This episode of The Unwanted Sorority unpacks the legacy of Betty Jean Owens and the first campus demonstration against sexual violence—an act of defiance too often erased from history. Dr. Leatra Tate shares her own story and how a class project, a dissertation, and the voices of Black women survivors helped shape this podcast. We explore the chilling realities of The Red Zone on college campuses and the healing wisdom of bell hooks’ Sisters of the Yam.
This is where truth-telling meets collective care.


Resources & Mentions
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) – 24/7 support at 800-656-HOPE
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Ujima- The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community
Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery by bell hooks
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
AJC Article on the 1959 Betty Jean Owens Case
More information about The Red Zone

This episode of The Unwanted Sorority unpacks the legacy of Betty Jean Owens and the first campus demonstration against sexual violence&mdash;an act of defiance too often erased from history. Dr. Leatra Tate shares her own story and how a class project, a dissertation, and the voices of Black women survivors helped shape this podcast. We explore the chilling realities of The Red Zone on college campuses and the healing wisdom of bell hooks&rsquo; Sisters of the Yam. This is where truth-telling meets collective care.
<hr>
 Resources &amp; Mentions <a href="https://rainn.org/">RAINN (Rape, Abuse &amp; Incest National Network)</a> &ndash; 24/7 support at 800-656-HOPE <a href="https://www.nsvrc.org/">National Sexual Violence Resource Center</a> <a href="https://ujimacommunity.org/">Ujima</a>- The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery by bell hooks Know My Name by Chanel Miller <a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/four-white-men-raped-black-coed-and-her-case-became-landmark/KtXxVi9H6QajxPQpuLUdjL/">AJC Article</a> on the 1959 Betty Jean Owens Case More information about <a href="https://www.shatteringthesilence.org/red-zone">The Red Zone</a>

The Unwanted Sorority explores the personal and collective experiences of Black women, femmes, and gender expansive folks impacted by sexual violence.. Through survivor stories, cultural analysis, and historical context, host Dr. Leatra Tate breaks down the barriers Black women face in seeking justice, healing, and systemic change.

With empathy, honesty, and a focus on advocacy, The Unwanted Sorority creates a space for listeners to witness, learn, and take action toward building a safer, more equitable future.

The Unwanted Sorority explores the personal and collective experiences of Black women, femmes, and gender expansive folks impacted by sexual violence.. Through survivor stories, cultural analysis, and historical context, host Dr. Leatra Tate breaks down the barriers Black women face in seeking justice, healing, and systemic change.
With empathy, honesty, and a focus on advocacy, The Unwanted Sorority creates a space for listeners to witness, learn, and take action toward building a safer, more equitable future.

The Unwanted Sorority 

The First Campus Protest: Betty Jean Owens and the Stories We Carry

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7d0a0650-72b4-4142-b285-b30f00f26718/transcript

On the season finale of The Unwanted Sorority, we are giving flowers to Lupita Nyong'o for her global commitment to elevating the voices and messages of Black women across the diaspora through her art and her activism.

Rachel Markham, our Roll Call guest also joins us to share her testimony of healing from sexual assault. A writer, DJ, and sexual assault survivor, Rachel shares her journey through the work raising awareness about sexual assault in Ghana with her organization Sexual Assault Africa and The Transformation Foundation.

This episode is a full celebration of our strength and support across the diaspora. Let's get into it! Until next time, listeners...

