Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast

In this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Julissa Arce, a nationally recognized author, speaker, and social justice advocate, joins Momentum Co-host Chevon to discuss her journey from being undocumented and working at Goldman’s Sack to sharing her story with thousands of people through her writing.Julissa shares with us the various nuances and sacrifices undocumented people have to go through in the immigration system. She also gives us insight into her thought process while writing her new book, You Sound Like A White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation, where she came to the realization that assimilation to whiteness is often mistaken for assimilating to American culture.Hear more about the different obstacles undocumented people are currently facing by tuning in to Episode 1 of Race Forward’s new podcast Reflections: Immigrant Rights Movement – a limited podcast series.And don’t forget to plan to attend Facing Race: the largest multiracial, inter-generational gathering for organizers, educators, creatives, and other leaders.Resources (by order of mention)My (Underground) American Dream: My True Story as an Undocumented Immigrant Who Became a Wall Street Executivehttps://amzn.to/3pYQ7p5Ascend Educational Fundhttps://ascendfundny.org/The Nap Ministry – We examine the liberating power of naps. We believe rest is a form of resistance and reparations. We install Nap Experiences. Founded in 2016.https://bit.ly/3KDH451You Sound Like A White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilationhttps://bit.ly/3KyJNfRTitle 42 - On March 20, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an emergency regulation to implement a specific aspect of U.S. health law. Section 265 of U.S. Code Title 42 permits the Director of the CDC to “prohibit … the introduction” into the United States of individuals when the director believes that “there is serious danger of the introduction of [a communicable] disease into the United States.”https://bit.ly/3hWGe6TJulissa ArceOfficial Websitehttp://julissaarce.com/Twitter@julissaarceInstagram@julissaarceAbout Race Forward:Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.Follow Race Forward on social mediaFollow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/raceforwardFollow us on Twitter:www.twitter.com/raceforwardFollow us on Instagram:www.instagram.com/raceforwardBuilding Racial Equity (BRE) Trainingswww.raceforward.org/trainingsSubscribe to our newsletter:www.raceforward.org/subscribeExecutive Producers:Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato BlakemoreAssociate Producer/ Editor:Kendy Solis

In this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Nancy Wang Yuen, sociologist and expert on race and racism in Hollywood, joins Momentum Co-host Chevon for a conversation about the turmoils the Asian-American community experienced during and after the pandemic, the xenophobia she faces as a woman of color in academia, and the challenges she encounters while embracing her faith and being an activist.Nancy shares insights and analysis into the importance of Asian representation in media and the sudden shift we are seeing in that representation at this moment. She dissects the intersectionality of racism and sexism that women of color endure, specifically the stereotypes that are placed on Asian-American women. Nancy goes into the history of the onslaught brought onto the Asian community throughout the years and how the aftermath of these events still affects the community today.Hear more about the challenges Asian-Americans are facing during this time by tuning in to Episode 4 of Race Forward’s new podcast Reflections: Immigrant Rights Movement – a limited podcast series.And don’t forget to plan to attend Facing Race: the largest multiracial, inter-generational gathering for organizers, educators, creatives, and other leaders.Resources (by order of mention)Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racismhttps://bit.ly/3rXmhCLPower Women: Stories of Motherhood, Faith, and the Academyhttps://bit.ly/3rVlDWv8 Dead in Atlanta Spa Shootings, With Fears of Anti-Asian Biashttps://nyti.ms/33sE6QGThe Page Act – This law prohibited the importation of unfree laborers and women brought for “immoral purposes” but was enforced primarily against the Chinese.https://bit.ly/3rYhLEgThe Chinese Exclusion Act - The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States. Many Americans on the West Coast attributed declining wages and economic ills to Chinese workers.https://bit.ly/3HTnSz7Asian Americans | Full Film | PBS LearningMedia - Asian Americans is a five-hour film series that delivers a bold, fresh perspective on a history that matters today, more than ever. As America becomes more diverse, and more divided while facing unimaginable challenges, how do we move forward together? Told through intimate personal stories, the series will cast a new lens on U.S. history and the ongoing role that Asian Americans have played.https://bit.ly/3555EMHHow the 1982 Murder of Vincent Chin Ignited a Push for Asian American Rightshttps://bit.ly/3LKCgMgKerry Ann Rockquemore – is an author and speaker in the field of faculty development and leadership and founder of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity.https://bit.ly/33uPWtNNational Center for Faculty Development and Diversity - Our mission is to change the face of power in the Academy. By developing, connecting, and empowering the next wave of academic leaders, we can strengthen the higher education system and improve the academic experience for all.https://www.facultydiversity.org/National Center for Institutional Diversity - To create a more equitable and inclusive society, we produce, catalyze, and elevate diversity research and scholarship.https://lsa.umich.edu/ncidScholars Strategy Network - The Scholars Strategy Network is an organization of university-based scholars who are committed to using research to improve policy and strengthen democracy.https://scholars.org/The Disrupters Podcasthttps://bit.ly/3rYLvkrNancy Wang YuenOfficial Website​​nancywyuen.comTwitter@nancywyuenInstagram@nancywyuenAbout Race Forward:Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in wh...

