When you hear the word “reparations” - what do you think? If you’re like us, it’s probably something you sort of thought about in theory, but realize there’s so much to understand that you want to hide. It’s not an easy word with an easy answer or a clear path forward, nor is it uncomplicated.   Fortunately, we love to get complicated AND messy on this podcast, and so that’s why we’re thrilled today to have cameron whitten, the CEO of the racial justice nonprofit Brown Hope and Co-Founder of the Black Resilience Fund on today to talk about reparations, H.R. 40, Portland, and answer all of the questions you may have thought of - or even some that you have not - about reparations. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com What to listen for: What the word “reparations” really means when we talk about healing the legacy of slavery How reparations can actually show up - is it only cash? Who should the recipients be? And how should they be paid for? What the bill HR 40 entails The history of Portland and Oregon when it comes to slavery and racism About cameron:   At the age of eighteen, cameron whitten (all pronouns) worked themself out of youth homelessness in Portland and has spent the past decade giving back to the same community that was here when they needed it most. cameron has been a leader in several movements for social change, served as the Executive Director of Q Center, and is currently the CEO of racial justice nonprofit Brown Hope and Co-Founder of the Black Resilience Fund. They serve on the board of REACH CDC and Pioneer Courthouse Square.   Where to order your copy of Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.      

Dear White Women

137: Reparations with cameron whitten

It’s book launch day! And if you haven’t already pre-ordered, it’s time that you get your order in for Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism! And then tell your friends and family today about it so they order, too. Will make for some good conversations – plus, we’ll be opening up a book club conversation with you in November! What to listen for, in celebration of our book launch, are the answers to a few questions we whittled down from an “Ask Us Anything” 24-hour callout we made on social media and our email list – so you’ll get our real, authentic selves in response to YOUR questions. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com Questions were: What were your initial impressions of each other? Was it friend love at first sight? How do your kids feel about your podcast and your book? What was your hardest interview and/or episode to record? Why?  Are there any episodes where you wish you had a do-over? Why?  Where do each of you record your podcast? Where are your families then?  How do you envision your work evolving going forward?   Where to order your copy of Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.  

136: Book Launch Day, ask us anything!

Remember the Titans has the specific scene that happens part of the way through the movie, when Coach Boone gets everyone out of bed in the middle of the night and tells them they’re going for a run in the woods. They run to the location of the Battle of Gettysburg. And Coach Boone stands there and he tells them: “Anybody know what this place is? This is Gettysburg. This is where they fought the Battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fightin’ the same fight that we’re still fightin’ amongst ourselves today. This green field right here was painted red, bubblin’ with the blood of young boys, smoke and hot lead pourin’ right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men: “I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family.” You listen. And you take a lesson from the dead. If we don’t come together right now, on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed - just like they were. I don’t care if you like each other or not. But you will respect each other.” That’s a movie, but we’re in this same place right now. We’ve been here throughout the past 5 years and while people have chosen to look away, believing that things are better in 2021 - they’re not. Listen to this episode to hear just how bad things have become - and what we can do about it, because while we are in a constitutional crisis, it’s not too late to push for change and get loud. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com What to listen for: Why the 2020 election and January 6 was so much worse than we believed, with the release of the Eastman memo What is the election reform that certain Republicans are pushing, and why we’re investigating election results when no fraud has been established What’s at stake if we don’t abolish the filibuster - because right now, it’s progress, or the destruction of our democracy The numbers to call Congress and the White House - and other ways to demand that we remove the filibuster More resources:  DWW Ep 110: Why we should all care about the filibuster Kagan’s Op/Ed in the Washington Post  Call Congress at (202) 224-3121, the White House at (202) 456-1111, or your Senators or Representatives to abolish the filibuster.  Discuss what’s at stake (Immigration reform, The For the People Act, The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, Reproductive rights, Gun control, Medicare for All, A Green New Deal, A $15 minimum wage, and the foundations of our democracy).   Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.    