Resources & Mentions

Lupita Nyong'o's excerpts from her New York Times op-ed as cited from Mike Miller's article in People Magazine titled "Lupita Nyong'o Says Harvey Weinstein Asked Her for a Massage"

Errin Haines Whack's article "Why so few women of color in the wave of accusers? ‘Stakes higher’'  for WHYY

Lawretta Egba's article "Lupita Nyong’o Speaks up for “Broken” Women; Calls for “Healing” at Variety Power of Women Luncheon" for Face2Face Africa 

Rachel Markham's book Transformation

Rachel's Nonprofit Recommendations:
The Boring Talkative, a Ghanian NGO focused on equality, consent, sexual and gender-based violence
The Brotar Foundation, a Ghanian NGO focused on on mental health awareness
Power to Girls, a Greater Toronto Area and Ghana-based nonprofit focused on Black and marginalized girls with programming and support in personal development, mentorship, mental health and wellness. Follow them on IG here: @power2girlsgh

About the Spotlight Initiative

Florence Keya's organization Together for Girls 

Wangu Kanja Foundation 

Women's Media Center-'s “#AmINext: South African women push back” in honor of Uyinene Mrwetyana

The New Humanitarian's article about the rise of violence against women in Sudan

Mukwege Foundation- Survivor network in Nigeria press release 

On the season finale of The Unwanted Sorority, we are giving flowers to Lupita Nyong'o for her global commitment to elevating the voices and messages of Black women across the diaspora through her art and her activism.
Rachel Markham, our Roll Call guest also joins us to share her testimony of healing from sexual assault. A writer, DJ, and sexual assault survivor, Rachel shares her journey through the work raising awareness about sexual assault in Ghana with her organization Sexual Assault Africa and The Transformation Foundation.
This episode is a full celebration of our strength and support across the diaspora. Let's get into it! Until next time, listeners...
Resources &amp; Mentions
Lupita Nyong'o's excerpts from her New York Times op-ed as cited from Mike Miller's article in People Magazine titled "<a href="https://people.com/movies/lupita-nyongo-says-harvey-weinstein-asked-her-for-a-massage-while-his-children-were-home-in-emotional-op-ed/#:~:text=&ldquo;Harvey%20led%20me%20into%20a,&rdquo;">Lupita Nyong'o Says Harvey Weinstein Asked Her for a Massage</a>"
Errin Haines Whack's article "<a href="https://whyy.org/articles/women-color-wave-accusers-stakes-higher/#:~:text=When%20Oscar,accusations%20by%20famous%20white%20accusers">Why so few women of color in the wave of accusers? &lsquo;Stakes higher</a>&rsquo;' &nbsp;for WHYY
Lawretta Egba's article "<a href="https://face2faceafrica.com/article/lupita-nyongo-speaks-broken-women-calls-healing-variety-power-women-luncheon">Lupita Nyong&rsquo;o Speaks up for &ldquo;Broken&rdquo; Women; Calls for &ldquo;Healing&rdquo; at Variety Power of Women Luncheon</a>" for Face2Face Africa&nbsp;
Rachel Markham's book <a href="https://www.everand.com/book/636527806/Transformation">Transformation</a>
Rachel's Nonprofit Recommendations:
<ol>
<li data-start="1478" data-end="1622"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/boringtalkative/?hl=en">The Boring Talkative</a>, a Ghanian NGO focused on equality, consent, sexual and gender-based violence</li>
<li data-start="1478" data-end="1622"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_brotar_foundation/?hl=en">The Brotar Foundation</a>, a Ghanian NGO focused on on mental health awareness</li>
<li data-start="1478" data-end="1622"><a href="https://www.powertogirls.com">Power to Girls</a>, a Greater Toronto Area and Ghana-based nonprofit focused on Black and marginalized girls with programming and support in personal development, mentorship, mental health and wellness. Follow them on IG here: @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/powertogirlsca/?hl=en">power2girlsgh</a></li>
</ol>
About the <a href="https://www.spotlightinitiative.org">Spotlight Initiative</a>
Florence Keya's organization<a href="togetherforgirls.org"> Together for Girls </a>
<a href="wangukanjafoundation.org">Wangu Kanja Foundation</a>&nbsp;
Women's Media Center-'s &ldquo;<a href="womensmediacenter.com">#AmINext: South African women push back</a>&rdquo; in honor of Uyinene Mrwetyana
The New Humanitarian's article about the r<a href="thenewhumanitarian.org">ise of violence against women in Sudan</a>
<a href="mukwegefoundation.org">Mukwege Foundation</a>- Survivor network in Nigeria press release&nbsp;

Shattering the Silence on Sexual Violence Across Africa with Rachel Markham

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1586330d-a6ce-4818-ac1c-b35c0052b9c9/transcript

On this episode of The Unwanted Sorority, we are honoring the groundbreaking legacy of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, whose investigative journalism exposed the ties between racial terror and sexual violence in the South, laying a foundation for future generations of survivor-advocates.

Our Roll Call guest, Lori Johnson, shares her own story of survival and healing. Growing up in NYC and moving to the South, Lori experienced family instability and within the strict teachings of the Jehovah’s Witness faith, Lori carried shame and trauma for years. Today, she traces her healing journey back to her Gullah Igala cultural and ancestral roots, where spirituality, community, and history become sources of strength.

If you’ve ever felt unseen in your story, this episode reminds you: your survival is sacred, your healing is valid, and you are not alone.

Resources & Mentions

Ida B. Wells-Barnett's Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All its Phases - Oct. 5, 1892, from the archives of The New York Public Library

The Bill of Rights Institute's curriculum assignment Ida B. Wells and the Campaign against Lynching

Mary E. Triece's book, Radical Advocate: Ida B. Wells and the Road to Race and Gender Justice, featured on The University of Alabama Press's website

Amb Ayegba Abdullahi Adojoh's article "A Study of the Cultural Relationship between Igala (Igula) Kingdom of Nigeria and Gullah People of North America" in the International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 9(5), ISSN: 2394-9333

RAINN (800-656-HOPE)

Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community

On this episode of The Unwanted Sorority, we are honoring the groundbreaking legacy of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, whose investigative journalism exposed the ties between racial terror and sexual violence in the South, laying a foundation for future generations of survivor-advocates.
Our Roll Call guest, Lori Johnson, shares her own story of survival and healing. Growing up in NYC and moving to the South, Lori experienced family instability and within the strict teachings of the Jehovah&rsquo;s Witness faith, Lori carried shame and trauma for years. Today, she traces her healing journey back to her Gullah Igala cultural and ancestral roots, where spirituality, community, and history become sources of strength.
If you&rsquo;ve ever felt unseen in your story, this episode reminds you: your survival is sacred, your healing is valid, and you are not alone.
Resources &amp; Mentions
Ida B. Wells-Barnett's <a href="https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/galleries/archiving-against-censorship-and-white-supremacy/item/17480">Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All its Phases - Oct. 5, 1892</a>, from the archives of The New York Public Library
The Bill of Rights Institute's curriculum assignment&nbsp;<a href="https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/ida-b-wells-and-the-campaign-against-lynching">Ida B. Wells and the Campaign against Lynching</a>
Mary E. Triece's book, <a href="https://www.uapress.ua.edu/blog/ida-b-wells-and-the-writing-tradition-of-black-women-an-excerpt-from-radical-advocate-by-mary-e-triece/#:~:text=Third%2C%20from%20Maria%20Stewart&rsquo;s%201830s,views%20about%20race%3B%20those%20with">Radical Advocate: Ida B. Wells and the Road to Race and Gender Justice</a>, featured on The University of Alabama Press's website
Amb Ayegba Abdullahi Adojoh's article "<a href="https://www.ijtrd.com/papers/IJTRD25354.pdf#:~:text=Today%2C%20many%20Gullah%20people%20of,or%20someone%20from%20the%20ethnic">A Study of the Cultural Relationship between Igala (Igula) Kingdom of Nigeria and Gullah People of North America</a>" in the&nbsp;International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 9(5), ISSN: 2394-9333
<a href="https://rainn.org">RAINN (800-656-HOPE)</a>
<a href="https://ujimacommunity.org">Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community</a>

The Hum of Rage: Healing Through Gullah Igala Roots and Self-Discovery with Lori Johnson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cb111b04-c9d3-4ba3-9c10-b354017eeca9/transcript

In this episode of The Unwanted Sorority, Leatra honors Rosa Parks’s lesser-known role as an NAACP sexual assault investigator and her advocacy for Recy Taylor, tying their courage to today’s movement and this episode's Roll Call guest. She also speaks with Dom, who shares how therapy, storytelling, and community have been central to reclaiming power after trauma. In Unpacking the Ritual, Leatra names patterns many Black women and femme survivors will recognize: the adultification of Black girls, stonewalling, and dissociation. Inspired by Dom's interview, Leatra works to reframe self-care as accountability, love, and liberation.

