ellisconversations's podcast

In this episode, the Hosts discuss America's struggle to make real the promise of equality embodied in its founding documents depite periodic efforts to restrict who should be able to live that dream. Supreme Court TPS Ruling

In this episode of Ellis Conversations, co-host Jamil Ellis sits down again with his father, retired federal magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis, to mark Loving Day — the anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the 1967 Supreme Court case that struck down bans on interracial marriage. What starts as a reflection on Loving Day quickly becomes a powerful and wide-ranging discussion about: How distorted histori...

The hosts discuss how desegregation under Brown was hampered in schools by a policy of "all deliberate speed" where the speed was often zero.  In contrast, and despite the fact that in large portions of the nation education is separate and unequal, the Trump administration has begun an "all speed ahead" policy of eliminating decrees which contained desegregation requirements'.   https://www.axios....

In this episode, the hosts discuss Project 2025 and its potential impact in a Donald Trump administration. Heritage Foundation and Trump   https://www.heritage.org/ impact/trump-administration- embraces-heritage-foundation- policy-recommendations   Biden's Judicial Appointments https://www.pewresearch.org/ short-reads/2023/12/04/most- of-bidens-appointed-judges-to- date-are-women-racial-or- ethnic...

In this episode, the hosts begin a series of discussions on the historical significance of voting, efforts to prevent some groups from voting, and why you should exercise your right to vote even if you don't like the choices.  Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.    Southern Strategy    - In American politics, the  Southern strategy  was a  Republican Party  electoral strategy to in...

In this episode, the hosts discuss the history of invoking some form of States' Rights theory to limit the efforts of the federal government to expand or protect the rights of persons within the United States     Southern Manifesto https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Southern_Manifesto   Mississippi State Sovereign Commission https://web.archive.org/web/ 20191205182453/http:// mshistorynow.mdah.state.m...

In this episode, the hosts discuss the controversy concerning the Resignation of Harvard president Claudine Gay. Is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion undermining merit or does it address a history of Discrimination, Exclusion, and Inequality.   Claudine Gay's Resignation The Claudine Gay Debacle Was Never about Merit Claudine Gay and the Limits of Social Engineering at Harvard Biden to Appeal to Bl...

In this episode, the hosts discuss the leading role that  Virginia has played in the racial divide in America's history.  Home to the Founding Fathers and Capital of the Confederacy, the state has been the crucible of the ideals which built this country and the ideas which would tear it apart.   Washington, DC History   https://washington.org/DC- information/washington-dc- history   Virginia  1619...

In this episode, the hosts discuss Justice O'Connor's role as the "swing vote" as the Court addressed major fault lines in our society on issues such as abortion, affirmative action, and gender equality.   Planned Parenthood v. Casey https://supreme.justia.com/ cases/federal/us/505/833/   Grutter v. Bollinger https://supreme.justia.com/ cases/federal/us/539/306/

In this episode, the hosts continue examining how specific states have addressed racial equality, Black history, and White Supremacy. In this episode, they travel outside the Deep South, and focus on the state of Indiana – Klan Capital and home of Sundown Towns.   LINKS IN THIS EPISODE Links for podcast Violence in Jacksonville Florida https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/26/us/jacksonville-florida-shootin...

In this episode, the hosts begin a series of episodes examining how specific states have addressed the racial equality, Black history, and White Supremacy.  First stop: Florida.   LINKS IN THIS EPISODE Smithsonian Magazine https://www.smithsonianmag. com/history/one-hundred-years- ago-four-day-race-riot- engulfed-washington-dc- 180972666/   Florida Academic Standards 2023 https://www.fldoe.org/cor...

Photo Credit : Encyclyopedia Britanica   In this program, the hosts discuss the Supreme Court's decision to forbid race-conscious affirmative action  approaches to achieve diversity n higher education.  The discussion contrasts Justice Roberts' pronouncement that decisions should be color-blind with Justice Jackson's reminder that the country has been far from colorblind and the effects are not ju...

