This Sunday on Melissa Harris-Perry, what happened to Sandra Bland? The young woman was found dead in a Texas jail cell last Friday—just three days after she was arrested during a traffic stop. The medical examiner has ruled her death a suicide—but Bland’s family questions that finding. We’ll be joined by Sandra’s sister, Sharon Cooper, and Cannon Lambert, attorney for Bland’s family.
Also Joining Melissa Harris-Perry to discuss Sandra Bland:
- Judith Browne Dianis, co-director, Advancement Project
- Matt Welch, editor-in-chief, Reason Magazine
- Rashad Robinson, executive director, ColorofChange
- Cherrell Brown, community organizer
Also on MHP, racial justice. Just one month after the U.S. Supreme Court gutted a key part of the Voting Rights Act , North Carolina passed a law with sweeping voter restrictions. Now a challenge to the law is playing out in the courtroom. We discuss how the issue of racial justice is becoming one of the key questions confronting the contenders for the presidency. And we look at symbolism versus substantive change.
Be sure to check out these interesting reads related to the discussion:
- Why North Carolina Is the New Selma
- North Carolina’s Voting Law Goes on Trial
- Woman who faced Jim Crow takes on North Carolina’s powers over voting rights
- Supreme Court Invalidates Key Part of Voting Rights Act
- Who’s Affected by North Carolina’s Voter Suppression Law?
And then, understanding Atticus. We discuss Harper Lee’s controversial sequel “Go Set a Watchmen”. Many fans of the classic “To Kill a Mockingbird” are up in arms over the way Atticus Finch is portrayed in the new novel.
Wai Chee Dimock, professor of English and American Studies at Yale will be joining #nerdland.
Be sure to read what we’ve linked above, and watch Melissa Harris-Perry Sunday at 10am ET on msnbc. Join the conversation—share your thoughts about these issues on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #nerdland.
Ayanna Gill