THE ADVOCATE – About Race and Intersectionality Matters

Amidst challenging times for us all globally, Louise Jenkins is a firm believer in the power of positivity. While we navigate working from home alongside families and roommates, or finding ourselves out of work entirely, it’s important to channel happiness and remain connected, wherever and however we can. One of Louise’s favorite ways is listening to podcasts, particularly those created, hosted, and led by women. With topics ranging from politics, business, and even running, she introduces us to a bevy of wonderful, women-made shows.

About Race with Reni Eddo-lodge 

What’s its vibe? Drawing on her award winning book Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, Reni Eddo-Lodge takes her thoughts and conversations further in this podcast. With discussions from critical voices in anti-racism political thought and activism, About Race explores the history which has led to where politics are today. Along with the book, I found this podcast a powerful punch of the realities of race in Britain today. Reni’s accessible and honest approach to the discourse rightly calls on white people to do the work and ask the critical questions to understand and challenge the underlying issues of race in our society today. 

How’d you hear about it Lou? I knew of Reni and her work from Twitter, where she shared her writing, including the blog post that inspired the book which eventually led to the podcast. 

Recommended episode? This is one to immerse yourself in from start to finish then go back time and time again until it has truly sunk in – don’t rush it but do it in order! 

Intersectionality Matters with Kimberlé Crenshaw

What’s its vibe? As Professor of Law at UCLA and Columbia Law School, Crenshaw has extensive knowledge and passion in Black feminist legal theory, race and racism, along with epic feminist critique and analysis. With a varied and informed list of guests, each episode brings the concept of intersectionality to life – with honest and much needed conversations on topics from #MeToo and Black Women, the concept of Himpathy and men’s denial to take ownership of their actions. As with her scholar and activist writing, this podcast has had my ears and mind since the first listen and I really hope there are more episodes to come!

How’d you hear about it Lou? I was introduced to Crenshaw’s scholarly work and feminist activism during my Masters and have continued to follow her online, which is where I came across the podcast. 

Recommended episode: I haven’t finished all the episodes yet, however, two have caught my ears. Episode three, “#MeToo and Black Women: From Hop-Hop to Hollywood” is a panel discussion that raises the profile of the unsung genealogy of the Me Too movement by acknowledging forerunners like Tarana Burke, who coined the hashtag #MeToo to raise awareness around the question of Black women’s vulnerability to sexual violence. In episode four, “The Anatomy of an Apology”, Crenshaw speaks with Tony award-winning playwright and activist Eve Ensler about her book The Apology and how the withholding of this is rooted at the cause of the unquestionable code of silence among men and how this can and must be broken.

Louise Jenkins is a feminist based in the UK. She is a freelancer in women’s and girls’ rights whose work focuses on ending all forms of violence against women and girls, and the power and importance of feminist movements to bring about such change. When her ears aren’t glued to music or her heads in a book she can be found losing her ears and mind to an eclectic list of podcasts, primarily ones led by strong, passionate women.