Racial Justice - Liberation and Belonging for All - 010

People of Faith for Justice

The topic of racial justice and the quest for it has been reignited by Americans with a fervor that has not been seen for decades. Black Americans have borne the brunt of racial injustices consistently throughout our country’s history; now they are calling all of us to a new awareness of the continuing tragedy. The murder of George Floyd and so many more Black women and men by law enforcement was only made more startling when pinned against the backdrop of this past year’s struggle with COVID-19. R.A.C.E. Matters was conceived as a way to center Black voices in a small, very white community on the Central Coast of California. Today we’ll speak to Courtney Haile, founder of R.A.C.E. Matters, and J.P., member of Black Lives Matter Community Action-San Luis Obispo, to learn how the tide is being turned and how we can all help to realize liberation and belonging for everyone.

RELEVANT LINKS

• RACEMattersSLO.org

• Black Lives Matter Community Action-San Luis Obispo FB Page
• The Shooting of Michael Brown
• Killing of Philando Castile
• BELONGING (2021)
• Renoda Campbell Photography (2020 BELONGING Photographer)
• Eric Deshawn Lerma, Photographer (2021 BELONGING Photographer)
• Stories Matter BELONGING Event (2021)
• Bang the Drum Brewery
• Washington Football Team Name Change
• Paso’s People Action
• Equal Justice Initiative, Bryan Stevenson
• Patrisse Cullors (Black Lives Matter co-founder)
• Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw
• Intersectionality
• Stories Matter (2020 Belonging Event)
• Anti-Racism Daily (podcast with Nicole Cardoza)
• Tianna Arata Arrest
• “Teaching Hard History” (podcast)
• James Baldwin
• Frederick Douglass
• W.E.B. DuBois
• Ida B. Wells
• Fred Hampton
• Eldridge Cleaver
• Fannie Lou Hamer
• Assata Shakur
• Booker T. Washington
• “1619 Project” New York Times Podcast
• A Raisin in the Sun (play 1959, film, 2008) Lorraine Hansberry
• “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” MLK Speech August,1967
• Madam C.J. Walker
• NAACP-SLO
• Reconstruction: America After the Civil War - PBS Series
• Critical Race Theory

GUEST INFO

Courtney Haile

In 2016 Courtney Haile co-founded R.A.C.E. Matters, a grassroots organization that amplifies matters of racial justice and centers Black voices. Now their Executive Director, she has been a driving force for R.A.C.E. Matters’ creative endeavors, cultural programs and special events. Courtney spearheads the visionary “Belonging” art series; and has produced two original short documentary films including Restrictions Apply, about San Luis Obispo’s history of housing discrimination. Lately, Courtney most enjoys collaborating with community partners to create bold, beautiful, and engaging experiences. Courtney graduated from Leadership SLO Class 26, serves on the Board of Directors of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, and, in 2021, was one of six women chosen by Salud Carbajal as Congressional Women of the Year. Courtney lives in San Luis Obispo. You can reach out to her through www.racemattersslo.org

Josh Powell (aka JP)

Josh Powell--known to all as J.P.--uses the pronouns he/him/his. J.P. came to the Central Coast from Schenectady, New York in 2019 in pursuit of a career in theater. When the summer of 2020 started with the murder of George Floyd and many other black folks across the country, J.P. found himself doing the work of activism and organizing. J.P. has spoken to hundreds of people about the importance of protecting and defending Black people. He has organized many events, both with Black Lives Matter Community Action-SLO (BLMCA-SLO) and independently, where he's fed, clothed, and entertained the community. He is a public speaker, an essayist, and most recently has become a father. He dedicates his life to the liberation of Black people by teaching people young and old, and doing so with a smile and compassion for every human. Black Lives Matter. You can reach J.P. at [e-mail]

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People of Faith for Justice is a 501 (c )(3) non-profit organization.

CREDITS

The People of Faith for Justice Podcast is produced and edited by Jeff Manildi

Music for the People of Faith for Justice Podcast is provided by Andrew Gorman