The Red & Black Podcasts

July 13: Black activists discuss the role of women and intersectionality in the Black Lives Matter movement

We’re hearing from Black activists who are leading the protests movement in Athens in today’s episode. Nationwide protests have continued for more than a month, calling for racial justice and support for the Black Lives Matter movement. On a local level, Black women continue to step up as leaders of the activism movement in Athens.
Enterprise editor Anila Yoganathan and news assistant Gabriela Miranda spoke with UGA sociology student Ashley Crooks-Allen and county commissioner Mariah Parker about their activism and about intersectionality in the movement.

July 6: What does UGA’s virtual new student orientation look like?

We’re breaking down the University of Georgia’s virtual new student orientation.
For most UGA students, attending orientation is their first step on campus as a college student. A night of summer camp away from home. It’s their first taste of dining hall food, their first chance to take part in UGA’s traditions. It’s where orientees get to jump in the iconic North Campus fountain, where they learn how to “Call the Dawgs” and where they make some of their first lasting memories in Athens.
But due to COVID-19, this program had to move entirely online.
We talked to an orientation leader and an incoming freshman about their online orientation experience.

June 29: Black LGBTQ UGA students reflect on intersectionality and Pride Month

June is usually a month to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising and the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage. But with the nationwide fight for racial justice and COVID-19 safety concerns, this year’s Pride Month looks a little different. 
We spoke with two Black LGBTQ UGA students to reflect on this month and on intersectionality.

June 22: Revisiting UGA baseball’s only College World Series championship win

We’re revisiting a feat that has only happened once in the history of University of Georgia history. The Red & Black sports editor, William Newlin, reported the story on the 30 year anniversary of when the Diamond Dogs won the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The team hasn't been able to take home the championship title since that fateful day in early June 1990.

June 15: The Red & Black’s policy regarding altering photos from protests

Protests calling for racial justice and police department reform have taken place for the past two weeks in Athens. On today's episode, we talk with our photo editor, Taylor Gerlach, about her experience covering protests and our editorial policy about protesters' anonymity.
Read her article about covering protests here.

June 8: Looking back on a week of protests for racial justice

Protesters have taken to the streets of Athens to call for racial justice after the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and other black Americans. On today's episode of The Front Page, we take you through Sunday, May 31 to Saturday, June 6, which were last week's two biggest protests in Athens.
We spoke with a protestor who was shot by what he says were "rubber bullets," with a protestor who was tested for COVID-19 and with a brother-and-sister protesting duo who had words of advice for those who want to be better white allies.

June 1: Healing Circle founder reflects on recent issues affecting the black community

Our news assistant Gabriela Miranda speaks with Shawntell Pace, a member of the black community at the University of Georgia, about coping with discrimination, micro-aggressions and the recent deaths affecting the black community. Pace founded The Healing Circle, a support group for black students that aims to create a communal space and offer guidance about accessing mental health services. We ask her about racism, her studies and what the black community needs right now.
This podcast is featured in The Red & Black’s new series, The Minority Report. This series focuses on minority group voices and their experiences when injustices, deaths, protests and current events affect their community. 
Read Gabriela’s story on The Red & Black website on Tuesday, June 2.

May 25: Athens bars lose $4 million due to closures, weigh options of re-opening

This week, we kick off our summer coverage by talking to our enterprise editor Anila Yoganathan on her story about the changing bar scene in Athens, Georgia. Bars in town have lost $4 million in liquor and mixed drinks sales from their closures due to COVID-19. Governor Brian Kemp's executive order expires on May 31, meaning that bars could potentially re-open as soon as June 1. As that date approaches, bars in town are beginning to think about whether or not they'll re-open and how they'll continue to stay afloat.
We also spoke with Jon McRae, owner of the Athens bar Sister Louisa's Church, about how he plans to stay in business and whether or not he'll re-open if he's able to after May 31.   
Read Anila's story here.

May 7: People from around Athens talk about COVID-19

We have been doing a lot of COVID-19-related coverage in the past weeks, focusing on specific groups. This week, we try to collect a range of Athens-based perspectives. We speak with a business owner, a student and an Uber driver about how the pandemic has affected them and what they do. 

April 28: What it’s like to still live on UGA’s campus

Since the University of Georgia suspended in person instruction, some students have not been back to campus since March 6, the Friday before spring break. Other students, for a variety of reasons, have remained in their on-campus housing. This week, our guest tells us what it was like to be on an empty, socially distanced Athens campus.