THE UNLOAD: CLEANING UP WITH KATE SCHATZ—LILLIAN SMITH

We cannot adequately explain how excited we are to put out this episode with guest host, Kate Schatz. Best selling author, educator and co-conspirator, Kate has graciously offered her time and knowledge to inspire us with stories of lesser-known white women from whom we can actually learn some positive lessons. In our inaugural laundry session with Kate, we are learning about Lillian Smith. Coined “Jane the Baptist”, a woman who came “too soon” for her Southern contemporaries, and indeed the country as a whole, Lillian boldly spoke against segregation throughout her life. She eschewed moderation and was one of the first people to talk about the pathology of white supremacy and the damage it caused to the country and individuals. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and James Baldwin considered her a friend of the Civil Rights Movement, but her refusal to compromise in her views kept her from more well known histories. She also connected with fellow closeted lesbians and political powerhouses Pauli Murray and Eleanor Roosevelt. Take a deeper dive into Lillian’s life and history with her essay "The Right Way Is Not A Moderate Way" (1956) and the documentary Breaking the Silence. And be sure to follow Kate Schatz @k8hshots on Instagram, @kateschatz on Twitter and at www.kateschatz.com. We look forward to more conversations about white women who refused to participate in white supremacy!