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Slate Culture

A Word: More Than A Hashtag

Slate Culture

Slate Podcasts

Arts, Tv & Film, Music

4.42K Ratings

🗓️ 16 June 2023

⏱️ 40 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Police killings of Black men have their own grim, but established, rituals in American society. But what happens to those who survive police violence? On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Leon Ford, who survived being shot multiple times by Pittsburgh police more than a decade ago. In his new memoir An Unspeakable Hope, Ford candidly describes his legal, physical, and mental health challenges, and why he eventually dedicated himself to working with police, including reaching out to the man who shot him. He also discusses The Hear Foundation—his non-profit group that builds partnerships between the community and police—and his complicated views of politics, gun violence, and activism. Guest: Activist Leon Ford, co-founder of The Hear Foundation, and author of An Unspeakable Hope: Brutality, Forgiveness, and Building a Better Future for My Son Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is a word, a podcast from Slate.

0:04.2

I'm your host, Jason Johnson.

0:05.6

By now, we're all familiar with the grim rituals

0:09.1

of fatal police encounters with Black men.

0:11.6

The hashtags, the protests, the calls for accountability,

0:14.5

that may or may not be answered.

0:16.6

But what happens to the victims who survive?

0:19.4

And how can they move forward with their lives?

0:21.8

Had it not been for the birth of my son,

0:25.2

I don't think I would be here today

0:27.6

because his life gave me the will to live.

0:32.2

Leon Ford, the author of An Unstoppable Hope,

0:35.5

coming up on a word with me, Jason Johnson.

0:38.7

Stay with us.

0:41.4

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0:43.8

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0:46.2

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0:48.6

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0:50.4

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0:53.7

then track your performance on a fully customizable interface.

0:57.0

It's Kraken's most powerful trading platform.

0:59.4

Well, ever, head to pro.kraken.com

...

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