The Avant Guardian Podcast

Where Do We Go From Here: A Roadmap from Protest to Policy

Join Professor Cornell William Brooks as he interviews Monica Cannon-Grant, Eric Cheng, and Rev. Dr. Brandon Thomas Crowley on the ways in which nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience can be harnessed to advance public policy and social transformation. This episode was originally recorded on June 12, 2020.

Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom with Dr. David Blight

Frederick Douglass was on the frontier of abolishing slavery in the United States. Douglass' legacy has sparked renewed interest as activists across the country call to "abolish the police." Professor Cornell William Brooks interviews Dr. David Blight about his definitive biography of Frederick Douglass and the impact of his legacy in the current movement for freedom and liberation.

A Black Plague: A Pandemic, Protest, and A Second Wave with Congressman James Clyburn

Professor Cornell William Brooks interviews Congressman James Clyburn on the Avant Guardian Podcast to discuss the need to move from protest to the polls. As the United States prepares for a second presidential election without the full protections of the Voting Rights Act, Congressman Clyburn reflects on his personal history of activism and what we must do to protect our democracy through electoral politics and public policy.

Pandemic Resilience with Dr. Danielle Allen

With over 4 million cases of COVID 19 in the United States, governors and elected officials across the country are determining the best way to open the United States economy. Professor Cornell William Brooks speaks with Dr. Danielle Allen, Director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, to discuss the groundbreaking report - Roadmap to Pandemic Resilience. In this study, Dr. Allen describes what we must do to safely reopen the economy and care for the most vulnerable.

Honoring a Radical Life for Justice with Author Kerri K. Greenidge

We live in a moment of unprecedented citizen activism. Many of the strategies used by protestors across the United States were practiced by William Monroe Trotter - an activist, journalist, and Black radical. William Monroe Trotter's style of activism preceded many of the demonstrations in our country today. Join our host Cornell William Brooks and Dr. Kerri Greenidge for a powerful conversation on the life and legacy of William Monroe Trotter.