Image Credit: Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States In this episode, the hosts discuss the Roberts Court's failure to adhere to precedent and the effect this is having on the public's confidence in the Supreme Court.  Respect for precedents and the application of the principle of stare desisis provide constancy and comfort and avoids the appearance that the Court is swayed by politi...

Photo credit: Afro.com EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, the hosts discuss Black History and the historical use of book burning, book banning, and other methods to suppress inconvenient truths. False narratives flourish when voices remain silent are have been removed from the discussion. To download the transcript,  CLICK HERE A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE Denying Black people education and...

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, the hosts discuss why Martin Luther King should not be limited by a selection of words from the "I Have a Dream" speech delivered in 1963, and how he pointed out the failings of America,  confronted those in power, and challenged them to make that dream a reality.  A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE If you look at the "I Have a Dream "speech, and you don't look...

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, the hosts discuss the actions and inactions of Donald Trump during the January, 6 2021 attack on the Capitol and why letting it go unpunished is not a positive option.   A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE Where we stand on the Trump's actions (or lack thereof) from the January 6th, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol. Leaders with fascist tendencies have a very goo...

Photo by Anthony Garand on Unsplash EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, the hosts discuss the Supreme Court's upcoming decisions on the Constitutionality of Affirmative Action and the power of state legislatures to draw Congressional district lines without judicial review. Originalists say let's figure out what the words used in the Constitution meant at the time. Proponents of a Living Constitution...

EPISODE SUMMARY The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: A new hope for Black communities that have been divided, deprived, and denied opportunities to accumulate wealth. In this episode, the hosts discuss various policies and practices which have adversely affected Black communities and hindered the ability to build wealth. Also in the podcast are reasons why provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act...

Photo Credit: NYTimes.com   EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, the hosts discuss how the Loving v. Virginia decision barred States from prohibiting marriages because of the race of the participants, and the historical problem of "letting the States decide" the reach of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Highlighting the sectional differences and views on issues such as race and...

Photo credit: AP Images for Britannica.com EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, we're going to focus on one of the most talked about cases in Supreme Court history. On May 17 1954, in a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court held in Brown versus Board of Education, that in the field of public education, the doctrine of separate but equal had no place, and that separate educational facilities were inher...

Photo above by Greg Nash, TheHill.com In this episode, the hosts discuss the unusual things said in opposition to Judge Jackson's appointment to the Supreme Court and how it fits a historical pattern of marginalizing Black women and downplaying their accomplishments to foster notions of inferiority. To download the transcript, CLICK HERE. LINKS IN THIS EPISODE CLICK HERE TO LEAVE FEEDBACK Follow E...

EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, the hosts discuss the origins of Affirmative Action and the conditions and attitudes which compelled governmental and private institutions to take steps to combat lack of progress in dismantling segregation in American life. A FEW KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE There is a lot of misunderstanding around the history of Affirmative Action and a lot of resistance arou...

Photo Credit: Zach Vessels In this episode, the hosts discuss the gifted and talented program, specialized schools, and charter schools in the NYC school system, and how they undermine - perhaps by design - the ability and the will to ensure that every public school student receives an equal educational opportunity. To download the transcript, CLICK HERE CLICK HERE TO LEAVE FEEDBACK Follow Ellis C...

Photo by Michael Carruth on Unsplash In this episode, the hosts discuss sociological and psychological factors which sustain our biases.  Topics include Confirmation Bias; tolerance of Hate Speech; support for False Equivalents; and the Dunning-Kruger, or Lake Wobegon Effect. Confirmation Bias https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias   Take an Implicit bias test https://implicit.harvard.edu...

Photo by Tasha Jolley on Unsplash In this episode, the hosts discuss the new legislative "ad campaign" attacking the teaching of Critical Race Theory, which seeks to honestly analyze the impact of law, race, and history on American institutions. These new legal initiatives seek to outlaw curricula which make students feel uncomfortable. This may raise questions whether schools can even teach about...