Shattering the Silence on Sexual Violence Across Africa with Rachel Markham

Shattering the Silence on Sexual Violence Across Africa with Rachel Markham

On the season finale of The Unwanted Sorority, we are giving flowers to Lupita Nyong'o for her global commitment to elevating the voices and messages of Black women across the diaspora through her art and her activism. Rachel Markham, our Roll Call guest also joins us to share her testimony of healing from sexual assault. A writer, DJ, and sexual assault survivor, Rachel shares her journey through the work raising awareness about sexual assault in Ghana with her organization Sexual Assault Africa and The Transformation Foundation. This episode is a full celebration of our strength and support across the diaspora. Let's get into it! Until next time, listeners... Resources & Mentions Lupita Nyong'o's excerpts from her New York Times op-ed as cited from Mike Miller's article in People Magazine titled "Lupita Nyong'o Says Harvey Weinstein Asked Her for a Massage [https://people.com/movies/lupita-nyongo-says-harvey-weinstein-asked-her-for-a-massage-while-his-children-were-home-in-emotional-op-ed/#:~:text=“Harvey%20led%20me%20into%20a,”]" Errin Haines Whack's article "Why so few women of color in the wave of accusers? ‘Stakes higher [https://whyy.org/articles/women-color-wave-accusers-stakes-higher/#:~:text=When%20Oscar,accusations%20by%20famous%20white%20accusers]’'  for WHYY Lawretta Egba's article "Lupita Nyong’o Speaks up for “Broken” Women; Calls for “Healing” at Variety Power of Women Luncheon [https://face2faceafrica.com/article/lupita-nyongo-speaks-broken-women-calls-healing-variety-power-women-luncheon]" for Face2Face Africa  Rachel Markham's book Transformation [https://www.everand.com/book/636527806/Transformation] Rachel's Nonprofit Recommendations: 1. The Boring Talkative [https://www.instagram.com/boringtalkative/?hl=en], a Ghanian NGO focused on equality, consent, sexual and gender-based violence 2. The Brotar Foundation [https://www.instagram.com/the_brotar_foundation/?hl=en], a Ghanian NGO focused on on mental health awareness 3. Power to Girls [https://www.powertogirls.com], a Greater Toronto Area and Ghana-based nonprofit focused on Black and marginalized girls with programming and support in personal development, mentorship, mental health and wellness. Follow them on IG here: @power2girlsgh [https://www.instagram.com/powertogirlsca/?hl=en] About the Spotlight Initiative [https://www.spotlightinitiative.org] Florence Keya's organization Together for Girls [togetherforgirls.org] Wangu Kanja Foundation [wangukanjafoundation.org]  Women's Media Center-'s “#AmINext: South African women push back [womensmediacenter.com]” in honor of Uyinene Mrwetyana The New Humanitarian's article about the rise of violence against women in Sudan [thenewhumanitarian.org] Mukwege Foundation [mukwegefoundation.org]- Survivor network in Nigeria press release  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Hum of Rage: Healing Through Gullah Igala Roots and Self-Discovery with Lori Johnson

On this episode of The Unwanted Sorority, we are honoring the groundbreaking legacy of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, whose investigative journalism exposed the ties between racial terror and sexual violence in the South, laying a foundation for future generations of survivor-advocates. Our Roll Call guest, Lori Johnson, shares her own story of survival and healing. Growing up in NYC and moving to the South, Lori experienced family instability and within the strict teachings of the Jehovah’s Witness faith, Lori carried shame and trauma for years. Today, she traces her healing journey back to her Gullah Igala cultural and ancestral roots, where spirituality, community, and history become sources of strength. If you’ve ever felt unseen in your story, this episode reminds you: your survival is sacred, your healing is valid, and you are not alone. Resources & Mentions Ida B. Wells-Barnett's Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All its Phases - Oct. 5, 1892 [https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/galleries/archiving-against-censorship-and-white-supremacy/item/17480], from the archives of The New York Public Library The Bill of Rights Institute's curriculum assignment Ida B. Wells and the Campaign against Lynching [https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/ida-b-wells-and-the-campaign-against-lynching] Mary E. Triece's book, Radical Advocate: Ida B. Wells and the Road to Race and Gender Justice [https://www.uapress.ua.edu/blog/ida-b-wells-and-the-writing-tradition-of-black-women-an-excerpt-from-radical-advocate-by-mary-e-triece/#:~:text=Third%2C%20from%20Maria%20Stewart’s%201830s,views%20about%20race%3B%20those%20with], featured on The University of Alabama Press's website Amb Ayegba Abdullahi Adojoh's article "A Study of the Cultural Relationship between Igala (Igula) Kingdom of Nigeria and Gullah People of North America [https://www.ijtrd.com/papers/IJTRD25354.pdf#:~:text=Today%2C%20many%20Gullah%20people%20of,or%20someone%20from%20the%20ethnic]" in the International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 9(5), ISSN: 2394-9333 RAINN (800-656-HOPE) [https://rainn.org] Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community [https://ujimacommunity.org] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Being a Survivor, It's Not the Biggest Thing About Us with Dom

