Beyond Voting

Fascism: Modern threat or facade?

On the fourth episode of Beyond Voting, we dive deep with Alberto Toscano, critical theorist, professor in the School of Communications at Simon Fraser University, and also co-director of the Centre for Philosophy and Critical Theory at Goldsmiths, University of London. 

We spoke with Alberto about what modern fascist movements look like, where we see real examples of anti-fascist resistance, and what we can learn - particularly from Black radical traditions- about how to fight back against the spread of new fascisms in the United States and beyond.

So tell us, have you fully confronted or accepted fascism as a reality? How do you plan to turn your ideas and principles into action? Tell us on IG @arcus.center or drop it in your 5 star review of the show.  And please visit us at arcuscenter.kzoo.edu

Check out Alberto Toscano’s latest book, Late Fascism: Race, Capitalism, and the Politics of Crisis

Check out these authors and topics Alberto mentioned in the conversation:
- The Politics of The Multi-Racial Right - Daniel Martinez Hosang & Joseph Lowndes
- When W.E.B DuBois Made a Laughing Stock of a White Supremacist - The New Yorker
- Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right - Lisa McGirr
- Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition - Cedric Robinson
- W.E.B. Du Bois: Black Reconstruction: An Essay Toward a History of the Part Which Black Folk Played in the Attempt to Reconstruct      Democracy,1860-1880
- Abolition: Politics, Practices, Promises, Vol. 1 - Angela Davis
- Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George Jackson

Host/Writer: Emily Williams 
Executive Producer: Keisha “TK” Dutes 
Lead Producer/Writer: Kristen Bennett 
Sound Designer & Engineer: Manny Faces
Marketing: Faybeo'n Mickens
Special thanks to The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership team: Quinton, Winter, Crimson, Tamara, Kerria
Additional music provided by Motion Array.

Beyond Voting is a production of Philo’s Future Media. 

Have you ever considered a third party as an option?

On the third episode of Beyond Voting, we dive deeper with Rosa Clemente, a black Puerto Rican scholar, activist, journalist, organizer, and former vice presidential candidate alongside Cynthia McKinney on the Green Party ballot in 2008.

We spoke with Rosa after she had just interviewed third party presidential candidate with the Justice For All Party, Dr. Cornel West. So third-party campaigns were front and center in her mind.We spoke with her about her introduction to the Green party, how third party campaigns help influence policy, money and political viability, and her perspective on those who are weighing a historic vote for Kamala Harris against concerns about her policies.

So tell us, how are you going to take Rosa’s advice and engage in your local community to make a real impact. Are you going to organize in your community? Are you going to join a local activist group, to drive change from the ground up?  Tell us on IG @arcus.center or drop it in your 5 star review of the show.  And please visit us at …. arcuscenter.kzoo.edu

Follow Rosa Clemente :
https://rosaclemente.net/
https://www.instagram.com/blackpuertoricanphd/?hl=en

Host/Writer: Emily Williams
Executive Producer: Keisha “TK” Dutes
Lead Producer/Writer: Kristen Bennett
Sound Designer & Engineer: Manny Faces
Marketing: Faybeo'n Mickens
Special thanks to The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership team: Quinton, Winter, Crimson, Tamara, and Kerria.
Additional music provided by Motion Array.
Beyond Voting is a production of Philo’s Future Media. 

Do you stay in the process or do you check out?

On the second episode of Beyond Voting, we dive deep with Esam Boraey, Egyptian-American political activist and academic, into what it looks like working within the confines of electoral politics, what it can do for us, and what its limitations are – through the lens of the Uncommitted Movement.

We spoke with Esam only a few days after the Democratic National Convention wrapped up its week-long festivities in Chicago. He shared his thoughts on his experience with the Uncommitted movement, tells us about their treatment by other DNC attendees during and after the protest, the impact Pro-Palestinian voices could have on the rest of the Harris-Walz campaign, and why he says he’s not ready to give up hope – and neither should you.

