Since it began in 1948, NASCAR has only fielded 8 Black drivers for its top-level cup series. The sport hasn’t been exactly welcoming to people of color.  But following the murder of George Floyd and events of last year, they’re making moves to shed that racist image.

On this week's Disrupted, a history of NASCAR’s push for diversity.

GUESTS:
Daniel McFadin, Lead Reporter and Editor for Frontstretch, and host of the podcast “Dropping the Hammer”; Read McFadin's five part series about NASCAR in the wake of the George Floyd murder
Bill Lester, semi-retired professional NASCAR driver and author of the memoir ‘Winning in Reverse’

Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier, and Catie Talarski. Our interns are Kelly Langevin and Maisy Carvalho.

Since it began in 1948, NASCAR has only fielded 8 Black drivers for its top-level cup series. The sport hasn&rsquo;t been exactly welcoming to people of color.&nbsp; But following the murder of George Floyd and events of last year, they&rsquo;re making moves to shed that racist image.
On this week's Disrupted, a history of NASCAR&rsquo;s push for diversity.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Daniel McFadin, Lead Reporter and Editor for <a href="https://www.frontstretch.com/">Frontstretch</a>, and host of the podcast &ldquo;Dropping the Hammer&rdquo;; Read McFadin's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontstretch.com/2021/06/07/nascar-and-blacklivesmatter-1-year-later-part-1/">five part series about NASCAR in the wake of the George Floyd murder</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Bill Lester, semi-retired professional NASCAR driver and author of the memoir <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Reverse-Defying-Achieving-Dreams_The/dp/1643136402/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=">&lsquo;Winning in Reverse&rsquo;</a></li>
</ul>
Disrupted is produced by James Szkobel-Wolff, Zshekinah Collier, and Catie Talarski. Our interns are Kelly Langevin and Maisy Carvalho.

Disruptions are all around us. Some spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. Every week on Disrupted, host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean unpacks how big and small disruptions are shaping our lives.

From technology, economics, education, and healthcare to navigating our way through a global pandemic, continued racial inequalities, geopolitical upheaval, and climate change. What can history teach us about the current moment? What can we learn as we prepare for the disruptions yet to come? Who are the people using their voice to reset, reenergize, and create change? What are we learning about ourselves and our society to help us move forward?

Disruptions are all around us. Some spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. Every week on <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted">Disrupted</a>, host and political scientist <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/khalilah-brown-dean">Khalilah Brown-Dean</a> unpacks how big and small disruptions are shaping our lives.
From technology, economics, education, and healthcare to navigating our way through a global pandemic, continued racial inequalities, geopolitical upheaval, and climate change. What can history teach us about the current moment? What can we learn as we prepare for the disruptions yet to come? Who are the people using their voice to reset, reenergize, and create change? What are we learning about ourselves and our society to help us move forward?

Disrupted

NASCAR's Reckoning On Race And Culture

Seventy years ago, Brown v. Board of Education outlawed racial segregation in public schools. This hour, we look at the historic Supreme Court decision — and some of the inequities that still exist in education today.

We speak with the Executive Director of a youth development organization in Hartford working to close education opportunity gaps.

And later, we talk about the legacy of Ellen Peters, the first woman appointed Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. She wrote the opinion in Sheff v. O’Neill, a landmark school desegregation case here in Connecticut.



GUESTS:

Kathy Trusty: Independent historian and children’s author.

Andrea Williams: Executive Director, ConnectiKids.

Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson: Chief Justice, Connecticut Supreme Court.

Richard Palmer: Former Connecticut Supreme Court Justice, Chairman of the state Public Defender Services Commission.

Seventy years ago, Brown v. Board of Education outlawed racial segregation in public schools. This hour, we look at the historic Supreme Court decision — and some of the inequities that still exist in education today.
We speak with the Executive Director of a youth development organization in Hartford working to close education opportunity gaps.
And later, we talk about the legacy of Ellen Peters, the first woman appointed Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. She wrote the opinion in Sheff v. O’Neill, a landmark school desegregation case here in Connecticut.
 
