A Conversation About Anti-Black Racism

"Over the past few years in the US, we’ve seen some horrific examples of racism directed at Black Americans, Latinos, Asians, Jewish people, and those of Arab descent. Amid all these tragedies and the public protests that have followed, many U.S business leaders promised that they would do their part to fight the problem. They committed to making their workplaces more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. They came out strong, but for the past two years - they’ve been struggling with the hard part, putting their words into action, actually seizing this small window of opportunity to make lasting change. Our guest today is Richard Sharpe - an anti-racist activist, and historian of race and discriminatory policy in Canada. Be sure to watch!"

Is Violent Victimization by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity on the Rise?

LGBT people are nearly four times more likely than non-LGBT people to experience violent victimization, including rape, sexual assault, and aggravated or simple assault - and that’s according to a new study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. Researchers found that between 2017 and 2020 - the rates of violent victimization were significantly higher for persons age 16 or older - who self-identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual than for those who identified as straight. In addition, persons who identified as lesbian or gay experienced 43.5 victimizations per 1,000 persons aged 16 or older - more than twice the rate among persons who identified as straight. To understand what may feel like the best and the worst of times - we are joined now by Nadine Bridges, Executive Director of One Colorado - a Colorado-based LGBTQ advocacy organization.

Food Insecurity and Food Access in America

New data show prices are still rising, and you probably don't need us to tell you that - that includes prices for food. It was against this backdrop that the Biden administration recently convened a summit on hunger, nutrition and health. It was the first such effort in decades, and it's part of a push to marshal both government and philanthropic resources toward ending hunger and food insecurity in America. For more on this we are joined now by Craig Willingham, Managing Director of the Urban Food Policy Institute, based at the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy in Harlem, New York.

Can Biden's Infrastructure Plan Save New York's Superfund Program?

The Newtown Creek is one of the most polluted bodies of water in the nation, fouled by more than a century of sewage overflows, oil spills and industrial waste. The coastline of this 3.8-mile waterway, located along the border of Brooklyn and Queens in New York - is lined with wastewater facilities, factories, warehouses and oil storage tanks. Willis Elkins is the Executive Director of Newtown Creek Alliance, a community based non-profit dedicated to revealing, restoring and revitalizing Newtown Creek, a Superfund waterway in New York.

Polluted Water in the Big Apple

The Newtown Creek is one of the most polluted bodies of water in the nation, fouled by more than a century of sewage overflows, oil spills and industrial waste. The coastline of this 3.8-mile waterway, located along the border of Brooklyn and Queens in New York - is lined with wastewater facilities, factories, warehouses and oil storage tanks. Willis Elkins is the Executive Director of Newtown Creek Alliance, a community based non-profit dedicated to revealing, restoring and revitalizing Newtown Creek, a Superfund waterway in New York

After Buffalo, Justice for Buffalo?

Mark Talley is the son of Geraldine C. Talley, one of the ten victims killed in the Tops Supermarket terrorist attack by a white supremacist on May 14th, 2022. He is executive director of Agents for Advocacy, and joins us to talk about the community's day in court, restorative justice, and what healing means to him and his family.

Feminism Today: Countdown to the Midterms - Climate Justice

For more than 30 years, Bineshi Albert has worked on environmental justice and indigenous rights. She grew up in the climate justice movement and remembers her family organizing for community and Indigenous Rights throughout her upbringing. Bineshi says today, the majority of viable climate solutions have been crafted and defined by corporations, governments and some scientists. Bineshi is calling for a full-throated change in leadership, one that centers the wisdom and solutions of those communities most impacted by the climate crisis

Countdown to the Midterms: Latin American Racism in the U.S.

Odilia Romero, co-founder and executive director of Comunidades Indigenas en Liderazgo (CIELO) to discuss anti-Blackness, colorism and Latino representation across California.

Indigenous Youth Movement

Jerilynn Webster, known by her stage name JB the First Lady is a powerful voice on the front lines of the hip-hop and spoken word movement. She says indigenous youth are united in a cause and they are not afraid to speak to challenging subjects like residential schools and missing and murdered indigenous women.

Countdown to the Midterms: The Impossible Political Situation in Puerto Rico

Hurricane Fiona devasted Puerto Rico last month. Governor Pedro Pierluisi (D) declared a state of emergency early on, and President Joe Biden's approval activated emergency funds. However, the political status question, and the fact that Puerto Rico does not have a congressman (or woman) or senator to advocate for it, of course is never far from the conversation. Our guest this week is Dr. Fernando Tormos-Aponte, who specializes in environmental and racial justice, intersectional solidarity, identity politics, social policy, and activism in Puerto Rico.

