#TalkRadio – March 12: The Transformative History of African American Women in the U.S. Part 1

SPEAKERS:

Prof. Ernest J. Quarles, Esq.: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM Eastern Time
Professor at John Hopkins University and African American Policy Forum Board Member; practicing attorney, civil rights advocate, and educator; former student of the late Honorable Judge A. Leon Higginbotham (3rd Circuit Court of Appeals) and was mentored by the late Professor Derrick Bell (Harvard and NYU)

Dianne Wilkerson: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
First African American Female to serve in the Massachusetts Senate and TJC Board Treasurer

INTRODUCTION:

The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, March 12th, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled, “The Transformative History of African American Women in the U.S. Part 1”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Host and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leader Attorney Barbara Arnwine and feature special guests Prof. Ernest J. Quarles, Esq. and Dianne Wilkerson. Daryl Jones, Igniting Change radio show co-host and TJC co-leader, will be unable to participate in this show due to the passing of his beloved Aunt. This week’s Igniting Change will focus on Black women & Women’s History Month, President Biden’s State of the Union Address, and the fight for voting rights. This is Part 1 of Igniting Change’s look into Black women’s contributions to the United States.

Coming off the heels of African American History Month, this month is Women’s History Month. Very few people are knowledgeable of the full record of amazing accomplishments of Black women throughout the history of the United States. Yet, decade to decade, African American women have left a powerful imprint upon every page of American history. This show will look at African American women known and unknown who have made a significant mark upon this country from its inception to the present. 

This show will also discuss the State of the Union Address delivered by President Joe Biden on March 7th, Bloody Sunday. 

On this Tuesday, March 12th, the United States Senate will have back-to-back hearings on proposed federal voting rights legislation to address the epidemic of voter suppression confronting America’s voters, particularly voters of color. Radio Host Barbara Arnwine will attend these hearings and report on the morning hearings during the show.

QUESTIONS:

• Barbara Arnwine will give a report on the United States Senate morning hearing on proposed federal voting rights legislation.]
• Dianne and Ernie, the U.S. Senate held a Field Hearing, led by Senator Laphonza R. Butler, who chairs the Senate Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution Field Hearing. The Field Hearing focused on racial discrimination in voting in Alabama and the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Given that there have only been three African American women senators in the history of the country,  what does it mean to you that Senator Laphonza R. Butler led this first hearing?
• Do you think the fact that the US Senate is holding back-to-back hearings on proposed federal voting rights legislation today indicates that there is a serious sense of urgency about the need to protect our democracy from this wave of racist voter suppression and authoritarianism?  
• When you consider the African genius of Black women in the US, what are some of your favorite historical figures?
• Who is your favorite figure who is the least known?
• What is it about popular figures that is unknown that you would like to share with our audience?
• What are some of your favorite books on the historic accomplishments of Black women in the U.S.?
• Why do you think there is such an assault on the teaching of Black history? What is it that they fear?
• Ernie, you have recently written a forward to a major work examining African American women in the US. Can you provide an overview to our audience of this upcoming work so people can start ordering it now?
• What are your favorite movements that Black women have led that are the least known? (The Black women abolitionists in the 1800’s, the push for universal literacy, the Women’s Club Movement of the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, The National Conference of Colored Women of America political conventions, the Black women suffragettes, Black women in the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s, and more like present-day Say Her Name) 
• What was your impression of President Biden’s State of the Union address delivered on March 7th, Bloody Sunday?
• How can our listeners learn more about Black women in history?
• Ernie, how can people purchase the book you wrote the forward to?
• How do we make sure our history is taught in the face of book bans, anti-DEI, and other opposition to the teaching of Black History?
• This is Part 1 of Igniting Change’s look into African American women’s powerful and transformative imprint upon every page of American history. What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?