Equal Time with Mary C. Curtis

Do Black women have solutions to what’s ailing American democracy? By Mary C. Curtis

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:00:00 -0000

When Black women show up – as election workers, activists, advocates, voters – they make a difference. So, when they step forward, why do they so often meet resistance, not just from opponents, but also from supposed allies? And why has that never stopped them. Atima Omara’s new book, “The Instigators: How Black Women Have Been Essential to American Democracy (And what we can learn from them),” is both a history lesson and a blueprint for the future. In an almost two-decade career, Omara, founder of the award-winning Omara Strategy Group, has worked at the intersection of electoral politics and advocacy in the progressive movement. She is my guest on this episode of Equal Time.

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Mixing religion and politics in America. That isn’t new. What makes today different?

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:00:00 -0000

If the line separating church and state in America has not yet disappeared, it is certainly fading fast. The evidence? A Supreme Court willing to rule in favor of faith-based lawsuits; a Secretary of Defense framing the war in Iran in apocalyptic terms; a president pushing a law restricting voting rights, exhorting legislators to pass it -- for “Jesus.” Is today’s elevation of a certain kind of Christianity at odds with the ideals of a diverse country where freedom of and from religion is guaranteed in the Constitution? David Gibson -- award-winning religion journalist, author, and filmmaker -- is director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, and the guest on this episode of Equal Time.

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Does labeling protest ‘domestic terrorism’ weaken national security -- and First Amendment protections?

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:00:00 -0000

Just who is a “domestic terrorist,” and what is the danger when a protest is labeled “an act of domestic terrorism”? President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has announced a drawdown of troops in Minnesota, where immigration raids swept up many, including U.S. citizens, triggered protests and left two of those citizens dead. But the administration hasn’t ruled out future surges across the country. In analyzing federal actions – in the past and yet to come -- Rachel Levinson-Waldman, director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, does not deny the presence of domestic terrorists among us. But does the Trump administration’s expansive definition of the term clash with First Amendment rights? And do recent enforcement activities make us more or less safe? Levinson-Waldman explains on this episode of Equal Time.

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The state of voting rights in a critical midterm election year

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0000

November 2026 is closer than it may seem, with candidates already campaigning for the midterms. But are enough Americans paying attention to current action in the courts that could affect the process – and the result? You need a lawyer to sort out all-important voting rights battles. Elisabeth Frost, the Litigation chair of the Elias Law Group, is in the middle of many of these battles. With Marc Elias as chair, the firm’s stated mission is to help Democrats win, citizens vote, and progressives make change. On Equal Time, Frost answers the question: How is that going?

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Advocacy and recognition lead to action for the disabled in sports -- and beyond

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:00:00 -0000

As an aspiring equestrian facing obstacles, Jack Goldberg learned that even with good intentions and legislation, follow through can be uncertain. So, as a young teen, he leaned into leadership. While the dual American and Canadian citizen can appreciate progress -- the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities -- he is worried that what has been hard won may be dismantled unless advocacy and activism keep the pressure on. On Equal Time, the honored Para Equestrian explains.

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Despite DEI pushback, a corporate culture of belonging is possible

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 14:07:00 -0000

The Trump administration’s war on DEI, diversity, equity and inclusion policies, has left many companies that value a welcoming workplace more than a little confused. What is allowed — and legal? Barbara L. Johnson, the founder of BLJohnsonLaw and counsel with Potter & Murdock, is an accomplished employment lawyer and workplace consultant with a passion for creating safe, productive and thriving workplace cultures. She is a guest on this episode of Equal Time.

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College Leadership in Turbulent Times

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Being a college president has never been the easiest job. But today, it seems an impossible one. The campus may still be a place that encourages students to think critically and to cultivate a network of fellow creative problem-solvers. But those goals have been overshadowed by concerns over academic freedom and free speech, the challenges of building a welcoming community in the face of anti-DEI legislation and more. In her latest book, “Perils and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times,” Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, an award-winning psychologist, president emerita of Spelman College and best-selling author, sees room for hope -- and solutions.

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A moral call-to-action on climate and energy policy

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:37:00 -0000

There had been progress on the issue of environmental justice, with the contributions of citizen-activists, who spurred the government to protect historically marginalized communities. But in the past few months, the Trump administration has made staff, program, and budget cuts that leave rural, coastal, and frontline communities vulnerable. That’s one observation of Cameron Oglesby, internationally awarded environmental justice organizer and solutions journalist. But, Oglesby says, organizations, communities and grass-roots efforts aren’t giving up on their vision for a cleaner, greener country. She joins Equal Time to explain.

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Closing the opportunity gap in education

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:00:00 -0000

It’s back to school time, with excitement mixed with uncertainty and anxiety. News from the Department of Education is primarily about cutting its budget or eliminating the department altogether. How will these and other proposed changes affect students? Will the traditionally underserved be short-changed, and fall further behind? James E. Ford, a former teacher of the year in North Carolina, is founder/director of CREED: the Center for Racial Equity in Education, a stand-alone nonprofit that deals explicitly with race and education issues in the state. He is also Principal at Filling the Gap Educational Consultants. Ford and his organizations have been working on solutions to education challenges the nation faces, and he is a guest on Equal Time.

