Podcast

Blackness Is Its Own Thing

Michele and Igor speak with Melissa Harris-Perry and DeRay Mckesson, two prolific leaders who are changing the world we live in, about topics ranging from black women's place in the #MeToo movement to America's treatment of Colin Kaepernick, and everything in between.

As we commemorate the beginning of Black History Month, Michele and Igor speak with two of today’s prolific leaders who are making moves to change the world we live in. First, Melissa Harris-Perry joins the studio and shares why she’s sick of hearing about President Donald Trump’s tweets in the A block of cable news shows; why his strategy to win white voters in 2016 worked; and why she believes we aren’t hearing from more black women in the midst of the #MeToo movement. Then, we hear from activist, organizer, and host of Crooked Media’s “Pod Save the People” DeRay Mckesson on why he didn’t watch the Super Bowl; why America’s inability to let Colin Kaepernick be great at football and interested in social justice is a clear sign of racism; and what lessons he learned from his activism in Ferguson, Missouri, and his time on Twitter.

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

Team

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.