Episodes

It is impossible to talk about the impact that death in custody has on Black and other communities, or the efforts of activists and advocates to shine a light on the crisis, without examining the life and work of Ida B. Wells, the famed journalist who began the process of exposing the horror of lynching in this country more than a hundred years ago. We discuss her life and legacy and their lasting importance today.

Our investigation begins with the story of Earl Faison, a 27-year-old who died in police custody less than an hour after being arrested on April 11, 1999. Roger, was a young medical student just down the road at the time, and Faison’s shocking death led him to devote his career to investigating deaths in custody as a matter of justice and public health.