Tell us, how are the candidates' positions on Gaza influencing your vote? What are your thoughts on working within our current political binary to affect meaningful change? Leave us a comment on IG @arcuscenter or drop it in your 5 star review of the show. Please visit us at https://arcuscenter.kzoo.edu

Follow Esam  Boreay:
[email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/esamboraey/
https://www.facebook.com/esamboraey/

Host/Writer: Emily Williams
Executive Producer: Keisha “TK” Dutes
Lead Producer/Writer: Kristen Bennett
Sound Designer & Engineer: Manny Faces
Marketing: Faybeo'n Mickens
Special thanks to The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership team: Quinton, Winter, Crimson, Tamara, and Kerria.
Additional music provided by Motion Array.
Beyond Voting is a production of Philo’s Future Media. 

Are you voting between a rock and a hard place?

On this first episode of Beyond Voting, we get real about voting our values with Dr. Michelle Taylor, also known as Feminista Jones-  the award-winning author of Reclaiming Our Space: How Black Feminists Are Changing the World from the Tweets to the Streets.

We spoke with her after the 2024 Democratic National Convention and took a critical look at where we find ourselves with Vice President Harris, our new Democratic nominee. She shared her thoughts on voting as harm reduction, the importance of developing a political consciousness, and the realities of holding elected officials accountable.

Let us know how you feel about voting in this year’s presidential election? What are your top concerns and how do you plan to make your voice heard? Tell us on IG @arcuscenter or drop it in your 5 star review of the show. And please visit us at arcuscenter.kzoo.edu

Check out some of the books recommended by Feminista Jones:
Reclaiming Our Space - Feminista Jones
A Pocket Guide to the U.S. Constitution (We picked this one to get you started.*)
Revolutionary Suicide - Dr. Huey P. Newton
Liberating Abortion - Renee Bracey Sherman & Regina Mahone
Torn Apart - Dorothy Roberts
Except For Palestine - Marc Lamont Hill & Mitchell Plitnick
Books by Dr. Molefi AsanteBooks by Angela Davis

Follow Feminista Jones:
https://www.feministajones.com/
https://www.youtube.com/feministajones
https://www.instagram.com/FeministaJones/

Credits 
Host/Writer: Emily Williams 
Executive Producer: Keisha “TK” Dutes 
Lead Producer/Writer: Kristen Bennett 
Sound Designer & Engineer: Manny Faces
Marketing: Faybeo’n Mickens
Special thanks to The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership team: Quinton, Crimson, Tamara, Kerria, Winter and Marti. 
Additional music provided by Motion Array.Beyond Voting is a production of Philo’s Future Media. 

Aya Chebbi discusses Pan-Africanism and Youth Organizing with us. Aya Chebbi is a diplomat, peacebuilder and activist. Aya is also a multi-award winning Pan-African feminist. Aya has transformed the youth participation space across Africa, specifically with building the Afrika Youth Movement which is one of Africa's largest youth-led movements.

Alice Bagley shares about timebanking, urban farming and community-building through and through. Unity in Our Community Timebank is an organization in Southwest Detroit focused on sharing services and building community one hour at a time. Alice Beagley is currently organizing learning circles with Michigan Alliance Timebanking and farming at Fields of Plenty.

Mazi Mutafa discusses the sacredness of the cypher, and the expansiveness of Hip Hop as a music and culture. Mazi Mutafa is the Executive Director of Words Beats & Life inc, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C. that teaches, convenes and presents Hip-Hop around the world. Mazi Mutafa began this organization as an after school program dedicated to creating transformative learning experiences in non-traditional classrooms, teaching the elements of Hip-Hop.

Cat March discusses the murders in Atlanta through a historical, gender and racial lens. Cat March (they/them) is a Gender Studies and English scholar. They have a personal passion for Asian American histories, especially Japanese internment camps in the United States. They are currently the student advisor at the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College and finishing up their graduate program in higher education.