Civil rights icons like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Justice Thurgood Marshall have become household names. But the historic work of New Haven native Constance Baker Motley is still unknown to many Americans. This week, a look into the life and legacy of the first Black woman appointed to a federal court in American history.

Guests:
Connie Royster: retired New Haven attorney, former director of development at the Yale Divinity School, and niece of Constance Baker Motley
Tomiko Brown-Nagin: Dean of theRadcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and professor of Constitutional Law and History. She’s also the author of the book Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality

Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier and Catie Talarski. Our interns are Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.

Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate.

Civil rights icons like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Justice Thurgood Marshall have become household names. But the historic work of New Haven native Constance Baker Motley is still unknown to many Americans. This week, a look into the life and legacy of the first Black woman appointed to a federal court in American history.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Connie Royster: retired New Haven attorney, former director of development at the Yale Divinity School, and niece of Constance Baker Motley</li>
<li>Tomiko Brown-Nagin: Dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and professor of Constitutional Law and History. She&rsquo;s also the author of the book <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/book/563298/civil-rights-queen/">Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley and the Struggle for Equality</a></li>
</ul>
Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier and Catie Talarski. Our interns are Michayla Savitt and Sara Gasparotto.
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://ctpublic.org/donate" data-stringify-link="http://ctpublic.org/donate" data-sk="tooltip_parent">ctpublic.org/donate</a>.

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.

Visit ctpublic.org/disrupted for more! 

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.
Visit <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted">ctpublic.org/disrupted</a> for more!

Disrupted

Constance Baker Motley is a civil rights icon. Why don't more people know her name?

A number of student groups and grassroots organizations recently called for a day of “No work, no school, no shopping,” to protest immigration enforcement in Minnesota. This comes at a time when consumers are used to seeing reasons not to support certain brands or companies, and worker strikes are up around the country.

This hour, we take a look at labor strikes and economic boycotts, when they work, and when they don’t. We discuss what power consumers have, and we explore the history of labor movements and talk about the present moment.

GUEST:


Americus Reed II: Professor of Marketing at The Wharton School


Kim Kelly: Labor reporter for In These Times Magazine. She is the author of Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor

A number of student groups and grassroots organizations recently called for a day of &ldquo;No work, no school, no shopping,&rdquo; to protest immigration enforcement in Minnesota. This comes at a time when consumers are used to seeing reasons not to support certain brands or companies, and worker strikes are up around the country.
This hour, we take a look at labor strikes and economic boycotts, when they work, and when they don&rsquo;t. We discuss what power consumers have, and we explore the history of labor movements and talk about the present moment.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://americusreed.com/">Americus Reed II</a>: Professor of Marketing at The Wharton School
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.kim-kelly.com/">Kim Kelly</a>: Labor reporter for <a href="https://inthesetimes.com/">In These Times</a> Magazine. She is the author of <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Fight-Like-Hell/Kim-Kelly/9781982171063">Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor</a>
</li>
</ul>

From strikes to boycotts: A look at consumer and worker power 

The Greater Hartford Gives Foundation invests in a wide range of projects from arts to education. And they recently celebrated their 100th year in existence. With that milestone, they decided to make some changes. Their projects include building a new headquarters and increased funding for scholarships. Even the name is new— until recently, the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation was known as the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

Joining us today to talk about both his work with the foundation and his past in politics is Jay Williams, President and CEO of the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation.

GUEST:


Jay Williams: President and CEO of the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation. He has also served as Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio and worked in multiple roles in the Obama administration.

<a href="https://greaterhartfordgives.org/">The Greater Hartford Gives Foundation</a> invests in a wide range of projects from arts to education. And they recently celebrated their 100th year in existence. With that milestone, they decided to make some changes. Their projects include building a new headquarters and increased funding for scholarships. Even the name is new&mdash; until recently, the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation was known as the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
Joining us today to talk about both his work with the foundation and his past in politics is Jay Williams, President and CEO of the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>
Jay Williams: President and CEO of the <a href="https://greaterhartfordgives.org/">Greater Hartford Gives Foundation</a>. He has also served as Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio and worked in multiple roles in the Obama administration.
</li>
</ul>

Jay Williams on evolving the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation

Krystal Marquis’ debut novel, The Davenports, came out in 2023. The novel centers on four Black women navigating their careers and romances in 1910 Chicago. The book deals with class, race and gender, and it quickly joined New York Times’ bestsellers list for Young Adult Hardcover fiction. A second book, The Davenports: More Than This, was also a bestseller. And the popularity of the series may only be just beginning. Prime Video is currently adapting a television series based on The Davenports.

GUESTS:


Krystal Marquis: the New York Times bestselling author of The Davenports. Her short story "Group Project" will be included in the book 13 Little Love Stories: An Anthology Inspired by Taylor Swift Songs.


Tanisha C. Ford: Professor of History at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). Her most recent book is 'Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement'

<a href="https://krystalmarquis.com/">Krystal Marquis</a>&rsquo; debut novel, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/697071/the-davenports-by-krystal-marquis/">The Davenports</a>, came out in 2023. The novel centers on four Black women navigating their careers and romances in 1910 Chicago. The book deals with class, race and gender, and it quickly joined New York Times&rsquo; bestsellers list for Young Adult Hardcover fiction. A second book, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/697073/the-davenports-more-than-this-by-krystal-marquis/">The Davenports: More Than This</a>, was also a bestseller. And the popularity of the series may only be just beginning. Prime Video is currently adapting a television series based on The Davenports.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://krystalmarquis.com/">Krystal Marquis</a>: the New York Times bestselling author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/697071/the-davenports-by-krystal-marquis/">The Davenports</a>. Her short story "Group Project" will be included in the book <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/797480/13-little-love-stories-by-various/">13 Little Love Stories: An Anthology Inspired by Taylor Swift Songs</a>.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://tanishacford.com/">Tanisha C. Ford</a>: Professor of History at The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). Her most recent book is '<a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/our-secret-society-tanisha-ford?variant=41004643188770">Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement</a>'
</li>
</ul>

Constance Baker Motley is a civil rights icon. Why don't more people know her name?

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