In this episode of The Unwanted Sorority, Leatra honors Rosa Parks’s lesser-known role as an NAACP sexual assault investigator and her advocacy for Recy Taylor, tying their courage to today’s movement and this episode's Roll Call guest. She also speaks with Dom, who shares how therapy, storytelling, and community have been central to reclaiming power after trauma. In Unpacking the Ritual, Leatra names patterns many Black women and femme survivors will recognize: the adultification of Black girls, stonewalling, and dissociation. Inspired by Dom's interview, Leatra works to reframe self-care as accountability, love, and liberation. Join the conversation: @theunwantedsorority on IG/TikTok. Resources and Mentions Ryan Mattimore's article for History.com "Before the Bus, Rosa Parks Was a Sexual Assault Investigator: Why has History Left Out This Piece of Rosa Parks' Story? [https://www.history.com/articles/before-the-bus-rosa-parks-was-a-sexual-assault-investigator]" Laura L. Rogers (Deputy Director for Office of Violence Against Women): National African American History Month: Remembering Rosa Parks’ Work to Address Sexual Assault [https://www.justice.gov/archives/ovw/blog/national-african-american-history-month-remembering-rosa-parks-work-address-sexual-assault] Tell Me More (Podcast on NPR): Hidden Pattern Of Rape Helped Stir Civil Rights Movement [https://www.npr.org/2011/02/28/134131369/hidden-pattern-of-rape-helped-stir-civil-rights-movement] "The Black Girlhood Studies Collection [https://www.ariashalliday.com/the-black-girlhood-studies-collection.html]" by Aria S. Halliday Ellie Lisitsa's article for Gottman.com "The Four Horsemen: Stonewalling" [https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-four-horsemen-stonewalling/] Tonjie Reese's blog post for California Partnership to End Domestic Violence "The War Against Black Girls: Addressing the adultification bias" [https://www.cpedv.org/post/war-against-black-girls-addressing-adultification-bias-written-tonjie-reese] RAINN (800-656-HOPE) [https://rainn.org] DoD Safe Helpline (877-995-5247) [https://safehelpline.org] Ujima: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community [https://ujimacommunity.org] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Honoring Vanessa Guillen, Denisha Montgomery, and LaVena Johnson: On Military Sexual Trauma

In this week's bonus episode, we cover a brief introduction to military sexual violence and military sexual trauma, and highlight a few notable cases that have either set a precedent for progress in terms of the military's response to individual cases or reinforced the instinct of silence for others. In doing so, we honor the stories of Vanessa Guillen and he family's fight for justice, as well as Denisha Montgomery and LaVena Johnson, whose families are still seeking answers today.  Resources and Mentions  1. President Biden's Executive Order, 2022 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20250118021144%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fbriefing-room%2Fstatements-releases%2F2022%2F01%2F26%2Ffact-sheet-executive-order-2022-amendments-to-the-manual-for-courts-martial%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCarmenLlorens%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd47746cbcf5b4726b8c408dde63ad14f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638919862477740621%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=dcWycFv0nhhPS%2BsVZkX4hWLG8BQSR%2BLaBWLily64Lxk%3D&reserved=0] [link found using the Wayback Machine, as the original link has been deactivated on WhiteHouse.Gov; original link last accessible January 20, 2025 at 16:35:32] 2. FedWeek's article "Court Says Military Members Can Sue Others in Uniform [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fedweek.com%2Farmed-forces-news%2Fcourt-says-military-members-can-sue-others-in-uniform%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCarmenLlorens%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd47746cbcf5b4726b8c408dde63ad14f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638919862477764354%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BXsRYIeNN3uyAGGbmJTSm5hzv1m9f5LuAZvFGB2pRmA%3D&reserved=0]" 3. Liz Jassin's article about Denisha Montgomery "Family believes woman was murdered during deployment [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsnationnow.com%2Fus-news%2Ffamily-believes-woman-was-murdered-during-deployment%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCarmenLlorens%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd47746cbcf5b4726b8c408dde63ad14f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638919862477786538%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bfLteLy1VtnZgpoxndxVG8ZB17VWXowrKUHNhiI8v8M%3D&reserved=0]" 4. Combat Sexual Assault [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcombatsexualassault.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCarmenLlorens%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd47746cbcf5b4726b8c408dde63ad14f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638919862477806745%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3K4U1gRYQR47fLnCWK99Vta8VMtU4ch%2BoUonrqP%2BWjM%3D&reserved=0]  [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcombatsexualassault.org%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCarmenLlorens%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd47746cbcf5b4726b8c408dde63ad14f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638919862477823867%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DDhlifsPUz79MgkdkWgksOt89oAVSsr%2BL6vTuVWBVNk%3D&reserved=0] 5. Marielle Pdilla on the Feres Doctrine "The 19th Explains: How a recent court opinion could clear the way for military sexual assault survivors to find justice [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2F19thnews.org%2F2022%2F08%2Fmilitary-sexual-assault-survivors-justice%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCarmenLlorens%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd47746cbcf5b4726b8c408dde63ad14f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638919862477840407%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RWENTPfE8%2FcpajWa9%2BEHgYBvqOsKXhI%2BzS%2B7IrahxoY%3D&reserved=0]" 6. U.S. Department of Defense, "DOD, Services Moving Ahead on Recommendations to Combat Sexual Assault [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.defense.gov%2FNews%2FNews-Stories%2FArticle%2FArticle%2F3167285%2Fdod-services-moving-ahead-on-recommendations-to-combat-sexual-assault%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCarmenLlorens%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd47746cbcf5b4726b8c408dde63ad14f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638919862477856785%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JG9mFfMMqHN3nQyc0TTqAwxkE6jdPPJi87niSFQAXnE%3D&reserved=0]" 7. Fort Hood Independent Review- Timeline [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.army.mil%2Fforthoodreview%2F%23timeline&data=05%7C02%7CCarmenLlorens%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd47746cbcf5b4726b8c408dde63ad14f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638919862477999820%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Rmz7tO8o8FTiKWxMUNyA3WqzKCh5yHsMbcu9zpLaQlw%3D&reserved=0] 8. Stanford University Library- Say Their Names exhibit: LaVena Johnson [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexhibits.stanford.edu%2Fsaytheirnames%2Ffeature%2Flavena-johnson&data=05%7C02%7CCarmenLlorens%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd47746cbcf5b4726b8c408dde63ad14f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638919862478017363%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LTjcMxmo1ycUZqdtGRCnCnIpzEH8uODY2z%2FeGWH6Uw4%3D&reserved=0] 9. Team Ebony of EBONY Magazine's article "The Sexual Trauma of Black Female Veterans [https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebony.com%2Fthe-sexual-trauma-of-black-female-veterans-403%2F&data=05%7C02%7CCarmenLlorens%40iheartmedia.com%7Cd47746cbcf5b4726b8c408dde63ad14f%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C638919862478033978%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=xZBK3IZrrYsAku5DTn9scRwYSA4o8FGotuDJwdsaqyE%3D&reserved=0]" See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Stepping In to Change Rape Culture with Dr. Taylor Waits

