>> THE BLACK WOMEN'S FEMINIST MOVEMENT DATES BACK TO THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.

WE JUST CALL IT FEMINISM.

WE HAVE ALWAYS AS BLACK WOMEN STOOD UP FOR OUR RIGHTS NOWHERE MATTER WHERE WE WERE EVEN PRE-COLONIZATION.

>> Bonnie: HELLO.

I'M BONNIE ERBÉÉ.

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY" HELP THIS WOOK WELL FINISH OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH WOMEN THOUGHT HAZARD LEADERS.

OUR GUEST IS FARAH TANIS, SHE HEADS AN ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON THE EMPOWERMENT OF BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS.

THE WELCOME TO THE SHOW, FARAH.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE BLACK WOMEN'S BLUEPRINT.

YOU FOUNDED IT HAD.

>> THE BLACK WOMEN'S BLUEPRINT WITH OUR MISSION IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS TO BECOME EMPOWERED FOR BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, TO ERASE DISPARITIES AROUND GENDER, AROUND HEALTH, AROUND SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND OTHER DISPARITIES THAT CRITICALLY IMPACTS THE LIVES, THE WELL-BEING, THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING IN PARTICULAR, OF BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS.

>> HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE FOR BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS TO BE AS FULLY EMPOWERED AS WHITE MEN?

>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING -- THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE SAYS HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE, I FORGOT WHO SAID IT, BUT SOMEONE ONCE SAID, WELL, I KNOW FOR ME I HAVE AT MY AGE, I SAY MAYBE I HAVE ANOTHER 60, 70 YEARS TO GIVE TO THIS MOVEMENT, AND IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES, THEN THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES, AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT WE ARE EMBOLDEN THE NEXT GENERATION TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE WORK.

SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW LONG IT TAKES, BUT I KNOW DAY BY DAY I CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE, AND I CAN SEE THE PROGRESS.

AND I CAN SEE HOW WOMEN ARE BEING EMPOWERED DAY BY DAY.

>> WHAT DOES THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION HAVE TO DO WITH EMPOWERMENT OF BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS?

>> I THINK THAT THERE IS A DECREASED SENSE OF HOPE.

I THINK THAT WE ARE KEEPING OUR CHINS UP, AND I THINK THAT WE ARE -- THERE'S THEY FATHERSEST RESOLVE AS A RESULT OF THIS, DID FIERCEST RESOLVE AS A RESULT OF THISN.

WE'RE KEEPING OUR CHINS UP WITH IN FIERCE RESOLVE AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROPERTY.

WE ARE MORE COMMITTED TO CREATING, YOU KNOW, THE WORLD WE WANT TO SEE, THE COMMUNITIES WE WANT TO SEE, THE FAMILIES WE WANT TO SEE.

HOWEVER, IT IS A STRUGGLE.

IT'S A STRUGGLE BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE THINK WE ARE MAKING HEADWAY, EVERY TIME WE THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE THE POSSIBILITY OF -- OF EQUITY, SOMETHING HAPPENS, NEWS BREAKS, A TWEET GOES OUT, AND HERE WE ARE BACK IN THE SAME PLACE, AND IT'S A REMINDER THAT WE'RE REALLY LIVING IN THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYTHING SEEMS SURREAL, NOTHING MAKES ANY SENSE ANYMORE.

THE MOST EGREGIOUS BEHAVIOR, THE MOST EGREGIOUS COMMENTS AND COMMENTARY, OPINIONS, THE EXPRESSIONS OF OUR PRESIDENT, WELL, OF THE PRESIDENT, REMIND US THAT WE ARE NOT LIVING IN THE SAME WORLD WE WERE LIVING IN EIGHT YEARS AGO OR EVEN, YOU KNOW, 20 YEARS AGO, THAT THINGS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE PUSHING A BOULDER UP A MOUNTAIN AND WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHEN DO WE GET TO THE TOP OF THAT MOUNTAIN WHERE WE NO LONGER HAVE TO EXERT SO MUCH ENERGY.

