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

Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

White text on black background “Momentum a Race Forward Podcast” with Race Forward logo. Various images of people expressing joy and solidarity and signs of protest in background.
Photo credit (small photo in upper right):
Pax Ahimsa Gethen / Wikicommons

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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