Eric Ward

Unrigging the Game for Women of Color Movement Leaders

Women of color leaders are the backbone of most social justice movements, and have been responsible for many of the most significant social justice and environmental victories of our time. Remarkably, they’ve accomplished this despite conditions—in their fields and organizations—that make leadership uniquely treacherous for them.

Unrig the Game (Random House, March, 2025), asks the question: How much more could humanity be winning if we unrigged the system that hinders women of color leaders? What might be possible, in this clutch moment of history, with so much on the line, if movements stopped benching our best in ways that negatively impact the scoreboard for everybody? What if these leaders were unencumbered by barriers like: the assumption of incompetence, the demand that they mammy/mother and prove likability, a zero-tolerance policy for failure, and abandonment when they are attacked? It draws on interviews with nearly 50 prominent women of color social justice leaders to explore how to support effective women of color leaders so we can all win.

LaTosha Brown calls Unrig, “Essential reading for everyone who wants progressive movements to win.” Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson calls it, “An immeasurable gift to anyone trying to understand movement today.” Linda Sarsour says, “I didn’t know how much I needed this book,” and Ai-Jen Poo shares it is, “like sitting in a sister circle with some of the greatest movement leaders of our time.” This session features Daniel in conversation with Race Forward’s own Eric Ward, preceding a discussion with participants about key themes in the book.

What’s Next (Race Forward Direction)

This panel will look at the evolution of the racial justice movement with a focus on current trends. The objective is to understand how the racial justice movement is evolving, what new frameworks and analyses are being posited, and what promising practices and bright spots are informing the work of Race Forward moving forward.

The Narrative Coup: How the Right is Using the Tools of Fandom to Digitally Hack Our Democracy

In the wake of QAnon, insurgent movements are embracing its model — building passionate extremist communities using the symbols and communication styles of pop-culture fandoms. When these viral techniques are combined with the infinite reach of digital platforms, the result is a dangerous new approach to hacking our democracy, consolidating influence and advancing the surging cultural power of white nationalism. From the parents’ rights movement to the pro-authoritarians, these toxic digital narrative ecosystems are activated by content created by influencers and right-wing media; held and spread by communities that criss-cross platforms and demographics; and ultimately ultimately forge the identities, beliefs and behaviors of millions.

Join Western State Center’s Eric Ward, Pop Culture Collaborative’s Tracy Van Slyke and Institute for the Future’s Jeff Yang as they share groundbreaking research and cultural analysis on how these “digital narrative ecosystems” are being created, evolved and expanded; discuss the implications of their growing role in American racialization and politics; and share insights on how these same fandom-based narrative change strategies could inspire millions of people to resist, neutralize, and supplant the white nationalist movement with the yearning for a just and pluralist society.

Where Do We Go From Here? Building a Just Multiracial Democracy

As Reverend Barber argues, we find ourselves in the Third Reconstruction. Like all previous reconstructions, Black leaders are at the forefront, collectively moving us towards liberation and justice. When we think about what it means to build a truly just, multiracial democracy, what are the core questions that we need to answer? This plenary will draw on the brilliance and wisdom of Black leaders across our movement to answer the fundamental questions of our time, including what it looks like to center the experiences of Black and Indigenous people in practice, why we need to build multi-racial solidarity across communities of color, how we tackle core issues of immigration, land rights, and a reimagining of our justice system, and what's needed for us to lean into intersectionality in more meaningful ways. Panelists will share concrete actions that participants can take to help us build new possibilities for our future. The title from this session draws from Dr. King’s final book “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” which is deeply resonant in this moment. The legacy of our ancestors rests on our shoulders; it is up to us to use this crossroads in our country’s history to make our democracy finally meet the needs of our communities.

A Movement Is Rising and It’s Not Ours: White Nationalism from Charlottesville to the White House

Once contained, the racist fringe subculture is morphing into a mass movement that has support from nearly one-third of Americans. The white nationalist movement and its “alt-right” coalition is shaping public narrative on national policies, endangering community cohesion, and limiting the rights of people of color, immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized communities. White nationalism has changed the game, jeopardizing 50 years of equity gains and the vision of an inclusive democracy. Join us to explore the history, strategies and personalities of this movement, examine its impact on American public opinion, and take with you resources and tools for learning more.