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What if communities had a real say in how their local government spends public money? In this episode of Justice Above All, we explore participatory budgeting, a process that gives residents a direct role in deciding how a portion of public funds is spent. Dr. Sandhya Kajeepeta speaks with organizers and advocates about how participatory budgeting can strengthen democracy, advance racial justice, and help address historic inequities in how public resources are distributed. Today's guests are: Candice Battiste, Senior Community Organizer, Legal Defense FundAngela Simms, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Urban Studies, Barnard College-Columbia UniversityShari Davis, Co-Executive Director, Center for Economic DemocracyKathy Henriquez, Program Manager, Center for Economic DemocracyWe look at examples from Boston and Shreveport, including a guaranteed income program shaped by community input, and discuss what it takes to make these processes meaningful.  You can learn more about participatory budgeting here. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project, sat down with Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel at the Legal Defense Fund, to discuss the role of race in our nation's founding. You can view the full video interview here on YouTube and learn more about the episode here. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." All Americans are familiar with these famous words at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. However, far fewer people are familiar with the words at the end of the Declaration, and their significance in solidifying the role of race in the founding of our nation. In this episode, we dive into history and probe how America’s promise remains unfulfilled for so many today. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence calls us to forge a new chapter: a multiracial democracy where power is shared, dignity is sacred, and thriving is the standard for everyone. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

This Pride Month, Justice Above All celebrates the resilience, joy, and leadership of Black trans women. From Stonewall to the present, Black trans women have been at the forefront of civil rights struggles, transforming resistance into systems and institutions that support equality for all. Yet despite their leadership, they have often borne the brunt of discriminatory policing, harassment, and violence at the intersection of anti-Blackness, misogyny, and transphobia. This episode celebrates and uplifts the voices of people working toward a future where Black trans people do not just survive, but thrive. Episode guests discuss their refusal to accept martyrdom as a framework for liberation and how to create collective power, making clear that in fighting for the rights and humanity of those most marginalized, we can strengthen democracy for everyone. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

Black communities hold the intergenerational wisdom to address community violence and deliver safety without relying on punishment. In this episode of Justice Above All, guests explore approaches to violence prevention that are rooted not in punishment, but rather in Black communities’ wisdom around safety, accountability, resistance, and healing. Guests spotlight the Safe Streets program in Baltimore, Maryland, as one example of an evidence-based violence interruption model. This episode contextualizes Safe Streets and similar programs as part of the long history of Black people’s resistance to the oppressive carceral state, emphasizing the notion that “we keep us safe.” If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

This episode of Justice Above All investigates one way in which segregation has been rebranded in the twenty-first century: all-white, or “whites-only,” settlements. In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in these settlements across the United States. Attempts to build all-white settlements represent a modern rebranding of segregationist housing practices like restrictive covenants. All-white settlements are morally corrosive to a multi-racial democracy and undermine the principles of inclusive housing articulated in the Fair Housing Act. Policymakers and all people who oppose segregation should actively resist the rise of all-white settlements. Today's host is Dr. Kesha Moore, Research Manager of the Thurgood Marshall Institute. She is in conversation with the following guests:  Jason Bailey, Senior Counsel, Legal Defense FundJin Hee Lee, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Legal Defense FundCynthia Miller-Idriss, Professor, American University School of Public Affairs and School of Education; Founding Director, Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation LabYou can learn more about this episode by visiting our landing page. This episode was written and produced by Jakiyah Bradley. Resonate Recordings provided production support. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

Toxic beauty—the presence of harmful chemicals in common beauty products—is a public health crisis rooted in systemic racism. In this episode of Justice Above All, guests discuss how various beauty products marketed to Black women contain toxic chemicals that contribute to serious health disparities. Guests highlight how racialized beauty standards, and the marketing and availability of cosmetics make Black women more vulnerable to toxic beauty products. These beauty products bring associated health risks, including cancer, reproductive challenges, hair loss, and more. By offering listeners tangible strategies to protect their health while pushing for a safer, more equitable beauty industry, the guests aim to dismantle the racialized harms of toxic beauty. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of what we now know to be Black History Month in the U.S., we are re-airing a special episode. In the roughly two years since we recorded this episode, public education, especially STEM education and research, has been under attack. This presents a formidable threat to the success of Black innovators today and in the future.  Elijah McCoy, Garret Morgan, George Washington Carver, and Madame CJ Walker are names you might recognize. They're Black inventors whose inventions modernized the world. But they may also be the only names you recognize when you think of Black inventors. Due to racism and other discriminatory structural barriers, potential Black inventors have been locked out, or in some cases violently forced out, of invention pipelines.  On this episode of Justice Above All, Dr. Kesha Moore, TMI Research Manager, takes a deep dive into the world of innovation and tracks how racism has undermined scientific innovation. She is joined by the following guests:  - Tiffani Burgess, Assistant Counsel, Legal Defense Fund  - Eric S. Hintz, Historian, Lemelson Center  - Corey Mack, Inventor  This episode was written and produced by Jakiyah Bradley, Keecee DeVenny, Jackie O’Neil, and Dr. Kesha Moore. Resonate Recordings provided production support. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

The United States is at a tipping point, as the anti-truth movement attempts to erase the history of pivotal moments that advanced racial justice. Related to this movement, the legal theory of originalism falls short of a truthful retelling of history and therefore threatens America’s cultural memory. This episode of unpacks originalism and how it has helped fuel recent efforts to dismantle birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment and is a cornerstone of U.S. democracy. Episode guests also discuss progressive originalism, a theory that can help bring the nation closer to a truthful account of history and democratic renewal. Today's host is Karla McKanders, Director of the Thurgood Marshall Institute. She is in conversation with the following guests:  - Morenike Fajana: Senior Counsel, Legal Defense Fund  - Mark Joseph Stern: Senior Writer, Slate, and Co-Host, Amicus podcast This episode was written and produced by Jakiyah Bradley. Resonate Recordings provided production support. You can learn more about this episode by visiting our landing page. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