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‘Accidental activists,’ the local heroes who expose government secrecy

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:21:00 -0000

In “Backroom Deals in Our Backyards: How Government Secrecy Harms Our Communities and the Local Heroes Fighting Back,” Miranda Spivack tells the stories of ordinary citizens who discovered that local and state governments they thought were there to protect them weren’t doing their jobs. Instead, these “accidental activists” found not only a lack of transparency but also often resistance when searching for information about how to resolve community issues. Does their work provide a roadmap – and hope – for others? Spivack, author and former Washington Post editor and reporter, is this episode’s guest on Equal Time.

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What is ‘the way forward’ after violence born of hatred?

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 17:00:00 -0000

It’s been 10 years since a 21-year-old gunman murdered nine church members who welcomed him to Bible study. The attack on Charleston, S.C.’s historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015, killed nine good people. They were targeted for that reason and for their race. The brother of one of the nine, Malcolm Graham, reflects on the life and legacy of his sister Cynthia Graham Hurd, on the world that nurtured such hatred in someone so young, and perhaps the hardest part — on how to do the work needed to change that world. His book is “The Way Forward: Keeping the Faith and Doing the Work Amid Hatred and Violence.” Graham, a Charlotte, N.C., city councilman, entrepreneur and civic activist, offers a path that won’t be easy, but may be necessary. And he joins Equal Time.

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The Politics of the Catholic Church after Pope Francis

Fri, 02 May 2025 17:53:00 -0000

The personality and outreach of Pope Francis attracted worldwide admiration. Though he did not stray from Catholic doctrine, he connected those teachings to issues such as immigration and climate change. He was not as progressive as some progressives hoped, and he also frustrated traditionalists, a split that played out in the United States. So, what’s next? Maureen K. Day is one of the authors of “Catholicism at a Crossroads: The Present and Future of America’s Largest Church,” a survey informed by interviews. What does Catholic identity mean in America today, and how did it adapt to the modern papacy of Pope Francis. Day, research affiliate at the University of Southern California’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture and the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, joins Equal Time.

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How a post-World War II ‘Red Scare’ resonates in modern America

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 13:25:00 -0000

Fights over how American history is taught. Labels of “Communist” and “Socialist” used to smear. Civil rights gains seen as a loss for the “real” America. While all that might sound like last week’s headlines, those battles and the hysteria surrounding them are nothing new. In “Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism and the Making of Modern America,” Clay Risen details how the conspiracy-mongering and cultural backlash of that post-World War II period speak to the divisiveness of today. The award-winning historian and New York Times editor joins Equal Time.

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Fighting a disease and a health-care system

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0000

As America’s health-care system is not being spared in policy shake-ups from the very top, Equal Time takes a look at one case and what it says about disparities in health care and why that matters. In “Transplant: A Memoir,” the resilient Bernadine Watson takes us on her journey, a perilous one, even with support from doctors and family. The nonfiction writer and poet has focused on social policy research around youth and community issues during her career. She joins Equal Time to talk about her experiences, and why challenges remain.

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Has the fringe gone mainstream?

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:00:00 -0000

In 2025, you don’t have to reach very far to reach those dark corners of the internet where fringe conspiracy theories and racist memes once hid. In award-winning journalist Elle Reeve’s book, “Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics,” the CNN correspondent takes readers on a journey that leads to the violence of Charlottesville and January 6. You could say the Equal Time guest saw it coming; that doesn’t mean some things about today’s political scene don’t surprise her.

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Why Lying in Politics Is a Danger to Democracy and Can It Be Fixed?

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:00 -0000

The “L-word.” It took some time for journalists to call a lie a lie when politicians uttered provable falsehoods. After all, don’t all politicians stretch the truth when it comes to policies, opponents or their own accomplishments? Bill Adair, an award-winning journalist and educator, shares his thoughts and experiences in his book “Beyond the Big Lie: The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy.” The creator of PolitiFact, the Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking site, and co-founder of the International Fact-Checking Network, has ideas about the problem -- and possible remedies. Adair is a professor of journalism and public policy at Duke University and a leader in the effort to combat misinformation. And, at the end of a year chock full of election rhetoric to analyze, he is my guest and guide on Equal Time.

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Looking at Climate Futures with Imagination and Resolve

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 15:30:00 -0000

With a recently concluded global climate summit with challenging takeaways, an incoming president who vows to again remove the U.S.from international climate agreements, and increasing weather disasters that defy what went before, a look at what is being called an existential crisis could be grim. But that’s not the kind of book Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson has written. “What If We Get It Right: Visions of Climate Futures” is a provocative mix of essays, interviews, data, poetry, and art, as Johnson guides the reader through solutions and possibilities at the nexus of science, policy, culture, and justice. She is a marine biologist, policy expert, co-founder of the non-profit think tank Urban Ocean Lab and a guest on Equal Time.

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How a battle for locker-room access was about so much more

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Sports and politics don’t mix. In truth, that has never been the case. Sports, in fact, reflect every issue, every conflict in society from civil rights to equal justice. Melissa Ludtke knows this from experience. In the 1970’s, when she was trying to cover Major League Baseball for Sports Illustrated, her path to doing the job – which required equal access to the players – was blocked by a powerful and inflexible commissioner. The battle mirrored America’s burgeoning women’s movement, and ultimately ended up in federal court, presided over by a judge with her own civil rights experience. Ludtke tells the story in “Locker Room Talk: A Woman’s Struggle to Get Inside,” and on this episode of Equal Time.