Join the conversation: @theunwantedsorority on IG/TikTok.

Resources and Mentions

Ryan Mattimore's article for History.com "Before the Bus, Rosa Parks Was a Sexual Assault Investigator: Why has History Left Out This Piece of Rosa Parks' Story?"

Laura L. Rogers (Deputy Director for Office of Violence Against Women): National African American History Month: Remembering Rosa Parks’ Work to Address Sexual Assault

Tell Me More (Podcast on NPR): Hidden Pattern Of Rape Helped Stir Civil Rights Movement

"The Black Girlhood Studies Collection" by Aria S. Halliday

Ellie Lisitsa's article for Gottman.com "The Four Horsemen: Stonewalling"

Tonjie Reese's blog post for California Partnership to End Domestic Violence "The War Against Black Girls: Addressing the adultification bias"

RAINN (800-656-HOPE)

DoD Safe Helpline (877-995-5247)

Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community

In this episode of The Unwanted Sorority, Leatra honors Rosa Parks&rsquo;s lesser-known role as an NAACP sexual assault investigator and her advocacy for Recy Taylor, tying their courage to today&rsquo;s movement and this episode's Roll Call guest. She also speaks with Dom, who shares how therapy, storytelling, and community have been central to reclaiming power after trauma. In Unpacking the Ritual, Leatra names patterns many Black women and femme survivors will recognize: the adultification of Black girls, stonewalling, and dissociation. Inspired by Dom's interview, Leatra works to reframe self-care as accountability, love, and liberation.
Join the conversation: @theunwantedsorority on IG/TikTok.
Resources and Mentions
Ryan Mattimore's article for History.com "<a href="https://www.history.com/articles/before-the-bus-rosa-parks-was-a-sexual-assault-investigator">Before the Bus, Rosa Parks Was a Sexual Assault Investigator: Why has History Left Out This Piece of Rosa Parks' Story?</a>"
Laura L. Rogers (Deputy Director for Office of Violence Against Women): <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/ovw/blog/national-african-american-history-month-remembering-rosa-parks-work-address-sexual-assault">National African American History Month: Remembering Rosa Parks&rsquo; Work to Address Sexual Assault</a>
Tell Me More (Podcast on NPR): <a href="https://www.npr.org/2011/02/28/134131369/hidden-pattern-of-rape-helped-stir-civil-rights-movement">Hidden Pattern Of Rape Helped Stir Civil Rights Movement</a>
"<a href="https://www.ariashalliday.com/the-black-girlhood-studies-collection.html">The Black Girlhood Studies Collection</a>" by Aria S. Halliday
Ellie Lisitsa's article for Gottman.com <a href="https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-four-horsemen-stonewalling/">"The Four Horsemen: Stonewalling"</a>
Tonjie Reese's blog post for California Partnership to End Domestic Violence "<a href="https://www.cpedv.org/post/war-against-black-girls-addressing-adultification-bias-written-tonjie-reese">The War Against Black Girls: Addressing the adultification bias"</a>
<a href="https://rainn.org">RAINN (800-656-HOPE)</a>
<a href="https://safehelpline.org">DoD Safe Helpline (877-995-5247)</a>
<a href="https://ujimacommunity.org">Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community</a>

Being a Survivor, It's Not the Biggest Thing About Us with Dom

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c5ce840d-ea44-454c-bebf-b34e003796c4/transcript

The First Campus Protest: Betty Jean Owens and the Stories We Carry

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