Episode 02: Yusef Hawkins “Storm Over Brooklyn” Doc, and Reacting to the Breonna Taylor Verdict
10/15/20 • 44 min
[Producer’s Note]: This episode was originally recorded September 24th.
After a couple of heavy weeks filled with collective loss and grief, Chevon and Hiba open Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast working through the powerful and difficult emotions generated by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s refusal to prosecute the Breonna Taylor case, and the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. (Do not miss this—Chevon and Hiba have one of the most important conversations that we have ever had the privilege to share.)
In this very timely conversation, Hiba and Chevon are joined by the team behind the HBO documentary, Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn, which “tells the story of Yusuf Hawkins, a black teenager who was murdered in 1989 by a group of young white men in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Yusuf Hawkins’ death and the official response to it sparked outrage in New York, unleashing a torrent of racial tension and spurring tireless civil rights activism that exposed deep racial prejudices and inequities which continue to plague the country today.”
Director Muta’Ali and Producer Victorious Decosta share how they came to work on the film, the behind the scenes experiences working with Yusef’s family and friends to tell his story, and the importance of creating solutions oriented resources in collaboration with activist groups to keep the conversation going for viewers. Muta’Ali and Victorious also talk about the impact of the Breonna Taylor verdict and the parallels to the lack of justice in the Yusef Hawkins case.
In the spirit of solidarity and collaboration –– Facing Race: A National Virtual Conference is only one month away, and we’d love to have you join us for the largest multiracial, intergenerational gathering of racial justice movement making.
Resources (by order of mention)
Facing Race
www.facingrace.raceforward.org
Here's What's at Stake If Trump Replaces RBG on the U.S. Supreme Court (via Colorlines)
https://bit.ly/3lRPFV1
“There is No Justice Here” (via Colorlines)
https://bit.ly/3nQPN9h
Breonna Taylor's Family, Advocates React to ‘Outrageous and Offensive’ Grand Jury Decision (via Colorlines)
https://bit.ly/2H2VzE2
Detroit Police Officer Charged in Shooting Death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones (via Colorlines)
https://bit.ly/3iVsmrz
Bree Newsome Bass
https://bit.ly/3nUrd7i
WATCH: 'Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn' Debuts on HBO
https://bit.ly/2GZHoQf
Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn
https://itsh.bo/34XD6ku
For the Color of His Skin: The Murder of Yusuf Hawkins and the Trial of Bensonhurst
https://bit.ly/3nTuMec
“Storm Over Brooklyn” Discussion Guide
https://itsh.bo/3nLqkOq
Muta’Ali
Official Site
Victorious DeCosta
www.instagram.com/victoriouswashere
www.twitter.com/VictoriousAqui
About Race Forward:
Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.
Follow Race Forward on social media
Follow us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/raceforward
Follow us on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/raceforward
Follow us on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/raceforward
Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings
www.raceforward.org/trainings
Facing Race 2020
www.facingrace.raceforward.org
Subscribe to our newsletter:
www.raceforward.org/subscribe
Executive Producers:
Chevon Drew, Hendel Leiva, and Jeff Chang
Associate Producer/ Editor: Kendy Solis
[Producer’s Note]: This episode was originally recorded September 24th.
After a couple of heavy weeks filled with collective loss and grief, Chevon and Hiba open Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast working through the powerful and difficult emotions generated by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s refusal to prosecute the Breonna Taylor case, and the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. (Do not miss this—Chevon and Hiba have one of the most important conversations that we have ever had the privilege to share.)
In this very timely conversation, Hiba and Chevon are joined by the team behind the HBO documentary, Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn, which “tells the story of Yusuf Hawkins, a black teenager who was murdered in 1989 by a group of young white men in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Yusuf Hawkins’ death and the official response to it sparked outrage in New York, unleashing a torrent of racial tension and spurring tireless civil rights activism that exposed deep racial prejudices and inequities which continue to plague the country today.”
Director Muta’Ali and Producer Victorious Decosta share how they came to work on the film, the behind the scenes experiences working with Yusef’s family and friends to tell his story, and the importance of creating solutions oriented resources in collaboration with activist groups to keep the conversation going for viewers. Muta’Ali and Victorious also talk about the impact of the Breonna Taylor verdict and the parallels to the lack of justice in the Yusef Hawkins case.
In the spirit of solidarity and collaboration –– Facing Race: A National Virtual Conference is only one month away, and we’d love to have you join us for the largest multiracial, intergenerational gathering of racial justice movement making.