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Has grift hijacked American conservatism?

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 18:00:00 -0000

In the middle of a contentious election season, it might be the perfect time to look back, to try to figure out how we got here. In “The Longest Con: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Frauds Hijacked American Conservatism,” best-selling author and Equal Time guest Joe Conason investigates how lofty rhetoric can sometimes hide money-making motives. Who benefits, who is left to pay the bill and how does anyone get away with it?

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Investing in the Culture – the History and Power of Black Philanthropy

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 13:00:00 -0000

There is a powerful tradition of giving back in African-American communities – a history highlighted in August, Black Philanthropy Month. And it’s about much more than writing a check. But just as giving circles celebrate efforts to invest in the culture, right-wing activists, with validation from some courts, have been pushing back, using policies originally enacted to even America’s unequal playing field. Valaida Fullwood is a founder of New Generation of African American Philanthropists, Charlotte, North Carolina’s only Black philanthropic collective, and a model for organizations across the country. Fullwood, a project consultant and “idea whisperer,” joins Equal Time to share her vision for the future of Black philanthropy, as NGAAP approaches its 20th anniversary.

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A History of the Gay Right

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:00:00 -0000

When it comes to the politics of LGBTQ+ rights in America, the narrative that one party is pro and the other con has taken hold. But the truth is more nuanced – and interesting. “Coming Out Republican: A History of the Gay Right” takes readers from the 1950s to the present day, offering comprehensive and enlightening information; it introduces characters and organizations that stayed true to conservative values while championing same-sex marriage and helping to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” When the issue of gay rights is as relevant as ever, historian, commentator and Equal Time guest Neil J. Young offers insights into why so many gay conservatives continue to align with a party whose election-year rhetoric sees them as an enemy of American values.

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Rep. Alma Adams on House business and the state of her state

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 17:02:00 -0000

Congresswoman Alma Adams, a Democrat who represents the 12th District of North Carolina, wants to tell you and her constituents that, despite the dysfunction that makes the headlines, she and her colleagues have been attending to the people’s business. There are the issues close to her heart, such as affordable health care, closing the maternal health gap for minority moms and providing family care. There is her work supporting HBCUs, healthy nutrition programs, and more. So, what do we need to know?

Adams joins Equal Time to talk about bipartisan progress, election year politics and the state of her battleground state.

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Women’s Voices on Justice for Black Men

Wed, 29 May 2024 17:03:00 -0000

“We Refuse to Be Silent: Women’s Voices on Justice for Black Men” is a just released collection of essays. Unfortunately, the need for such voices has been consistent and essential throughout America’s history. Thirty-five journalists, authors,, scholars, ministers, psychologists, counselors and others raise their voices – now, and until solutions are in place. Angela P. Dodson, the collection’s editor, is the author of “Remember the Ladies: Celebrating Those Who Fought for Freedom at the Ballot Box” is the guest on this episode of Equal Time; she is joined by New Orleans-based journalist Lottie Joiner, one of the book’s contributors.

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A reality check on crime and justice

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -0000

If it’s an election year, expect crime to be an issue. Candidates and parties draw conclusions with every headline, and exchange rhetoric that sheds more heat than light. But the history and reality of America’s criminal justice system is more complicated than a “tough on crime” slogan would indicate. The just published “Excessive Punishment: How the Justice System Creates Mass Incarceration” offers essays by scholars, advocates, those who have experienced incarceration and former law enforcement who make the case that public safety, justice, and fairness are not only compatible as goals, but they can and must be achieved together. Lauren-Brooke Eisen, the book’s editor, is the senior director of the Brennan Center’s Justice Program, where she leads the organization’s work to reduce America’s reliance on incarceration, is the author of Inside Private Prisons (Columbia, 2017) and a former prosecutor. She joins Equal Time to talk about why the book is especially timely in the present political climate.

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How increased Black home ownership can put a dent in the racial wealth gap

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Despite record-low Black unemployment and a higher labor force participation rate than Whites, major barriers impede homeownership among African Americans, a fact that contributes to a yawning racial wealth gap. The gap is so expansive that the 400 wealthiest Americans control the same amount of wealth as the 48 million Blacks living in the United States. Importantly, however, there are solutions.

Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose serves as President of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the premier network of Black real estate professionals and one of the oldest minority trade associations in the country with more than 100 chapters nationwide. The organization is sponsoring a Black Wealth Tour in cities around the country, with Dr. Rose and NAREB representatives leading classes, workshops, and one-on-one counseling to advise families on home buying, investing, and careers in real estate.

With her background – both personal and professional – in the field, Dr. Rose is prepared to tackle this challenge. And she is my guest on this episode of Equal Time.

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When it comes to political persuasion, why emotion matters

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 19:40:00 -0000

The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation" might have been published in 2007, but its message is as relevant as ever, especially as campaign 2024 ramps up. Author Drew Westen, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Emory University, has for 20 years explored the role of emotions in how the brain processes information. That’s true in life – and in politics. And that explains why Westen has advised or worked as a political consultant for Democratic candidates, progressive and labor organizations and Fortune 500 companies for 20 years. Equal Time speaks to Westen on how a better understanding of the mind and brain translates into more compelling political messaging. Who is doing it right – and who could most use his help right now

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A time for reflection – and giving

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 14:00:00 -0000

In a hectic time of preparation for the holidays, it’s important to remember those who may be struggling, a message elevated by United Way. Alice Archabal brings more than 20 years of experience driving results for mission- driven organizations to her work as executive vice president and chief development officer for United Way Worldwide. There, she provides leadership to drive the organization’s revenue strategy, including its collaborative outreach to local voices across the globe. She joins Equal Time to talk about the role of nonprofits in identifying solutions to today’s most pressing problems, such as food and housing insecurity, climate change, and economic mobility. And she shares her thoughts about how we all benefit when folks give back.