Join us on a journey in this episode as we get ready to head back-to-school all across the United States, as Dr. Leatra Tate pays tribute to the groundbreaking work of The Combahee River Collective. The episode also features a compelling conversation with Dr. Taylor Waits, co-founder of #ChangeRapeCulture, who shares her journey in advocating for survivors of sexual violence-- particularly those who are queer, Black, and marginalized-- and describes her organization's impactful work. Tune in to hear their efforts to continue the legacy of activism inspired by the Combahee River Collective. Resources and Mentions The Combahee River Collective Statement [https://americanstudies.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Keyword%20Coalition_Readings.pdf] Maddie Khaw's Boston Globe article "We Were Building Tables: Demita Frazier Reflects on Influential Black Feminist Collective [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/02/14/metro/demita-frazier-influential-black-feminist-collective/]" The Combahee River Collective's pamphlet titled, "Eleven Black Women Why Did They Die? [https://historyproject.omeka.net/items/show/590]" Dr. Mariana Brandman's Massachusetts Women's History Center article "The Combahee River Collective: Pioneers of Intersectional Feminism [https://www.mawomenshistory.org/resources/articles/combahee-river-collective-pioneers-intersectional-feminism]"  Dr. Taylor Waits and Kimiya Factory- #ChangeRapeCulture website [https://changerapeculture.org/about/] #ChangeRapeCulture- Instagram archive [https://www.instagram.com/chngerpeclture/] Jon Marcus' NPR article "While Women Outnumber Men on Campus, Their Later Earnings Remain Stuck [https://www.npr.org/2024/06/13/g-s1-4038/women-outnumber-men-colleges-earnings]" Women's Sports Foundation's article "Title IX and the Rise of Female Athletes in America [https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/education/title-ix-and-the-rise-of-female-athletes-in-america/]" American Association of University Women's (AAUW) article "AAUW Condemns Executive Order to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education [https://www.aauw.org/resources/news/media/press-releases/aauw-condemns-executive-order-to-dismantle-the-u-s-department-of-education/]" The NAACP's Legal Defense Fund article "The Trump Administration's Attack on the Department of Education, Explained: What Students and Parents Need to Know [https://www.naacpldf.org/case-issue/trump-administration-attack-on-department-of-education/]" The Clery Center's explanation of the Violence Against Women Act [https://www.clerycenter.org/vawa-dfsca-ferpa] Advocates for Youth's Know Your IX program [https://www.advocatesforyouth.org/campaigns/know-your-ix/]- including a Title IX advocacy toolkit U.S. Department of Education- Office for Civil Rights, File a Complaint [https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/file-complaint] (general information page) RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline [https://rainn.org] – Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) Ujima, The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community [https://ujimacommunity.org/resources/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.