What's In It For Us?

Episode Description from Show Bible 

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Dr. Christina Greer Ph.D., welcomes special guest Educator, Teacher, Speaker and Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition, David Johns! This week on the show: We want that old thing back! The Verzuz series has been a much-needed celebration during the pandemic, but now some are criticizing and alleging that what once was a celebration of Black excellence has become nothing more than a platform for noted abusers. We weigh on the controversy! Plus, Georgia is still on the frontlines in the war against Black voter suppression and now the nation’s top lawyer says he plans to sue the state over its racist voting laws. Our guest David Johns breaks down the impact Georgia’s battles could have on the rest of the country and we take a look at the states that are trying to copy/paste Georgia’s harmful laws. Last but not least: an alarming new trend emerging from the pandemic. New research suggests that Black folks are among those suffering from pandemic-related overdoses. What we know about a new study from the CDC and what the findings could mean post-pandemic.

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Dr. Christina Greer Ph.D., welcomes special guest Educator, Comedian and Founder of The Black Teacher Project, (www.blackteacherproject.org) Dr. Micia Mosely, Ph.D. This week on the show: It’s official! Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, but what are we actually celebrating? Dr. Greer and Dr. Mosely breakdown how the new holiday still misses the mark. Plus, as Pride Month continues we talk about the unique obstacles facing folks who Black and queer and what NFL Defensive End, Carl Nassib, coming out as gay says about the current discourse around queerness in our country. Lastly, a Hollywood hottie finds himself in hot water. We talk why Michael B. Jordan is getting called out for cultural appropriation and how the misstep might actually lead to an important discussion about how we connect across the diaspora. With so much going on, we have to stop and take a minute to ask: What’s In It for us?

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Dr. Christina Greer Ph.D., welcomes special guest, Comedian and Writer, Pat Brown. It looks like Hot Girl Summer is about to get even hotter! Rapper Megan Thee Stallion made herself at home on everyone’s timeline last week after racking up more than six million views of her new single, “Thot Sh*t.” We unpack some of the larger messages in the racy new video. Plus, Darnella Frazier, the teenager who captured the murder of George Floyd on camera and launched a summer of global unrest is awarded with an honorary Pulitzer prize. We talk the impact of citizen journalism and the burden of bearing witness to brutality. Finally, all GPAs matter? Two Mississippi high schoolers are named valedictorian and salutatorian only to find out they have to share the honor with two white classmates after complaints from parents pile in. Dr. Greer and our guest, Pat Brown, breakdown how the controversy all went down. With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, “What’s In It For Us?”

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Dr. Christina Greer, PhD., welcomes special guest, Richard Brookshire, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Black Veterans Project. This week on the show: Pride Month and the Pentagon. The Biden Administration is keeping a Trump-era policy which bans the flying of unofficial flags including LGBTQ flags at U.S. military installations. Our guest, Richard Brookshire, says that while of queer representation is important, there is a larger battle to be had with what currently on display at military stations across the country. Plus, an uproar in Ohio as a U.S. veteran is literally silenced as he tries to share the true history of Memorial Day. We talk the erasure of Black American veterans and the impact of their service. Finally, we take a look at the Black veteran facing criminal charges and up to 25 years in prison for trying to cope with his PTSD. We break down how the U.S. military sometimes fails the very people who risk their lives to secure liberty and justice for all. With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, “What’s In It For Us?”

What’s In It For us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Christina Greer, PhD., welcomes special guest, Boston Globe Associate Editor and Columnist, Renée Graham. This week: the steep price of protecting your peace. We talk tennis superstar Naomi Osaka and the $15,000 fine she was charged for not talking with the press at the French Open after citing the need to protect her mental health. We break down the ongoing uproar around her decision, and the pressure and expectations placed on Black athletes. Plus, who do you call if you can’t trust the police? The nation’s top lawyer, Merrick Garland, hopes to topple the staggering number of hate crimes by urging district attorney’s throughout the country to create coordinator positions to improve communication between local and state authorities. We unpack what the move could mean for the marginalized communities who tend to not report crimes committed against them to the police. Lastly, an interruption in the school-to-prison pipeline? Somerville recently became the second city in Massachusetts to remove policing from schools, but Dr. Greer and Ms. Graham say taking officers out of school is just one of many steps needed to see true, meaningful change. With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, “What’s In It For Us?”

