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Anti-Racist Organizing After A Summer Of Protest

Justyn Lewis founded the group Des Moines Selma to bring unity, education, and justice mobilization to the anti-racism movement in Des Moines.
Courtesy of Matt Barrick
Justyn Lewis founded the group Des Moines' Selma to bring unity, education and justice mobilization to the anti-racism movement in Des Moines.

On this episode of Talk of Iowa, four Black Iowans who have become leaders in the movement to fight anti-Black racism. Zakariyah Hill and Aaliyah Quinn cofounded the Des Moines-based nonprofit Supply Hive to feed and support Black Lives Matter protesters following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Months later, the pair continue to serve the movement towards racial equality.

Zakariyah Hill and Aaliyah Quinn, cofounders of Supply Hive.
Manuel Media
Zakariyah Hill and Aaliyah Quinn, cofounders of Supply Hive.

“I’m only 22 and I’m tired. So I can only imagine how elders who have been through the Civil Rights Movement feel,” Hill says. “We’re trying to make a difference, make a change and just get people to see each other as humans. That’s what it comes down to.”

Also on the program, Turé Morrow of Cedar Rapids never imagined he would be a protest leader -- now he's the founder of We Are CR. Morrow joins the program in addition to Justyn Lewis, who is building bridges and supporting anti-racist community education with his group, Des Moines' Selma.

Turé Morrow, founder of We Are CR.
Courtesy of Tanaka Johnson
Turé Morrow, founder of We Are CR.

This is "Iowa Week 2020: Listening to Black Voices." All week long we’ll hear stories, voices and ideas from Black Iowans.

Guests:

  • Turé Morrow, founder, We Are CR
  • Justyn Lewis, founder, Des Moines' Selma
  • Zakariyah Hill, cofounder, Supply Hive
  • Aaliyah Quinn, cofounder, Supply Hive

Point of clarification: A 2020 report from Citigroup estimates that the impact of systemic racism, including unequal access to loans, cost the U.S. economy $16 trillionover the past 20 years.

This program originally aired on 10-19-20.

Charity Nebbe is the host of IPR's Talk of Iowa
Katelyn Harrop is a producer for IPR's River to River and Talk of Iowa
Katherine Perkins is IPR's Program Director for News and Talk
Matthew was a producer for IPR's River to River and Talk of Iowa