Intersectionality Matters!

In a new series, host Kimberlé Crenshaw takes listeners on a journey through the real history of critical race theory (CRT). She explores the "anti-CRT" legislative attacks against public education, and as a founding critical race theorist, Prof. Crenshaw provides a first-hand account of the origin of the theory, from its inception at Harvard Law School to the current backlash against it. Through...

In the final episode of AAPF's election roundtable podcast series, host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by Black women advocates, analysts and activists to offer their side of the story about the election and highlight the risks to American democracy if Black women and their experiences continue to be erased. Watch the extended version on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/live/0g8WK8CDS3c?si=nviixofPcm...

Welcome to AAPF's Election 2024 Round Table, Part 3! There is a lot of noise to cut through right now when it comes to the important issues at stake in the election. To bring nuance to the mainstream media narratives, between now and election day, the African American Policy Forum presents a series of election round table conversations featuring three thinkers who are deeply enmeshed in academia,...

Welcome to AAPF's Election Round Table Series, Part 2! There is a lot of noise to cut through right now when it comes to the important issues at stake in the election. To bring nuance to the mainstream media narratives, between now and election day, the African American Policy Forum presents a series of election round table conversations featuring three thinkers who are deeply enmeshed in academia...

There is a lot of noise to cut through right now when it comes to the important issues at stake in the election. To bring nuance to the mainstream media narratives, between now and election day, the African American Policy Forum presents a series of election round table conversations featuring three thinkers who are deeply enmeshed in academia, media, and community activism unpacking what’s at sta...

Attorney Ben Crump joins host Kimberlé Crenshaw and members of the #SayHerName Mothers Network to spotlight the ongoing fight for justice for the killing of Sonya Massey by police. Warning: this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence. Listen to conversations with Attorney Crump and other CRT Summer School 2024 participants for a limited time here: https://linktr.ee/intersectionalitymatt...

It’s Freedom Summer 2024! We’re celebrating the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer 1964, and kicking off our annual Critical Race Theory Summer School in the locus for the recent attacks on racial justice and democracy: Nashville, Tennessee. Host, Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by CRT Summer School contributors, Tennessee Representative Justin Jones; Superintendent for CRT summer school and celebrate...

Join host Kimberlé Crenshaw behind the scenes at the African American Policy Forum in this series of brief, intimate conversations on intersectionality and how we can use it to interpret and navigate our multiracial democracy. This episode features anti-racist author, educator, and lecturer Tim Wise (@timjacobwise) Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks) Produced by Sr. Producer Nicole Edwards M...

Join host Kimberlé Crenshaw behind the scenes at the African American Policy Forum in this series of brief, intimate conversations on intersectionality and how we can use it to interpret and navigate our multiracial democracy. This episode features comedian and Emmy-nominated director CJ Hunt (http://gocjhunt.com/). Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks) Produced by Sr. Producer Nicole Edwards...

Guest Dawn Porter, director of Luther: Never Too Much, joins host Kimberlé Crenshaw to discuss a new Luther Vandross biopic. They explore Luther's unmatched artistry, the intersections of the pop star's lived experience that stopped him from receiving the accolades he rightfully deserved, and his legacy as the soundtrack to so many lives. Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks) Guest Dawn Porter...

Guest host Shermena M. Nelson is joined by Huru founder Imani Joye Samuels to discuss the life-saving importance of rest for Black women. They also unpack strategies for creating a sustainable, effective self care practice. Shermena, Imani, and other wellness practitioners will host an evening dedicated to Black women's self care calledYou Carry the Dream: Reclaiming Rest and Resilience on March 2...

Join Kimberlé Crenshaw and the African American Policy Forum at Sundance Film Festival on January 19th, 2024 at 8 pm MT for The Story of Us (Part 4), live at The Park in Park City, Utah. Register for your free pass here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-story-of-us-surviving-the-war-on-woke-black-storytelling-tickets-793686827667 In this episode, host Kimberlé Crenshaw and African American Policy...

This episode highlights a new milestone for the #SayHerName campaign: a new book, entitled #SayHerName: Black Women’s Stories of Police Violence and Public Silence.  Co-authored by podcast host Kimberlé Crenshaw and the team at the African American Policy Forum, this book helps readers better understand Black women's susceptibility to police brutality and state-sanctioned violence. It explains —th...