GUESTS:
Kathy Trusty: Independent <a href="https://dehumanities.org/speaker/kathy-trusty/">historian</a> and <a href="https://blackprops.blackhistoryedzone.com/">children’s author</a>.
Andrea Williams: Executive Director, <a href="https://ct-kids.org/">ConnectiKids</a>.
Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson: Chief Justice, <a href="https://jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/justiceRobinson.htm">Connecticut Supreme Court</a>.
Richard Palmer: Former Connecticut <a href="https://www.jud.ct.gov/external/supapp/justice6.html">Supreme Court Justice</a>, Chairman of the state Public Defender Services Commission.

Education inequities still exist 70 years after Brown v. Board

Many people think of libraries as quiet places to study, work or read a book. But the quiet rooms of libraries have also been centers of social change. This hour, we look at how libraries help people build community and explore their identities. First, we talk about a recent drag story hour in Enfield, CT that was successfully rescheduled after it had initially been canceled due to safety concerns. Then, we discuss a pioneering librarian who helped start New York's well-known Morgan Library & Museum while keeping her racial identity a secret.

GUESTS:


Lil Miss Hot Mess: Board member with Drag Story Hour, a nonprofit that organizes events where drag performers read to kids. She is also a University Professor and children’s author whose books include 'The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish'


The Reverend Dr. Greg Gray: President of Enfield Pride and Pastor of Enfield United Church of Christ


Erica Ciallela: Exhibition Project Curator at the Morgan Library

Many people think of libraries as quiet places to study, work or read a book. But the quiet rooms of libraries have also been centers of social change. This hour, we look at how libraries help people build community and explore their identities. First, we talk about a recent drag story hour in Enfield, CT that was successfully rescheduled after it had initially been canceled due to safety concerns. Then, we discuss a pioneering librarian who helped start New York's well-known <a href="https://www.themorgan.org/">Morgan Library &amp; Museum</a> while keeping her racial identity a secret.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.lilmisshotmess.com/">Lil Miss Hot Mess</a>: Board member with <a href="https://www.dragstoryhour.org/">Drag Story Hour</a>, a nonprofit that organizes events where drag performers read to kids. She is also a University Professor and children’s author whose books include '<a href="https://www.lilmisshotmess.com/#swish-swish-swish">The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish</a>'
</li>
<li>
The Reverend Dr. Greg Gray: President of <a href="https://enfieldpride.org/">Enfield Pride</a> and Pastor of <a href="https://www.enfielducc.org/">Enfield United Church of Christ</a>
</li>
<li>
Erica Ciallela: Exhibition Project Curator at the <a href="https://www.themorgan.org/">Morgan Library</a>
</li>
</ul>

Libraries are building community through identity and cultural change

This hour on Disrupted, we’re looking at the First Amendment and its impact on colleges and universities.

Students are demanding their schools divest from Israel over its war in Gaza. Some colleges have allowed protests with police presence, while others have forcibly removed demonstrators. There have been allegations of antisemitic, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian speech at some protests — and that’s left many wondering how to address harmful speech without curbing free expression.

First Amendment Specialist Kevin Goldberg explains the five protections covered in the amendment. Wesleyan University President Michael Roth talks about his role as a university administrator and how to provide safe spaces for students.

GUESTS:


Kevin Goldberg: First Amendment Specialist, Freedom Forum.


Michael Roth:President, Wesleyan University and author of Safe Enough Spaces: A Pragmatist’s Approach to Inclusion, Free Speech, and Political Correctness.

This episode originally aired on February 7, 2024.

This hour on Disrupted, we’re looking at the First Amendment and its impact on colleges and universities.
Students are demanding their schools divest from Israel over its war in Gaza. Some colleges have allowed protests with police presence, while others have forcibly removed demonstrators. There have been allegations of antisemitic, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian speech at some protests — and that’s left many wondering how to address harmful speech without curbing free expression.
First Amendment Specialist Kevin Goldberg explains the five protections covered in the amendment. Wesleyan University President Michael Roth talks about his role as a university administrator and how to provide safe spaces for students.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Kevin Goldberg: First Amendment Specialist, <a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/">Freedom Forum</a>.
</li>
<li>
Michael Roth: <a href="https://www.wesleyan.edu/president/biography/index.html">President, Wesleyan University</a> and author of Safe Enough Spaces: A Pragmatist’s Approach to Inclusion, Free Speech, and Political Correctness.
</li>
</ul>
This episode originally aired on February 7, 2024.

NASCAR's Reckoning On Race And Culture

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