harms associated with drug use and the carceral system. They also touch on the importance of language as an organizing tool, and provide a framework that demonstrates racial justice work and marijuana policy reform are inextricably linked.
Resources (by order of mention)
Drug Policy Alliance
www.instagram.com/drugpolicyalliance
Vocal New York
Follow Kassandra Frederique on Twitter
EPISODE 02: The “Joker”and Cancel Culture, and Immigration & an Expanded Lens on the Crisis at the Border
In this episode of Momentum, Hiba and Chevon take on ‘cancel culture’ in the comedy world, discussing “Joker” director Todd Phillips recent comments about not being able to make comedy films because of “woke culture”, and Saturday Night Live’s recent hiring and firing of Shane Gillis.
EPISODE 02: The “Joker”and Cancel Culture, and Immigration & an Expanded Lens on the Crisis at the Border
In this episode of Momentum, Hiba and Chevon take on ‘cancel culture’ in the comedy world, discussing “Joker” director Todd Phillips recent comments about not being able to make comedy films because of “woke culture”, and Saturday Night Live’s recent hiring and firing of Shane Gillis.
Race Forward’s Research Associate Yirssi, joins the conversation to talk about her work with “Shattered Families” around the intersection of immigration enforcement and the child welfare system, and gives us insight into the current state of the work and what she saw on her recent trip to Arizona and Mexico.
Our featured guest is Tsion Gurmu, Legal Director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), who joins the podcast for a conversation on her background as an asylum seeker from Ethiopia, BAJI’s efforts in lifting up black immigrant experiences with narrative projects such as their recent Black Lives At The Border webinar and direct work in Tapachula, Mexico.
Resources (by order of mention)
Shattered Families
www.raceforward.org/research/reports/shattered-families
Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project
www.firrp.org
RAICES
www.raicestexas.org
Al Otro Lado
www.alotrolado.org
Colorlines Reporting
www.colorlines.com/series/shattered-families
BAJI (Black Alliance for Just Immigration)
www.baji.org
Black Lives At The Border (report and webinar)
www.baji.org/resources-webinars-black-lives-at-the-border/
http://bit.ly/BAJI_Webinar
Demands from the Assembly of African Migrants in Tapachula
http://bit.ly/demands-assembly
National Immigrant Integration Conference
(October 20-22, 2019)
www.niicnewamericandreams.org/register-2019
Executive Producers:
Hendel Leiva and Melissa Franqui
Episode 01: Introduction To Momentum With Chevon and Hiba
In this very first episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, get to know co-hosts Hiba and Chevon as they record from the new Race Forward offices in midtown Manhattan, sipping on Big Freedia wine!
Episode 01: Introduction To Momentum With Chevon and Hiba
In this very first episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, get to know co-hosts Hiba and Chevon as they record from the new Race Forward offices in midtown Manhattan, sipping on Big Freedia wine!
Chevon and Hiba discuss how they came to understand and become committed to racial justice work. Chevon talks about learning about systemic racism from an early age, and how it showed up in different ways throughout her life. Hiba talks about her Sudanese Muslim background, her work with the National Urban League, and her work coordinating convenings at Race Forward.
Executive Producers:
Hendel Leiva and Melissa Franqui