135: Remember the Titans

Sometimes there are those books that are so hauntingly beautiful, disturbing, or touching (or all three) that you can’t stop thinking about them for days after you finally put them down after binge reading them. Some of those for us are The Handmaid’s Tale, or Americanah, or Song of Solomon. But recently, we found another book that we’ve been thinking about ever since putting it down - Beautiful Country. In her debut memoir, which she started writing in 2016 while on the subway on her iPhone, Qian Julie Wang tells her story of being an undocumented seven-year-old who arrives in New York City in 1994 with her parents from northern China - and all of the wonders and heartbreak and LIFE that happens as you come of age in a country that has expressly shown you that you don’t belong, in so many ways. Talking to her was like seeing this book come to life - but we didn’t just stop with the book. Listen in to hear about Beautiful Country, but also so much more, in this conversation that we didn’t want to end. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com What to listen for: What it felt like to risk everything and write openly about their move away from China Experiences growing up living in fear and poverty in New York, and how that’s shaped her current career as a lawyer Her thoughts on Afghani refugees, anti-Asian hate, and what we can all do to better understand the people in our communities About the book: In Chinese, the word for America, “Mei Guo,” translates directly to “Beautiful Country.” Yet when 7-year-old Qian is plucked from her comfortable life in China where she’s surrounded by friends and family and arrives in New York City in 1994, she finds the roads paved not with gold, but instead crushing fear and scarcity. Her professor parents now work in Chinatown sweatshops and sushi factories. Instead of laughing at her jokes, they fight constantly. She no longer loves school because she’s too hungry to pay attention. Her mother, her sole confidante, is too sick to get out of bed, but going to the doctor isn't an option. And most distressing of all: the number one rule in America is that she must go unnoticed—or risk losing everything.  It’s under this perpetual specter of deportation that we watch Qian Julie come of age. Yet, while Qian Julie’s is a story of hopes dashed, it’s also one of life lived tenaciously in their stead, with small, vital joys and glimmers of hope: a dollar slice of pizza, Rockefeller Center at Christmastime, a bedroom with her own door, or her very own Tamagotchi digital pet. About the author: Although the book ends when Qian Julie Wang’s family leaves the US 5 years later, her remarkable true story did not end there. She attended Swarthmore College and Yale Law School and, until recently, worked as a high-powered corporate litigator in Manhattan—in fact, she wrote the book almost entirely on her iPhone during her daily subway commute. She is now pursuing her advocacy work full-time and is managing partner of Gottlieb & Wang LLP, a firm dedicated to advocating for education and discrimination rights. She regularly speaks and writes on these issues, including recent op-eds for the New York Times and Washington Post.   Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.    

134: Beautiful Country, with Qian Julie Wang

Last week’s episode was all about QAnon and how conspiracy theories can divide us as a nation. One of the things we think we can do to bridge the divide is bring mindfulness and skills around living with mindfulness into conversations about race, racism, identity, and beliefs - and to do that, we got to speak with an incredible law professor named Rhonda McGee. In speaking with Rhonda, we learned not only about the role of law in helping - and hurting - racial divides, but we also discussed the role of mindfulness in helping people come into a grounded space to do this work in the first place. Once we added in her own brand of racial awareness called ColorInsight, we left this conversation with not only some reframed concepts but a deeper understanding of why we all need to be doing this work. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com What to listen for: How her background in law drew her into mindfulness - this part will blow your mind For those who are new to mindfulness and new to meditation, Professor McGee leading us through an actual few minutes of meditation! ColorInsight and what it means to hold race in our bodies How we can all navigate criticism - from Black people about catering to Whiteness, from White people about being racist for naming White as a race - in a more mindful way About Rhonda: RHONDA V. MAGEE is a professor of law at the University of San Francisco. Also trained in sociology and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), she is a highly practiced facilitator of trauma-sensitive, restorative MBSR interventions for lawyers and law students, and for minimizing the effects of social-identity-based bias. Magee has been a visiting scholar at the Center for the Study of Law and Society and a visiting professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley.    Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.  