>> YOU SAY THAT WOMEN, CHILDREN, FAMILIES WHO ARE ON FEDERAL BENEFITS ARE PULLING BACK FROM THEM.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, THE WAY THAT WORKS IS IT WORKS ESPECIALLY IN CASES OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, AND IMMIGRANT MAES WHO ARE -- WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE DOCUMENTED.

AND BECAUSE OF THE ATTACKS ON IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY, WHICH I DON'T THINK IS GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON, A LOT OF FAMILIES HAVE OPTED OUT OF RE RECEIVING AID, EVEN IF IT'S AID TO A CHILD WHO IS DOCUMENTED AND WHO IS ENTITLED TO THAT AID IN THIS COUNTRY, AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOUR FOOD STAMPS, WHATEVER SUBSIDY YOU GET FOR HOUSING, AND SO THEY'RE OPTING OUT BECAUSE IT'S SAFER.

THEY FEEL SAFER.

THEY FEEL SAFER TO BE UNDER THE RADAR.

THEY FEEL SAFER TO PRETTY MUCH GO UNDERGROUND.

AND SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS NOW WE, YOU KNOW, AS BLACK WOMEN, AS WOMEN IN NEW YORK CITY, AS WOMEN EVERYWHERE, I THINK THERE'S A MOVEMENT AROUND SOLIDARITY ECONOMY THAT HAS BEGUN, ACTUALLY I CAN'T EVEN SAY THAT IT HAS BEGUN BECAUSE IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR SO LONG, AND IN FACT, IT'S A TRADITION AND IT'S A PRACTICE THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS BLACK PEOPLE POST SLAVERY, POST EMANCIPATION, DURING THE JIM CROW ERA WHERE IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR SOME OF US TO FIND JOBS UNLESS IT WAS DOMESTIC WORK OR ANOTHER TYPE OF WORK.

IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS VERY POPULAR IN CERTAIN PARTS OF AFRICA.

ALSO THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN.

WE PULL OUR RESORE -- POOL OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER AND SO ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME IT MAY EVEN BE SOMETHING AS SMALL THROUGH SOMETHING AS SMALL AS A CHURCH OR ANOTHER FORM OF AN INSTITUTION.

WE POOL OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER, WHETHER THAT BE OUR MONEYS, WHETHER THAT BE OUR FOOD, WHETHER THAT BE CHILD CARE, WHETHER THAT BE HOUSING, AND WE SHARE IT, AND SO THERE'S BARTERING THAT GOES -- THAT'S A PROCESS OF THAT.

WE DO IT THROUGH BARTERING.

WE HAVE A GIFT ECONOMY.

WE HAVE CLOTHING SWAPS.

WE HAVE TIME BANKING.

AND SO WE EXCHANGE TIME.

I WILL GIVE YOU FOUR OURS OF CHILD CARE.

YOU WILL GIVE ME FOUR HOURS OF MAYBE CLEANING OR IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER SKILL LIKE GRANT WRITING OR ANYTHING ELSE OR GEAREDDENING.

YOU WILL GIVE MOW THAT.

IF I GROW VEGETABLES IN MY BACKYARD, I WILL EXCHANGE THAT FOR PERHAPS A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.

YOU REFER TO.

>> YOU REFER TO YOURSELF AS A TRANS NATIONAL FEMINIST.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK OF AS FEMINIST?

>> I THINK THAT DIFFERS IN THE SENSE THAT WE BRING IN AS TRANS NATIONAL FEMINISTS, THAT WE BRING IN AND WE GIVE VERY GREAT CONSIDERATION TO GEOGRAPHY AND WE GIVE GREAT CONSIDERATION TO NATION AND WHERE IT IS THAT WE ARE FROM AND HOW WE ARE POSITIONED IN RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER NATIONS, AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS BORN IN HAITI.

I GREW UP HERE IN THIS COUNTRY BUT I WAS BORN IN HAITI.

