“Trailblazers, Troublemakers & Dreams” is the final presentation in a series of digital and television specials hosted by Soledad O’Brien that explore difficult issues surrounding race and equity through discussions with a diverse collection of accomplished individuals representing a panoply of fields.
You can watch the full show in the video player above.
Guests appearing in this special presentation.
“Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams,” also includes feature stories on the late Rep. John Lewis and the late Pittsburgh Pirates star player Roberto Clemente, follows “Promises of Change” and “To Be An American: Identity, Race And Justice.” The tour debuted in October 2020 with “The Hard Truth About Bias: Images and Reality.” The initial three episodes continue to stream at matteroffact.tv.
The “Matter of Fact Listening Tour” is a special project from the award-winning “Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien,” the nation’s most-watched syndicated public affairs program. Now in its seventh successful season and the recipient of four 2022 Gold Telly Awards, “Matter of Fact with Soledad O’Brien” is produced by Hearst Media Production Group. The October 2020 debut of the “Matter of Fact Listening Tour” launched a series of forums employing the digital platforms of many of Hearst’s consumer media brands, including 33 television stations; newspapers around the country; and many of the world’s most popular magazines — and Matter of Fact’s website, YouTube and Facebook Live channels.
Award-winning poet and author Elizabeth Acevedo is one of the special guests who joined Soledad O’Brien for the 2022 “Matter of Fact Listening Tour: Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams.”
Meet Simon Tam, self-proclaimed “Asian Troublemaker” and bass guitarist behind the Asian American rock band The Slants. Tam decided on the band name as a means to reclaim the slur after being bullied as a child for his Asian features. After eight years of fighting for the right to name his band at the Supreme Court, he and his bandmates finally get to be heard.
You can watch the story above, as taken from the June 8, 2022 Matter of Fact Listening Tour: “Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams.”
The award-winning talent extraordinaire spoke about the trauma he endured growing up as a Black queer man and why he is so passionate about upholding Roe v. Wade.
You can view Billy’s interview above, a vidoe taken from the June 8, 2022 Matter of Fact Listening Tour: “Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams.”
Recognized as one of the earliest Korean American stand-up comedians to become mainstream, Margaret Cho talks about her parents’ surprising reaction to her career choice as well as how important representation in entertainment and changing the perception of Asian Americans is to her. View Margaret Cho’s story above, taken from the June 8, 2022 Matter of Fact Listening Tour: “Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams.”
Many refer to the late John Lewis as the person who inspired the term “good trouble.” A proponent of no-violent civil disobedience, Lewis spent is life agitating for social justice – and paid the price for his courage. Even as a member of Congress, Lewis sometimes encouraged people to break laws if it meant affecting systematic change.
View the story above, as taken from the June 8, 2022 Matter of Fact Listening Tour: “Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams.”
Dr. Yohuru Williams shares that he is hopeful for change in America and that there is so much unfinished business of history this country hasn’t resolved that many people are mobilizing to rectify.
View his story above, taken from the June 8, 2022 Matter of Fact Listening Tour: “Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams.”
Women separated by the color line, but united in a fight for participation as full equal citizens of democracy. That’s the story being Andrea Ramsey’s musical “Suffrage Cantata.”
Watch the story above, taken from our June 8, 2022 Matter of Fact Listening Tour: “Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams.”
A leading voice when it comes to tackling injustice in the United States, Bryan Stevenson talks about a fear that had creeped in about 15 years ago, and the work he does to free people wrongfully put on death row.
You can view the story above, as taken from the June 8, 2022 Matter of Fact Listening Tour: “Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams.”
The #MeToo hashtag exploded in popularity in 2017 with countless stories from survivors of sexual violence. Five years later, the founder of the movement, Tarana Burke, continues to educate and organize against injustice with a unique approach of ‘revolutionary grace,’ inspired by the women who paved the way before her.
View her story above, taken from the June 8, 2022 Matter of Fact Listening Tour: “Trailblazers, Troublemakers and Dreams.”