133: The Inner Work of Racial Justice, with Rhonda McGee

This fall we’re focused on hot-button topics. If you remember, we kicked off the fall with a conversation about the census and representation, which then moved into representation in the media and movies with Kamala Avila-Salmon, the head of inclusive content at Lionsgate Films. Today, we’re here to talk about another hot button topic that we’ve all heard about the last couple of years but we’ve never touched yet on the show: QAnon. This conversation we’re about to share gave us some perspective on what really was happening with the development of the conspiracy theory, what risks we face as a country if we let this fester (it’s not good), and what we can each do differently that we weren't doing beforehand.   ALSO - we have one month until our book launch! For those of you who are at all interested in joining our book launch team, email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com for details on what’s involved. We’d love to have you be a part of our book community! What to listen for: The basic beliefs of QAnon, and what our guests think the harm is from letting the reported 17% of the US adult population who believes in this (baseless) conspiracy theory continue The influence of women - White women - in the growth and depth of QAnon What psychological needs QAnon fills for those who have fallen down the rabbit hole Importantly - what can each of us say or do for those people in our lives who believe in QAnon?   About the authors:  Mia Bloom is the International Security Fellow at New America, professor at Georgia State University, and member of the Evidence-Based Cybersecurity Research Group. She has authored several books on violent extremism including Small Arms: Children and Terrorism (2019), Bombshell: Women and Terrorism (2011), and Dying to Kill: The Allure of Suicide Terror (2005).  Sophia Moskalenko is a psychologist studying mass identity, inter-group conflict, and conspiracy theories. She has written several books, including the award-winning Friction: How Conflict Radicalizes Them and Us (2011) and The Marvel of Martyrdom: The Power of Self-Sacrifice in the Selfish World (2019). Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.    

DWW 132 RE

We promised last week in our intro to fall and census conversation that we’d be focusing on some hot button topics that we’ve seen trending of late. And representation is a huge one - especially with the recent release of the mostly Asian cast of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - and the question of how people in the entertainment field can get “diverse” movies totally right, or totally wrong. Today we’re talking with the fantastic Kamala Avila-Salmon, head of inclusive content at Lionsgate, about some hard truths around media, entertainment and diversity. In this episode, there’s a lot for us to think about as consumers, and as people in our own fields who might want to make change - things to think about to make sure we’re not being performative and missing the mark, but instead, digging deep and thinking holistically about changing the narrative. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com What to listen for: The state of the entertainment industry when it comes to “diverse” films - how much money is being left on the table right now, who the target audience of these films are, and how to think about casting The day to day life and specific challenges of someone who brings integrity-filled diversity to the movies we see on our screens Kamala’s theory of change when it comes to racial awareness and racial justice What we can do as audience members to demand more diversity in films Kamala’s favorite movies! About Kamala:  Kamala Avila-Salmon is the Head of Inclusive Content at Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. She joined Lionsgate from Facebook, where she launched the Marketing Inclusion strategy within their Consumer Marketing team. Kamala began her career in the marketing department of RCA Records, then joined Bad Boy Records; she also worked at Universal Pictures and then moved to NBC Entertainment in TV. Kamala joined Google Play as an executive responsible for marketing campaigns to promote Google Play Music and Google Play Movies, then transitioned to the launch team for YouTube TV.   Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.  

131: Representation Matters, with Kamala Avila-Salmon

Hello and welcome to Fall! What we’re really excited about - besides our book coming out in mid October! - is our fall lineup of episodes. Now that we’re done with our Summer of Action, we’re focused on issues that have not only been in our consciousness, but ones that we’ve been hearing about throughout 2021 and ones that we’d like to highlight for the fall.   In September, we’ll be focusing on current events and topics that you may have heard about in the news - including representation in the media, Qanon, and so much more. October will be devoted to all things voting and our political systems as we look at the practical things we all need to be aware of when we vote this November, or in 2022 - or as we read or listen to the news. Finally, in November, we’ll be talking to people who are working on transformative change in their own spheres of influence, and see how they got involved in doing this impactful work.   And to kick this off - let’s talk about the Census. Because we’ve learned a lot about who we are and our own communities with the news that’s been coming out over these last few weeks. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com What to listen for: Our summer recap and what it’s like to have some kids back in school! The overview of our fall lineup Breaking down the latest census information - how the census impacts policies and elections not just for the next ten years, but for potentially the next hundred How lawmakers froze the number of members in the House of Representatives at a max - even though that cap is not mandated in the Constitution And yes, of course, how the demographics appear to be showing a marked decline in the White population of this country - and how that can be both reality and a question of more accurate data   Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.  

