Tammy, the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Applied Research Center (ARC) has many years experience as a community organizer, trainer and writer versed in race and public policy. Inspired by her family’s dedication to the struggle for civil rights, Johnson cut her activist teeth as president of the Black Student Union at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and as president of the Wisconsin Statewide Student Association. A Tennessee native, Johnson lived for many years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she was Coalition Organizer for Wisconsin Citizen Action, Director of Progressive Milwaukee, and Board Member of the Wisconsin Community Fund. She is a former board member of the National Organizer Alliance.
Johnson has authored and edited several reports on race and equity issues, including four editions of the California Report Card on Racial Equity, and Race, Education and No Child Left Behind: A Guide for Journalists. She has become a widely recognized for her knowledge of racially equitable public policy practices, and has appeared in various broadcast, online and print media outlets on the subject. Johnson has written for and been featured in a number of publications, radio programs and online journals, including AlterNet, The Huffington Post, Leadership and ColorLines magazines.
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The Essential Link Between Racial Justice and LGBT Movements
by Tammy Johnson on August 4 2010, 10:12AM
ColorLines’ publisher, the Applied Research Center, explains why the racial justice and sexual freedom movements are inseparable.
Topics: Gender & Sexuality, Ideas that Work, Prop 8
Making Hospitals Speak the Language of Equity
by Tammy Johnson on July 6 2010, 6:06PM
A victory in Washington State’s hospitals proves the point: We actually can create racial equity in our health care system, if we want to.
Topics: Ideas that Work
Head Games with Headlines? Talk Back
by Tammy Johnson on June 24 2010, 12:03PM
It’s not just Fox News. All sorts of news media frame our issues—and thus limit solutions—every day. Whether it’s deliberate doesn’t matter. We gotta speak up.
Topics: Ideas that Work
Welcome! Now Let’s Talk About Fixing Stuff
by Tammy Johnson on June 24 2010, 9:34AM
Together, I hope we can shift our focus from what we can’t do to what we can do about racism in our nation and around the world.
Topics: Ideas that Work
The Right Says the All-American Girl Isn’t American Enough
by Tammy Johnson on May 18 2010, 10:02AM
The ascent of the deceptively beautiful Rima Fakih to the throne of Miss USA is a matter of national security! At least, that’s what the megaphoned culture police would have us all believe. And radio talk show host and commentator…
Topics: Media
Battling Over Brown v. Board, More than 50 Yrs. Later
by Tammy Johnson on May 17 2010, 9:32AM
Welcome to the battle royale. Today is the anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. Board of Education, an annual heavyweight match where race and public education claim the center ring. In one corner are Brown’s defenders,…
Topics: Schools & Youth
Charles Murray to the Rescue of Failing Charter Schools
by Tammy Johnson on May 6 2010, 9:00AM
There are some people that the mainstream media just can’t get enough of. Case in point is Mr. Bell Curve himself, Charles Murray, whom the New York Times saw fit to give prime time op-ed space yesterday. Murray’s piece references…
Topics: Schools & Youth, The Compact
Countering Myth of Colorblindness, from the White House to the Statehouse
by Tammy Johnson on February 17 2010, 6:10PM
This weekend the National Governors Association gathers in Washington to discuss budget cuts, stimulus funds and a litany of state policy proposals. Things have changed dramatically since President Obama’s election. Many observers embraced the moment as the start of a…
Topics: Politics
Is Black History Month Necessary? Tammy Johnson on KALW’s Your Call [AUDIO]
by Tammy Johnson on February 8 2010, 6:06AM
I really enjoy the push and pull of a good political conversation, especially ones that apply big questions of policy of philosophy to real life situations. That’s a good thing, since I seem to find myself in the middle of…
Topics: At The Scene
by Tammy Johnson on January 27 2010, 12:00PM
Last night, Obama spoke. Now it’s our turn.
Topics: Elections & Politics
Calling All Artists for Akonadi’s Racial Justice Poster Contest
by Tammy Johnson on January 22 2010, 5:22PM
It’s been one heck of a week people. The US Supreme Court says that corporations are people too. In fact they are superhuman and now have the right to outshout everyone on the soapbox. The Democrats go to Boston…
Topics: Art & Design
Single Black Women Speak For Themselves
by Tammy Johnson on January 11 2010, 12:00PM
A book review of Nika Beamon's new book, I Didn't Work This Hard Just to Get Married.
Topics: Arts & Culture, Gender & Sexuality
Sarah Palin Wishes She Looked So Good
by Tammy Johnson on December 17 2009, 3:48PM
Some may ask, “What does RuPaul as a classier Sarah Palin have to do with race?” Everything. That’s why I give a supersonic high five to any brother that is bold enough do his thing in perfectly applied lipstick…
Topics: Pop Culture
As Hate Crimes Rise So Must Our Voices: 5 Things You Can Do to Fight Back
by Tammy Johnson on November 24 2009, 12:38PM
You may want to watch your back, because according to the new hate crimes data released by the FBI this week, the haters are in full freak-out mode. The report cites that in 2008 there was an eleven percent increase…
Topics: Hate Crimes
Mosques Seizures Jeopardize Communities
by Tammy Johnson on November 13 2009, 2:21PM
Our Muslim brothers and sisters can’t catch a break this month. First, the Fort Hood tragedy leads to more scapegoating of their faith. Now, the Feds target the owners of four mosques for their affiliation with the Iranian government….
Topics: Religion
What’s Fallen Since the Berlin Wall?
by Tammy Johnson on November 9 2009, 3:16PM
I can’t believe that it’s been twenty years. I was a student at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, when Doug came bouncing across the student union concourse screaming, “The wall is down! The Berlin Wall is down!” Back then,…
Topics: Global Affairs
I Know What You Did Last Night: Race and the Elections
by Tammy Johnson on November 4 2009, 5:06AM
Election results are still rolling in as I write this blog entry. As I read the returns, I can’t help but think about the old Will Rogers’ quote. No, not the one about belonging to an unorganized party. But this…
Topics: Elections
Young Invincibles Weigh in on Healthcare
by Tammy Johnson on October 14 2009, 11:49AM
The Center for Community Change has launched an effort that inserts yet another voice into the current healthcare debate: young people. The prevailing perception of 20-somethings is that they are at the peak of their health. But the numbers…
Topics: Health
Dan Choi: Silence is not a Strategy
by Tammy Johnson on October 13 2009, 8:58AM
“In the face of discrimination, silence is not a strategy.” Iraq war veteran Lieutenant Dan Choi echo’s a long held ARC belief. When it comes to racism, sexism, homophobia or any other government sanctioned wrong, silence is not the…
Topics: LGBT
Let’s Talk About Race And Health
by Tammy Johnson on October 9 2009, 10:13AM
We don’t have a well-crafted message to deal with the immigrant issue right now.” Said the messaging expert at a national convening of health care advocates that I attended a year ago. So the response to the “problem” was no…
Topics: Health
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