AND SO THE WAY THAT MY COUNTRY IS IMPACTED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS SOMETHING THAT I -- THAT INTEGRATES, THAT I INTEGRATE IN ALL OF MY WORK, THAT I INTEGRATE IN ALL OF MY CONVERSATIONS, AND IN ANY AGENDA THAT I DEVELOP WITH U.S.-BASED FEMINISM, WITH U.S.-BASED FEMINISTS.

AND SO ONE OF THE DEMANDS THAT WE MAKE IS WE ASK U.S.-BASED FEMINISTS TO NOT ONLY THINK ABOUT HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS IMPACTING -- ANY ADMINISTRATION, IN FACT, ANY U.S. POLICY IS IMPACTING WHAT'S GOING ON IN COUNTRY BUT HOW, IN TURN, THEIR SUPPORT OR THEIR SILENCE AROUND IT CAN ALSO IMPACT WHAT HAPPENS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

>> THERE WAS TALK THAT BLACK WOMEN WERE LEFT OUT OF SEC WAY FEMME IN MANY BY WHITE WOMEN.

DOES IT FILL FEEL THAT WAY?

AND WHAT IS YOUR ORGANIZATION DOING TO CHANGE THAT?

>> I THINK THAT -- I DIDN'T START THE BLACK WOMEN'S FEMINIST MOVEMENT.

THAT'S ONE.

I THINK THAT THE BLACK WOMEN'S FEMINIST MOVEMENT DATES BACK TO THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.

WE JUST CALL IT FEMINISM AND IT'S SORT OF, YOU KNOW, THE WORD HAS BECOME STIGMATIZED, BUT I THINK WE HAVE ALWAYS, AS BLACK WOMEN, STOOD UP FOR OUR RIGHTS WHEREVER WE WERE, EVEN PRE-COLONIZATION.

SO -- BUT IN TERMS OF JUST THIS CONTEMPORARY TIME AND REALLY LEADING A FACTION, I GUESS, OF THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT, WE HAVE FEMINISTS IN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

WE HAVE FEMINISTS IN VARIOUS AREAS.

I THINK IN THAT SENSE THERE IS SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC THAT I AM, YOU KNOW, HERE TO DO IN THIS DAY AND IN THIS TIME.

WE HAVE FELT, YOU'RE RIGHT, WE HAVE FELT THAT WHITE FEMINISTS LEFT US OUT OF THE AND EVERYTHING LEFT US OUT OF THE AGENDA.

>> DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT MARGINALIZE PLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS IN ANY WAY BY HAVING A BLACK WOMEN'S MARCH?

>> WE DON'T FEAR MARGINALIZATION.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW.

I THINK THAT WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A BLACK WOMEN'S MOVEMENT, THAT WE WOULD BE MARGINALIZED ANYWAY.

MARGINALIZATION IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH WITH THE FIRST NATIONAL BLACK FEMINIST ORGANIZATION BACK IN 1972.

MARGINALIZATION IS SOMETHING THAT'S SOJOURNER TRUTH ADDRESSED IN HER "I A WOMAN" IN HER TEACH.

WELLS HAS HAD TO FANNIE LOU HAMER WITH VOTING RIGHTS.

PAT PARKER WITH THE WELFARE RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

WE'VE ALL HAD TO FACE MARGINALIZATION.

IF WE WERE TO KEEP THINKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IF WE STARTED SOMETHING FOR OURSELVES, HA WE WOULD BE MARGINALIZED, I THINK THAT WE WOULD NEVER START ANYTHING AT ALL.

>> YOU STARTED THE BLACK WOMEN'S MARCH, WHICH TOOK PLACE LAST FALL.

HOW DID IT GO?

AND WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY TO BE BEHIND THAT EVENT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE MARCH FOR BLACK WOMEN WAS JUST A TREMENDOUS -- A TRAINED OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK WOMEN TO COME TOGETHER ACROSS DIVERSITY AND AS WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WHITE WOMEN AND WHITE FEMINISTS BE.

IT WAS ALSO A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR WHITE FEMINISTS TO COME TOGETHER AND TO SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN FOR OTHER WOMEN OF COLOR TO COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN IS FOR BLACK MEN TO COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN.

