Affirmative Action

Across the country, efforts to ban books at libraries are on the rise. In this episode, we discuss the challenges faced by libraries trying to defend the freedom to read, and share some of our favorite banned books.

Since its founding more than two centuries ago, a Black woman has never served on the United States Supreme Court, but that could change with the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. In this episode, we talk with two Black women about their experience as judges, the importance of diversifying the courts and how to educate the public about the judicial system.

As the stress of the ongoing pandemic mixes with other challenges like the nation’s racial reckoning, people are understandably feeling fatigued. In this episode, two therapists discuss the signs of burnout and offer tips for coping.

After making it to the end of another crazy year, we’ve decided to once again focus on some positive things that happened in 2021. In this episode, we speak with two African American women who are using TikTok to educate and uplift their communities.

Although a record number of Americans cast their ballot in 2020, Arkansas had the lowest voter turnout in the country. Organizations across the state are working to change that by engaging voters. In this episode, we talk with three BIPOC organizers who are educating and registering voters across the state.

A recently published study found 1 in 5 first-generation college students have experienced period poverty. Latinas were most likely to report period poverty, followed by Black women. In this episode, we hear from three Black women who are making strides in menstrual equity through legislation, donations and product development.

While DACA recipients can pursue higher education in Arkansas, many could not obtain professional and occupational licenses because of their immigration status. New laws have changed that. In this episode, two students discuss how this legislation is impacting their career paths as the future of DACA remains uncertain due to legal challenges.

When gymnast Simone Biles stepped back from Olympic competition to care for herself, she put a spotlight on the importance of mental health. In this episode, we continue the conversation surrounding mental health among athletes and the Black community by speaking with three African American counselors.

While a lot of attention has been paid to anti-trans legislation this year, the transgender community is more than the struggles they face. There’s a lot of joy and celebration of being yourself and it exists year-round, not just during Pride Month. In this episode, we speak with two Latinas about their experiences as members of Arkansas’ transgender community.

The leading cause of death among Black males ages 1 to 44 is homicide, according to the CDC. In this episode, we learn about the Derek Olivier Research Institute for the Prevention of Violence, which was established at Arkansas Baptist College in 2016 to create awareness and seek solutions to violence against African American males.