12:00 PM Pacific Time: Mondays - Wednesdays
Acclaimed program of ideas, in-depth analysis, and commentary on a variety of matters—political, economic, social, and cultural—important to progressive and radical thinking and activism. Against the Grain is co-produced and co-hosted by Sasha Lilley and C. S. Soong.
Michael Albert, veteran activist and author most recently of Thought Dreams, discusses key questions faced by the left, questions like: Is reformism bad per se? Should the left ever engage in violence? Why do many activists get disillusioned and quit the movement? Should a small leadership group do the theory and lay out strategy?
The Racist Right. Richard Butler, founder of the Aryan Nations in the 1970s, died recently. Local activist Norm Gissel reflects on Butler’s failure to build his organization in northern Idaho. SPLC’s Mark Potok and author/expert Daniel Levitas contend that while white supremacist groups have relatively few hardcore adherents, the ideas they draw upon are everywhere … Continued
Anti-Racism and Global Justice. Can race and gender privilege within social justice movements undermine efforts to achieve global justice? How important is it for energetic, well-meaning activists to face up to their own racist, sexist and other oppressive behavior? Veteran organizer Chris Crass believes anti-racist education and movement building go hand in hand.
Art and Protest. The Cuban revolution produced an enormous number of innovative political posters. Less appreciated, but still impressive, is the graphic art of the American labor movement. Archivist Lincoln Cushing is working to preserve the legacy of both of these bodies of work.
A conversation about the netherworld between childhood and adulthood with Linda Perlstein, author of Not Much Just Chillin’: The Hidden World of Middle Schoolers.
Paying for Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is famous for low prices and substandard wages — but who really pays for what the giant retailer does to its workers? A recent report co-authored by Arin Dube says we taxpayers do. Scott Klinger of United for a Fair Economy discusses CEO compensation and the myth of the self-made millionaire.
A conversation about auto industry politics and alternatives to petroleum-powered cars — such as electrical vehicles, natural gas vehicles and hybrid cars — with Bluewater Network’s Russell Long and Rainforest Action Network’s Michael Brune.
A Step Forward? A week of marches, rallies, direct action and collective outrage in New York City culminated in … what? Did progressives win a big victory during RNC week — or any victory at all? A31’s Tim Doody, veteran agitator Starhawk, media activist Doyle Canning, and Hany Khalil of UFPJ offer their reflections and … Continued
A discussion about black women’s sexuality with Tricia Rose, author of Longing to Tell.
What does it mean to witness the dying and death of a loved one? Richard Lichtman has written a memoir about his father’s illness and passing, as well as a broader critique of aging and death under modern capitalism.