AND SO WHAT WAS AMAZING ABOUT THAT, THAT MARCH WAS JUST WHEN YOU LOOKED OUT INTO THE SEA OF FACES, YOU SAW EVERYONE REPRESENTED, AND I THINK THAT FORM OF AFFIRMATION AND THAT FORM OF JUST -- THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THERE IS A REASON FOR BLACK WOMEN TO HAVE A MARCH AND THAT WE DO HAVE ISSUES THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER WOMEN BUT ALSO VERY UNIQUE AND VERY DIFFERENT, THAT THERE ARE INTERSECTIONALITIES THAT WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR NEEDS AND WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO IT WAS A TREMENDOUS -- MORE THAN JUST A MOMENT.

IT REALLY FUNCTIONED AS ANOTHER SPRINGBOARD FOR US TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT POLITICALLY IN OUR COUNTRY AND HOW WE CAN TAKE BACK CONTROL.

WE HAVE BEEN -- WE'RE A HUGE VOTING BLOCK EVERYWHERE, AND SO I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME HOPE THAT WAS -- THAT CAME OUT OF THAT FOR BLACK WOMEN.

>> HOW ARE YOU INCORPORATING THE EXPERIENCES OF BLACK WOMEN AND TRANS NATIONAL FEMINISTS IN YOUR ORGANIZATION?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE INCORPORATING THAT IS BY UPLIFTING AND HIGHLIGHTING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OTHER HAD COUNTRIES AND HOW, FOR EXAMPLE, ESPECIALLY IN COUNTRIES WHERE AGRICULTURALLY WOMEN ARE ENGAGE IN FARMING OR THERE'S A HIGH RATE OF TRAFFICKING, OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEX TRAFFICKING, AND FORCED PROSTITUTION, FOR EXAMPLE, IN PARTS OF BRAZIL, THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN.

AGAIN WITH NATURAL DISASTERS.

HOW WE SHOULD -- THAT THAT SHOULD BE PART OF WHAT WE DISCUSS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES, HOW WOMEN ARE SERVING.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, WE INCORPORATE THE NEEDS OF WOMEN IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, THE NEEDS OF WOMEN IN COUNTRIES IN AFRICA, AND THE NEEDS OF WOMEN NOT JUST -- THROUGHOUT THE GLOBAL STOUTH IN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR GIRLS AS WELL, THE NEED FOR EDUCATION.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT AND THAT'S HOW WE INCORPORATE THE ISSUES.

>> AND YOU ALSO REPRESENT THE BLACK LGBTQ COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

>> AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING.

I THINK WHAT'S WONDERFUL ABOUT THE CONCEPT IN THIS NOTION OF INTERSECTIONALITY IS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT RACE, CLASS, GENDER, NATION, IMMIGRATION STATUS.

WE CAN LOOK AT SEXUALITY AND GENDER IDENTITY.

AND SO THERE WERE FOUR OF US OR FOUR ORGANIZATIONS WHO PARTICIPATED IN DOING THIS, ALTHOUGH I WAS THE LEAD ORGANIZER, I BROUGHT ON THE BLACK YOUTH PROJECT LOCATED OUT OF CHICAGO WITH SEVERAL CHAPTERS THROUGHOUT THE NATION, INCLUDING HERE.

I INCLUDED SISTER SONG, WHICH FOCUSES ON REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND BLACK WOMEN IN PARTICULAR.

I INCLUDED TRANS SISTERS OF COLOR DETROIT WHICH FOCUSES ON THE TRANS COMMUNITY.

TRANS IDENTIFIED WOMEN'S HEALTH, TRANS IDENTIFIED WOMEN'S SAFETY, AND REALLY THE RIGHT TO NOT BE MURDERED.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY WOMEN OF COLOR AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE N. >> I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER BUT MY SENSE IS, AND IN OUR CONVERSATIONS AROUND VOTING, I WOULD SAY ABOUT HALF OF US ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE.

