October 20, 2020

EP. 184 — Why Are Domestic Workers’ Rights Essential? with Alicia Garza

There are more than 2.5 million care workers, nannies, and house cleaners across the United States. They are skilled professionals. Their labor is essential. So are their rights.

Alicia Garza, who is the Director of Strategy & Partnerships for the National Domestic Workers Alliance, joins Jonathan to discuss the history of domestic work in the United States, why domestic workers are some of the least protected, most vulnerable individuals—without access to health care, paid sick days, or a living wage—and what a Domestic Workers Bill of Rights could offer these workers in the way of proper compensation, labor protections, and dignity.

Beyond her work with the NDWA, Alicia Garza is the co-creator of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, the principal at the Black Futures Lab, a writer, and a podcast host. Her new book The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart is out now.

Once you’ve had a chance to listen to this episode of Getting Curious, make sure to check out Alicia’s first appearance on the show, and her podcasts Lady Don’t Take No and Sunstorm.

Follow Alicia on Twitter @aliciagarza and Instagram @chasinggarza.

Find out what today’s guest and former guests are up to by following us on Instagram and Twitter @CuriousWithJVN.

Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com.

Check out Getting Curious merch at PodSwag.com.

Listen to more music from Quiñ by heading over to TheQuinCat.com.

Jonathan is on Instagram and Twitter @JVN and @Jonathan.Vanness on Facebook.

Check out all new Getting Curious merch at PodSwag.com.

 

Listen to more music from Quiñ by heading over to TheQuinCat.com.

Jonathan is on Instagram and Twitter @JVN and @Jonathan.Vanness on Facebook.

Transcript

Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness & Alicia Garza JVN [00:00:00] Welcome to Getting Curious. I’m Jonathan Van Ness and every week I sit down for a 40 minute conversation with a brilliant expert to learn all about something that makes me curious. On today’s episode, I’m joined by the activist, organizer, writer, and someone I’m honored to call a very dear friend: Alicia Garza, where I ask her: Why Are Domestic Workers’ Rights Essential? Welcome to “Getting Curious,” this is Jonathan Van Ness. I am so excited to welcome our friend back, which I’m going to do, like, your official intro, because it’s gorgeous, like in a minute, ’cause I just want to, wait. It’s Alicia Garza! Well, actually now I’m going to do it because it’s too good to not do it right now. You’re the principal at the Black Futures Lab. You are the Strategy and Partnerships Director at the National Domestic Workers Alliance. You are also the co-creator of

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