8.13: Invisible Lynching and What It Says About the Fight for Justice

First Name Basis Podcast

Trigger warning: Before you continue reading these show notes or listening to this episode, please be aware that it discusses lynching and white supremacist violence.

Lynching is a reality both now and in the past. Yet despite the fact that lynching continues to happen, it took more than 120 years to get an anti-lynching bill passed.

In that time, more than 200 iterations of bills that would make lynching a federal crime were introduced and failed to pass over and over again — including one that was voted down only three days before Ahmaud Arbery was lynched in February 2020.

It wasn’t until May of 2020 that Ahmaud Arbery’s story became national news. Before then, it was an invisible lynching — one that wasn’t widely known. But that doesn’t mean it should just be ignored, and the fact that these “invisible lynchings” still happen says a lot about what still needs to be done in the fight for justice.

In this episode, I talk more about:

• The work I’m doing with a company called Litby that sparked the research for this episode.

• The struggle to pass an anti-lynching bill

• The importance of continuing to fight against lynching and other acts of racism — both the ones that make big headlines and those that don’t.

Invite Jasmine to work with your school!

Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help!

Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. From providing professional development for teachers to curriculum consulting to implementing her unique anti-racist resources, Jasmine is your go-to anti-bias and anti-racist education resource.

Email [e-mail] or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2 Episode 17: “Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd: Unpacking Racism”

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2 Episode 4: “3 Steps To A More Inclusive Bookshelf”

Litby offers a supplemental novel study program that supports students in reading, comprehending, and engaging with rigorous novels.

Invite Jasmine to work with your school at firstnamebasis.org/workwithme

“Lynching is now a federal hate crime after a century of blocked efforts” by Eric McDaniel and Elena Moore, NPR

“U.S. House To Vote On Anti-Lynching Act — Finally,” All Things Considered, NPR

Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio