First hour: Discussing stereotypes faced by women in politics
Second hour: The documentary, "Don't Be Nice"
The New York Times stirred debate with a piece about perceptions of sexism on the campaign trail. Six women are running for president in 2020, and record numbers of women are running for office on just about every level. The Times piece is called “A Woman, Just Not That Woman.” It details how voters claim to view men and women equally as political contenders, yet women face steeper challenges. Our guests weigh in:
- Nicole Hushla Re, vice chair of the Monroe County Democratic Party
- Robin Wilt, member of the Brighton Town Board
- Stephanie Townsend, member of the Pittsford Town Board
Then in our second hour, the documentary “Don’t Be Nice” tells the story of five slam poets from New York City who have teamed up to compete for a national title. Their coach encourages them to push past the entertainment value of the form and write and speak from a place of vulnerability, confronting painful issues related to race, gender, sexuality, and identity. The film will be screened as part of the Black Cinema Series at the Little Theatre on Friday. We’ll preview the film with its director and local slam poets who will share their process. Our guests:
- Kevin Hicks, journalist, and vice president of the Rochester Association of Black Journalists
- Reenah Golden, founder and artistic director of The Avenue Blackbox Theatre, host of the Goddess Hour on WAYO FM, co-creator of Kuumba Consultants, and founder of SLAAAM High
- Shaq "A.O.R." Payne, spoken word artist and recording artist
- Nikhil Melnechuk, filmmaker for “Don’t Be Nice,” actor, and poet