Why the Majority Needs the Minority to Save America with Kimberlé Crenshaw

Why do intersectionality and Critical Race Theory matter in today’s political climate? This week, Stacey sits down with civil rights advocate, Critical Race Theory scholar, and Columbia Law School professor Kimberlé Crenshaw to discuss how these frameworks help us make sense of issues ranging from the recent ICE killing in Houston, Texas, to the Trump administration’s attacks on the rights of marginalized communities. They also explore how today’s backlash against Critical Race Theory is tied to a broader effort to reshape American democracy, and explore how her own life shaped these groundbreaking ideas, as told in her new memoir, Backtalker: An American Memoir.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

Learn & Do More:

• Be Curious: Pick up a copy of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s excellent new memoir, Backtalker: An American Memoir, as well as On Intersectionality: Selected Writings and Say Her Name: Black Women’s Stories of Police Violence and Public Silence.
• Solve Problems: We need more Black scholars like Kimberlé Crenshaw to help us understand our history, navigate our present, and shape a more just future. As programs that support students of color continue to be dismantled, consider supporting the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) or other organizations that create educational opportunities for the next generation of Black scholars.
• Do Good: As we saw in Houston, ICE activity resulting in violence, detention, and deportation has not gone away, it continues to escalate. Consider donating to your local immigrant detention center's commissary fund to help provide detainees with basic necessities. Each Step Home (eachstephome.org) is one organization doing this work. You can also support the Acacia Center for Justice (acaciajustice.org), which builds, strengthens, and expands immigrant legal defense programs for adults and children across the country.