130: School’s Back In Session (And We’re Starting With The Census)

Let’s talk about workplace safety. No, not that kind of workplace safety - we’re here to talk about building psychologically safe workspaces, which in our opinion is a crucial conversation especially as we’re reimagining workspaces in this era of COVID. And you’ll want to hear this WHOLE conversation, because there are knowledge bombs just being tossed around by our guest throughout this entire episode. Today we’re talking to Jeff Harry, who is the founder of Rediscover Your Play, and who works with companies and individuals to help lift their veil of BS in order to make their work more fulfilling and rediscover their joyful purpose, all the while removing what is getting in the way of their success. This conversation got us thinking, and we hope it gets you thinking too.   After this episode, which sadly is the very last in our Summer of Action, our ask is this: tell all your friends to listen to this episode, especially those with workplaces.  And take a good hard look at your own workplace. How can you make it more psychologically safe for EVERYONE who works there?   Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com What to listen for: What constitutes a psychologically safe workplace How people can navigate toxic situations and have important challenging conversations in a way that gets past performative allyship Why and how Jeff addresses toxic masculinity in his work How broad of a concept play really can be, and what are some of the necessary steps to be able to truly play - both at work and in all the other spheres of our lives About Jeff: Jeff Harry shows individuals and companies how to tap into their true selves, to feel their happiest and most fulfilled — all by playing. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day. Jeff is an international speaker who has presented at conferences such as INBOUND, SXSW, and Australia’s Pausefest, showing audiences how major issues in the workplace can be solved using play. Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers of 2020 for his organizational development work around dealing with toxic people in the workplace. His play work has most recently been featured in the Upworthy, Mashable, Shondaland, and the NY Times. He has also been featured on AJ+, SoulPancake, the SF Chronicle, and CNN.  While we spend most of our time pretending to be important, serious grownups, it's when we let go of that facade and just play, that the real magic happens. Fully embracing your own nerdy genius — whatever that is — gives you the power to make a difference and change lives. Jeff believes that we already have many of the answers we seek, and by simply unleashing our inner child, we can find our purpose and, in turn, help to create a better world. SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES: Website: RediscoverYourPlay.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jeffharryplays Instagram: @jeffharryplays TikTok: @jeffharryplays Medium: @jeffharryplays Twitter: @jeffharryplays LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-harry-6991a94/ RESOURCES TO INSPIRE YOU TO PLAY MORE How To Stop Wasting Time Scrolling And Start Finding Joy In Play - Mashable Adults Need Playtime Just As Must As Kids - Shondaland How Do You Add Play To Grown-Up Life - Even Now - NY Times These People Who Took Risks And Found Their Purpose Through Passion - Upworthy Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.    

