Underground Railroad 2.0: Faithful Resistance with Rep. Justin J. Pearson

Truth's Table

Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2026

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Sponsor(s): TT Book

Episode Description: Important note: This episode of Truth’s Table was recorded earlier this year, before the Voting Rights Act was gutted.

Truth’s Table is on the move! Christina and Ekemini are on location at the Tennessee State Capitol, sitting down with Representative Justin J. Pearson to talk about what faithful resistance demands in an era shaped by state violence, environmental racism, voter registration organizing, and the rising influence of white Christian nationalism. Rep. Pearson reflects on his faith and movement histories that ground his organizing work, including the ongoing fight against the expansion of the xAI data center and its impact on Memphis communities. This conversation is a way for Truth’s Table to model thoughtful engagement with our elected officials, and it’s an invitation for our sistas at the table to do the same. Pull up a seat at the table with us!

Learn more about Rep. Justin J. Pearson:

Justin J. Pearson launched his campaign for Tennessee’s Ninth Congressional District on October 8, 2025, declaring it “a campaign for The People.” A movement leader and Tennessee lawmaker, he rose to national prominence as part of the Tennessee Three, standing up for gun reform and being overwhelmingly reelected after expulsion. A lifelong organizer, he helped lead the victorious Byhalia Pipeline fight, shut down a cancer-causing sterilization plant, and now challenges Elon Musk’s xAI data center. The second-youngest state legislator, Pearson is a national voice for justice, honored with the Truman Center’s 2024 Moral Courage Award. He’s running to bring that fight to Congress. Pearson is married to his partner in life and the struggle for justice, Oceana R. Gilliam-Pearson.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of Truth's Table is brought to you by our N-AACP Image Award nominated book,
0:06.3	Truth's Table, Black Women's Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation.
0:11.1	Get it where all books are sold.
0:14.0	Sisters, how y'all feel?
0:16.1	Brothers, y'all all right?
0:17.8	If this is your first time at Truth's Table, welcome to the table.
0:21.3	And if you've been sitting at the table with us all these years,
0:24.0	we are so grateful that you have been listening to us through these years,
0:27.2	and we are inviting you to partner with us and support our work at patreon.com slash Truth's Table.
0:34.0	Now pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us.
0:39.5	Truth tables, please to welcome Justin J. Pearson to the table. Justin J. Pearson launched his campaign for Tennessee's 9th
0:46.3	Congressional District on October 8th, 2025, declaring it a campaign for the people. A movement leader
0:52.9	and Tennessee lawmaker, he rose to national
0:54.9	prominence as part of the Tennessee three, standing up for gun reform and being overwhelmingly
0:59.7	re-elected after expulsion. A lifelong organizer, he helped lead the victorious Bahalia pipeline fight,
1:07.7	shut down a cancer-causing sterilization plant, and now challenges Elon Musk's
1:12.4	X-A-I data center. The second youngest state legislator, Pearson is a national voice for justice
1:18.3	honored with the Truman Center's 2004 Moral Courage Award. He's running to bring that fight to
1:25.3	Congress. Pearson is married to his partner in life in the struggle for justice. Oceana R. Gilliam Pearson. Hey y'all, welcome to Truth's Table, midwives of culture for grace and truth. I'm McKemone. And I'm Christina. This table is built by a black woman and for a black woman. So welcome to the table to see how you doing good? I'm doing good today. I mean, we are at a unique location. The folks who are listening have no idea. You don't know where we are until we tell you. Well, okay, but those who are viewing, you're like, what is really going on right now? And there are flags and all kinds of stuff happening on this episode today. We are location. We are a location. And it is such a blessing to be able to
2:03.2	be where we are right now. Between us is Representative Pearson. We're in my state of Tennessee
2:09.2	where I happen to live right now. And he represents the city of Memphis so well, so consistently.
2:15.4	And we we are excited to chat with you today. I mean, we don't usually chat with elected officials. We have a little bit in the past. But this gives an opportunity for us as believers to encourage, to ask questions, and to really model for our listeners how we engage respectfully and honestly with elected officials. And so I hope we can do that with you today, Representative.
	...

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