In this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Gauge co-founder Joshua DuBois joins Chevon and Hiba for a conversation about his time as White House Executive Director of the Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, how Gauge is connecting community leaders and brands on their racial justice initiatives, and his ongoing work on racial justice causes such as the “Justice For Julius” campaign.Joshua explains the benefits of creating a system like Gauge to form partnerships with brands in order to help inform decisions based on inclusivity while also helping community leaders, content creators, and contractors be compensated for their knowledge. He provides his reflections on how the 2020 uprisings inspired these efforts and the important wins that have come to fruition as a result of these partnerships.In the opening Hiba and Chevon reflect on the heavy moment being felt in the aftermath of the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict and the guilty verdict for Ahmaud Arbery’s ki...

In the midst of the continued fallout from Dave Chapelle’s transphobic jokes from his Netflix comedy special, Hiba and our guest co-host Dennis are here to break it all down – and have the important conversation around narrative, free speech, and the link to potential hate speech/ actions.Social justice leader and media critic Dr. John Paul Higgs (they/them) joins us to talk about their article “Why Netflix Deserves Some of the Heat for Dave Chapelle’s Transphobic Comments.” Throughout the conversation Dr. Higgins touches on important topics such as the erasure of Black trans people, the damaging narratives and tropes that are still being leveled against trans, queer, and non-binary folk, and “real” accountability versus “cancel culture.”Update: Chevon will return from her sabbatical and will be on the next episode of Momentum –– a big thank you to Dennis for filling in!Reminder: Race Forward’s 40th Anniversary Celebration is taking place November 18th! RSVP for our special virtual gala celebrating 40 years of catalyzing the racial justice movement, streaming on Facebook and YouTube Live. Make sure to tune in for an evening of memorable historic highlights, humor, and cultural performances!RSVP: https://bit.ly/RaceForward40Resources (by order of mention)Netflix Staff Raised Concerns About Chappelle Special Before Its Release (via Bloomberg)https://bloom.bg/3EzlpHYWhy Netflix Deserves Some of the Heat for Dave Chapelle’s Transphobic Comments (via Bitch Media)https://bit.ly/3EGKbpATerra Fields’ Tweets on Netflix/ “The Closer”https://bit.ly/3nVUek9Netflix Employee Walkout Grows Tense as Trans Rights Protesters Clash With Dave Chappelle Supporters (via Variety)https://bit.ly/3GEQT1nDave Chappelle says he'll meet with transgender critics, but he's 'not bending to anybody's demands' (via CNN)https://cnn.it/3GNuIpwDr. John Paul Higgins (They/Them)Official Websitewww.doctorjonpaul.comTwitterwww.twitter.com/doctorjonpaulInstagramwww.instagram.com/doctorjonpaulAbout Race Forward:Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.Follow Race Forward on social mediaFollow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/raceforwardFollow us on Twitter:www.twitter.com/raceforwardFollow us on Instagram:www.instagram.com/raceforwardBuilding Racial Equity (BRE) Trainingswww.raceforward.org/trainingsSubscribe to our newsletter:www.raceforward.org/subscribeExecutive Producers:Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato BlakemoreAssociate Producer/ Editor:Kendy Solis

On this bonus episode of Momentum, Hiba and guest co-host Dennis preview Race Forward’s 40th Anniversary Celebration – our upcoming virtual gala celebrating 40 years of catalyzing the racial justice movement!Listen in as our hosts talk about the early days of Race Forward, the important changemaking moments that have shaped the organization, and the wins that cumulatively inspire our work today.Afterwards, make sure to RSVP for Race Forward’s 40th Anniversary Celebration on November 18th streaming on Facebook and YouTube Live. Hosted by Kat Lazo, this one-of-a-kind celebration will feature special appearances from Race Forward’s founder Gary Delgado, current president Glenn Harris, and former president Rinku Sen; as well as many other leaders, organizers, culture bearers and artists working for racial equity.Be sure to tune in for an evening of memorable historic highlights, humor, and cultural performances!RSVP: https://bit.ly/RaceForward40About Race Forward:Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.Follow Race Forward on social mediaFollow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/raceforwardFollow us on Twitter:www.twitter.com/raceforwardFollow us on Instagram:www.instagram.com/raceforwardBuilding Racial Equity (BRE) Trainingswww.raceforward.org/trainingsSubscribe to our newsletter:www.raceforward.org/subscribeExecutive Producers:Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato BlakemoreAssociate Producer/ Editor:Kendy Solis