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Christina Greer, PhD., welcomes special guest, Comedian, Actress and Host of the Friends Like Us Podcast, Marina Franklin. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd. We reflect on how his death sparked global cries for justice, protests and unrest. Franklin talks about how she tackles Black trauma and inequality on the stage. Also, how do we laugh to keep from crying? Legendary Comedian Paul Mooney definitely showed us the way. The comic passed away recently from a heart attack. We talk his massive impact on comedy and the political power of radical and unyielding honesty and humor. With so much going on we have to stop and ask: What’s In It For Us?

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Christina Greer, PhD., welcomes special guest Historian and Author, Leah Wright Rigueur, Ph.D. This week on the show: a troubling new connection between police-custody deaths and sickle cell anemia. A New York Times investigation uncovered the sickle cell trait in 47 cases of Black folks killed in police custody over the past 25 years. Dr. Rigueur and Dr. Greer unpack how this new finding could move us even further away from justice in police-related killings. Plus, is there a plan for solving racial injustice and inequity in America? Dr. Rigueur says history has already provided us with a blueprint and the path to forward is getting an update. And we take a look back on the life and legacy of Kobe Bryant who was just inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame—why Dr. Rigueur says so Black Americans have yet to be able properly mourn the tragic loss of the NBA legend. With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, “What’s In It For Us?”

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Christina Greer, PhD., welcomes special guest, Journalist, Photographer and Founder of Black Women Photographers, Polly Irungu. This week, Georgia is on our mind as all eyes on the Peach state and an anti-voting rights bill that has made its way through the state’s legislature. Not to be outdone, Florida, Arizona and Texas have introduced bills which would effectively make it harder for folks to vote and it’s all being done under the guise of eliminating voter fraud. Deep sigh. Georgia’s also making headlines this week as Atlanta Mayor, Keshia Lance Bottoms announces she won’t be seeking reelection even after she raised more than $500,000 during a virtual fundraising event with President Biden back in March. Polly and Dr. Greer talk the grueling pressures that face the mayors of some of the nation's largest cities and what Mayor Bottoms’ announcement means for the politically embattled Georgia as well as the rest of the nation. And finally: bad lighting, where? Our guest, Polly Irungu, talks about her initiative to promote the work of Black women photographers around the globe with her Black Women Photo project. The project took off during the pandemic as a global community of photographers showed up to support the Black women changing how we see the world one image at a time. With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, “What’s In It For Us?”

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Christina Greer, PhD., welcomes special guest, Political Scientist and University of Washington Professor, Megan M. Francis. PhD. In today’s episode, Dr. Greer and Dr. Francis unpack President Biden’s first congressional speech since taking office in January. The speech also marked the first time in history that two women, Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, sat behind the podium during a joint address. However, Dr. Francis says while the Biden Administration’s outlook is promising, true progress is made in the streets. Plus, GOP Senator Tim Scott delivered the rebuttal from the right, but it’s not the clapback Republicans hoped it would be. We break down what was missing and why the response fell short. And…Oscars who? Twitter was ablaze after beloved actor Chadwick Boseman was posthumously snubbed for his final performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, but should we even be checking for recognition from the institution? With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, “What’s In It For Us?”

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Christina Greer, PhD., welcomes special guest, Organizer, Scholar and President of Community Change, Dorian Warren. In today’s episode, Dr. Greer and Dorian Warren look back at the legacy and mourn the loss of hip-hop pioneer Shock G, and break down his cultural impact as well as the social and political implications of the alarming trend of Black men dying far too young. Plus, we’re just days away from one of the first major Biden Administration milestones—President Biden’s first 100 days in office. He’s laid out some pretty promising policy, including legislation that could slash child poverty in half, but what does implementing such big plans look like in action and not just on paper? Keeping it political, Caitlyn Jenner has announced plans to run for Governor of California, but given the history of the “Celebrity Candidate,” there’s skepticism of her qualifications and growing concerns around her hiring former members of the Trump team to lead her gubernatorial efforts. With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, “What’s In It For Us?”

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Christina Greer, PhD, welcomes special guest co-host Gerren Keith Gaynor, Managing Editor at theGrio.In today's episode, Dr. Greer speaks with Gerren about his exclusive interview with California Rep Maxine Waters where she dismissed suggestions that she was inciting violence. “I am nonviolent,” Waters said, adding that attempts to characterize her words and suggest otherwise are nothing more than a political tactic by the GOP. Dr. Greer also reflects on the narrative of media outlets stereotyping her and other Black women as angry and aggressive when advocating for the Black community.