I THINK A LOT OF THE ELDERS ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, BUT THEN WITH VOTER SUPPRESSION AND KNOWING WHAT BLACK WOMEN AND BLACK FOLKS HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH, JUST TO GET TO THE POLLS, ONCE YOU START -- ONCE YOU START IMPLEMENTING OR IMPOSING RULES AROUND IDs AND, YOU KNOW, LACK OF ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, LONG LINES, I THINK THAT THAT DISCUSSION PEOPLE FROM VOTING.

>> IS PAST YOUR TRAINING TEACHING WOMEN OF COLOR HOW TO USE ABSENTEE AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS?

>> THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH HIGHER HEIGHTS, WHO IS HELPING -- NOT ONLY HELPING WOMEN TO REGISTER TO VOTE, AS A SISTER FEMINIST ORGANIZATION WEEK BLACK FEMINIST ORGANIZATION IN BROOKLYN BUT DOING THE WORK NATIONALLY, HIGHER HEIGHTS REGISTERING WOMEN TO VOTE AND IS REALLY HELPING WOMAN TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN VOTE EVEN IF YOU CAN'T SHOW UP, EVEN IF YOU'RE ELSEWHERE, AND THEY'RE ALSO TEACHING BLACK WOMEN HOW TO RUN FOR OFFICE, HOW TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR AT THE NATIONAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE A LOT OF BLACK WOMEN AND OTHER WOMEN OF COLOR WINNING IN 2018?

>> I MEAN, I THINK EVEN WITH THIS LAST ELECTION THERE WERE SEVERAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WHO -- ACTUALLY WOMEN OF COLOR IN GENERAL, RIGHT, WHO WERE ABLE TO TAKE OFFICE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN THEIR LOCAL ELECTIONS.

EVEN IF IT'S RUNNING FOR YOUR PTA, FOR YOUR COMMUNITY BOARD, I THINK THAT WE'RE ENCOURAGING WOMEN OF COLOR TO REALLY TAKE THE CHARGE AND TAKE THAT BOLD STEP, TO THINK ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND TO TAKE LEADERSHIP EVEN AT THOSE LEVELS.

>> TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN FACE BIGGER BURDENS WHEN THEY RUN FOR OFFICE?

AND HOW DOES THEIR SELF-ESTEEM PLAY INTO THAT?

>> I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING FOR OFFICE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, THE ISSUES ARE MORE STRUCTURAL AND SYSTEMIC AND SOCIETAL RATHER THAN.

SO PERSONALLY THERE'S THE ISSUE OF SELF-ESTEEM.

THAT WOULD BE A PERSONAL BARRIER TO RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

SO SEVERAL WOMEN HAVE SELF-ESTEEM ISSUES REGARD HIS OF RACE, REGARDLESS OF ETHNICITY.

BUT THEY CAN STILL RUN FOR OFFICE, RIGHT?

WHITE WOMEN IN PARTICULAR CAN RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RAISE FUNDS, AND THERE'S MORE ACCESS TO FUNDS, THERE'S MORE ACCESS TO FUNDING.

THERE'S JUST MORE ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WITH BLACK WOMEN, THERE IS -- THERE ARE -- THERE'SY LESS ACCESS, AND SO YOU HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE DMOS AND YOU HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HIGHER HEIGHTS AGAIN AND SEVERAL OTHERS WHO ARE REALLY HELPING TO RAISE MONEY TO BACK AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR IN GENERAL TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

PEOPLE OF COLOR TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

WITH ALL THAT THEY WILL NEED, WITH ALL OF THE TRING TRAINING, WITH ALL OF THE TECHNICAL CINCHES, WITH ALL OF THE TEAMS, THEY EQUIP THEM WITH ALL OF THE TEAMS THAT THEY NEED AND ALSO THE FUNDRAISING ASSISTANCE THAT THEY WOULD NEED BECAUSE THE ACCESS IS DIFFERENT.

>> WHICH IS WORSE, SECONDSISM OR RACISM?

>> I THINK FOR BLACK WOMEN, I THINK MOST OF US WOULD ANSWER THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY SEPARATE THE TWO.

SEXISM AND RACISM IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE IMPACTED BY EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SEXISM AND RACISM SHOWS UP IN OUR LIVES BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SPHERE.

