“White supremacy is not a mystery. To act like we don’t know what it looks like when it rams the door of a federal building is not only asinine; it’s dangerous. It leaves space for people to be surprised about tales that are hundreds of years old. We have to tell the truth of what happened, and to do our best to make sure that nobody ever forgets it.” –Brittany Packnett Cunningham, episode 209 of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
This week one year ago, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election. For some perspective on the other side of this moment, we return to our episode with activist and educator Brittany Packnett Cunningham.
We unpack the aftermath of the riots (6:46) before discussing her entry point into activism (11:00), unlearning perfectionism (19:38), grappling with imperfect allies (27:24), the consequences of using your voice (30:45), the enduring legacy of Toni Morrison (41:23), taking action under a Biden-Harris administration (46:03), rejecting objectification online (51:18), and, finally, how she keeps going (53:10).
Show-notes:
- Follow Brittany on Instagram and Twitter.
- Read Brittany’s full response to the insurrection at the Capitol.
- Learn more about Brittany and her work on her personal website.
- Listen to UNDISTRACTED’s episode with Tricia Hersey.
- Find the Portland State panel Toni Morrison spoke on in 1975. (Portland State University; Morrison, Toni; St. John, Primus; Callahan, John; Callahan, Judy; and Baker, Lloyd,“Black Studies Center public dialogue. Pt. 2” (1975). Portland State University Library Special Collections & University Archives: Oregon Public Speakers Collection. 90.)
- For more, hear our conversations with Dr. Cornel West, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Gloria Steinem, Noam Chomsky, Winnie Byanyima, and Janaya Future Khan.
Illustrations by: Krishna Shenoi.
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