Countdown to the Midterms:Protests in Iran

Iranian American scholar, Pardis Mahdavi, says the current protests and latest uprisings in Iran are built on the resistance of the previous generations. Mahdavi's recent book, Passionate Uprisings, chronicles a recent sexual revolution among Iranian youth in defiance of the country's conservative regime. Fifteen years ago, the morality police - a branch of the Islamic regime's police charged with upholding conservative dress code and behavioral norms - barged in while she was giving a lecture in Tehran.

Countdown to the Midterms: How does the Inflation Reduction Act Affect Food and Agriculture?

The Inflation Reduction Act, provides $2.2 billion in financial assistance for farmers who have experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs. USDA recognizes the Department has not done enough historically to ensure all customers have equal access to its programs and services. This will allow USDA to further take accountability for that history by adjusting its farm loan systems, processes, and policies. Our guest this week is Karen Washington, a political activist and community organizer fighting for food justice.

Countdown to the Midterms: How Do White People Stand Up Against Racism?

Northwestern professor Zayd Ayers Dohrn chronicles his family history of protest, violence and bombings in a new podcast, Mother Country Radicals. Dohrn is the son of the former leader of the left-wing radical group, Weather Underground, Bernadine Dohrn. The group often joined with Black militant groups in an attempt to build a revolution in America.

Countdown to the Midterms: What's next for abortion rights in America?

This week, we speak with Alexis McGill-Johnson, President of Planned Parenthood about the more than 20 million women who have lost access to nearly all elective abortions in their home states since the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Rove vs. Wade, and the ramification of a slate of trigger laws expected to take effect this year.

A Celebration of Music Featuring Priya Darshini

Mumbai-born singer, composer, and ultra-marathoner - Priya Darshini is a New York based artist, with a fascinating new sound. Darshini has collaborated with a wide range of Grammy Award Winning artists including - Pearl Jam, Silk Road Ensemble’s Shane Shanahan to American Cellist - Dave Eggar, and world renowned Indian classical tabla player, Karsh Kale. The unapologetic feminist and environmental advocate; joins Dr. Johnson on Feminism Today.

A Celebration of Music featuring: Sirintip Phasuk

Bangkok-born Swedish-Thai artist Sirintip is an experimental trilingual singer and composer in both the jazz and pop worlds. Her unique use of effect pedals with her voice has brought her around the world performing with four-time Grammy Award Winner Snarky Puppy, Benny Andersson (ABBA), as a finalist in the Thelonious Monk International Competition, and opening for jazz great, Wayne Shorter at the Polar Music Prize. Through innovative ways of interpreting data and recording recycled materials, Sirintip aims to create an empathetic bridge in this polarizing world.

A Celebration of Music featuring: Carl "Buffalo" Nichols

Austin-based guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist Carl “Buffalo” Nichols wants to remind folks of the value of the blues as a cultural art form. Nichols, who lived in Milwaukee for most of his life, is the recording label - Fat Possum Records’ first blues signing in nearly 20 years…. Take a listen….to a track from his new album….(Lost & Lonesome) Buffalo Nichols joins us to talk about Blues music as a cultural art-form, its global reach, and unique connection to the Black community……

A Celebration of Music Featuring Mireya Ramos

What does it take to get a Latin Grammy? For Mireya Ramos - vocalist, composer, violinist and founder of Flor de Toloache – New York City’s first and only all-women mariachi band - it takes a lot of talent Mireya Ramos recently released her debut solo album, Mireya - which has been described as an autobiographical depiction of a day in the life of Ramos, unveiling stories of Afro-Latino pride, police brutality, Black Lives Matter, unbridled love, break-ups, and self-love.

Why We Need the Wild

Enric Sala is a former university professor who saw himself writing the obituary of ocean life, and quit academia to become a full-time conservationist as a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. He founded and leads Pristine Seas, a project that combines exploration, research, and media to inspire country leaders to protect the last wild places in the ocean. To date, Pristine Seas has helped to create 22 of the largest marine reserves on the planet, covering an area of 5.8 million square km. In his new book, “The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild” Sala makes a clear case for why protecting nature is really our best health insurance, and why it makes economic sense. More sharks signal a healthier ocean; crop diversity, not intensive monoculture farming, is the key to feeding the planet.

What you need to know about Monkeypox

Over one-thousand cases of monkeypox have been recorded in more than 40 states across the U.S., though experts believe that is a serious undercount of the real number.The monkeypox virus spreads through close skin-to-skin contact. And its symptoms can include extremely painful lesions that can last for weeks.States are grappling with a rising demand for testing, treatment and for those vaccines, which have all been in short supply.For more on this, we are joined now by Daniel Griffin, infectious disease physician with also a PhD in molecular medicine. He is a researcher at Columbia University; ProHEALTH chief of the division of infectious disease; president of Parasites Without Borders, and co-host of the podcast This Week in Virology

Does Religious Freedom Protect Abortion Access?

