Illumination

We may be unintentional and theoretical pyromaniacs. In past episodes, Dr. Lisa and Dr. Shaunna have both suggested burning racism, patriarchy, and all form of -isms to the ground like White Hot (ep. 16) , Burn It Down (ep. 48), and Pilot Light (ep. 179). But in today's episode, they’re talking about an all-consuming fire that illuminates how the racial divide in the U.S. is still strong. The recently destroyed plantation mansion and SCOTUS hearings about nationwide injunctions on birthright citizenship illustrate their point. 

Word of the Week [1:20]: Schadenfreude: This German word describes how folks respond with glee to others’ misfortune. There is a lot of this going around right now.

Phase 1 [7:24]: Nottoway "Resort": The largest antebellum mansion in the South originally built by John Hampden Randolph's sl@ves burned to ashes. The sugar baron's plantation was a total loss and there are plenty of African Americans who celebrated. White Americans on the other hand romanticized the mansion, the grounds, and even the trees rarely mentioning the loss and grief to Indigenous peoples and African lives. 

Phase 2 [25:10]: Birthright Citizenship by State: At the time of this recording, at least three federal district court judges had placed a nationwide hold on the Executive Order limiting birthright citizenship. Dr. Lisa thought this case was settled by SCOTUS over 120 years ago in United States vs. Wong Kim Ark, but immigrants and naturalized citizens are waiting on a definitive answer. Unfortunately, the recent SCOTUS case turns on the legality of the  nationwide injunction not the redefinition of the 14th Amendment.

Mentioned in the show

Supreme Court Justices appear divided in birthright citizenship case - NPR

Fire destroys Nottoway Plantation House in Louisiana - CBS News

As Nottoway Plantation Burns, The Ancestors, And Social Media Rejoice - Black Enterprise

Why Many Celebrate The Burning Of Largest Southern Plantation - Medium

Nation's largest remaining antebellum plantation burns to the ground - Axios New Orleans

4 Takeaways From the Citizenship Case (That Was Really About Injunctions) - NYT

No clear decision emerges from arguments on judges’ power to block Trump’s birthright citizenship order - SCOTUSblog
What judges have said about birthright citizenship and nationwide injunctions - PBS News