IT SHOWS UP IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

IT SHOWS UP ON THE STREET.

AND IT SHOWS UP IN OUR HOMES.

IT SHOWS UP IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

AND I'M TALKING ABOUT BOTH SEXISM AND RACISM.

WHAT'S INTERNALIZED AND WHAT IS COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

AND SO IT'S SOMETHING -- IT'S REALLY NOT A QUESTION FOR US AS TO WHETHER ONE IS WORSE THAN THE OTHER.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DEBATES INTERNALLY ABOUT SEXISM AND RACISM, WHICH CAME FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG.

I THINK WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE UNITED STATES IT'S A DIFFERENT -- IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT RESPONSE THAN IF YOU WENT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WON'T AFRICAN CONTINENT, THEY WOULD TALK TO YOU ABOUT THERE WERE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PATRIARCHY THAT EXISTED AND THEN THERE WERE ALSO SOCIETIES THAT WERE VERY MATRIARCH THAT EXISTED, BUT THE ISSUE OF RACISM CAME ABOUT AND RACIALISM CAME ABOUT AROUND THE 1300, 1400s.

>> DID PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ELECTION HELP YOU FUNDRAISE AS, FOR EXAMPLE, IT DID OTHER LEBRON OF NOT LIKE THE ACLU.

>> THAT'S THE ACLU SO THAT'S A MAINSTREAM ORGANIZATION.

I THINK SINCE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE NOT SEEN AN INCREASE IN FUNDING.

I THINK THAT ALSO SPEAKS TO, YOU KNOW, THE NEW ERA THAT WE'RE LIVING IN.

TRUMP WAS ELECTED REALLY -- RACISM HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT.

TRUMP WASTE ELECTED BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE THINKING ABOUT MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN THE ISSUES THAT WE ADDRESS HAVE NEVER BEEN ISSUES THAT WERE POPULAR, EVER NEVER BEEN SEXY ISSUES.

THE ISSUES THAT WE ADDRESS ARE AROUND SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THE ISSUES THAT WE ADDRESS ARE AROUND PERSON SAFETY, STATE VIOLENCE, MASS INCARCERATION, AND WE DO IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE'RE DEALING IN MANY, MANY WAYS ONE ON ONE WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE ISSUE OF HEALING.

WE'RE DEALING WITH COMMUNITIES, AROUND HEALING AND AROUND REALLY EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY INTERNALLY.

>> CHANGES IN TITLE IX.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO AFFECT BLACK WOMEN ON CAMPUS?

>> THAT IS GOING TO BE DEVASTATING.

THE GUIDANCE ISSUE BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WERE, THEY WERE HELPFUL.

THEY ENSURED CERTAIN RIGHTS FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THEY ALSO ENSURED RIGHTS FOR THE ACCUSED ALREADY.

IT WAS 3rd THERE.

BUT THEY ALSO ENSURED RIGHTS FOR -- AND WAYS IN WHICH THAT CASES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEXUAL BUICE ABUSE, SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION COULD BE HANDLED FROM K-12.

NOW WE'RE SEEING SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

WE'RE SEEING THESE VERY PROTECTIONS JUST DISAPPEAR AND ERODED AND WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS.

>> ARE THERE STILL A LOT OF BLACK WOMEN ON CAMPUS NOT REPORTING SEXUAL ASSAULT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AD AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE LEGACY OF RACISM.

A LEGACY THAT HAS ESPECIALLY TARGETED MEN AROUND THE ISSUE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND AROUND LINK BECAUSE OF RAPE.

I MEAN, THE MAIN REASON YOU THE LOOK AT OUR HISTORY THAT WAS BLACK MAN WAS LYNCHED WAS EITHER FOR ATTEMPTING SUPPOSEDLY, BEING ACCUSED OF RAPING A WHITE WOMAN WEEK LOOKING AT A WHITE WOMAN, WHISTLING AT A WHITE WOMAN.

WE CAN THINK OF EM IT 'TIL.

OR ATTEMPTING TO VOTE.

RIGHT?

