Naming It

Bedford and LaMisha talk to California Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber about AB-392 Peace officers: deadly force, a bill that if passed would enact real police reform in California by making the legal standard align with common sense self-defense laws. During the “What’s Going On” segment the hosts also compare Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s vocal outrage about Jussie Smollett not being charged, to Emanuel’s silence about police violence, murder, and corruption in his city. Support AB-392 by contacting your Assembly Member!

Bedford and LaMisha start out with a conversation about their new host Anchor.fm and explain how it gives listeners a more interactive experience. During the “What’s Going On” segment, they discuss the white supremacist terror attacks in Chistchurch, New Zealand, and place them in context with the history of white supremacist terror that continues to be Named by education, media, and political leaders in the US. In the #RealTalk segment, the hosts address Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s recent comments at South by Southwest (SXSW) on US reparations to African Americans for the ongoing damages resulting from the unjust, inhumane, and all-around evil institution of American chattel enslavement of Africans in the US. 

During the MBK Rising (a My Brother’s Keeper event) in Oakland, Bedford sits down with Benjamin Carlton in order to have a conversation about Benjamin’s work in supporting mentorship and community building. Benjamin goes on to talk about his experience in helping to amplify the strength-based narratives of Black men who enrich their communities regardless of who is watching. Benjamin shares some of his own narrative as a gay black minister who came out to his faith community. The conversation wraps up with a building session around the need for difficult dialogues within Black communities. Follow Benjamin @ibencarlton on Instagram & Twitter. 

With the Oakland Teacher Strike in the background, Bedford visits #Cut 50 at The Dream Corps in Oakland in order to have a conversation with Policy Associate, Michael McCree. They discuss Michael’s work in criminal justice reform, and the need for empathy on the part of lawmakers and the public, in order to confront the injustices that are part of our criminal justice system. Michael goes on to talk about the need to take care of one’s self when immersed in advocacy and activism, through sharing about his own struggles and recovery. Join Michael and #Cut50 at the 3rdAnnual Day of Empathy on March 5, 2019 in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

Bedford sits down at Studio Be in New Orleans with Artist, Activist, and Mentor, Brandon ‘bmike’ Odums. They discuss the intersections of social justice and art, while exploring bmike’s experiences as a visual artist who’s medium lives in public spaces. Also, they may have talked about the Oscar winning Spiderman Into the Spiderverse Movie aka Afro-LatinX Spiderman.