Episode 09: Superheroes and Representation in the Comic Book Universe
07/08/20 • 39 min
We’re in the full swing of summer, and Chevon and Hiba are diving into a conversation about representation in the superhero universe and the comic book world!
DC Comics authors Gene Luen Yang and Minh Le join our hosts to talk about their projects “Superman Smashes The Klan” and “Green Lantern Legacy” and how their art and stories fit into the broader context around diversity and inclusion in superhero narratives. The conversation explores the origins of some of our modern superheroes, the influence of the events of WWII and the Civil Rights movement, and why comics are as important as ever to young readers of color.
Next time on our season finale, we’ll be shouting out some of our fans that have left us reviews –– stay tuned, same Momentum time, same Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast!
Resources (by order of mention)
Wes Moore Talks Fighting Poverty, Budget Priority, Systemic Change + His New Book (via The Breakfast Club Power 105.1)
Gene Luen Yang
Official Website
https://twitter.com/geneluenyang
Gene Luen Yang: Comics Belong in the Classroom (via Ted Talks)
https://www.ted.com/talks/gene_luen_yang_comics_belong_in_the_classroom
Superman Smashes The Klan (via DC Comics)
Minh Le
Official Website
https://twitter.com/bottomshelfbks
Green Lantern Legacy (via DC Comics)
https://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/green-lantern-legacy
March (series) by US Congressman John Lewis
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/1MA/march
Thich Nhat Hanh: The Monk Who Taught The World Mindfulness Awaits the End of This Life (via Time Magazine)
https://time.com/5511729/monk-mindfulness-art-of-dying/
The Shadow Hero
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465601-the-shadow-hero
The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye by Sonny Liew
Captain America Truth: Red, White & Black
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/670341.Truth
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:
Follow us on Twitter:
Follow us on Instagram:
Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings
Facing Race 2020 (more information coming soon)
www.facingrace.raceforward.org
Subscribe to our newsletter:
Executive Producers:
Hendel Leiva and Melissa Franqui
We’re in the full swing of summer, and Chevon and Hiba are diving into a conversation about representation in the superhero universe and the comic book world!
DC Comics authors Gene Luen Yang and Minh Le join our hosts to talk about their projects “Superman Smashes The Klan” and “Green Lantern Legacy” and how their art and stories fit into the broader context around diversity and inclusion in superhero narratives. The conversation explores the origins of some of our modern superheroes, the influence of the events of WWII and the Civil Rights movement, and why comics are as important as ever to young readers of color.
Next time on our season finale, we’ll be shouting out some of our fans that have left us reviews –– stay tuned, same Momentum time, same Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast!
Resources (by order of mention)
Wes Moore Talks Fighting Poverty, Budget Priority, Systemic Change + His New Book (via The Breakfast Club Power 105.1)
Gene Luen Yang
Official Website
https://twitter.com/geneluenyang
Gene Luen Yang: Comics Belong in the Classroom (via Ted Talks)
https://www.ted.com/talks/gene_luen_yang_comics_belong_in_the_classroom
Superman Smashes The Klan (via DC Comics)
Minh Le
Official Website
https://twitter.com/bottomshelfbks
Green Lantern Legacy (via DC Comics)
https://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/green-lantern-legacy
March (series) by US Congressman John Lewis
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/1MA/march
Thich Nhat Hanh: The Monk Who Taught The World Mindfulness Awaits the End of This Life (via Time Magazine)
https://time.com/5511729/monk-mindfulness-art-of-dying/
The Shadow Hero
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465601-the-shadow-hero
The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye by Sonny Liew
Captain America Truth: Red, White & Black
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/670341.Truth
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:
Follow us on Twitter:
Follow us on Instagram:
Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings
Facing Race 2020 (more information coming soon)
www.facingrace.raceforward.org
Subscribe to our newsletter:
Executive Producers:
Hendel Leiva and Melissa Franqui
Previous Episode
Episode 08: Honoring Juneteenth, and a Conversation with Race Forward’s President, Glenn Harris
Glenn Harris, President of Race Forward and Publisher of Colorlines, joins Hiba and Chevon for a timely conversation on “the moment” our nation is facing, and the disproportionate impacts COVID-19 has had on communities of color. Race Forward responded swiftly to the crisis, and they discuss the work being undertaken within the racial justice movement to safeguard our democracy in another tumultuous election year.
We also include audio from last week’s Building a Movement: A Virtual Town Hall with Minneapolis Organizers, a powerful online event where we heard directly from long-time activists building a movement to end police violence and systemic racism in our communities.