To kick off Banned Book Week, host Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks) is joined by award-winning author George Johnson (@IamGMJohnson). They talk about the book bans that are sweeping the US, and George's new reality as one of the most banned Black authors in America. They also discuss the triumph of George's memoir, All Boys Aren't Blue, and unpack why George's work is needed now more than ever. Joi...

In this episode, host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by Cheryl Harris, Robin D.G. Kelley, and Janai Nelson. They explain what has been happening with the College Board’s proposed AP African American Studies course, share a close reading of what the revisions are and what they mean, and discuss what we can all do about it. Kimberlé also shares exciting news about the launch of the Freedom to Learn Net...

**TRIGGER WARNING -- THIS EPISODE CONTAINS DESCRIPTIONS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND SOUNDS OF GUNFIRE. PLEASE TAKE CARE WHILE LISTENING.** In this episode, the sisters of Atatiana Jefferson, Amber and Ashley Carr, share a portrait of Atatiana’s life. Atatiana was killed by former police officer Aaron Dean in 2019. He is currently on trial. Host Kimberlé Crenshaw reflects on the Mothers Network a...

This episode marks the beginning of a new IMKC series called Author Talks, where host Kimberlé Crenshaw sits down with the authors of books banned by anti-CRT legislation. They break down why the featured author’s work is so crucial to an understanding of America's racial history, and why its opponents have labeled the work’s subject matter as forbidden knowledge. On this episode, Kim is joined by...

Host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by Cliff Albright, cofounder of Black Voters Matter. Together, Crenshaw and Albright discuss voter suppression, gerrymandering and intimidation tactics -- and the ways they intersect to suppress the voices of Black communities today, and throughout history. They reminisce about their recent cross-country tour, bearing witness to erasure of history at stops along th...

From October 8th to the 21st, we’re hitting the road with the 10 Million More Black Voters initiative. We call our tour Books Unbanned: From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers, and we're handing out 6,000 copies of books banned by anti-CRT laws across the country. This effort is to ensure that everyone has access to critical literature — especially stories that teach America's true racial history....

Drawing on the history of Freedom Summer, the African American Policy Forum launched its Critical Race Theory Summer School in 2020 as a response to the state-sanctioned murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless Black lives that spurred the subsequent summer of racial reckoning. Next week (7/18-22), in the face of a rapidly advancing assault on racial justice, we convene for another ed...

In this episode, Kimberlé is joined by W. Kamau Bell, director of the four-part documentary series We Need to Talk About Cosby. Together, the two use an intersectional lens to explore Bill Cosby's descent from his seemingly immovable status as "America's Dad.” Unpacking the complex interactions of race and gender that enabled Cosby's alleged sexual violence, this conversation brings a new dimensio...

In this episode, Kimberlé is joined by thought leaders Jelani Cobb, Sherrilyn Ifill, and Cornel West, who share their perspectives on the threats to Black history and realization of Black freedom. The conversation is anchored in the question, "Was 2022 the last Black History Month?” and makes explicit why we must to fight to ensure it was not. Revisiting the crucial insights they raised as part of...

In this episode, Kimberlé is joined by Bob the Drag Queen for a conversation full of critique and celebration of all things drag. Having once existed at the margins of legality and social acceptability, drag has now moved into the mainstream with the popular success of shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, Dragula and We’re Here. Even with this moment in the limelight, drag’s inherent subversiveness, fea...

In this episode, Kimberlé is joined by an all-star panel to examine not merely the details of the shocking January 6th insurrection, but also the key undercurrents of racial resentment and right-wing authoritarianism that fed into the attempted coup. Together, the panelists unpack how the Trump administration’s shocking effort to subvert democracy was made possible by the longstanding dogmas of pe...

For the last year, we have been surrounded by debates on Critical Race Theory spurred by the Right's organized, widespread campaign to stifle anti-racist education. For all of this debate, though, we hardly ever get to hear from the teachers, administrators, and students who are the subjects of these vicious attacks, and who are risking it all in defense of educational integrity and truth-telling....