Author of THE COLOR OF LAW: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, Richard Rothstein talks a segregated America and how it became so. Melissa Pitkin from STRAW-Point Blue Conversation Science joins the show.

Pat Thurston

Rothstein is the author of THE COLOR OF LAW: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America and can discuss how segregation in America is the byproduct of explicit government policies at the local, state, and federal level. At every step of the way, Rothstein demonstrates, the government and our courts upheld racist policies to maintain the separation of whites and blacks. Leading to the powder keg which has defined Ferguson, Baltimore, Charleston, and Chicago. THE COLOR OF LAW is not a tale of Red versus Blue states. It is sadly the story of America in all of its municipalities, large and small, liberal and reactionary.

As the Education and Outreach Director for Point Blue, Melissa Pitkin, works with teams of scientists and educators to plan ways to share our science findings and recommendations to inspire action for conservation. She also firmly believe in training the next generation of conservationists, scientists, educators, and advocates through education programs linked to science and nature. Melissa is passionate about teaching and the need to connect people to nature. She has a M.S. in Environmental Education from Southern Oregon University and a B.S. in Wildlife and Conservaiton Biology from UC Davis. Melissa first came to Point Blue (then PRBO) as a third grader on a field trip to observe bird banding at the Palomarin Field Station. Her educational career brought me back to Palomarin with my college ornithology class. Today, the education program has grown to reach over 3,000 people of all ages each year, through programs in the field and in classrooms, including the award winning program called STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring A Watershed).