As America marks a year since George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis, join NHPR for two special programs about George Floyd – his life, experiences, the symbolism of his life and death, and a reflection on how his murder and actions spurred by it changed us as a society.
On Monday, May 24 from 1 to 2 p.m., listeners can tune for a special by our public media partner American Public Media (APM), The Life Of George Floyd. This special will help in understanding the man himself: a figure who was complicated, full of ambition, shaped by his family and his community and a century of forces around him. The Washington Post’s Post Reports podcast host Martine Powers will explore the life and experiences of the man who sparked a movement, as part of paper’s series George Floyd’s America. The reporting explores the institutional and societal roadblocks Floyd encountered as a Black man from his birth in 1973 until his death, and the role systemic racism played throughout his life. The series is based on a review of thousands of documents and more than 150 interviews with Floyd’s friends, colleagues, public officials and scholars.
On Tuesday, May 25 from 1 to 2 p.m., NHPR will air a second special: How George Floyd Changed Us, also by APM. Hosted by Minneapolis Public Radio News host Angela Davis, this one-hour special will bring forth a range of voices articulating the transformation that’s taken place on both personal and community levels – from the young people whose worldviews have been forever altered, to the community members working to ensure the circumstances of George Floyd’s murder are never forgotten. Listeners will also hear from a renowned expert on trauma and healing on what gives hope a year later.
The picture that emerges is one that underscores how systemic racism has calcified within many of America’s institutions, creating sharply disparate outcomes in housing, education, the economy, law enforcement and health care.
[NOTE: Both special programs will air during the Here & Now spot]
On Wednesday, May 26 from 9 to 10 a.m., The Exchange will take a look back at events in the Granite State related to the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent conversation around racial justice.
Last summer the Commission on Law Enforcement, Accountability, and Transparency was created amid statewide protests against police brutality and systemic racism, and the commission made a number of recommendations for law enforcement reform. Members of the commission joined The Exchange in September to discuss the recommendations, and what it hoped to see in the coming year. As we near the one-year anniversary of the start of the protests, The Exchange is checking in with the same commission members, to discuss both progress made and next steps.
Guests will include:
- Eddie Edwards – Assistant Commissioner for the NH Department of Safety. He also served as the director of the New Hampshire Liquor Enforcement Commission from 2005 to 2013.
- Joseph Lascaze - Smart Justice Organizer for the N.H. ACLU.
- Ahni Malachi - Executive director of the Commission for Human Rights.
- John Scippa - Director for N.H. Police Standards and Training.
In other related programming about America’s ongoing conversation on racial justice, NHPR’s Civics 101 podcast is also exploring aspects of racism and its history in our society. An ongoing Civics 101 series delves into Supreme Court of the United States cases dealing with civil rights. The podcast series explores how equality, citizenship, and freedom have been interpreted over the past two centuries.
To learn more about Civics 101 and listen to new episodes:
- Subscribe to the podcast on a platform of choice:
- Find classroom materials and additional reading at civics101podcast.org
- Subscribe to the biweekly podcast newsletter.
Follow Civics 101 on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates.
For details on all of NHPR’s on-air program schedule, click here.