Last month, a synagogue in South Florida sued the state over its abortion ban, citing a violation of Jewish people’s religious freedom.Experts say this is just the beginning of what could be a wave of lawsuits from religious groups. A common thread relevant to recent developments here, is the influence that anti-abortion religious institutions, like the evangelical Christian church, the Catholic Church, and others have wielded in building political support for new, and more tougher restrictive laws. For more on this we are joined by Caroline Mala Corbin - Professor of Law and Dean’s Distinguished Scholar at the University of Miami School of Law. She specializes in religious freedom and the constitution.

Feminist Freedom Warriors

After five years of the #MeToo movement, a modest win for women’s workplace rights, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that recognized women’s constitutional right to abortion, a decision condemed by President Joe Biden that will dramatically change life for millions of women in America and exacerbate growing tensions in a deeply polarized country. Experts say there is no denying the fact that this is a direct attack on all women - and women of color stand to be disproportionately impacted by the court’s egregious assault on basic human rights. For more on the experiences of women of color and their lifelong commitment to challenging oppressive practices - we are joined now by feminist scholar and activist, Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Distinguished Professor and Dean’s Professor of the Humanities Women’s and Gender Studies at Syracuse University. Feminism Today with Dr. Sophia N. Johnson is a 30-minute weekly public affairs series that features rich and nuanced conversations with remarkable women and men, as seen in the creative ways they advocate for women’s rights. Missed an episode? Check out Feminism Today on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips. #FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change. #FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV, AppleTV, Roku, Sling, and online at freespeech.org.

Community As Rebellion

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 3 percent of tenure-track faculty in the United States are Latino. The numbers of tenured and tenure track Latino faculty at elite universities is even smaller. This despite the fact that Latinos compromised nearly 19% of the population and are the fastest-growing ethnicity here in the United States. Afro Latina professor and scholar of Latin-X studies, Lorgia Garcia-Peña, served on the faculty of Harvard University from 2013 to 2021. She’s written a book about her experience, Community As Rebellion: A Syllabus for Surviving Academia as a Woman of Color, and joins us now.

A New Model of Architecture with Nature In Mind

We Americans spend 90 percent of our time in a building. Yet, most of us give little thought to the role that architecture plays in our lives and our health. Joining us this week is Jason McLennan, the award-winning visionary and founder of the Living Building Challenge - the world’s most stringent green building program.

A Woman Listens For Leadership

Bioneers Co Founder and Chief Relationship Strategist Nina Simons is on a mission, and helping to create more resilient networks and communities across the country, with her highly acclaimed national leadership conference, which convenes in San Francisco and online worldwide every year. Nina is also the author of Nature, Culture and the Sacred: A Woman Listens for Leadership - and she joins us this week to talk about women’s leadership, social justice, and how we can all cultivate resilience and liberation.

How Do People Live and Cope In The Midst Of Violent Conflict and Environmental Degradation

Humanitarian Zainab Salbi explains how life continues in the midst of war and environmental degradation — and how the ones who "keep life going" are women.

The Maternal Health Crisis

The maternal health crisis is particularly devastating for Black women, who are more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as white women, regardless of their income or education. Our guest this week is Dr. Monica McLemore, an American nurse who is also Associate Professor of Family Health Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco. Her work considers reproductive justice and medical care for marginalized communities, with an overarching aim to eliminate healthcare inequalities

Explainer: What Political Upheaval in Pakistan Means for Rest of the World

Pakistan plunged into a political crisis after the Prime Minister Imran Khan dissolved parliament ahead of a vote on a no-confidence motion in which he was widely expected to lose. The stand-off has thrown the country of 220 million people into a full-blown constitutional crisis; both fueling anger among the opposition; and deepening concerns about economic and political stability in Islamabad. We speak with Amber Rahim Shamsi Director of the Centre of Excellence in Journalism at the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi about what this means for the rest of the world.

A Conversation with Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani

Since Anna Eskamani was elected Representative for the 47th District in Orlando in 2018 - she has been on the frontlines and in the headlines, championing a progressive agenda for economic justice, pushing forward clean energy while pushing back against polluters, and advocating for expanding funding for public school education. Representative Eskamani joins #FeminismToday from her office in Orlando to talk about her progressive agenda, and how she is fighting to protect her constituents against conservative laws such as reproductive rights restrictions and the Don’t Say Gay laws in Florida.

Conflict in Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shaken the geopolitical foundations of Europe and triggered a reassessment of transatlantic security. Dr. Jaclyn Kerr offers background and real-time analysis as the war unfolds. #Joinus

Understanding Unconscious Bias

Lisa Colon, a construction attorney & partner of the Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr law firm, joins us to explore the various types of unconscious bias and prejudice people hold& how that influences the language used in negotiating construction deals.

