We know representation matters at every level, but that doesn’t change the facts: getting into politics is daunting, even including today’s guest, Sändra Washington, the first Black lesbian elected to Lincoln, NE’s City Council. Today, Sändra is a newly re-elected member of the Council. But before her time in Lincoln, Sändra spent 25 years working in the National Park Service. When she joined the Council by special appointment, she brought those experiences with her to better represent her constituents—and when re-election came, she won her race by confronting her truth: her voice mattered. From constituting part of Nebraska’s 2.2% Black population, to leading her progressive community in a sea of red, Sändra tells us all about her journey into politics.

Small Starts, Big Victories

Welcome to The Brown Girls Guide to Politics -- the one stop shop for women of color who want to hear and talk about the world of politics. Host A’shanti Gholar leads conversations with women changing the face of politics. Episodes include interviews with politicians, candidates, and influencers. Get ready for roundtables, analyzing current events, and more!

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We’re bringing you an episode of a new podcast we think you’ll love: The Amendment. A new podcast about gender, politics, and power from The 19th News and Wonder Media Network, The Amendment is hosted by award-winning journalist and 19th editor-at-large Errin Haines.

Each week, Errin sits down with people who have fresh perspectives on the state of our country – and asks questions that center the voices of women, queer folks, and people of color. The Amendment adds much needed asterisks to America’s most pressing political conversations – and gets clear on the unfinished work of our democracy.

In this episode, we hear from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones on what role the free press should play in ensuring the survival of our democracy. 

Nikole Hannah-Jones is the creator of the 1619 Project, Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Howard University, and a leading voice on the vital role of journalism in our democracy today. In the inaugural episode of The Amendment, Errin and Nikole discuss the current state of journalism, the high stakes of this presidential election, the importance of historical context in our political moment, the challenges faced by Black women in journalism and more.

Bonus from The Amendment: Keeping Democracy Intact with Nikole Hannah-Jones

The midterms were a turning point in the political season, all thanks to voters like you turning out to the polls. In today’s bonus episode, A’shanti sits down with Tamara Wilds Lawson, the Movement, Issue, and Charitable Organizations (MICO) Director at ActBlue. They discuss the midterms, grassroots momentum, and the issues that get people out to vote.

A Conversation with ActBlue’s Tamara Wilds Lawson

It’s election day: the time to exercise our constitutional right to vote. While it should be simple to cast a ballot, it's often not. And that’s not by accident. The Black vote has never truly been protected, and many states are passing new legislation to actively suppress Black votes. In BGG’s Season 9 finale, A’shanti welcomes back previous guest LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund. Together, they lay out the various forces at play in our country that contribute to voter suppression, and discuss why building political power and embracing community is so vital when it comes to turning the political tides.

Uplifting the Black Vote with LaTosha Brown

Though many view it as an ugly relic of the past, violence against Black and brown folks is still a massive problem in the United States. A’shanti brings on Melanie Campbell, the president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, to talk about the racial violence epidemic in our country. Much of Melanie’s work centers civil rights and social justice with a focus on building Black political power. They discuss the opportunity that the upcoming midterms present to vote in leaders who are vocal about ending the cycles of violence impacting our communities, and why police reform is so needed.

America’s Inescapable Racial Violence Problem

Not only is the classroom the gateway to education, it’s also the first place we learn about ourselves. Growing up, so many Black and brown kids learn not just about math and science, but about racism, microaggressions, and the world through the biases kids – and teachers – bring into the classroom. Lately, conservatives have been buzzing with complaints about the books children are being taught and critical race theory brainwashing children. This politicization of education is rooted in white supremacy. To understand what’s happening in classrooms today, A’shanti talks to parent and educator Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera who is the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at her local school district.

Small Starts, Big Victories

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