Episodes

Four years ago, L. Joy began #SundayCivics with a conversation on the importance of, and lack of funding for Public Education. Zakiyah Ansari came to the front of the class back then to educate us on her years long advocacy around public education funding. In one of our many full circle moments, Ansari is coming back to the front of the class because the billions allocated to states for public education in the CARES Act, the COVID relief package in December of 2020, and the American Rescue Plan ...

L. Joy is excited to bring on someone who has been on her wish list for a while. The 82nd Attorney General of the United States, Eric H. Holder, Jr., comes to the front of the class to discuss the role of Attorney General, his present role as Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and the work they are doing around redistricting. He also shares his thoughts on skepticism, civic engagement, and how we can reimagine policing.

On this episode, L. Joy welcomes someone she has wanted since she began #SundayCivics. Michael Steele comes to the front of the class to discuss DC Statehood, the difference between Conservative and Republican, and his thoughts on alternative measures of political engagement.

There always seems to be a lot going on in Florida. L. Joy brings attorney Sean Shaw to the front of the class to discuss the implications of how Florida’s Governor is handling the pandemic, Florida Democrats’ messaging problem, and the work his organization People Over Profits has in store for the future.

What does it mean to be a Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) Abolitionist? L. Joy brings Mariame Kaba to the front of the class to break down the practice and organizing vision of PIC Abolitionists, and to discuss Kaba’s latest book “We Do This 'Til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice.”

The last time Dr. Anthea Butler stepped to the front of the class, she discussed the separation of church and state on The Political Church episode with L. Joy. Now she is back to give us the -straight no chaser- history and context of the White Evangelical movement and a preview of her new book White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America.

The House of Representatives has passed the Equality Act (H.R 5), legislation that amends federal civil rights laws, adding protections for the LGBTQ+ community, in a 224 to 206 vote. The bill is now on its way to The Senate, and if it passes there, it is on its way to the president’s desk for signing. To give us the history and complete context of this important legislation, L. Joy brings David Johns to the front of the class.

Climate change is real and it is the human rights issue of our time. Our #Civics teacher L. Joy brings Elizabeth Yeampierre to the front of the front of the class to give us the context we need to get #CivicallyEngaged around climate justice. Then, we share L. Joy’s discussion on the Green New Deal with Demond Drummer.

For this episode of Sunday Civics, our #Civics teacher L. Joy brings the President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Derrick Johnson to the front of the class to discuss the nation’s premier civil rights organization, leadership, and the role of civil rights organizations in our communities.

Our civics teacher L. Joy is brings Dr. Christina Greer back to the front of the class. They have an in-depth conversation on how we hold this new administration accountable, define pragmatic patience, and outline the challenges that are in front of us all.

While ballots are still being counted and it will take a few weeks to have certified results, Vice President Joe Biden is the projected winner of the 2020 Presidential race and Senator Kamala Harris will be our historic Vice President. We have reason to celebrate and to be optimistic about the possibilities ahead of us. L. Joy, June and Lurie discuss how they celebrated but also what happens after we pop bottles and dance in the streets.

Election Day is finally here and L. Joy brings Stephanie Schriock, President of Emily’s List to the front of the class to talk about all of the mamas on the ballot. She also talks to one of the mamas on the ballot in North Carolina Sydney Batch about child welfare and how states will handle the post COVID economic recovery.

It's L. Joy's birthday but she still has lessons for us. Howard University President Wayne Frederick comes to the front of the class to discuss how HBCU's are leading testing and research of COVID-19 and Max Ritchman, the President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare discusses the threat the Trump administration poses to Social Security.

L. Joy brings Clay Cane to the front of the class and the two have a conversation about the Presidential election, a Black agenda and lessons we should learn from the Reconstruction era.

There are a historic number of Black women running for office in 2020. In addition to a Black woman being on the top of the ticket as the Democratic nominee for Vice President, at least 122 Black women filed to run for Congress and there are more running for local seats. L. Joy brings a few of those Black women to the front of the class including Joyce Elliott, candidate for Arkansas’s 2nd Congressional District and the four Black women of Justice 4 LACCD running for seats on the Board of Truste...

There is more at stake in this election than beating the big orange ugly. In advance of 2020 National Voter Registration Day, L. Joy hosts the 2020 SiriusXM Urban View Vote Special. Coming to the front of the class is Senator Elizabeth Warren and a number of special guests who highlight the many reasons to get engaged, organize and help turn out the vote during the 2020 election season.

On the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, Prof. Martha S. Jones comes to the front of the class to discuss how Black women have historically led the charge for their own voting rights. She details Black women’s fight for suffrage and chronicles the story of our political voice and activism.

How did the biblical story of Samson become associated with the fight for Black liberation? Dr. Nyasha Junior comes back to the front of the class to discuss the new book she co-authored Black Samson: The Untold Story of an American Icon. L. Joy also takes a moment to share her wish for America on its 244th birthday.

We the people have limited interaction and impact on the judicial branch and particularly the Supreme Court. Supreme Court justices aren’t elected by popular vote and we don’t regularly get a peek inside of the inner workings of the court. Sometimes we are in celebration of their decisions and other times we their decisions are a complete let down. L. Joy brings Elie Mystal to the front of the class to demystify this branch of government and give us a basic understanding of the Supreme Court.

The U.S. Postal Service is a vital institution. It is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation. Given how important the post office is to our economy and to our lives, why is it constantly in need of "saving"? We get a lesson from Mack Julion, a 20+ year letter carrier and postal union representative on the structure and restrictions of the postal service and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joins us to discuss the proposal to return postal banking services.

Although you wouldn't know it from our regular political discourse, there are more than two political parties. L. Joy introduces us to an alternative to the democrats and republicans and brings the New York State Director of the Working Families Party to the front of the class to give us a an introduction to this progressive political party that focuses on the people.

What would it be like to have a former Bronx middle school principal in Congress? While education is mainly managed on the state and local level, the federal government has expanded its reach in recent years. Congressional Candidate Jamaal Bowman joins L. Joy for a discussion on how he believes Congress can make further investments in public education and more.

We are all consuming a lot of information not only about this virus (COVID-19) and evaluating the government's response, at all levels. So coming to the front of the class we are bringing some science based facts from microbiologist Coqui Negra and some facts about how our various levels of government and bureaucracy work in a crisis from New York City Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal.

Margaret Kimberly, author of "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents", comes to the front of the class for a discussion on the political relationship of Black America and the 45 U.S. Presidents.