On the Season 3 premiere of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Western States Center Executive Director and Race Forward Senior Fellow Eric Ward joins us to ground and center us, and you, our listeners, in our racial justice work!Update: Hiba is back from sabbatical, and now Chevon is taking her well-deserved time off, and in the meantime, Dennis is back to fill in!Hiba and Dennis open the episode with a short recap of recent happenings –– the Delta COVID-19 variant, Climate Change/flooding in NYC, the ongoing fight over critical race theory being taught in schools, and refugee resettlement efforts triggered by global events.Holding all this, Dennis and Eric have a conversation inspired by Grace Lee Boggs’ quote “what time is it in the clock of the world”, and what it means for the hurdles we are facing as racial justice practitioners.Eric also discusses the urgent work of racial equity, how work towards a multiracial democracy is the alternative to the spread of white nationali...

On this bonus episode of Momentum, Hiba –– our Conferences and Convenings Manager, is joined by youth leader Gianna Ramirez from Generation Justice to talk about everything #RaceAnd: Our Present, Our Future, Race Forward’s first intergenerational event of its kind taking place on Saturday, September 25th.Gianna and Hiba talk about the host committee's work on making the conference’s programming inspiring and engaging for attendees which includes interactive breakout sessions, networking opportunities, vendor and sponsorship opportunities, and an exciting keynote from Isra Hirsi, co-founder and co-executive director of the United States Youth Climate Strike.Register for #RaceAnd: Our Present, Our Future today –– we’re excited to have you join us next month!Executive Producer: Hendel LeivaAssociate Producers: Kendy Solis, Tiff Joy

On the season finale, writer, comedian, podcaster, activist, and Emmy Award-nominated host Baratunde Thurston brings us to the home stretch while providing all the laughs!Baratunde joins Chevon and Dennis to talk about his early career having worked at the intersections of standup, tech, and activism as a Black man, and how those experiences have shaped his current work on the topics of race, technology, democracy, and climate. He also shares his insights on being a multifaceted creator, the balance of “bringing your whole self to the workplace” as a person of color, and his take on “weaponing discomfort” and “defining white supremacy” to expose the underlying layers of how it's been maintained. Check out the Resources below for information on how to keep up with Baratunde and his upcoming projects, including his podcast “How To Citizen with Baratunde” and the new six-part PBS series, “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston”.Chevon and Dennis talk about shows that have centered race over the past year and give praise to the writers, producers, and organizations working to move the needle on representation. Among the many shows they mention are The Watchmen, Lovecraft Country, and Falcon and the Winter Soldier.Finally, two big announcements: Dennis has taken on a new position at Race Forward as our Vice President of Narrative, Arts, and Culture, and also we’ve opened registration for our #RaceAnd: Our Present, Our Future youth oriented event taking place on September 25th!Thank you for listening to Season 2 of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, and stay tuned as we’re looking forward to even bigger things for Season 3 premiering this fall!Check out all the episodes from Season 1 and 2, and rate, subscribe, and share –– we’re on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Pandora!Resources (by order of mention)'Lovecraft Country' Creator Aims To Reclaim The Horror Genre For People Of Color (via NPR)https://n.pr/3tld8S8‘Minari’ Star Yuh-Jung Youn Makes Oscar Historyhttps://bit.ly/3eTKGSc‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ Reckons with an American Burden (via The Hollywood Reporter)https://bit.ly/3vXVzJFGrey's Anatomy recap: Police brutality and racial profiling take center stage (via Entertainment Weekly)https://bit.ly/3utedskColor of Changehttps://hollywood.colorofchange.orgCenter For Cultural Powerhttps://www.culturalpower.orgBUILDhttps://build.org/aboutBaratunde ThurstonPodcast: How To Citizenwww.baratunde.com/howtocitizenWebsitewww.baratunde.comPBS and Twin Cities PBS Announce New Series, America Outdoors With Baratunde Thurstonto.pbs.org/3f0hNn4Ted Talk: How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a timehttps://bit.ly/2QW0vjbFacebookwww.facebook.com/baratundeInstagramwww.instagram.com/baratundeTwitterwww.twitter.com/baratundeAbout Race Forward:Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.Follow Race Forward on social mediaFollow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/raceforwardFollow us on Twitter:www.twitter.com/raceforwardFollow us on Instagram:www.instagram.com/raceforward#RaceAnd: Our Present, Our Futurehttp://bit.ly/raceandopofeventBuilding Racial Equity (BRE) Trainingswww.raceforward.org/trainingsSubscribe to our newsletter:www.raceforward.org/subscribeExecutive Producers:Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato BlakemoreAssociate Producer/ Editor:Kendy Solis