THEYS ARE SOME OF THE REASONS OR HAVING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

DARING TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

AND SO I THINK THAT THAT FOR US HAS IMPLANTED IN OUR MINDS THE SENSE OF RACIAL LOYALTY AND TO REALLY PROTECT OUR BROTHERS, OUR FATHERS, OUR SONS, YOU KNOW, AND SO IT'S -- IT'S ONE ISSUE THAT THAT -- THAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT FROM A HISTORICAL CONTEXT, AND SO NOW IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT, RIGHT?

SO THOSE ARE HISTORICAL FACTS AND HISTORICAL NARRATIVES THAT HAVE -- WE'VE PASSED ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

AND SO IT MAKES IT MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO REPORT TO THE POLICE OR REPORT AN OFFENSE, A SEXUAL ASSAULT AGAINST US.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER BROTHER PUT IN PRISON OR IN JAIL, AND MANY TIMES THAT MEANS WE SACRIFICE OURSELVES.

>> DO YOU THINK WHITE WOMEN WITH SONS HAVE ANY IDEA OF HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IT IS FOR BLACK MOTHERS OF SONS TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN?

>> I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ANY IDEA.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RAISE A BLACK SON OR TO RAISE A BLACK DAUGHTER.

I THINK RAISING A BLACK DAUGHTER ALSO CARRIES A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY IN THE SENSE THAT WE #, EVEN AS BLACK DAUGHTERS, EVEN AS LITTLE GIRLS, WE KNOW THAT IT'S OUR ROLE TO PROTECT, OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S OUR ROLE TO PROTECT EVEN OUR BIG BROTHERS FROM THE POLICE.

AND WHAT'S -- AND THE ONE THING THAT WE DO WITH BLACK WOMEN'S BLUEPRINT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THERE IS NO RACIAL JUSTICE WITHOUT GENDER JUSTICE IS THAT WE'RE SAYING THAT HOW CAN WE FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE FOR ONLY ONE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION.

HOW CAN WE NOT LOOK AT THE PLIGHT OF TRANS WOMEN, TRANS IDENTIFIED WOMEN, WHICH IS -- THAT'S GENDER ISSUES.

HOW CAN WE NOT LOOK AT OUR GIRLS DISAPPEARING FROM THE STREETS, EVEN IN WASHINGTON, DC.

HOW CAN WE NOT LOOK AT THE FACT THAT BLACK WOMEN EARN EVEN LESS WHEN WORKING THAN BLACK MEN DO.

HOW CAN WE NOT LOOK AT THAT BLACK WOMEN MAKE UP ALMOST HALF OF INTIMATE PARTNER HOMICIDES AT THE HANDS OF OUR OWN BROTHERS.

AND SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, AND THAT'S NOT EVEN GOING BACK HISTORICALLY, THE FACT THAT BLACK WOMEN BIRTH HOLE GENERATIONS OF MORE ENSLAVED PEOPLE FOR AELL COUNTRY THAT THRIVED, THEY THRIVED, THIS COUNTRY THRIVED OFF OF OUR VERY BODIES AND OUR ABILITIES TO BIRTH ENTIRE GENERATIONS OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE, AND SO THAT IS GENDER JUSTICE.

THE FACT, THE ACT OF HAVING TO BIRTH A WHOLE GENERATION.

THAT IS DEFINITELY A -- THAT'S RACIAL JUSTICE AND THAT IS GENDER JUSTICE COMBINED, WHICH IS WHY WE CAN'T REALLY SEPARATE THE TWO.

AND SO, NO, I DON'T THINK THAT WHITE MOTHERS CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RAISE A BLACK SON OR A BLACK DAUGHTER AND WHAT WEIGHT THAT THAT CARRIES NOT ONLY THE THROUGH THE LENS OF CONTEMPORARY ISSUES BUT OUR HISTORY IS EVER PRESENT.

THE MEMORY IS EVER PRESENT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WHAT A NOTE TO GO OUT ON.

YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "TO THE CONTRARY."

PLEASE FOLLOW ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE PBS.ORG/TO THE CONTRARY, AND WHETHER YOU GREER THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.