On today’s “Closer Look,” former Cobb County Elementary School Teacher Katie Rinderle and her Education Civil Rights Attorney, Craig Goodmark, return to the show to discuss the next stage of their legal fight to get Rinderle’s job back. She was fired in August 2023 after reading "My Shadow is Purple" by Scott Stuart to her 5th Grade class. The themes of acceptance and gender identity set off a firestorm among some parents. 

 

Also, we revisit Show Host Rose Scott’s conversation with people who were students when the Supreme Court ruled America's segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. Now as adults, they recall attending integrated schools for the first time after Brown vs. Board of Education.

On today&rsquo;s &ldquo;<a href="https://www.wabe.org/podcasts/closer-look/">Closer Look</a>,&rdquo; former Cobb County Elementary School Teacher <a href="https://www.wabe.org/cobb-county-teacher-fired-because-of-book-discusses-the-importance-of-centering-students-in-literature/">Katie Rinderle</a> and her Education Civil Rights Attorney, <a href="https://www.goodmarklaw.com/bio/">Craig Goodmark</a>, return to the show to discuss the next stage of their legal fight to get Rinderle&rsquo;s job back. She was fired in August 2023 after reading "<a href="https://scottstuart.co/books/my-shadow-is-purple/">My Shadow is Purple</a>" by Scott Stuart to her 5th Grade class. The themes of acceptance and gender identity set off a firestorm among some parents.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Also, we revisit Show Host Rose Scott&rsquo;s conversation with people who were students when the Supreme Court ruled America's segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. Now as adults, they recall attending integrated schools for the first time after Brown vs. Board of Education.

"Closer Look with Rose Scott" brings you the issues that impact where we live, how we interact, and how we can all thrive. It’s not just about Atlanta; it’s a program for Atlanta. Rose connects with community leaders, CEOs, policymakers, and people who don't often get a platform, and she brings you in on the conversation.

"Closer Look with Rose Scott" brings you the issues that impact where we live, how we interact, and how we can all thrive. It’s not just about Atlanta; it’s a program for Atlanta. Rose connects with community leaders, CEOs, policymakers, and people who don't often get a platform, and she brings you in on the conversation.

Closer Look with Rose Scott

🔊 WABE Podcasts > News, Politics, Health

Fired Cobb Teacher appeals to GA Supreme Court; former students look back on desegregation of public schools

Boring, chaotic, concerning — and, in at least one case, described with an expletive after the word “cluster.” Those are some of the ways Georgia’s current campaign season is being characterized as the state heads toward the November midterm elections. That assessment comes from a political roundtable on today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott. The discussion featured Devin Barrington-Ward, a progressive community organizer and managing director of the Black Futurists Group; Greg Bluestein, politics reporter and author with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Fred Hicks, an Atlanta-based campaign strategist and demographer; and Saba Long, executive director of the Atlanta Civic Circle. Each offered insights and observations as the May 19 primary approaches and early voting gets underway.

Boring, chaotic, concerning &mdash; and, in at least one case, described with an expletive after the word &ldquo;cluster.&rdquo; Those are some of the ways Georgia&rsquo;s current campaign season is being characterized as the state heads toward the November midterm elections. That assessment comes from a political roundtable on today&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wabe.org/podcasts/closer-look/">Closer Look with Rose Scott</a>. The discussion featured <a href="https://www.blackfuturistsgroup.com/staff">Devin Barrington-Ward</a>, a progressive community organizer and managing director of the Black Futurists Group; <a href="https://www.ajc.com/staff/greg-bluestein/">Greg Bluestein</a>, politics reporter and author with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; <a href="https://fredhicks.com/">Fred Hicks</a>, an Atlanta-based campaign strategist and demographer; and <a href="https://atlantaciviccircle.org/author/saba/">Saba Long</a>, executive director of the Atlanta Civic Circle. Each offered insights and observations as the May 19 primary approaches and early voting gets underway.

Roundtable weighs in on Georgia’s 2026 Electoral Races

On today’s Closer Look with Rose Scott, we begin with a look back at the life and work of the late Georgia Congressman David Scott, who died Wednesday at the age of 80. WABE’s Politics Reporter Rahul Bali joins the program to share highlights of Scott's nearly 50 years of serving in elected office and what's next for the congressional seat representing Clayton, Henry, Rockdale, Newton, Dekalb and Gwinnett counties.