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What’s at stake for communities of color in the global climate crisis

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:19:00 -0000

Dr. Beverly Wright has been a leading voice on the impact of the global climate crisis for decades, spreading awareness, working on solutions and educating the next generations. As executive director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, an organization she founded 30 years ago, and a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, she is the heart of the environmental justice movement. With the Biden administration’s rollout of billions to help communities combat the effects of climate change, and the United Nations Climate Change Conference convening in the United Arab Emirates through Dec. 12, the spotlight is on the issue and efforts to help vulnerable countries cope with the crisis. At COP28, Dr. Wright is sharing her organization’s work, and amplifying the voices of those most impacted — communities of color and indigenous people, particularly those in the Global South. She joins Equal Time to discuss her mission and her message.

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Transforming Alabama – and young voters. Nothing is off the table

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 opened the franchise to all Americans, Alabama has often been at the center of voting debates. This year is no exception. New maps ordered by and approved by the courts after a contentious yearslong battle, could give the state’s Black voters a greater voice, and affect the balance of power in Congress after the 2024 elections. But it all depends on turnout. Formerly a candidate, Dr. Adia Winfrey is now focused on voter mobilization and education through her organization, Transform Alabama, and sometimes uses some of the “hip-hop” strategies that energized her campaign. Student ambassador Maurice Gray is a believer, and has joined the cause to urge young people to care – and to vote. Both join this episode of Equal Time.

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An icon's example inspires conversations and action on reparations

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 22:06:28 -0000

Known for his work in the courtroom and the classroom, Harvard Law School's Charles J. Ogletree Jr. is being memorialized by the many he mentored, including former President Barack and first lady Michelle Obama. One of his students, civil rights attorney Areva Martin, was particularly inspired by his work to restore the justice historically denied to so many, including the victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. Martin represents more than 700 survivors and descendants of Palm Springs Section 14 in their quest for reparations after their community was racially targeted, burned out and bulldozed by the city of Palm Springs in the 1950s and 60s. In this episode of "Equal Time," author, activist, attorney and media personality Areva Martin joins Mary C. Curtis in a conversation some Americans would rather avoid. Is resolving America's unpaid debt to many of its citizens necessary before the country can move forward?

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Can the U.S. military still lead the way on civil rights?

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Executive Order 9981. President Harry Truman signed it on July 26, 1948, creating the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, mandating the desegregation of the U.S. military. As the Truman Library Institute in Washington hosts a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the landmark decision with a civil rights symposium, there are questions, as well. Some of today’s elected officials have even derided the merit of diversity in the military and as an American value, making it a part of the so-called “culture war.” Yet the order changed the country – and lives. In a ground-breaking 35-year-career, Adm. Michelle Howard (Retired) was the first woman to become a four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy, the first Black woman to captain a U.S. naval ship and the first woman graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy to become an admiral. In this episode of “Equal Time,” she speaks with host Mary C. Curtis about not only history and her story, but also the importance of diversity in building today's military -- and the way forward.

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Why mental health policy is personal and political

Thu, 25 May 2023 13:50:58 -0000

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has described mental health as “the defining public health crisis of our time.” He has used his position and megaphone to highlight how the country is doing and where it falls short, particularly in the treatment of young people who are suffering. It’s a complex topic worthy of discussion, and not just in May -- Mental Health Awareness Month. How can the mental health of young people in America be protected from influences that could harm? Legislators are taking note; but is it enough? Equal Time host Mary C. Curtis speaks with Julie Scelfo, executive director of Get Media Savvy, a nonprofit initiative devoted to fighting media chaos and fostering media literacy, about what is needed from policymakers and the public to tackle the youth mental health crisis and rebuild “our civic fabric.”

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How Black women, America’s invisible ‘saviors,’ can rewrite the narrative

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:26:46 -0000

With Black women rising to prominence in politics, the arts and every field in between, it could be said that it is their moment in history. But dig deeper and the picture is far more nuanced. When expectations are high and mothers still counsel daughters to “work twice as hard” to succeed, what is the cost? Is there enough attention paid to the concerns of Black women all day, every day, and not just when they are called on to “save the world”? And does the current, sometimes toxic political climate create additional stress? In this episode of Equal Time, host Mary C. Curtis talks with Dr. Inger E. Burnett-Zeigler, associate professor of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University, whose clinical interests include stress management and wellness. Based on her own experience, extensive work and research, she offers advice on resources and services that can help everyone, especially Black women, show up for community and family, while paying attention to their own needs.

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When corporate activism takes center stage

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 06:00:00 -0000

How do companies achieve success and attract investors, and decide on how to center their own investments, while making a difference in the world? Can a company’s value and its values align? And, what is the plan for navigating these issues with knowledge and nuance. On this month's 'Equal Time,' host Mary C. Curtis talks with Jonas Kron, Chief Advocacy Officer for Trillium Asset Management, responsible for leading and coordinating the company's work to engage companies on their environmental and social performance. He also serves on the board of US SIF -- the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. On the show, Kron explains a trend that is not that new.

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A celebration and reflection – and looking to the future -- after National Hispanic Heritage Month

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

When America started officially honoring Hispanic heritage in 1968, it was a one-week celebration. Though the country now marks National Hispanic Heritage Month, acknowledging how generations of Hispanic Americans have influenced and contributed to our nation doesn't have to end when that month is over. This episode of Equal Time reflects on the issues and challenges facing the community and the country now and into the future.

Equal Time host Mary C. Curtis speaks with Larry Gonzalez, an experienced participant in policy-making at the federal and state levels, and a founder and principal of The Raben Group, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm, and Teresa Puente, an assistant professor who teaches journalism at California State University Long Beach, and has spent her career reporting on immigration and Latino issues in the U.S., with extensive reporting from Mexico.

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Progress? Certainly. But has the Americans with Disabilities Act changed the country enough?

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Marking its 32nd anniversary this year, the Americans with Disabilities Act has inspired the world to see disability through the lens of equity, opening opportunities for persons with disabilities to contribute to our global progress. But, from creating more consistency for academic accommodations to providing additional employment opportunities, what needs to be done in the next 32 years and beyond? “Equal Time” host Mary C. Curtis talks with Nicole Patton, the Manager of State Government Relations at the National Down Syndrome Society, and Charlotte Woodward, the Education Program Associate for NDSS. Charlotte, who was born with Down syndrome, as well as a heart condition, is one of the few people born with Down syndrome to receive a life-saving heart transplant. She went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from George Mason University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, with a concentration in inequality and social change.

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From data privacy concerns to worsening care inequities, the ramifications of the Roe decision

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade raised many questions on the future of abortion rights in the United States. With search histories and health apps possibly used for tracking, how can data be protected and kept private? Will the health-care outcomes of African-American women, already three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, worsen? In this month’s episode of Equal Time, to shed some light on life in a post-Roe world, host Mary C. Curtis talks with Amie Stepanovich, Vice President for U.S. Policy at the Future of Privacy Forum, and a nationally recognized expert in domestic surveillance, cybersecurity and privacy law, and Kwajelyn Jackson, Executive Director at Feminist Women's Health Center in Atlanta, Georgia, an independent, non-profit, multi-generational, multi-racial reproductive health, rights, and justice organization.

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For Pride Month, reflecting on progress and the road ahead

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

As Pride Month ends, celebration is tempered by setbacks across the country, from laws that ban transgender athletes from competing in school sports to efforts to remove books on the LGBTQ experience from library shelves. And with a Supreme Court willing to overturn precedent, many wonder if LGBTQ rights will be next. What is needed, culturally and legally, to insure forward movement on the path to equality for all Americans? What can organizations and corporations do to be more intentional in supporting the LGBTQ community? Equal Time host Mary C. Curtis explores what comes next with guests Sasha Buchert, a Senior Attorney in the Washington D.C. office of Lambda Legal, and Kendra R. Johnson, Executive Director at Equality North Carolina.

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For Asian Americans, celebration, challenges and action

Tue, 24 May 2022 11:00:00 -0000

May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, has special significance in 2022, as both acknowledgment of contributions and reminder of a resurgence of xenophobic rhetoric and violence. Civil rights groups, academia and businesses have responded with action, education and activism, part of a “Stop AAPI Hate” coalition. Mary C. Curtis speaks about the past, the present and future solutions with Anne Lee Benedict, active with MCCA, a national organization dedicated to advancing diversity, inclusion and equity in the legal profession, and Dr. Joanne L. Rondilla, an assistant professor in Sociology and Interdisciplinary Studies and Asian American Studies at San José State University.

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Should there be a Black history month?

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:57:06 -0000

Black history is often celebrated as though it were not American history. So many presidents have held up proclamations on behalf of Black history month while their policies betray Black Americans. Mary C. Curtis talks with Boston Globe opinion writer Renee Graham about the need to expose hypocrisy and view Black history in a way that honors Black Americans as equals.

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What do the census, voting rights and democracy have in common?

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:48:00 -0000

Emails made public by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School recently showed that officials under President Donald Trump tried whatever they could to rig the system for redistricting purposes. It and other government documents detailed clashes between the administration and the bureau’s experts in areas that had the potential of affecting the count and who gets elected. Mary C. Curtis sits down with Kelly Percival, with the Brennan Center’s Democracy to discuss what this all means.

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'Beat them in court, beat them in Congress and beat them at the polls'

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 00:35:01 -0000

On the one-year anniversary of President Joe Biden's inauguration, the administration woke up to it's fifth defeat in six months in passing legislation to ensure voting rights for all. Biden had promised to put voting rights at the top of his agenda, but the path appears more fraught than ever. Mary C. Curtis speaks with White House senior advisor Cedric Richmond on what comes next.

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The fight for Black and Brown children

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0000

There is a double standard when it comes to the treatment of children of color. They are punished in schools more frequently. They are arrested more frequently. Why is this happening and why are so many Black and Brown children robbed of their childhoods? Kristin Henning, author of “The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth,” uses her experiences, data and research to paint an alarming picture. Henning sits down with Mary C. Curtis to discuss the problem and potential policy solutions.