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Christina Greer, PhD, welcomes special guest co-host and acclaimed Writer/Historian, Professor Tanisha Ford. In today's episode, both Dr. Greer and Dr. Ford celebrate the life of Hip-Hop icon Earl "DMX" Simmons and discuss his battle with substance abuse and the industry's perpetual exploitation of music artists' trauma. Speaking of trauma, 2nd Lt. Caron Nazario, who is Black and Latino, went viral for an unjust police stop ending with the Military Officer face down in a public gas station in tears after being maced. Dr. Greer explains the historic emotional rollercoaster of black army veterans and their treatment in America. Unfortunately, 20-year old Daunte Wright of Minnesota was not as lucky when being stopped by the police. Daunte Wright was killed by a police officer who alleges she was attempting to fire a taser but instead fired a single shot from her firearm. As a result, Wright, a father of a 2-year-old son, died and the city of Minnesota has been in outrage with protests. With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, "What's In It For Us?"

What’s In It For Us, theGrio’s weekly political podcast hosted by Christina Greer, PhD, welcomes special guest co-host Roy Wood Jr. of The Daily Show. In today's episode, both Dr. Greer and Roy Wood Jr. discuss the insidious new election bill that was passed in Georgia that adds a variety of voting restrictions, making casting ballots harder, disproportionately affecting Black Georgians who tend to vote Democratic. As of March 24th, there have been over 104 mass shootings in America in 2021 alone, according to a database compiled by the Gun Violence Archive. The coronavirus lockdowns that transformed life in the U.S. in the months that followed did little to stop mass shootings—611 took place in 2020 overall, the highest number since the Gun Violence Archive started tracking them in 2014. What does this rise in mass shootings mean for American citizens? Why is it easier to get a gun than it is to vote in America today? The Derek Chauvin trial is underway and it has been emotionally triggering for many Americans. Last week, jurors heard from 19 people, including several of those who witnessed George Floyd's death in Minneapolis on May 25th, 2020. Many broke down in tears on the stand as they described their attempts to intervene on Floyd's behalf. Will justice be served or will Black people face disappointment yet again? With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, "What's In It For Us?"

It’s Women's History Month! To celebrate, What’s In It For Us Podcast is proud to feature all-women guest hosts for the entire month of March! Joining Dr. Christina Greer this week is the founder of the Been Down Project, Amber Crowder.In today's episode, we recognize the "traumaversery" of the Covid-19 Pandemic. While many of us were on lockdown in our home, Amber Crowder shares her story of how she was locked down in federal prison.Deb Haaland has been sworn in as Secretary of the Interior. With Haaland, the United States has its first Native American leading a cabinet-level agency in the history of this nation! Naturally, she will be the first Native American to look over native affairs."Stop Asian Hate" began trending on social media following a white gunman's bloody attack in a spa in Atlanta. There has been serious discrimination against Asian-Pacific Islanders, primarily due to false narratives and bigoted lies surrounding COVID-19. There are many Black people hesitant to support the "Stop Asian Hate" movement because of the lack of support from the Asian community during the Black Lives Matter protests.With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, "What's In It For Us?"

It’s Women's History Month! To celebrate, What’s In It For Us Podcast is proud to feature all-women guest hosts for the entire month of March! Joining Dr. Christina Greer this week is a former educator and recovering lobbyist turned media maven, Danielle Moodie-Mills.In today's episode, black excellence is in full display as both hosts congratulate Beyoncé for becoming the most decorated female Grammy recipient with a total of 28 Grammy Awards tying legendary music producer Quincy Jones. In not-so black excellent news, actress Stacy Dash decided she wanted to make a u-turn on her political and cultural stances. Do we forgive her?Thousands of residents in Jackson, Mississippi are still without running water since the winter storm paralyzed the city in February. Mississippi continues to suffer from a storm-related water crisis, which caused 80 water breaks throughout Jackson. Dr. Greer and Danielle Moodie dive into this environmental issue as well as the migrant crisis at the border. There are now more than 700 unaccompanied children who have been detained by Mexican soldiers or police before they could present themselves to U.S. immigration agents in Reynosa since December. These children are not being handled with care. What can be done about this humanitarian crisis?With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask, "What's In It For Us?"

It’s Women's History Month! To celebrate, What’s In It For Us Podcast is proud to feature all-women guest hosts for the entire month of March! Joining Dr. Christina Greer this week is Award-Winning Scholar, Accomplished Author, and Visionary Community Leader Dr. Khalilah L. Brown-Dean. The controversy and conversation around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah are taking over every media headline from the U.S to Great Britain. Tune in as Dr. Greer and Khalilah unpack the history of racism in the Royal Family and how colorism contributed to Meghan Markle's unfair treatment in the kingdom. The Derek Chauvin Trial is approaching but why is the media describing it as the George Floyd Trial? Chauvin is the officer who killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for 8 minutes and 45 seconds while being recorded by distraught Minneapolis citizens. The city of Minneapolis has been fortified and the national guard is on standby, but why weren't all these precautions in place before the insurrection on January 6th? Another topic to be tackled with urgency within the black community? Jury duty. It is important that black people are being fairly represented in the judicial system.This past Sunday marks the 56th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” where more than 500 demonstrators gathered on March 7, 1965 to demand the right to vote and cross Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge. They were met by dozens of state troopers and many were severely beaten. This will be the first time ever that this day will be remembered without the late Civil Rights leader John Lewis. With so much going on, we have to stop and take a moment to ask "What's In It For Us?"

It’s Women's History Month! To celebrate Women’s History Month, What’s In It For Us Podcast is proud to feature all-female guest hosts for the entire month of March! Joining Dr. Christina Greer this episode is the Executive Director of Community Voices Heard, Afua Atta-Mensah. March has now been designated as Black Women's History Month. To celebrate, the two hosts blazon the social impact of WNBA Athletes and pay tribute to legends such as Althea Gibson, who not only broke race barriers in tennis in the 1950s but also fought for integration in her community. Biden's new stimulus package has been announced. Over 1 Trillion dollars in COVID-relief funding. Is that enough? Will that funding actually trickle down to the communities that need it the most? These are the same communities who children have been out of in-person schooling for nearly a year. Neurologist and parent, Dr. Chad Domangue, says children need to go back to the classroom to fully foster a developing brain. So many children are struggling with virtual learning. Realistically, this burden falls hardest on black mothers. What's the solution? Johnson & Johnson announces their new one-shot COVID vaccine. Where does the black community stand on taking the vaccine? Many are still skeptical. March is indeed a celebration of the beautiful and hard-working black women, but there are still some issues that make us pose the question, "What's In It For Us?”

This week on the Dear Culture Podcast is teaming up with the What's In It For Us Podcast to bring you our first annual Best & Blackest Award! Tune in to see how our lovely hosts, Dr. Christina Greer, Gerren Keith Gaynor, and Shana Pinnock review and react to last year's most memorable moments in Black history. Joined by Executive Producer and TheGrio Senior Writer, Blue Telusma, as moderator, trust...the fun is just beginning. Check out theGrio's website and social media for the 2020's Best & Blackest Winners Circle.

The impeachment has finally concluded, and without surprise, the Republicans could not find a backbone to prosecute the twice impeached former President Donald J. Trump for his role in the riots at the Capitol in Washington, DC. However, there were some interesting names that did not vote in favor of the former president. One of those names? Senator Richard Barr. So many questions were left unanswered. Why were witnesses not called? Why not put Capitol Police Eugene Goodman on the stand? Goodman is the same man that was later awarded the highest congressional honor (Congressional Gold Medal) for leading rioters away from the Senate doors during the insurrection. Why not give him an opportunity to speak on the incidents that took place on January 6th, being that he was actually in the midst of chaos, face to face with the violent mob? Those questions will never be answered, but a positive that did emerge out of this hideous impeachment was Rep. Stacy Plaskett calling out Republicans for their blatant racism. It is still unbelievable that a riot sparked by Donald Trump-a rally for white supremacy-actually took place at the United States Capitol. What is not surprising is the mayhem happening in the St. Louis jail. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every stitch of this country including the correctional facilities. Prisoners throughout this unprecedented pandemic have experienced blatant human rights violations. The recent riot in St. Louis is a direct result of those violated rights. Speaking of COVID, are we dining inside restaurants with a new strain on the virus running loose? From the impeachment to healthy and safe eating venues, the real question is "What’s in it for Us?"