Public Hearing On GAB And More, Milwaukee’s Culinary History, Respectability And Civil Rights Movements

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Would Black Lives Matter be more successful if it were modeled after the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s? Our guest civil rights expert joins us to talk about the differences between the two movements and how they reflect on our world today. We also dive into Milwaukee’s food traditions and history, and discuss today’s public hearing on changes to Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board and campaign finance laws.

Featured in this Show

  • GAB Changes, Campaign Finance And Online Voter Registration Discussed At Public Hearing

    State lawmakers held a public hearing today on bills that would fundamentally change the Government Accountability Board, rewrite campaign finance laws, and allow online voter registration. WPR’s state capitol reporter talks about all the proposed changes, and what was discussed during today’s hearing.

  • Digging Into Milwaukee's Culinary History

    The story of Milwaukee’s food is much more than beer and sausage. A food writer digs into the city’s rich culinary history and the food culture that’s sprung up today.

  • Randall Kennedy Makes A Case For The Politics Of Respectability

    Over the last year, the “Black Lives Matter” movement and other protest efforts around the country have made the case that African Americans routinely experience injustice in the U.S. today. As with all movements, naming the problem is just one step in a long line of actions aimed at enacting change.

    During the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, one tactic that was embraced became known as the “politics of respectability” – that by showing a whole host of positive characteristics, African Americans could further their cause. Think of the well-dressed, calm, and studious black students at the historic lunch counter protests.

    The politics of respectability has been criticized over the years. For many, it’s come to be seen as in some ways an acceptance or justification of racism. Randall Kennedy disagrees. He is an author and law professor at Harvard. His article in this month’s issue of Harper’s magazine is called: “Lifting As We Climb: A progressive defense of respectability politics.”

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Chris Malina Producer
  • Galen Druke Producer
  • Shawn Johnson Guest
  • Lori Fredrich Guest
  • Randall Kennedy Guest