 

Then, we continue our “Their Voice, Your Vote” gubernatorial election series with Democrat Michael Thurmond. The former DeKalb County CEO and Georgia Labor Secretary believes his experience sets him apart from the other candidates in the race. Thurmond shared how he will prioritize education, jobs, and coalition-building if elected governor of Georgia.


We also heard from Juliette Blake, the founder and CEO of Moxies. It’s designed to give Gen Alpha a creative space for self-expression and community. Data shows a majority of teens spend an average of five hours on social media each day, with many reporting poor mental health. Blake shares what parents should look out for as she builds a safe-by-design, non-addictive digital platform.

 

On today&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wabe.org/podcasts/closer-look/">Closer Look with Rose Scott</a>, we begin with a look back at the life and work of the late Georgia Congressman <a href="https://www.wabe.org/breaking-georgia-congressman-david-scott-has-died-at-80/">David Scott</a>, who died Wednesday at the age of 80. WABE&rsquo;s Politics Reporter <a href="https://www.wabe.org/people/rahul-bali/">Rahul Bali</a> joins the program to share highlights of Scott's nearly 50 years of serving in elected office and what's next for the congressional seat representing Clayton, Henry, Rockdale, Newton, Dekalb and Gwinnett counties.
&nbsp;
Then, we continue our &ldquo;<a href="https://www.wabe.org/their-voice-your-vote/">Their Voice, Your Vote</a>&rdquo; gubernatorial election series with Democrat <a href="https://www.mikethurmond.com/">Michael Thurmond</a>. The former DeKalb County CEO and Georgia Labor Secretary believes his experience sets him apart from the other candidates in the race. Thurmond shared how he will prioritize education, jobs, and coalition-building if elected governor of Georgia.
 We also heard from <a href="https://joinmoxies.com/pages/about-us">Juliette Blake</a>, the founder and CEO of <a href="https://joinmoxies.com/">Moxies</a>. It&rsquo;s designed to give Gen Alpha a creative space for self-expression and community. Data shows a majority of teens spend an average of five hours on social media each day, with many reporting poor mental health. Blake shares what parents should look out for as she builds a safe-by-design, non-addictive digital platform.
&nbsp;

Their Voice, Your Vote: Michael Thurmond; Protecting kids from addictive social media features; Remembering Rep. David Scott

Rakshais a nonprofit dedicated to Georgia’s South Asian American communities with support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. It’s the only organization of its kind in Georgia, but providing their service has been challenged by the federal government cutting $500 million in public safety grants.


Plus, as part of "Closer Look's" Earth Day coverage, we revisited Rose's 2024 conversation with Sylvester Pierce of the Self-Preservation Society. The conversation focused on overcoming fear, the healing power of water, mental health and Pierce's mission to get more Black kayakers out on the water.

<a href="https://www.raksha.org/">Raksha</a> is a nonprofit dedicated to Georgia&rsquo;s South Asian American communities with support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. It&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wabe.org/georgia-nonprofit-balancing-federal-funding-cuts-while-supporting-south-asian-american-abuse-assault-survivors/">the only organization of its kind in Georgia</a>, but providing their service has been challenged by the federal government cutting <a href="https://counciloncj.org/doj-funding-cuts-more-than-550-organizations-impacted-new-analysis-finds/">$500 million in public safety grants</a>.
 Plus, as part of "Closer Look's" Earth Day coverage, we revisited Rose's<a href="https://www.wabe.org/local-instructor-uses-kayaking-to-help-black-people-heal/"> 2024 conversation</a> with Sylvester Pierce of the<a href="https://thesps.org/"> Self-Preservation Society</a>. The conversation focused on overcoming fear, the healing power of water, mental health and Pierce's mission to get more Black kayakers out on the water.

Nonprofit securing South Asian American abuse, assault survivors amid federal budget cuts; Earth Day: How the Self-Preservation Society uses nature to ease mental health 

Fired Cobb Teacher appeals to GA Supreme Court; former students look back on desegregation of public schools

In 1 playlist(s)

Closer Look with Rose Scott

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips