Interviews

New doc dissects the challenges, feats of pastors-turned-atheists

A new documentary called “Refusing My Religion” is diving into the issue of former pastors coming out as atheists. The film is nearing completion and features a number of the world’s leading authorities on atheism.

Host Jamila Bey spoke with documentary filmmakers Marc Levine and Michael Dorian to discuss the film.

Part 1:

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Part 2:

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Part 3:

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Michelle Obama flexes muscles in gun control debate

Michelle Obama, known for the White House vegetable garden and her “Let’s Move!” program, is showing another side to the public during her participation in America’s gun control debate.

Voice of Russia’s Carmen Russell-Sluchansky and Jamila Bey with more:

 

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Bey and Russell-Sluchansky talk about the cultural push back the First Lady may receive for talking about gun violence as a black woman.

 

“Saturday Night Widows” tells story of woman taking grief into her own hands

Journalist Becky Aikman’s new book, “Saturday Night Widows”, chronicles her journey from young widow to a woman learning to heal and finding love again.

Voice of Russia’s Jamila Bey talks with author Becky Aikman about her new book:

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From getting kicked out of a grieving widow’s support group to rounding up a motley crew of friends who wanted to find joy again, the book explains her own journey in a culture which isn’t particularly good at dealing with helping people to cope with death.

 

Advocate: Women making tiny victories in workplace, but much progress remains

Next Tuesday marks Equal Pay Day, a day to draw attention to the disparity in pay between men and women and the disparities between the pay of Caucasian workers and those who are not.

Host Jamila Bey spoke with Linda Merica, national executive director of the women’s labor organization 9to5, to discuss where women of color and women in general stand in the fight for equal rights in the labor force.

 

 

GOP making progress in outreach to African Americans, expert says

As the GOP continues to rebuild its image in the wake of an election that saw constituents of color and different ethnic backgrounds vote overwhelmingly for the Democratic Party, Republicans have started several outreach programs to gain popularity among these groups.

Most notably the issue of immigration has forced the GOP to re-evaluate its position on the matter with many politicians paying attention to the prominence of Latinos in the U.S.

However, the GOP is also focusing on outreach to African Americans.

The most recent step in this goal includes the hiring of Raffi Williams by the Republican National Committee to serve as the group’s deputy press secretary. Williams is the 24-year-old son of commentator Juan Williams.

The hiring is seen by some as a step in the right direction and now puts GOP chair Reince Priebus in the lead against President Barack Obama in terms of African American hires since his re-election.

Host Jamila Bey spoke with conservative political commentator Raynard Jackson to discuss the forward progress of the Republican Party in terms of its outreach to African Americans.

 

Ohio dad went too far in punishing kids over ‘twerking’ video, poet says

A video of an Ohio father using a video cord to whip his 12- and 14-year-old daughters for posting a sexy dancing video online has gone viral and raised numerous questions on the issue of parenting and corporal punishment.

Host Jamila Bey spoke with poet Bomani Armah to talk about whether or not parents should be spanking their children.

 

 

Former “Quiverfull” adherents discuss marriage without birth control

On the eve of major decisions about gay marriage, Jamila Bey takes a look at a form of marriage that puts procreation before everything else.

Voice of Russia’s Jamila Bey talks with Vyckie Garrison, blogger at No Longer Quivering, Joe Sands from Incongruous Circumspection, andBruce Gerencser:

Part I:

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Part 2:

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Part 3:

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Bloggers and former adherents to the patriarchal “Quiverfull” movement talk about what it was like living as part of families that eschewed birth control, working wives, and even the consideration of their wives’ health in pursuit of the ideal Christian family.

 

Expert: Cruz should have thought twice before proposing amendment

Two senators have an angry confrontation over funding and China’s abortion policies.

Voice of Russia’s Carmen Russell-Sluchansky talks with Jamila Bey:

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Senator Mary Landrieu (D. LA) is taking Ted “McCarthy” Cruz (R. TX) to task over his efforts to create an amendment that would deny funding to the European Union due to China’s abortion policies. Bey says that Cruz should have “had a nap” before making this resolution, since nobody on the floor would have supported it.

 

Facebook exec’s new book fails to address African American women

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s book, “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead,” continues to be hotly debated across the country. While many people see lessons that can be taken and applied across the work spectrum, critics of Sandberg say that her book doesn’t adequately address a majority of working American women.

Host Jamila Bey spoke with journalist and commentator Mary C. Curtis and attorney-turned-political commentator and writer Jeneba Ghatt about how the concepts of “Lean In” can be applied to African American women.

 

How rampant plagiarism negatively affects American news consumption

Every so often news consumers and producers come across the headlines that for many journalists feel like a punch to the gut, “(Insert publication name here) suspends reporter Joe Schmoe (a fake name) for plagiarism.”

For some journalists, this punch stings not for any ill will about the fate of said reporter but for the potential damage across the board to the credibility of all journalists and all publications. In a digital age, it is becoming faster and easier to identify quotes and passages lifted without attribution, and yet, the problem persists.

To address this problem, the American Copy Editors Society will debut the National Summit on Plagiarism and Fabrication at its upcoming national conference on April 5.

Host Jamila Bey spoke with Teresa Schmedding, deputy managing editor/digital operations with the Daily Herald and president of ACES, to discuss how rampant plagiarism and fabrication negatively affect the news that Americans consume.

 

 

In Ohio rape case, ‘never said no’ does not mean consent

The trial involving two teenagers accused of raping an intoxicated teenager has divided the small community of Steubenville, Ohio, as some rally behind the accused perpetrators, stars of the local football team, while others say the victim was too drunk to protest.

The issue has been further complicated by the fact that some 40 high schoolers looked on as the girl was carried from party to party, snapping cell phone photos and taking cell phone videos but never intervening, calling authorities or even putting an end to the abuse.

Host Jamila Bey spoke with Beth Presswood, host of the Godless Bitches podcast, to discuss the case.

 

Atheist group denied permission to march in Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade

After being denied permission to participate in Kansas City’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, the Kansas City Atheist Coalition will be holding an “Ask an Atheist” even on a street near the parade route.

Host Jamila Bey spoke with Coalition President Sarah Hargreaves and Vice President Josh Hyde to discuss the denial and their alternative parade activity.