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The politics of equity 2021

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0000

In this wide-ranging, year-end conversation, Mary C. Curtis speaks with New York Times columnist Charles Blow about what he considers the dramatic rollback of the nation's civil rights, inequity and whether President Joe Biden has been proactive enough to help stem inequity.

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What do the battle against omicron and HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge have in common?

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 20:55:08 -0000

Equity is top of mind this week. First, the omicron variant is now the topic of global conversation. How the story unfolded in the U.S. illuminates how disparity and racism are intrinsic to keeping the virus evolving. Harvard University public health expert Dr. Ingrid Katz speaks with Mary C. Curtis about how global vaccine equity is the only way through this pandemic and the only path to preparing for the next. Then we feature a conversation with Housing Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge about housing, infrastructure and reconciliation.

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'What has come of America?'

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 14:00:00 -0000

Civil rights leader and National Urban League president and CEO Marc Morial says he is "damn worried" about the state of American democracy. Mary C. Curtis sits down with Morial to talk about voting rights, Infrastructure, the filibuster and so much more.

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'U.S. immigration policy is racist'

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 13:22:29 -0000

Many in the nation were shocked when horrifying photographs appeared of immigration officers on horseback rounding up Haitian asylum seekers at the border last month. To unpack this difficult subject, Mary C. Curtis turned to Patrice Lawrence of UndocuBlack to talk about whether policies differ for white, brown and Black migrants and the overall human toll.

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Why universal pre-K may help stem crime

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 18:35:00 -0000

As Congress deliberates this week on what should be included in the reconciliation bill, child care and specifically universal pre-K is being debated. Educators, parents and doctors have long advocated for pre-K. Another group has added its voice to the chorus: law enforcement. Mary C. Curtis sits down with Sheriff Vernon Stanforth, the president of the National Sheriffs’ Association, to discuss how early education helps develop life skills.

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'White folks don't care about dead Black and Brown people like they ought to'

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 20:09:00 -0000

It has been more than a year since the killing of George Floyd sparked cries for police reform and even defunding. But it has all but stalled on the national level with congressional talks falling apart last month. The timing coincides with the FBI reporting a historic rise in murder rates. Mary C. Curtis speaks with author and professor David Kennedy, director of the National Network for Safe Communities, to understand why and what the next steps should be. Also, 'Equal Time' checks in on COVID-19 vaccine equity with Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, who leads President Biden's health equity task force.

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'It's always urgent when it's about vote, voice and power'

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 19:29:00 -0000

Climate change — a major concern of this week’s United Nations General Assembly — affects people across the globe through immigration, food production and the economy, to name a few. But as Ashley K. Shelton tells Mary C. Curtis, climate change is also spurring voter suppression. Shelton, who leads the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and is a founding member of the Black Southern Women’s Collective, is turning her attention to policies that need to be in place to ensure that Americans disproportionately affected by devastating weather events can fully participate in democracy.

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Reconciliation, infrastructure and the social safety net

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 17:09:52 -0000

President Biden has made clear from his first day in office that social justice issues are at the top of his agenda. A sweeping infrastructure bill sits with Congress now that would increase funding for climate, education, the environment and the social safety net.

But to get this passed, Democrats have embraced the reconciliation process. Mary C. Curtis speaks first to Norman Ornstein, emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, to unpack the reconciliation process. But there is also friction within the party about doing too much and not enough. Mary C. Curtis turns to DNC Chair Jaime Harrison to talk about what's at stake for the Democratic Party.

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MLK III: ‘Listen with your ears, hear with your heart’

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Martin Luther King III joins Equal Time to talk with Mary C. Curtis about his father’s “I have a dream" speech, voting rights today and personal memories of his father. Fifty-eight years after his father's iconic words, MLK III joins John Lewis' family and others to galvanize the nation to, once again, ensure voting rights for all Americans

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‘This is about whether or not we will have a democracy or an autocracy,’ Clyburn on voting rights

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:19:09 -0000

Voter nullification, authoritarianism, and the end of democracy, that’s what Rep. James E. Clyburn says are the very real consequences of not passing legislation to protect voting rights. The South Carolina Democrat emphasized that voter suppression is not just an issue of access to the ballot box, it includes who gets to overturn elections.

“I want you to call it what it is, use the word. Nullification.” said Clyburn, “It is voter nullification.”

There are currently two bills, the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, in front of Congress. Senate Democrats are meeting to hash out a revised bill that could be released next week.

Mary C. Curtis sits down with the House Majority Whip to discuss voting rights, and to understand what are the very high stakes and what can be done with dwindling time on the clock.

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'The flag would still be flying today'

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Six years ago, Malcolm Graham lost his big sister, Cynthia Graham Hurd, in the Charleston shooting that took nine Black churchgoers' lives. Now a city councilman in Charlotte, N.C., Graham reflects on the work he did to remove the Confederate flag from its prominent place on the South Carolina statehouse grounds, the future of racial matters in our country and his sister's legacy.

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The education gap

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Slavery, Jim Crow laws and COVID-19 all have contributed to a yawning gap between white public school students and students of color. While the 1950s Supreme Court decision known as Brown v. Board of Education was supposed to correct "separate but equal," there is still a long way to go before public schools can talk about equity. Mary C. Curtis talks with Terra Wallin of the Education Trust to understand how we arrived at this moment and how the nation's public schools can do better.

