Unnamed and Unbound: Black Voters Matter Podcast

What does it take to build lasting power?In this episode of Unnamed & Unbound, Cliff Albright sits down with Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson to explore disruption—one of the essential 3D's for combating authoritarianism. From economic pressure campaigns that hold corporations accountable to relational organizing rooted in trust and community, they discuss how sustainable change is built through collective action, not just election cycles.Tune in for a powerful conversation on organizing, resistance, and the strategies communities can use to create lasting impact.Resources & Calls to Action:Ash-Lee's writing and reflections:   / ashleewoodardhenderson  Fix It FedEx campaign: https://fixitfedex.comMay Day Strong: https://maydaystrong.org

ICE raids are increasing. Voting rights are under attack. Healthcare costs keep rising. In this season opener, we sit down for an unfiltered conversation about the chaos dominating the headlines and how it’s impacting our communities in real life.Most importantly, this conversation is about protection and how we protect ourselves, our families, and each other during a time of unprecedented confusion and instability. This isn’t just commentary. It’s clarity, strategy, and community.Watch. Share. Stay informed. Stay ready!ResourcesKnow Your Rights: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rightsLouisiana v. Callais: https://blackvotersmatterfund.org/lousiana-v-callais/Volunteer: blackvotersmatterfund.org/volunteerDonate: blackvotersmatterfund.org/donate 

Redistricting isn’t just about maps, it’s about power. It determines who has a real say in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our communities. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on how these lines are drawn and who stands to win or lose.Join Cliff Albright, The Conscious Lee, and Rev. Mark Thompson as they expose why unfair maps aren’t some distant problem, they silence Black voices, drain resources from our communities, and shape our lives for the next decade.Featuring: Cliff Albright, The Conscious Lee, Rev. Mark ThompsonCo-Executive Producers: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa HamptonProduction: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATL

This Juneteenth, we’re digging deep into the realities facing Black communities when it comes to food stamps (SNAP), healthcare, and reproductive justice. In this episode, we break down what’s really going on in politics and policy, and how every decision impacts our survival and freedom. As lawmakers debate and restrict our rights, we’re here to unpack what’s happening, how it affects Black families, and what you can do about it. We’re not just talking about the issues; we’re sharing resources for assistance and ways for you to take action.Tune in, get informed, and join us in the ongoing fight for justice and freedom. Participants:Jennifer Wells, Community ChangeFenika Miller, National Field Co-Director, Black Voters MatterTomica Smith, Senior Outreach Manager, State & Local Campaigns ACS CAN Ife Finch Floyd, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute Co-Executive Producers: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa HamptonProduction Company: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATL

In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with The King Center, Unnamed and Unbound dives deep into the legacy of Dr. King’s warning about the "white moderate," the dangerous myth of the "right time," and why real progress demands direct action, not just words. How do these historic lessons shape our organizing, our choices, and our future? Tune in for a candid, passionate discussion that connects history to the urgent fights Black voters face today. Want to take action with us?Co-Executive Producers: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa HamptonProduction Company: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATL

What does Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail mean for us in 2025? On this episode we dig deep into the letter’s message and urgency, connecting it to the direct action and organizing needed in today’s political climate. Dr. King wrote for justice in the face of complacency and his words still light the way for every fight we face now.We’re not just talking history; we’re talking about what comes next. That’s why The King Center and Black Voters Matter are teaming up for a powerful series of virtual and in-person workshops. Rooted in the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, each session blends rich historical context with practical tools and strategies you can use right now. This isn’t just a learning experience, it’s a call to action. Join us, get connected, and be part of the movement that shapes the future.Co-Executive Producers: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa HamptonProduction Company: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATL

The conversation deepens in Episodes 6 as we pass the mic to those living Selma's story today. We'll hear raw, honest perspectives from students about what it takes to get young folks engaged. Community leaders share their frontline experiences, while Selma's elected officials confront tough questions about turning talk into action.Through these intergenerational conversations, we're piecing together a new narrative for Selma - one that honors its past while fighting for its future.Co-Executive Producers: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa HamptonProduction Company: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATL

The scars of Selma run deeper than the Edmund Pettus Bridge. In Episodes 5 & 6, we uncover how white leaders weaponized economic power against Black residents who dared to march for their voting rights in 1965. This isn't just about police batons and tear gas—it's about the devastating financial retaliation that followed, creating ripples of hardship that Selma still feels today.Join us as we explore how the loss of jobs, denial of loans, and systematic economic punishment shaped generations of families in Selma. We connect the dots between this historic economic warfare and modern challenges, from persistent poverty to gun violence, revealing why the fight for voting rights and economic justice remains inseparable from building safer communities.Co-Executive Producers: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa HamptonProduction Company: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATL

Let's get real for a minute. The political landscape is messy, confusing, and changing by the day. But here's what isn't changing: our commitment to Black communities, Black voters, and Black issues.Our field teams are out there every day, and we're sharing what we're hearing from real people in real communities. Sure, there's a lot we don't know about how things will play out. But we do know this – our focus remains unshakeable, even when everything else feels uncertain.Panelists: Cliff Albright, Danielle Brown, Fenika Miller, Alethea BonelloCo-Executive Producers: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa HamptonProduction Company: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATL

Government is about to change – and not in the way you think. In this critical episode, we discuss the coordinated effort to dismantle decades of progress, from gutting DEI initiatives to the mass firing of federal employees. What's happening behind closed doors isn't just politics – it's personal.We're breaking down the systematic dismantling of diversity programs, Trump's executive orders and their real impact on our communities, the truth about federal grant changes that could starve our programs, and Project 2025's blueprint for firing thousands of federal workers.Panelists: Cliff Albright and April England-AlbrightCo-Executive Producer: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa HamptonProduction Company: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATL

Join us for an intimate conversation with two powerhouses from Black Voters Matter: Sabre Sims (Senior Logistics Manager) and Venkayla Haynes (Communications Director). In this raw and honest episode, we dive deep into their personal journeys through the intense 2024 election season and explore how they're finding their center in the aftermath.Sabre and Venkayla share their unfiltered thoughts on managing the weight of democracy while staying true to themselves. From late-night strategy sessions to early morning voter outreach, they reveal the human side of political organizing that rarely makes the headlines.Panelists: Cliff Albright, LaTosha Brown, April England-AlbrightCo-Executive Producers: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa HamptonProduction Company: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATL

In our premiere episode, "Black & Mad – A Post-Election Reflection," Black Voters Matter's co-founders offer their candid reactions to the 2024 election. This unfiltered discussion examines what recent political shifts mean for our community.The name "Unnamed and Unbound" honors the forgotten freedom fighters whose stories were erased from history books, while representing those still fighting to be heard today. Our mission is to amplify these voices and break free from the constraints that have held our communities back. Join us as we launch this journey of speaking truth to power, sharing stories that matter, and building a movement that demands to be heard.Featuring: Cliff Albright, LaTosha Brown, April England-AlbrightCo-Executive Producers: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa HamptonProduction: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATL

What does it mean to build real community power, especially for Black men. This episode spotlights Black men who are reshaping what it means to protect, nourish, and uplift their communities, even as militarization and economic setbacks threaten their safety.Tune in for a raw conversation that goes far beyond the ballot. We dig into the authoritarian takeover, role of resistance and most importantly, the creative, actionable tools Black men use every day to keep each other safe and resilient. This episode is a call to join the work of collective care and self-determination. If you want real strategies, inspiration, or just a deeper look at how true power is built in tough times, join us.Participants:Cliff Albright, Co-founder and Executive Director of Black Voters MatterDeante Kyle, Host of Grits & Eggs Podcast)Kallel Edwards, Pennsylvania State Organizing Manager for Black Voters MatterProduction: Optic Production + Za Lab Productions ATLCo-Executive Producers: Venkayla Haynes and Nomsa Hampton