In recognition of Juneteeth, Chevon and Hiba discuss their personal efforts to learn and engage with the spirit of the holiday, and talk about the recent landmark Supreme Court Title VII ruling, which prohibits employment discrimination against LGBTQ people.
––
Resources (by order of mention)
The Time For Reparations Is Now [Op-Ed] by Yirssi Bergman, Shweta Moorthy, and Juell Stewart (via Colorlines)
www.colorlines.com/articles/time-reparations-now-op-ed
SCOTUS Says: The 1964 Civil Rights Act Protects LGBTQ+ People, Too (via Colorlines)
www.colorlines.com/articles/scotus-says-1964-civil-rights-act-protects-lgbtq-people-too
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley on Ending “Qualified Immunity”
www.twitter.com/RepPressley/status/1272575869400371200?s=20
Laverne Cox on the SCOTUS Title VII Ruling Prohibiting LGBTQ Employment Discrimination
www.twitter.com/AlexPattyy/status/1272567736707801091?s=20
Building a Movement: A Virtual Town Hall with Minneapolis Organizers (hosted by Race Forward)
www.facebook.com/RaceForward/videos/209147303485329
Angela Davis Talks 'Orange is the New Black,' Prison Abolition (via Colorlines)
www.colorlines.com/articles/angela-davis-talks-orange-new-black-prison-abolition
Glenn Harris, President of Race Forward and Publisher of Colorlines
www.raceforward.org/about/staff/glenn-harris
“What is systemic racism? Here's what it means and how you can help dismantle it” (via USA Today)
Glenn Harris and James Haslam: A New Social Contract (via Partners For Dignity And Rights)
Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's Gone, Astra Taylor (via Goodreads)
Race Forward’s Statement On Disproportionate COVID-19 Cases And Deaths In Black and Latinx Communities: It’s Time To Lead With Racial Equity
We Vote We Count Report
wevotewecount.org/report-we-vote-we-count
“Authoritarian State or Inclusive Democracy? 21 Things We Can Do Right Now” by Eric Ward (via Southern Poverty Law Center)
Movement For Black Lives: Policy Platforms
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:
Follow us on Twitter:
Follow us on Instagram:
Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings (more trainings added!)
Facing Race 2020 (more information coming soon)
...Next Episode
Episode 10: Season Finale: Building Power with DEMOS President K. Sabeel Rahman and Recognizing a Historic Win in North Carolina
In our season finale, Demos President K. Sabeel Rahman joins Hiba and Chevon for an exciting conversation addressing racial and economic inequities to boldly fight for the future of American democracy. Sabeel shares his experiences growing up as a first generation Muslim Bangladeshi-American to becoming an Associate Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School and his current role, leading the innovative work at Demos.
In the conversation, Sabeel talks to our hosts about the inspiration behind his books, Democracy Against Domination, and Civic Power, his take on the fight for constitutional law to be applied equitably, and the important reconciliatory work that will be essential beyond the November election.
Chevon and Hiba also talk about the recent win in Asheville, North Carolina which will see the city provide investment based reparations to its Black residents, and give a big shout out to our GARE (Government Alliance on Racial Equity) team members for their important contributions in this step towards racial justice.
Thank you to all who submitted ratings and reviews –– we shout out some of our listeners, and we’re looking forward to continuing to share the love!
Season Two of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast will premiere in mid-August, but in the meantime, stay tuned for a special bonus episode about our upcoming Facing Race 2020 announcement!
Resources (by order of mention)
In historic move, North Carolina city approves reparations for Black residents (via USA Today)
Asheville, NC, approves investment-based reparations for Black residents (via Twitter Moments)
https://twitter.com/i/events/1283493252067258368
Government Alliance on Race and Equity
https://www.racialequityalliance.org/
Demos
K. Sabeel Rahman (Demos Introductory Video)
Democracy Against Domination (Oxford University Press, 2016)
https://bit.ly/2ZRrle6
Civic Power (Cambridge University Press, 2019)
Uprising (via Demos)
https://www.demos.org/blog/uprising
We Need a Truth and Reconciliation Process for the Trump Era (via In These Times/ Demos)
https://www.demos.org/media/we-need-truth-and-reconciliation-process-trump-era
K. Sabeel Rahman (Twitter)
https://twitter.com/ksabeelrahman
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:
Follow us on Twitter:
Follow us on Instagram:
Building Racial Equity (BRE) Trainings
Facing Race 2020 (more information coming soon)
www.facingrace.raceforward.org
Subscribe to our newsletter:
Executive Producers:
Hendel Leiva and Melissa Franqui
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