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'The intrinsic value of whiteness'

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0000

The country’s history of redlining, racially restrictive covenants, zoning regulations and more has embedded racism in its housing policies. Simply put, Black communities have been devalued through these policies. Untangling that legacy has proven difficult, especially when some politicians have resisted progress. Mary C. Curtis sits down with Andre M. Perry, author of “Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America's Black Cities," to discuss how we got here, what the Biden administration is trying to change and what can be done to dismantle housing discrimination.

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Who is afraid of critical race theory?

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Even as the U.S. will likely have a federal holiday to mark June 19th or Juneteenth — an important date not a part of many history books — battles over teaching race continue. After the murder of George Floyd, many sought to learn lessons that were absent in the traditional white-washed version of American history taught for generations.

But educating students about race — what some call critical race theory — has become another flashpoint in the culture wars pitting red against blue. Mary C. Curtis talks with education policy expert Jazmyne Owens of New America about why some states are trying to ban the teaching of systemic racism and what it will mean if they succeed.

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Why do Black American women die having babies?

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 16:47:11 -0000

The United States has the highest -- yes the highest -- maternal mortality rates in the developed world. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related issues than white women. That is in keeping with other sobering statistics of racial health inequities revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mary C. Curtis sits down with Marcella Nunez Smith, President Biden's pick to lead the task force on health equity. They discuss why Black people suffer disproportionately and what is being done to change the equation.

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USDA and Black farmers

Thu, 27 May 2021 17:30:00 -0000

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack sits down with Mary C. Curtis to discuss Black farmers and the USDA plan to provide debt relief to socially disadvantaged borrowers through the March COVID-19 relief law.

That means Black farmers who have lost 90 percent of their land in the last century, in large part because of USDA policies, may receive compensation. The administration says equity is overdue and this is just the beginning. But many white farmers and banks have objections.

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"We can't give in to January 6"

Thu, 20 May 2021 04:00:00 -0000

In a fiery and no-holds-barred conversation, Mary C. Curtis speaks with former RNC chair Michael Steele on the future of the GOP, why he cannot defend the current Republican party to Black voters and why he believes the country can and should do better.

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Righting economic wrongs of the past

Tue, 11 May 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Cecilia Rouse is the first Black woman to chair the Council of Economic Advisers, a White House think tank, of sorts, on economic policy. Yes, she has an impressive background — dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and a member of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers.

But her mandate seems near impossible. She's been charged by President Biden to steer the nation out of the economic wreckage from the pandemic with equitable policies for all races — all at a time when the Black community has been hit harder than most. Mary C. Curtis speaks one-on-one with Cecilia Rouse.

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The tax lady cometh

Thu, 06 May 2021 04:00:00 -0000

What do paying taxes and racial equity have to do with one another? As it turns out, quite a lot since American tax policy is written in a way that keeps Black Americans impoverished, according to Professor Dorothy Brown, author of “The Whiteness of Wealth: How the Tax System Impoverishes Black Americans — And How We Can Fix It." Brown, who has been trying to make this point for decades is finally being heard. This week, we delve into the world of taxes and racism and listen to the compelling research, data and narrative that Dorothy Brown has put together.

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DNC Chair Jaime Harrison

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Jaime Harrison gained national attention last year when he broke fundraising records running against South Carolina incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham. While Harrison didn't win the election, his candidacy gave notice that the Old South is now the New South. Mary C. Curtis sits down with the DNC Chair and talks race, his grandfather's life lesson and what 2022 -- yes 2022 -- may hold.

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"More people are afraid of the police than community violence"

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 19:34:03 -0000

It’s been 30 years since the world saw Rodney King on video being beaten by Los Angeles police officers. Since then, the list of Black people killed at the hands of police has grown -- Eric Garner, Daunte Wright and Ma’Khia Bryant, the 16-year old Black girl shot hours before Chauvin was pronounced guilty of murdering George Floyd. Mary C. Curtis speaks to activist and podcast host DeRay McKesson on how to challenge the power of the police and how policies can be changed for the better.

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Jim Crow 2.0

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0000

After a heated and contentious presidential election in 2020, voting rights are under attack. Georgia just passed a law that makes it harder for those who may be disenfranchised to cast their ballots. Other states are following suit. Mary C. Curtis speaks to Rashad Robinson, president of the social justice organization Color of Change, on what is at stake and what is being done to curtail the rollback of eligible voters to make their voices heard.

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Back to the Future: The ERA

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0000

The Equal Rights Amendment known as ERA — yes that ERA — is back.

The House passed a bill last week that would extend the deadline to ratify the amendment to the Constitution prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex.

But is this five-decade-old amendment up to this moment? A moment that includes #MeToo, rising hate crimes against women of color and a pandemic that has battered women more than men? We turn to professor Julie Suk, who published “We the Women: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment,” to discuss.

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What the pandemic taught America about racial injustice

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0000

It's been one year since the global pandemic hit. Most Americans had no idea what was in store. The numbers of those impacted by COVID-19 are staggering. More than half a million American lives have been lost to the virus. And for people of color, the negative impact on their lives has been disproportionate — lost jobs, homes, health and lives. Reflecting back, the pandemic has shined a light on just how deep the incisions are from structural, racial inequities. We turn to to Shawn Fremstad of Center for Economic and Policy Research to discuss the whys, the whats and how Biden administration policies are an attempt to right some of the wrongs and level the field.