Too often, the criminal legal system fails people who experience harm or violence. At the same time, it also often fails the communities that harmed people are members of.  In many cases, survivors and the accused belong to the same community. Restorative justice centers the specific needs of people who have experienced harm or violence with an eye towards healing both the harmed individuals along with the community that was impacted by the harm or violence. Compared to punitive criminal legal system policies, restorative justice approaches better address the root causes of threats to public safety by remedying harm and repairing relationships at the individual and community levels.  In this episode of Justice Above All, guests discuss the diverse practices connected with restorative justice as well as the positive outcomes that are associated with it.  Guests will also discuss how we can incorporate such approaches to build greater safety in our communities. For more information on this episode, please visit: tminstituteldf.org/justice-above-all.  This episode was produced by Lauren O'Neil. It is hosted by Kesha Moore, PhD. Resonate Recordings edited the episode.  If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

Today, cities such as Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City are under heightened scrutiny, with political narratives around “crime” fueling discussions of potential federal or state intervention. These dynamics echo a long history of power struggles—from Reconstruction, when the federal government deployed forces to protect Black citizens, to the Civil Rights Movement, when federal oversight was critical in advancing desegregation and voting rights. This episode explores the ongoing and historical dynamics of federal and state intervention in cities with large Black populations—particularly when those cities are led by Black mayors.  Today's host is Karla McKanders, Director of the Thurgood Marshall Institute. She is in conversation with the following guests:  Louis A. Bedford IV: Policy Counsel, Legal Defense Fund Lee Harris: Mayor, Shelby County, TennesseeThis episode was recorded on September 26th at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 85th Annual Legislative Conference. Jakiyah Bradley, In Rare Events, and Resonate Recording provided production support. You can learn more about this episode by visiting our landing page. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

Every day, transportation is an essential thread woven into the fabric of our lives. Public transportation systems have silently shaped the landscapes of communities, perpetuating disparities and reshaping urban environments in ways that often go unnoticed. Historically, accessible and equitable public transportation infrastructure has been crucial for low-income communities. However, systemic disinvestment and car-centric transportation policy has consistently and disproportionately impacted marginalized communities, exacerbating economic and social gaps. Guests on this episode describe how addressing longstanding neglect and discriminatory practices in transportation planning is crucial to supporting marginalized communities in the fight for economic justice. For more information on this episode, please visit: https://tminstituteldf.org/justice-above-all/.  This episode was research and produced by the TMI 2024 Summer Research Fellows (Oreoluwa Ale, Wisdom Chandler, Shaleyah Carter, Aliyah Davenport, Loren Floyd, Chelsea Mendes, Mardet Mulugeta, and Priyanka Mukhara) with assistance from Lauren O’Neil. It is hosted by Priyanka Mukhara. Resonate Recordings edited the episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review and helping others to find it! To keep up with the work of LDF, please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

Local officials have a great deal of power and authority over both our access to water and our water quality. For that reason, water is frequently on the ballot in local elections. Currently, Black communities are not being well served by water utilities, including water infrastructure and billing policies. The guests on this episode will walk listeners through the water justice crisis as it relates to Black people’s health and wealth. They also encourage listeners to hold their locally elected leaders accountable for delivering safe and affordable water to all. This episode was produced by Lauren O'Neil. It is hosted by Sandhya Kajeepeta, PhD. Resonate Recordings edited the episode. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review and helping others to find it! To keep up with the work of LDF, please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

Police departments claim that gang policing is a crucial, precise crime prevention strategy. In reality, gang policing operates as a racially discriminatory police practice, targeting thousands of Black and Latinx boys and young men and labeling them as “gang members” without justification. In this episode, the Justice Above All team will demystify gang policing and describe the real harm it brings to marginalized communities.  For more information on this episode, please visit: tminstituteldf.org/justice-above-all. This episode was produced by Lauren O'Neil. It is hosted by Sandhya Kajeepeta, PhD. Resonate Recordings edited the episode. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.

Content Warning: Themes of racism, violence, and police brutality are discussed throughout this episode. Please proceed with caution and care.  The U.S. has persistently relied on armed law enforcement to enforce traffic laws. However, existing evidence does not support the notion that police traffic enforcement improves public safety. In fact, police traffic enforcement has serious adverse consequences for community health and well-being, with disproportionate impacts on Black communities. Last year, the Thurgood Marshall Institute published a research brief, Safe Roads for All, which found that police traffic enforcement is not associated with safer roads. This episode of Justice Above All builds upon what is discussed in that brief and presents a community-centered public health approach to traffic safety. Our guests come from the transit safety and police reform worlds. Together, they agree that we can reimagine traffic safety in a way that prioritizes public health and eliminates our heavy reliance on policing.  Today's host is Dr. Sandhya Kajeepeta, Senior Researcher and Statistician at the Thurgood Marshall Institute. She is in conversation with the following guests:  Kim Saltz: Justice in Public Safety Project Legal Fellow, Legal Defense Fund Amber Sherman: Policy Organizer, Decarcerate Memphis Tiffany Smith: Program Manager, Vision Zero Network For more information on this episode, visit https://tminstituteldf.org/driving-while-black.  This episode was written and produced by Jakiyah Bradley and Dr. Sandhya Kajeepeta. Resonate Recording provided production support. If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf.