Affirmative Action: Recent Episodes
Antoinette Grajeda
When you're not part of the majority culture, it can be difficult to make yourself heard. Affirmative Action creates a space where marginalized communities can have their voices amplified. Each month, we'll explore cultural and social issues from a variety of perspectives with a goal of expression and education.
Across the country, efforts to ban books at libraries are on the rise. In this episode, we discuss the challenges faced by libraries trying to defend the freedom to read, and share some of our favorite banned books.
Since its founding more than two centuries ago, a Black woman has never served on the United States Supreme Court, but that could change with the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. In this episode, we talk with two Black women about their experience as judges, the importance of diversifying the courts and how to educate the public about the judicial system.
As the stress of the ongoing pandemic mixes with other challenges like the nation’s racial reckoning, people are understandably feeling fatigued. In this episode, two therapists discuss the signs of burnout and offer tips for coping.
After making it to the end of another crazy year, we’ve decided to once again focus on some positive things that happened in 2021. In this episode, we speak with two African American women who are using TikTok to educate and uplift their communities.
Although a record number of Americans cast their ballot in 2020, Arkansas had the lowest voter turnout in the country. Organizations across the state are working to change that by engaging voters. In this episode, we talk with three BIPOC organizers who are educating and registering voters across the state.
A recently published study found 1 in 5 first-generation college students have experienced period poverty. Latinas were most likely to report period poverty, followed by Black women. In this episode, we hear from three Black women who are making strides in menstrual equity through legislation, donations and product development.
While DACA recipients can pursue higher education in Arkansas, many could not obtain professional and occupational licenses because of their immigration status. New laws have changed that. In this episode, two students discuss how this legislation is impacting their career paths as the future of DACA remains uncertain due to legal challenges.
When gymnast Simone Biles stepped back from Olympic competition to care for herself, she put a spotlight on the importance of mental health. In this episode, we continue the conversation surrounding mental health among athletes and the Black community by speaking with three African American counselors.
While a lot of attention has been paid to anti-trans legislation this year, the transgender community is more than the struggles they face. There’s a lot of joy and celebration of being yourself and it exists year-round, not just during Pride Month. In this episode, we speak with two Latinas about their experiences as members of Arkansas’ transgender community.
The leading cause of death among Black males ages 1 to 44 is homicide, according to the CDC. In this episode, we learn about the Derek Olivier Research Institute for the Prevention of Violence, which was established at Arkansas Baptist College in 2016 to create awareness and seek solutions to violence against African American males.
Multicultural librarians and community liaisons are working to connect communities of color with their local public libraries. In this episode, four librarians and community liaisons discuss programming they've developed for BIPOC Arkansans as well as some of the challenges they face in educating community members about the free resources provided by libraries.
Hate crimes against Asian Americans increased by 150 percent in 2020, prompting Arkansans to take action. In this episode, a group of activists and political leaders share their frustrations as well as advice for supporting the state's AAPI community.
The governor of Arkansas has signed a stand your ground bill into law. In this episode, we hear reaction to the new law as well as the possibility of passing hate crimes legislation in the state.
Black History Month is a time to recognize and honor the contributions of African Americans. IIn this episode, we speak with three African American women working in the field of history about the importance of celebrating Black history year-round.
It's been almost a year since the pandemic upended the lives of teachers, students and parents, creating a challenging and uncertain time for education. In this episode, we hear from three teachers who continue to learn new platforms and adapt to teaching remotely amid the pandemic.
It was a tough year, so we decided to end 2020 on a positive note. In today's episode, we listen to stories about Arkansans doing good in their communities. He'll hear how one neighborhood is supporting a North Little Rock family who received a racist note about their Black Santa decorations. Also, a Fort Smith woman is receiving national recognition for her work to feed thousands in her city.
Black-owned businesses are taking a beating during the pandemic. They received some assistance over the summer when the death of George Floyd prompted calls to support Black-owned businesses. In this episode, we’ll see if that support has continued as well as what steps Black Arkansans are taking to keep their businesses afloat.
According to the CDC, African Americans and Hispanics are more than 4.5 times more likely to be hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 than white Americans. In this episode, we examine some of the contributing factors and what can be done to assist minority communities during the pandemic.
Although there are more diverse candidates seeking public office, there’s still room for growth. In this episode, we discuss the value of having elected leaders reflect the demographics of the constituents they serve, and some of the barriers preventing more people of color from running.
Affirmative Action is a new space where the voices from marginalized communities can be amplified. In our premiere episode, we examine the swift reaction by activists to George Floyd’s death and what it could mean for police reform.