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A window into the life and work of Stacey E. Plaskett

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 23:24:00 -0000

When Virgin Islands Del. Stacey Plaskett took center stage last month as a House manager in the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, America took note. A star was born.

In the latest episode of Equal Time, Mary C. Curtis talks with Plaskett about the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, her work on the House Ways and Means Committee, inequities in infrastructure and education, and even hip-hop.

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Seeking environmental justice: the impact of climate change on communities of color

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0000

The recent extreme climate event in Texas slammed many cities and towns throughout the state, but, as is the case in most natural disasters, communities of color were most affected. This has been a trend in the country, with many of these communities still feeling the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey – as well as man-made disasters such as the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. What is the cause of the disproportionate impact, and what policies can reverse this pattern?

Chrishelle Palay and Justin Onwenu join this episode of Equal Time. Palay runs the HOME coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for equitable recovery from natural disasters, while Onwenu is an environmental justice organizer for the Sierra Club and an appointee to the DNC’s Environment and Climate Crisis Council. With host Mary C. Curtis, each discusses the issue of environmental injustice not only in Texas, but across the country, and why long-standing inequities demand grassroots activism and change in local, state and federal policies.

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What's next on immigration, an issue that's personal, political -- and complicated

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Immigration policy is one of President Biden's top priorities. He has signed five executive orders and issued another four statements and proclamations — in less than two weeks — that include: upping the annual number of refugees allowed into the country nearly tenfold, seeking to reunify families that were separated at the border, stopping construction of the border wall, and looking at access to the legal system for immigrants. Mary C. Curtis speaks to former immigration advocate and senior director for Obama's White House Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Muñoz about the past, present and future.

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"If racism is a lie, how has it been sustained, institutionalized and structured in America?"

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Racial equity is front and center for the Biden administration. That said, how does the nation begin to dismantle centuries of ingrained policies? Mary C. Curtis talks to award-winning social change agent Dr. Gail C. Christopher in this episode. Christopher has some compelling ideas and is working with Congress to try to change policies that enable racism and inequity to flourish, and transform a belief system that values some lives over others.

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"White Rage"

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 05:00:00 -0000

In Carol Anderson's book “White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide,” she reframes the conversation about race, methodically chronicling the powerful forces that have historically impeded Black progress in America. She speaks with Mary C. Curtis about the insurrection at the Capitol, voter suppression, and where this country is headed.

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Equal Time: Faith and politics

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0000

The late evangelist Rev. Billy Graham, known as America's pastor, was as world famous as the presidents who sought face time with him. But after a friendship with Richard Nixon affected that image, Graham backed away from the political spotlight. His son has chosen a different path. Mary C. Curtis speaks with the Reverend Franklin Graham.

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Breaking the "pale and male" barrier

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 13:00:00 -0000

Former Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley has usually been the only U.S. African American, female diplomat in the room. It's a reflection, she tells Mary C. Curtis, of how few Black women — or women in general — are senior diplomats. Abercrombie-Winstanley makes the case for diversity in national security, talks about her role in creating the organization Leadership Council for Women in National Security and why she is hopeful that change is on the horizon.

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Majority Whip James E. Clyburn: "The pursuit of a more perfect union"

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 13:48:43 -0000

Mary C. Curtis speaks with Democratic Rep. James E. Clyburn, the majority whip, about his role in President-elect Joe Biden's win, where the country is and where it needs to go.

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In North Carolina, where red and blue don't make purple

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 19:52:00 -0000

North Carolina is a true political battleground and Charlotte has had challenges that echo those of many big American cities — protests and debates over police reform and equality for all citizens.. Mary C. Curtis speaks to Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles on the election and what comes next.

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“Republicans often racialize poverty. Democrats often run from poverty.”

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0000

MacArthur “genius” grantee, founder of Repairers of the Breach, and organizer of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, Rev. William J Barber II has made eradicating poverty his life's work. He sits down with host Mary C. Curtis for a candid and surprising conversation.

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Joe Biden, Clarence Thomas, and Amy Coney Barrett with Angela Wright

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0000

It is not everyday that one person has a relationship to so many of the day's main news stories, but Angela Wright has touched history as the woman not called to support Anita Hill when she testified before the Senate Judiciary committee during Clarence Thomas' confirmation hearings almost 30 years ago. Wright confides in Mary C. Curtis about former Vice President Joseph Biden, #MeToo and the inner workings of a contentious Supreme Court battle.

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Breonna Taylor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the future of our country with Fatima Goss Graves

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 21:53:00 -0000

In this inaugural episode of CQ Roll Call's Equal Time, Mary C. Curtis reflects on this moment of time, examining the complexity and history of issues dividing the country in 2020. Today's episode features Fatima Goss Graves, CEO of the National Women's Law Center with a discussion about Breonna Taylor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and what is at stake for the courts, our country and women -- especially those of color.

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Introducing "Equal Time"

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 18:04:00 -0000

Award-winning journalist Mary C. Curtis tackles policies and politics through the lens of social justice, illuminating the issues that have been, and still are, dividing the country. After all, the world is not so black and white.

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