In the weeks since George Floyd was killed by police officers in Minneapolis, we’ve been watching uprisings take place against police brutality. What many Americans have finally woken up to is what Black Americans have known for years: That it’s impossible to separate police brutality from the racism that is baked into the structure of every American institution. Institutions, like schools, healthcare, housing, and policing have failed to give Black Americans a level playing field. 

99 years ago, Tulsa, Oklahoma was the site of one of the deadliest and most destructive race massacres in U.S. history. On that day, violent white people took it upon themselves to murder Black Americans and loot their businesses. Black homes, churches, restaurants, drugstores, and doctors offices were razed. In the end, Black Wall Street, one of the most prosperous Black communities, was destroyed. 

At a time when Americans are grappling with that white supremacy plays in shaping modern society, President Donald Trump chose to hold a rally in Tulsa on Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day. We take look at how the holiday resonates differently this year. 

Guests: 

Karlos K. Hill, Chair of the African and African American studies department at the University of Oklahoma

RJ Young, Host of the RJ Young Show. Excerpts from his audio diary were provided to us by KOSU. RJ's story is part of the America Amplified initiative. 

How Progressive District Attorneys Are Approaching Criminal Justice Reform

It’s been almost a month since George Floyd was brutally killed by police officers in Minneapolis. Protester's demands for police accountability have not waned, forcing officials to address the role of racism in policing and policy. As calls to defund the police grow louder, mayors, police chiefs, and local law enforcement step into the spotlight. At the same time, officials that attempt to reprimand officers for misconduct must face the wrath of powerful police unions. We speak with Kimberly Gardner, the Chief Prosecutor for the City of St. Louis who was elected on the promise of reform on what it's like to go toe-to-toe with the police. 

Guest:

Kimberly Gardner, Chief Prosecutor for the city of St. Louis

How the Economy Fails Black Americans

Not only has the coronavirus pandemic disproportionately hurt Black Americans who've been infected at a higher rate, but the economic uncertainty it's created has set them back in terms of employment. Black Americans are concentrated in parts of the economy that have been designated as essential, like grocery store workers and transit operators. Still, Black unemployment almost tripled from February to May to almost 17 percent.

Today, Black households have one-tenth of the wealth compared to white families and are much less likely to own their homes. Historically, recovering from recessions is tougher for Black people. We sit down for a conversation about the unemployment rate for Black Americans and what an economic recovery might look like.

Guest:

Amara Omeokwe, Economics Reporter at The Wall Street Journal

Relationship Between Police and Media Grows Increasingly Tense

As the uprising for racial justice continues around the country, journalists in the United States are increasingly the targets of direct and hostile confrontations with law enforcement.

Why Are States Criminalizing Fossil Fuel Protests?

Some states have been quietly passing laws to criminalize fossil fuel protests amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  

COVID19 Budget Cuts Prevent Many from Accessing Subsidized Summer Programs

New York City's budget proposal has $235 million worth of cuts to public summer programs. Many low income families could be affected without access to these programs. 

What Juneteenth Means At this Moment

Juneteenth commemorates the day when enslaved people in Texas learned about their emancipation, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Calls for Financial Transparency Grow as Money Pours Into Racial Justice Organizations

People have been donating to racial justice organizations as calls to give to these causes continue online. But not everyone eagerly donating may know exactly where that money is going.

Listeners Tell Us: Creating Joy in This Moment

What small things are you doing to create joy in this moment?

Postpartum Mental Health During a Global Pandemic

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, some experts worry about the impact it will have on the mental health of new parents, especially those who have recently experienced childbirth.

Delroy Lindo on Starring in Spike Lee's 'Da 5 Bloods' and Engaging with Today's Racial Justice Uprising

The Takeaway speaks with actor Delroy Lindo about his role in Spike Lee's 'Da 5 Bloods,' and how he’s getting involved in today’s racial justice uprising. 

Progress for LGBTQ+ Rights in the Supreme Court

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision protecting LGBTQ-plus employees from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

GBI: The Agency Investigating Police-Involved Killings in Georgia

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking into the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Rayshard Brooks. The agency has a complicated history in Georgia.

Music Behind Bars: How BL Shirelle Helps Incarcerated People Craft Their Art

BL Shirelle's new album speaks of her 10 years in prison.

Deaths of Rayshard Brooks, Robert Fuller, and Malcolm Harsch Underscore Nationwide Anger with Law Enforcement

The killing of Rayshard Brooks in Georgia and the deaths of Robert Fuller and Malcolm Harsch in California underscore systemic issues that demonstrators are marching against nationwide.

Amid Civil Unrest, Police Fatally Shoot Latino Man

Two weeks ago, Sean Monterrosa was shot and killed by police in Vallejo, California.

"I'm Not OK": Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama on Racism and Sickness in Her State

Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama says it's time for her state to stop celebrating confederate leaders, and to really hear its Black constituents.

The Overlooked Reality of Police Violence Against Disabled Black Americans

Amidst national protests for racial justice the reality of police violence against disabled people—especially Black people—is rarely discussed.

Georgia’s Primary, George Floyd’s Funeral, and Congress’ Approach to Police Reform

As the coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty for the upcoming general election, many Americans are reconsidering how they’ll cast their ballots. This week, many primary voters in Georgia were greeted by long lines and malfunctioning voting machines. The chaos surrounding Georgia’s recent election has raised questions about whether or not the same issues will reoccur in November. 

Also, George Floyd was laid to rest in Houston following weeks in which thousands of Americans took to the streets to decry police brutality in his name. Meanwhile, Congress is reckoning with how to respond to the protests and calls for police accountability. Two national reporters join Politics with Amy Walter to discuss the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, how Republicans are responding to calls for police accountability, and Georgia’s flawed elections. 

Guest Host:

Matt Katz, WNYC

Guests:

Nick Fandos, Congressional Correspondent for The New York Times

Laura Barron-Lopez, National Political Reporter at POLITICO 

Congressman James Clyburn on his Time in the Civil Rights Movement and Addressing Systemic Racism 

This week, Democrats introduced the Justice in Policing Act on Capitol Hill.  If passed, the bill would prohibit chokeholds, ban some no-knock warrants, tracking police misconduct at the national level, and make it easier to pursue legal and civil action against the police. The momentum for the bill stems from the uprisings against police brutality after George Floyd was brutally killed by police officers in Minneapolis. Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina reflects on his time in the civil rights movement and what he hopes to accomplish through the Justice in Policing Act. 

Guest:

James Clyburn, Congressman from South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District and Majority Whip

How “Defund the Police” has Become More Palatable to the Mainstream

The killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis has shifted the way Americans see policing. Recent polling from The Washington Post found that 69 percent of Americans found “the killing of Floyd represents a broader problem within law enforcement.” While many high-ranking members of the Democratic Party don’t support calls to defund the police entirely, the notion of some form of defunding is picking up traction. A conversation about the politics of defunding the police.

Guests:

Alex Vitale, Author of "End of Policing" and Professor of Sociology and Coordinator of The Policing and Social Justice Project at Brooklyn College

Andrea Richie, Researcher at the Interrupting Criminalization Initiative and author of "Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color"

How Minneapolis Plans to Dismantle Their Police Department

Minneapolis has been in the national spotlight since George Floyd was killed by police on video. Although the events there sparked protests across the nation, the city is also a catalyst for change. One progressive city leader, Steve Fletcher, has been working on police reform since he took office in 2018. He was among nine members of the Minneapolis city council that recently announced their commitment to dismantling the city’s police department. 

Guest: 

Steve Fletcher, Minneapolis City Council, Ward 3