Dr. Gee Explores 10 Years of Justified Anger with Lessons, Stories, and New Challenges

Conversations On 10 Years of System Transformation

Season 9 of the Black Like Me Podcast with Dr. Alex Gee is exploring the ten years of system transformation that has resulted from the wake up call to the racial disparities present in Dr. Gee’s local community of Madison, WI. In December of 2013, The Cap Times published Dr. Gee’s op ed of his experience and perspective on Madison, one of the cities with the highest racial disparities in the US. As a Black man who grew up in the community, felt supported, and now established himself as a Pastor and community leader, he found a divide between white and Black people growing larger. Despite the progressive and intellectual reputation of the college town, the reality that Dr. Gee experienced showed little actual equity.

Unexpectedly for Dr. Gee, the broader community responded to his call for greater awareness and change. He soon led a movement of change that saw a collaboration with local Black leaders and voices. Justified Anger has grown into an initiative of Nehemiah that cultivates innovative Black and non-black leaders through culturally grounded programs, dynamic educational experiences and collaborative partnerships that lead to  transformational relationships, equitable systems and just solutions.

Dr. Gee has devoted Season 9 of his podcast to reflecting on the journey of the last 10 years of Justified Anger while also pushing the movement forward by contextualizing the racial landscape through a diverse range of conversations. This season includes guest discussions on aspects of the Justified Anger initiative, including Black voices in publishing, responses from the civic arena, visionary leadership, and education.

His  conversation with Dr. Karen Reece (Coming Soon!) covers the creation and impact of the Black History for a New Day course that has mobilized non-Black allies to move toward change personally and collectively. Dr. Reece also explains how Justified Anger has researched effective system change and evaluated the results, working toward solutions that last. Hear the inside story of how Dr. Gee’s groundbreaking articles changed the community and changed The Capital Times newspaper itself with Paul Fanlund, editor and publisher of The Capital Times, and journalist Phil Haslanger. 

Then Dr. Gee reflects on how the original article caused a stir in some of the civic and community arenas with Renee Moe (President & CEO at United Way of Dane County) and Joe Parisi (Dane County Executive), displaying the racial disparity alive in these systems and how we can continue to address the racial justice locally. Kaleem Caire, founder and CEO of One City Schools, joins Dr. Gee to look at the atmosphere around Justified Anger in the early years and how the initiative has created change over the last 10 years. They reflect on having breakfast together on the day that the original Justified Anger article was released and talked about how the truth of the article would be received in the community. 

Listen to these insightful conversations, rich with practical lessons, wise experience, and challenges for sustained community change.

This article was contributed by Eli Steenlage.