#TalkRadio – May 27: Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around! The Fight for Reparations and In Defense of Black Museums

SPEAKERS:

​Dianne Wilkerson: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
First African American Female to serve in the Massachusetts State Senate; TJC Board Treasurer; and, Boston Community Activist

The Honorable Jesse Wineberry, Esq.: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
U.S. Supreme Court licensed Atty. & former Washington State House Majority Whip; Co-Founder & Director of the Washington Equity Now Alliance (WENA). WENA is the statewide Pro-Equity, non-profit organization which led 2022’s successful campaign for Governor Jay Inslee to sign Executive Order 22-02, rescinding Governor’s Directive 98-01 and paving the way for race and gender conscious equity in Washington state. On October 31, 2022, Wineberry represented WENA in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Supreme Court hearings on affirmative action. On the eve of the High Court’s June 29th ruling limiting the use of race in college admissions, Wineberry led WENA’s statewide DEI empowerment seminar, which trained nearly 1,000 state employees on how to keep the doors of opportunity open for women and BIPOC communities` while remaining in full compliance with the Supreme Court decision. A 2024 elected National Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Attorney Wineberry is married to Attorney Richelle Harrison-Wineberry. They are proud parents of Jesse Wineberry, Jr. & Mia Genesis Wineberry. Here’s a link to the Charles Mitchell Reparations Study budget language and a link to a recent News Tribune newspaper editorial which preceded the Governor’s signing the Reparations study into law on May 20, 2025. 

Adjoa Aiyetoro, Esq.: 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM ET
Renowned civil rights attorney and reparations advocate; Professor of Law Emerita UALR William H. Bowen School of Law; Former Executive Director of National Conference of Black Lawyers (NBCL) 

INTRODUCTION:

Hi Igniters For Change! The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, May 27th, 2025, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around! The Fight for Reparations and In Defense of Black Museums”, with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. will feature special guests The Honorable Jesse Wineberry, Esq.; Dianne Wilkerson; and, Adjoa Aiyetoro, Esq.

Senate Bill 5167 focuses on a reparations study named for Charles Mitchell and George Washington Bush, two historical Black figures in Washington State. The bill is part of a broader effort by the Washington Equity Now Alliance (WENA) to advocate for equity policies and reparations studies.  The Washington State Legislature has allocated $300,000 to fund this study, marking a significant step toward addressing historical injustices. WENA has been actively supporting this initiative and other equity-related policies in the state. For more details, you can check the full text on the [Washington Equity Now Alliance website](https://waequitynow.org/senate-bill-5167-pl1-1 ). 

Washington State is launching its first reparations study, funded through Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5167. This bill, part of a $78 billion biennial budget, sets aside $300,000 to assess reparations for descendants of U.S. chattel slavery. The study is named after Charles Mitchell and George Washington Bush, two Black pioneers who experienced racial discrimination in early Washington history. Its goal is to analyze the lasting impact of slavery on Washington citizens and recommend policies to state and federal lawmakers. The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining this funding and points out that reparations have previously been granted to Japanese Americans for WWII internment and Indigenous nations for treaty violations. Washington joins California, New York, and Colorado in advancing reparative justice, with support from leaders like Sen. Bob Hasegawa, Rep. Chipalo Street, and attorney Jesse Wineberry, who has been involved in past reparations initiatives.  (Source: https://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/article306310591.html )

The Trump administration has pulled federal funding for Boston’s Museum of African American History, stating that the grant “no longer serves the interest of the United States.” The museum, which has been a vital institution for over six decades, had received a $500,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to support school trips and educational programs. The funding cut is part of the wrongful and misguided efforts by the Trump Administration to combat what it calls “woke” ideology and “anti-American propaganda.” Museum director Dr. Noelle Trent expressed disbelief at the decision, emphasizing the museum’s deep connection to key moments in American history, including abolitionist movements and Black soldiers’ contributions during the Civil War. The museum now faces an uncertain future as it seeks alternative funding sources. (Source: https://chicago.binnews.com/content/2025-05-23-trump-admin-pulls-funding-for-bostons-african-american-history-museum/ )

