About this episode

This episode explores America's 250th anniversary and the persistent anti-Blackness in its national narrative.

America turns 250—the momentous milestone comes to us cloaked in surreality. Anniversaries usually ask us to remember. This one asks whether we are willing to remember everything. This episode explores why, after two and a half centuries, our national narrative still clings to the anti-Blackness embedded in the nation’s founding, all while insisting that this bleak history no longer deserves our attention. How do we commemorate a republic built by people whose lives, labor, knowledge, and testimony are continually erased from the stories we tell about America? Host Kimberlé Crenshaw is joined by Sarah Lewis, Clint Smith, Mark Rosenbaum, and Ibram X Kendi. Music by Blue Dot Sessions Connect with us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate to our show⁠⁠⁠ Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Kimberlé Crenshaw's book, ⁠Backtalker: An American Memoir⁠

People in this episode

Host: Kimberlé Crenshaw

Guests: Sarah Lewis, Clint Smith, Mark Rosenbaum, Ibram X Kendi

Topics covered

• American history
• anti-Blackness
• national narrative
• commemoration
• erasure of history

Keywords

• America
• anniversary
• anti-Blackness
• national narrative
• commemoration
• history
• erasure

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: African American Policy Forum

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Intersectionality Matters! podcast page.