Center for American Progress

BONUS EPISODE: What People Don’t Understand About Blackness
Podcast

BONUS EPISODE: What People Don’t Understand About Blackness

In this bonus episode, Michele and Igor sit down with social justice advocates Brittany Packnett and Rashad Robinson to address topics pertaining to race and privilege.

Michele and Igor chat with Brittany Packnett—activist, teacher, and co-founder of Campaign Zero. She addresses the FBI’s targeting of so-called black identity extremists, such as the Black Lives Matter movement advocates with whom she worked during the aftermath of Michael Brown’s killing in Ferguson, Missouri. Packnett also discusses how the whiteness of the Las Vegas shooter colored his coverage in the media, how white people can use their privilege to be good allies, code switching, and the worst Dove commercial of all time. Following this conversation, Michele and Igor speak with Rashad Robinson, the executive director of Color of Change, about the power of collective voices to change narratives.

Learn more about the podcast here.

Michele Jawando is a vice president at the Center for American Progress. Igor Volsky is a vice president at the Center. Sally Tucker is the radio coordinator for Communications at the Center. Rachel Rosen is the senior director of Broadcast Communications at the Center.

The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.

Authors

Michele L. Jawando

Vice President

Center For American Progress

Igor Volsky

Co-Founder, The Mindfulness in Politics Project; Founder of Volsky Ventures

The Mindfulness in Politics Project

Sally Tucker

Broadcast Coordinator

Center For American Progress

Rachel Rosen

Senior Director, Broadcast Communications

Center For American Progress

Teams

Public Safety

Protecting people from crime is one of the government’s most fundamental and urgent responsibilities. However, the current reality is that too many crimes go unsolved and too many victims lack justice. The Center for American Progress is committed to advancing evidence-based policies that keep individuals safe by solving crime when it happens, ensuring swift and certain accountability for those who harm others, and preventing crime in the first place.

Racial Equity and Justice

We promote systemic reforms to dismantle structural racial injustices, give everyone an equal opportunity to thrive, and ensure society benefits from our nation’s diversity.