In this episode of Intersectionality in the American South, host Dr. Katie Acosta talks with award-winning filmmaker Michèle Stephenson at Georgia State’s Auburn Avenue Research Center. Michèle Stephenson shares her documentary film True North, which spotlights the 1968–69 Black Liberation Movement in Canada and the student occupation which occurred in what is now Concordia University. True North offers firsthand accounts and rare archival footage of Black student activism in a way that connects liberation movements in Canada and the United States. Michèle Stephenson shares Canada's history with several important themes in the documentary, including surveillance, deportations, and Canada’s denial of its own racism. She shares that the film intentionally centers Black women’s role in the movement because their voices had previously been silence. In all, True North builds an archive for future generations.

Learn More about the True North documentary and about Michèle Stpehenson's other films by visiting Rada Studio.

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In this episode of Intersectionality in the American South, host Dr. Katie Acosta talks with Jamil Jude, artistic director of Atlanta’s True Colors Theatre Company, about how a football injury in college unexpectedly led to his lifelong passion for theater. Jude reflects on the power of Black theater spaces that cater to a predominantly Black audience and the possibilities for socially relevant theater to move people toward empathy and action. Jude speaks candidly about the sacrifices the industry requires and the rewards of parenting within it. Above all, he relies on the power of community, rest and stillness to remain grounded in hard times.

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In this episode of Intersectionality in the American South, host Dr. Katie Acosta chats with Keith Arthur Bolden, an Actor and Associate Professor at Spelman College, about how representation and community shaped his path into theater and film. Hear his thoughts on becoming an actor, balancing family and finding his way.

Watch the video version is episode on Youtube.

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In this episode of Intersectionality in the American South, host Dr. Katie Acosta speaks with Anton Flores-Maisonet, founder of Casa Alterna in Decatur, Georgia, about the organization hospitality and support of asylum seekers and other migrants. Flores-Maisonet shares Casa Alena’s evolution over nearly 20 years—from relationships formed through an immigrant church and cooperative housing, to accompaniment and hospitality near detention sites, to recent daily volunteer presence at Atlanta’s ICE field office. Casa Alterna volunteers provide food, information, risk screening, and referrals to attorneys, while facing increased scrutiny and restricted access. Flores-Maisonet discussed obstacles within the legal immigration system, rising detention numbers and harsh, inconsistent policies, and shares a story from his book Welcome Friends about one asylum seeker’s resilience.

00:00 Show Introduction

00:59 Meet Anton Flores-Maisonet

01:51 Casa Alterna's Mission

03:30 Hospitality And ICE

06:04 Work Evolution Framework

10:10 Pivots with a New Administration

11:28 Faith And Mutual Aid

13:12 Day At ICE Field Office

18:06 Detention Conditions Deteriorate

19:55 Barriers In the Legal Process

28:02 Benny 's Story From Welcome, Friends

32:05 Avoiding Burnout

36:50 Closing And Resources

Learn more about Casa Alterna's work by visitng their website https://casaalterna.org/

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Follow us on instagram @intersectsouth or visit our website at https://sites.gsu.edu/intersectsouth/

In this episode, Dr. Kendra Jason, an Associate Professor of Sociology at UNC Charlotte and Founder of Work for Change, shares her approach to creating inclusive workspaces in higher education and other professional environments. Dr. Jason shares her personal background and research focus on low-wage workers and their opportunities for social mobility. She recounts her University's diversity initiatives following the murder of George Floyd and the challenges faced with the closure of her insitution's diversity, equity and inclusion office in 2024. Dr. Jason also talks about her consultancy, Work for Change, which focuses on helping organizations build inclusive cultures and address systemic work process issues. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Jason invites us to look at challenging times as an opportunity to own our social justice work and carve out opportunities for its continuity with or without institutional supports.

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In this episode of 'Intersectionality in the American South,' host Dr. Katie Acosta dives into the ways tech is changing how educators and administrators approach their work higher education . Recorded during a symposium in Mainz, Germany, this episode features interviews with Dr. Kameelah Martin and Dr. Karen Jackson Weaver. Dr. Martin talks about her new research project looking at the ways digital platforms connect cultures across the diaspora. Dr. Jackson Weaver shares her views on using AI in education while emphasizing the need for digital ethics and inclusivity. Both guests highlight how tech can both advance learning and pose challenges for BIPOC communities.

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In this episode, We speak with Sig Giordano who offers a first hand account of their time in the West Bank picking olives alongside Palestinians during the annual olive harvest. Giordano candidly takes the listener through their learning journey as the granddaughter of Nazi holocaust survivors and advocate for Palestinian liberation. This episode offers a nuanced analysis of what Palestinian resistance looks like a year and a half into the War in Gaza.

To learn more about the International Solidarity Movement, the organization that Sig travelled to the West Bank with, visit their website.

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