India's #fashionrevolution

India's sustainable fashion revolution is underway and at the forefront of this movement is RangSutra - a company owned by a community of over two-thousand artisans across rural India. This brand is breaking boundaries and creating new norms by supporting "Women as Change Agents, and identifying ways in which the broader textile, clothing and fashion industry can move towards a holistic commitment to climate action. #JoinUs

Iconic Women & Pop Culture

At 50, Michelle Vella used Instagram to become a full time artist. The Toronto-based pop artist joins us this week to talk about iconic women in pop culture, and the success of signature Wide Big Eye portraits on the New York fashion scene.

What's Behind Puerto Rico's Protests?

This week we take a closer look at the recent protestsåby teachers and public workers demanding higher wages and better pensions in Puerto Rico. Our guest, Fernando Tormos-Aponte, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at University of Maryland Baltimore County, says this wave of activism has brought new energies to feminist social struggles, with a racial and anti-capitalist lens, and inspired a new vision for a more fair and just future for the U.S. island territory.

Do Universities Want to Be Equal or Elite?

Should elite higher education institutions end favorable admissions practices for children of alumni? What is critical race theory, and why is everyone talking about it? Do universities want to be equal or elite? These questions are part of the confluence of ideas decision makers are grappling with in the field of higher education. Monroe France, Senior Associate Vice President for Global Engagement & Inclusive Leadership joins us this week.

Representation In Entertainment

A new report from USC's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that Asian and Pacific Islanders accounted for less than 6 percent of speaking roles and less than 4 percent of leads and co-leads in Hollywood films. The report’s key findings show that Hollywood is failing to meaningfully represent API while at the same time continues to peddle harmful stereotypes of the community. Michelle Sugihara is the Executive Director of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE). She joins #FeminismToday to share CAPE’s vision to advance representation, and the new wave of activism inspiring films, and uplifting the voices of women and non-binary talent in Hollywood.

Art + Feminism + Digital Technology

This week we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the feminist art movement with Judith K. Brodsky author of Dismantling Patriarchy, Bit By Bit: Art Feminisn, and Digital Technology., & world-renowned interdisciplinary artist Grimanesa Amorós.

Wealth Gap + Income Inequality + Cryptocurrency Explained

Income inequality is a key issue affecting the economic security of women but even if we close the pay gap, a huge wealth gap persists. Dr. Tania Reif, Senda Digital Assets, talks about how cryptocurrency is changing the financial landscape.

The Fight To Stop Anti-Asian Hate and For Fair Representation

At the signing of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act last spring, President Joe Biden called attention to the lack of reliable data on hate crimes Phi Nguyễn joins Feminism Today to discuss the scope of the issue — and the tools needed to address it.

We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders

Linda Sarsour is one of the most recognized activists in the nation. In her new book, We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders , she talks about what it means to be a working mother in this century, and through decades of fighting for racial, economic, gender and social justice.

On Girlhood

It's been 25 years since literary titan Toni Morrison became the first and only black woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature, and 35 years since Alice Walker became the first black woman to receive the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Color Purple. Many top literary prizes nominate black women, but few of those women have actually won awards, and Glory Edim wants to change that. She’s published a new book, an anthology of legendary Black authors titled, “On-Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library.

Feminism Today-The Shadow Pandemic

A landmark report published by the World Health Organization widespread reports of a ""shadow pandemic"" A surge in violence against women and girls around the world. Dr. Nimrat Kaur joins to discuss the ramifications and what we need to do about it.

Feminism Today- Women, Food & Faith

In the new Netflix Series, High on the Hog, Host and Food Writer, Stephen Satterfield traces the history and significance of African American cuisine in America. The show is based on a book of the same name, by award-winning historian and cookbook author Dr. Jessica B. Harris. The four-episode historical docu-series follows Satterfield as he travels to West Africa, and across the U.S. to bring audiences the stories of the black people who’ve shaped food culture, both past and present. For more on the importance of a show like High on the Hog, to spiritual health and nutrition, Sersie Blue and Gigi Carter; co-authors of “A Prayer for Your Health” and co-founders of Daniel Fast: A Bridge to Healthy Living join the show.

Migration Politics

One of humanity’s most urgent issues is the reduction of global poverty, in all its forms. It involves dividing this issue into smaller, more manageable questions. This week Charlotte McDonald-Gibson and Zahra Moulvi join to discuss the best ways to fight global poverty.

Feminism Today- Art Activism

Ângela Ferreira, one of Portugal’s most engaging contemporary artists, discusses the ongoing impact of colonialism and why she believes the aesthetic responses to African socialism relate to gender and social activism. #FeminismToday with Dr. Sophia N. Johnson is a 30-minute weekly public affairs series, which launched November 2021 on FSTV. The new series features rich and nuanced conversations with remarkable women and men, as seen in the creative ways they advocate for women’s rights. Feminism Today is a collaboration between Free Speech TV - which is owned and operated by Public Communications, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization - and Sophia N. Johnson, LLC.