When women actors in Hollywood called out other actors and executives who committed some form of sexual violence against them, the whole world took notice. Survivors were finally being heard and it sparked the #MeToo era, in which accusations of sexual misconduct were heard more than ever before.

In Michigan, decades of abuse by sports doctor Larry Nassar came to light around the same time. A few years ago, the University of Michigan agreed to a settlement worth $490 million, with over one thousand people saying they were sexually assaulted by the late physician Robert Anderson.     

According to a 2018 survey by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. 

It’s also important to note that many survivors are harmed by someone they know, someone close to them. In the US, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey.

So how far have we come when it comes to having conversations about domestic violence and abuse to prevent it from happening? And what kind of support does a survivor need to work through their trauma? 

Kalimah Johnson is the Founder, CEO and Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Services for Holistic Healing and Awareness (SASHA) Center, which provides services for sexual assault recovery, prevention, and educational agency. Kalimah is also a consultant on relationship safety and management.

We spoke with Kalimah about the SASHA center and the importance of the language we use when talking about sexual violence, specifically against Black women. We also learned about the upcoming fifth edition of a back-to-school program hosted by the SASHA center.

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Chris Campbell here with The Progressive Underground, bringing you this week’s Pick of the Week — and let me tell you, this one is spiritual electricity. 

We’re tapping into the genre-defying brilliance of SAULT, the elusive UK collective led by producer Inflo and powerhouse vocalist Cleo Sol — who also happen to be husband and wife. Since bursting onto the scene in 2019, SAULT has released a staggering 11 albums in just a few short years, each one digging deeper into the soul of Black music and culture with a defiant edge and minimal media presence. No press tours. No interviews. Just message and music. 

This year, they hit us with their 12th studio release, simply titled “10.” And true to form, it’s a kaleidoscopic ride — an audacious fusion of R&B, punk, gospel, funk, soul, rock, and pop, delivered in SAULT’s signature raw-yet-refined aesthetic. 

The track we’re about to get into is called “KTYWS,” an acronym for “Know That You Will Survive.” And it’s exactly what it sounds like — a sonic affirmation. This one rides a thick groove with gritty basslines, layered vocals, and a rebellious spirit that hits somewhere between a sermon and a rallying cry. It’s healing music. It’s resistance music. It’s survival music. 

Let’s get into it, SAULT with “KTYWS,” my Pick of the Week. 

That was SAULT with “KTYWS,” a defiant, groove-laced proclamation from a group that refuses to play by the industry’s rules. No names in lights, no faces on magazine covers, just deep, soul-drenched music that hits where it matters. 

If that moved you like it moved me, then lock in with The Progressive Underground every Saturday night at 6 p.m. on 101.9 WDET. We dig for the bold, the brilliant, and the next wave of future classics, from nu-jazz to deep house, b-sides to broken beat. 

For The Progressive Underground, I’m Chris Campbell. Stay elevated, and we’ll catch you next time.