Melissa Harris-Perry is Host and Managing Editor of The Takeaway.
Melissa is an award winning journalist, author, professor, former television host, and political commentator with a focus on African-American politics and intersectional justice. She is the founder and president of the Anna Julia Cooper Center, an independent organization advancing justice through intersectional scholarship and action.
From 2012-2016, she hosted the television show “Melissa Harris-Perry” on weekend mornings on MSNBC and was awarded the Hillman Prize for broadcast journalism. She also served as editor-at-large for Elle.com and for ZORA, a Medium publication created by and for women of color. She continues to serve as contributing editor for The Nation, and she sits on the boards of The Markup, The Century Foundation, and The Next 100.
Melissa is the Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University in the Department of Politics and International Affairs, the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and the Program in Environment and Sustainability. Harris-Perry previously served on the faculty of the University of Chicago, Princeton University, and Tulane University. She received her B.A. degree in English from Wake Forest University and her Ph.D. degree in political science. She has also received a number of honorary degrees from many universities including Winston-Salem State University, Eckerd College, New York University, and Ithaca College.
“She is the perfect host for The Takeaway, a show dedicated to voices and perspectives often overlooked in broadcast media," said former NYPR CEO and incoming Politico CEO Goli Sheikholeslami.
Shows:
Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry appears in the following:
Thursday, June 30, 2022
What can the experiences of enslaved Black women teach us about the overturning of Roe vs. Wade?
Thursday, June 30, 2022
The gender non-conforming artist explores themes of gender, race, trauma and belonging in their work while advocating and bringing visibility to the trans community
Thursday, June 30, 2022
We speak with comedian Jenny Slate about bringing back her viral character “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” for a feature length film.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
More than 50 migrants were found dead in an abandoned truck in Texas this week. We speak with an anthropologist about how the human tragedy is a result of U.S. border policy.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
As we await the SCOTUS decision on Texas v. Biden, we speak with CBS News immigration reporter, Camilo Montoya-Galvez about immigration policy in the U.S.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
The Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade could have meaningful repercussions on assisted reproductive technologies, including IVF.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
A new scientific study found a population of polar bears in Greenland that's adapted its hunting due to climate change. But that doesn't mean polar bears are thriving.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
The Supreme Court opinion that overturned Roe vs. Wade was made possible by decades of political choices—many of them made by the Democratic Party.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
What to know and what to do during the spread of monkeypox and Covid.
Monday, June 27, 2022
Last week Congress passed a historic bipartisan gun control bill; meanwhile, the Supreme Court issued a ruling which will expand the 2nd Amendment. We break it all down.
Monday, June 27, 2022
Texas is one of 13 states that has a “trigger law” on the books, which triggers the enactment of an abortion ban pursuant to Roe v. Wade being overturned.
Monday, June 27, 2022
The Takeaway speaks with musician Bartees Strange about his new album, Farm to Table, and what success has looked like for him since the start of the pandemic.
Friday, June 24, 2022
In a 5-4 decision, the outcome overrules Roe v. Wade and ends federal recognition of the constitutional right to an abortion after nearly 50 years.
Friday, June 24, 2022
The end of Roe does not have to mean the end of abortions and reproductive healthcare.
Friday, June 24, 2022
Nearly 140 million Americans are officially poor or low wage workers living on the brink of poverty.
Thursday, June 23, 2022
For decades, the debate around LGBTQ rights has hinged on questions about why we are who we are. But does it really matter?
Thursday, June 23, 2022
Today marks 50 years since Title IX was signed into law. The statute itself is one sentence long, but it expanded educational and athletic opportunities for millions of women.
Thursday, June 23, 2022
The Takeaway has gone to the dogs as we cover the 146th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show with Sarah Montague.
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Ray Charles collaborator John Burk shares two new releases of past work from the legendary performer.
Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Food vulnerable countries are suffering most from Russia's blockade in the Black Sea, which is preventing much of Ukraine's grain and corn from leaving the country.