Producer’s Note* The following episode was recorded the week of April 14, and just earlier this week, we received the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial. Race Forward has released a statement on our website titled “Derek Chauvin Found Guilty; But Our Work Is Not Done: Race Forward Calls For Urgency In Reimagining Public Safety That Values Black and Brown Lives”. The intro of this episode speaks to trauma informed healing which is relevant today, just as it was last week, and as the practice will continue to be.On this episode of Momentum, Chevon and Dennis interview distinguished professor, activist, and author, Dr. Manuel Pastor, Director of the USC Equity Research Institute about his experiences working in community building, academica, and racial justice work.Throughout the episode Dr. Pastor shares his personal motivations in working to address structural racism and inequality in the United States, the lessons that have been learned in working to ensure that California’s COV...

On this episode of Momentum, Chevon is joined by Dennis Chin, Race Forward’s Director of Strategic Initiatives for an important conversation around the recent/ ongoing anti-Asian attacks happening across the nation.To root the conversation, Dennis shares his background in racial justice work, his experience recently having been targeted and accosted himself, and his experience working with Race Forward’s AAPI Caucus in crafting a statement after last month’s horrific acts of violence in Atlanta.Chevon and Dennis share some examples relating to the history of anti-Asian racism in the United States, the history and complexities of how Asian immigrant communities and Asian-Americans have been positioned in America, and how narratives like the “Chinavirus” (in reference to COVID-19) and the “model minority myth” are harmful and can lead to the proliferation of racist acts of violence.Lastly, Dennis and Chevon discuss the tensions that arise/exist between BIPOC communities that are a result of white supremacy and patriarchal systems at work, the conversations that are needed to dismantle these systems, and naming on the ground organizations that are directly addressing anti-Asian violence.It is our hope that this episode helps ground you for the important work there is still to do over the next few months and years–– and like our hosts said “there is room for everybody in this fight”.We’re excited to announce that Dennis will be back to co-host with Chevon the last two episodes of Season 2 of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, and we’re looking forward to having you listen in!Resources (by order of mention)Race Forward Decries Hate Violence Against Asian Americans In Atlanta And Across The Countryhttps://bit.ly/39SpIRQHere's what we know about the metro Atlanta spa shootings that left 8 dead (via CNN)https://cnn.it/3d3oXaNA woman's brutal attack exposed a torrent of anti-Asian violence after the Atlanta shootings (via CNN)https://cnn.it/2OABrx6Asian Americans Advancing Justicehttps://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/Oakland Chinatown Coalitionwww.facebook.com/chinatowncoalitionYang Song And The Long History Of Targeting Asian American Sex Workers (via Hyphen Magazine)https://bit.ly/3muYrK8Red Canary Songhttps://www.redcanarysong.net/Jeff’s Chang’s We Gon’ Be Alright –– The Digital Serieshttp://bealright.net/The Life of Afong Moy, the First Chinese Woman in America (via Literary Hub)https://bit.ly/3rZDN67The Accidental American by Rinku Sen (via Goodreads)https://bit.ly/3uy4DUMFreedom INC.https://freedom-inc.org/Hollaback!https://www.ihollaback.orgSafewalks NYCwww.instagram.com/safewalksnycCAAAV –– Organizing Asian Communitieshttps://caaav.org/About Race Forward:Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.Follow Race Forward on social mediaFollow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/raceforwardFollow us on Twitter:www.twitter.com/raceforwardFollow us on Instagram:www.instagram.com/raceforwardBuilding Racial Equity (BRE) Trainingswww.raceforward.org/trainingsSubscribe to our newsletter:www.raceforward.org/subscribeExecutive Producers:Hendel Leiva, Cheryl Cato BlakemoreAssociate Producer/ Editor:Kendy Solis