Resources (by order of mention)
Facing Race
www.facingrace.raceforward.org
Here's What's at Stake If Trump Replaces RBG on the U.S. Supreme Court (via Colorlines)
https://bit.ly/3lRPFV1
“There is No Justice Here” (via Colorlines)
https://bit.ly/3nQPN9h
Breonna Taylor's Family, Advocates React to ‘Outrageous and Offensive’ Grand Jury Decision (via Colorlines)
https://bit.ly/2H2VzE2
Detroit Police Officer Charged in Shooting Death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones (via Colorlines)
https://bit.ly/3iVsmrz
Bree Newsome Bass
https://bit.ly/3nUrd7i
WATCH: 'Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn' Debuts on HBO
https://bit.ly/2GZHoQf
Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn
https://itsh.bo/34XD6ku
For the Color of His Skin: The Murder of Yusuf Hawkins and the Trial of Bensonhurst
https://bit.ly/3nTuMec
“Storm Over Brooklyn” Discussion Guide
https://itsh.bo/3nLqkOq
Muta’Ali
Official Site
Victorious DeCosta
www.instagram.com/victoriouswashere
www.twitter.com/VictoriousAqui
About Race Forward:
Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.
Follow Race Forward on social media
Follow us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/raceforward
Follow us on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/raceforward
Follow us on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/raceforward
Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings
www.raceforward.org/trainings
Facing Race 2020
www.facingrace.raceforward.org
Subscribe to our newsletter:
www.raceforward.org/subscribe
Executive Producers:
Chevon Drew, Hendel Leiva, and Jeff Chang
Associate Producer/ Editor: Kendy Solis
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Episode 03: Discussing Felony Disenfranchisement with Nicole Porter from The Sentencing Project + GO VOTE!
With one week to go until the 2020 Presidential Election, Hiba and Chevon bring you an election season-themed episode for you to listen to as you make plans to vote [before, or on] Tuesday November 3rd!
In this episode, Chevon and Hiba are joined by Nicole Porter, Director of Advocacy for The Sentencing Project, who talks about the newly-released report Locked Out 2020: Estimates of People Denied Voting Rights Due to a Felony Conviction. The report reveals “5.2 million Americans [that] are forbidden to vote because of felony disenfranchisement, or laws restricting voting rights for those convicted of felony-level crimes.” Nicole also talks about her work managing The Sentencing Project’s state and local advocacy efforts on sentencing reform, voting rights, and eliminating racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and provides personal anecdotes to highlight the importance of each of these topics.
Hiba and Chevon also discuss recent events in culture in the lead-up to the presidential election, including Ice Cube’s recent controversial meeting with the Trump Administration to promote his “Contract With Black America”, and P. Diddy’s endorsement of Vice President Joe Biden––a reversal from his “Hold The Black Vote” stance earlier this year. In this context, Chevon talks about the importance of creating your own advocacy efforts and how voting is “one lever we can pull” in the broader fight for racial justice.
Also, BIG. NEWS.
Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast will have a special LIVE post-election episode at Facing Race: A National Virtual Conference taking place Tuesday, November 10th. Join us for the largest multiracial, intergenerational, gathering of racial justice movement making, where podcasting will be featured for the very first time as part of the programming!
Resources (by order of mention)
Facing Race 2020 Program (Register now!)
https://facingrace.raceforward.org/program/full-program
The Inside Story of how Ice Cube Joined Forces with Donald Trump (via Politico)
https://politi.co/3jpAr8q
Diddy Officially Endorses Joe Biden, Launches His Own Political Party (via Billboard)
https://bit.ly/2TkzRhF
Locked Out 2020: Estimates of People Denied Voting Rights Due to a Felony Conviction (via The Sentencing Project)
[Topic] Felony Disenfranchisement (via Colorlines)
Snoop Dogg Says 2020 Elections First Time He Votes (via USA Today)
Reform, Abolish or Defund the Police—Explained (via Colorlines)
#TogetherWeVote #WeVoteWeCount Campaign (via the Racial Justice Anchor Orgs)
https://provoc.me/togetherwevote/
History of the term Felony
https://thelawdictionary.org/felony/
Jim Crow’s Lasting Legacy At The Ballot Box (via The Marshall Project)
Nicole Porter
Instagram: https://instagram.com/nicoleporter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicoleporter
About Race Forward:
Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.
Follow Race Forward on social media
Follow us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/raceforward
Follow us on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/raceforward
Follow us on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/raceforward
Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings
www.raceforward.org/trainings
Subscribe to our newsletter:
www.raceforward.org/subscribe
Executive Producers:
Hendel Leiva, Cheryl D. Cato Blakemore
Associate Producer/ Editor: Kendy Solis
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