“The City Council [of Boston] voted on a resolution Wednesday in solidarity with the museum and pledged to assist and advocate for replacement funding. This vote, the sponsor noted, ‘reflects our shared belief in the importance of preserving this history and supporting those who safeguard it.’ The Museum of African American History offers programs like the upcoming Emancipation Proclamation celebration, which brings together friends, families, and communities to deepen their understanding of Boston’s shared history. These programs help ensure that Black history, which is American history, is preserved, honored, and passed on to future generations.” Read more on the City of Boston website: https://www.boston.gov/news/supporting-bostons-museum-african-american-history 

You can help support Boston’s Museum of African American History by becoming a member: “Preserve the Legacy: By becoming a member, you have signaled your commitment in sustaining the Museum’s level of programming, conservation and research. Thank you for your part in safeguarding the longstanding success of this institution and the significant history it represents.” Click the link here: https://joinmaah.humanitru.com/membership?page=landing-page-template-20fef2cd-1864-44b3-bccc-a9893738c2e6&address=optional&hsCtaTracking=80a664ac-2d64-4f50-a132-caf38d23b38b%7C0b035ff7-70da-405e-b39c-f39444cc9169 

QUESTIONS:

• Arnwine and Jones give the Heroes of the Week Award to Harvard for offering free online courses to all U.S. Citizens on the Constitution, the federal government, how to spot a dictator, and other civics courses.
• Villain of the Week goes to the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. Arnwine will remind listeners when you make those daily calls to the Congress at 202-224-3121, be sure to tell your Senator at their home office to say NO to the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and NO to the SAVE Act and remind people to stay in those streets!] )
• The Honorable Jesse Wineberry, Esq., Congratulations on your recent victory. Please tell our audience what happened last Tuesday.
• Attorney Wineberry, this legislation is named for Charles Mitchell and George Washington Bush. Please tell our audience about these two unknown heroes. 
• Attorney Wineberry, what are the most important elements, highlights of this legislation that the Governor signed?
• Attorney Aiyetoro, why are efforts to institute reparations committees nationwide so important?
• Attorney Wineberry, why do you think that the efforts in Washington State were so successful?
• Dianne, in the state of Massachusetts there have been several bills introduced for a reparations study commission. As recently as last year, activists have been calling on Boston to pay $15 Billion as reparations for slavery. What do you think this victory in Washington State will mean for the push for reparations en masse?
• Attorneys Aiyetoro and Wineberry, you’re involved not only in the Washington State effort but also in the national push. Where do you have your highest hopes for new study commissions to be approved?
• Attorney Aiyetoro, last week Governor Wes Moore vetoed the study commission. You are working with others to issue a statement regarding this veto and calling for the Maryland General Assembly to override this veto. Tell us why this is important.
• Dianne, all of this- on top of our fight for reparations- we are now actively fighting this Administration. Not only have they attacked the National Museum for African-American History and Culture, they now are actually defunding African-American museums across the nation. Please tell us what’s happening in Boston with the Boston’s Museum of African American History, which the Trump Administration claims “no longer serves the interest of the United States.” 
• Dianne, how has the Boston community responded to this attack?
• Attorney Aiyetoro, you have been leading a legal committee that has drafted a powerful resolution regarding the Trump Administration’s attacks on Black museums. Tell us about the status of this resolution. 
• How can people get involved?
• Attorney Aiyetoro, Thank you so much for joining us today. How do our listeners get in contact with you?
• Attorney Wineberry, what are the next steps now in Washington State for the study commission?
• How can people throughout the country support this commission’s work?
• Dianne, The City Council of Boston voted on a resolution Wednesday in solidarity with the museum and pledged to assist and advocate for replacement funding. This vote, the sponsor noted, “reflects our shared belief in the importance of preserving this history and supporting those who safeguard it.” What are your perspectives on this action?
• Dianne, what are the next steps in the fight to protect Boston’s Museum of African-American History?
• How can our listeners get involved?
• What are your one-minute final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you so much for joining us today. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

[TJC will continue to vigorously defend the rights of all Americans and will fight the implementation of Project 2025 and our future shows will continue to cover any hate crimes and how we effectively protect ourselves while advancing our agenda for justice.]

[Daryl, Barbara, and guests may share their favorite books and encourage people to donate towards TJC’s giveaways of banned and affirming books.]