Conversations on Identity and Politics in 2021-12-31

Janai Nelson

Janai Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund joins us to discuss the banning of books that teach a truthful version of history, and how she will lead the NAACP LDF in Spring of 2022 after the departure of current president, Sherrilyn Ifill. 

Arab Americans Are 'White' On The Census. But Should They Be?

In the fall of 2021, Boston mayoral candidate Annissa Essaibi George, like many other Arab Americans, chose to identify publicly as a person of color. But the thing is Arab Americans are considered “white” on government forms. That means Arab Americans and people from the Middle East...who descend from countries that span Africa and Asia...are left out of a process that decides the political map, federal funding and medical research. For decades, Arab American organizations have pushed the federal government to adjust official forms to stop what they say is erasure. But the question is, what is a person of color - and are Arab Americans a part of the group? Sarah Gualtieri, historian and professor of American studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California (USC) and Maya Berry, executive director at the Arab American Institute, join The Takeaway to discuss more. 

Asian Americans Secure Historic Political Wins Across The Country

A report from Politico in 2021 revealed that elected officials from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community were the LEAST represented demographic in American politics, making up less than ONE percent of all people who hold office. But that’s starting to change. In fact, this November was a historic election cycle for AAPI communities across the country. Asian Americans will serve for the first time as Mayor in Boston and Cincinnati. 5 Asian Americans were elected to New York’s city council this year. Jane Junn, professor at University of Southern California and Arun Venugopal, Race and Justice Reporter at WNYC, join The Takeaway to discuss more.