129: Is Your Workplace Psychologically Safe? with Jeff Harry

If you’re listening to this episode at the time that it’s being released, and you’re thinking about work, you’re probably thinking about returning to a physical office in this new land of the Delta variant, or perhaps you’re looking for a job, or you’re figuring out how to get a new job because you’re done with the one that you have. Or maybe you don’t want to talk or think about work at all. But the reality is - we all understand work dynamics and most of us cannot escape the reality that we do need to belong to a group that provides us with money to make a living.  So here’s our question: what happens when you make a mistake at work?  What if we told you that there’s another way to do business - one that focuses on love?  We were convinced that this might work after we spoke with our guests today - and read their book. Mohammed Anwar and Jeff Ma are executives at Softway, a company whose mission is to bring humanity back to the workplace. In their book, Love as a Business Strategy, they break down how this is possible. After you’ve heard what they have to say, here’s what we’d like you to do: tell all your friends to listen (you knew that was coming!). Then buy their book from their website, and download the free resources too. Read it, and share it with your teams - both at work, and in other spheres. And then let us know what most resonated with you by emailing us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com.  Let’s put humanity first at work and see where that gets us.   Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com What to listen for: The major dysfunction in Softway’s company culture that led them to make a shift The biggest resistance to the idea of love in the workplace What it takes for leadership to lead a massive shift in workplace culture How using love as a business strategy affected their relationships outside the workplace About our guests: Jeff Ma Jeff spent the first decade of his career working in the video game industry, from game testing to project management. He continues to bring his love for games into everything he does, from playing with his kids to training and coaching leaders. Jeff has a burning passion for board games, magic tricks, Agile, and growth mindsets. He was born and raised in Texas, where he and his beautiful wife, Maggie, dote heavily on their wonderful children, Cody and Penelope. Mohammad Anwar Mohammad is the youngest of five children and was born and raised in Saudi Arabia by Indian parents from Bengaluru. He graduated from the University of Houston (Go Coogs) with a BS in Computer Science and started Softway at twenty, where he still serves as the President and CEO. Mohammad lives in Sugar Land, Texas, with his amazing wife Yulia, a Russian diver and five-time Olympic medalist, and his beautiful children, Sufia and Moshin. In his spare time, he enjoys fitness, watching college sports, and butchering American idioms.   Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

128: Love as a Business Strategy, with Softway

After last week’s episode with Christine Platt (aka the Afrominimalist), this scenario may sound familiar: You look around your house.  It’s full of stuff - stuff that you don’t wear, stuff that you don’t use, stuff that you don’t need. You gather everything up in bags and boxes and, once the Donate pile is big enough, you move it to the garage or outside, ready for the next step.  But then you pause. What IS the next step? Where do you take what you don’t need anymore, that can provide the most help for people who really do need these things?   We sat down with Sable Schultz, the Director of Transgender Services at the Center on Colfax in Denver, Colorado, to talk about a very different - and important - way in which your donations can make not only an impact, but really show someone that they matter.   After you tell all your friends about this episode, look up the organizations that Sable mentions. Do the Google search for your own city. Think twice about where your donations go, because sometimes, even if it’s not the easiest option, it’s the most impactful. And remember that small things, like adding your pronouns to your email or asking someone for theirs, can make all the difference. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com What to listen for: Small things you can do to make a difference, including ways you can choose to direct your clothing donations Gender identity vs gender expression What it means to transgender individuals to have clothing that matches their identity About Sable: Sable Schultz (she/her/hers) is the Director of Transgender Services at The Center on Colfax, where her work includes inclusivity and awareness trainings, providing resources support services for the trans community in the Denver metro area, and programming to assist in developing community awareness and engagement. Sable is a queer, poly, trans woman; social justice warrior; and witch and has been engaged in inclusivity and advocacy work for over 15 years. She has worked with the Mental Health Center of Denver, University of Denver’s Center for Multicultural Excellence, the Movement Advancement Project, and the LGBTQ Student Resource Center on Auraria campus. Sable enjoys computer, console, and tabletop gaming and is active in the Leather and pagan communities. About The Center on Colfax: The Center on Colfax opened in 1976 and over the years has grown to become the largest community center in the Rocky Mountain region, giving voice to Colorado’s LGBT community and playing a pivotal role in statewide initiatives to reduce harassment and discrimination. Today the Center is focused on fulfilling its mission – to engage, empower, enrich and advance the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Colorado – by ensuring that every member of the LGBT community has access to the programs and resources they need to live happy, healthy, and productive lives.   Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

127: Your Donations Matter. WHERE You Donate Matters, Too. - with Sable Schultz

When you think about liberation, what comes to mind: Intentional action? Physical protests? Thoughtful contemplation? One thing we didn’t really think about was minimalism as a form of liberation. We didn’t see the connection then between liberation and simplifying until after we spoke with our guest, and read her book. Now we believe: less can be liberation. Today we interview Christine Platt, who is also known as the Afrominimalist. And in preparation, ask yourself: what is a minimalist space? Once you’ve got that vision, the next question is: whose aesthetic is this? After you listen to this episode, we challenge you to tell five people about this episode - and then start examining how minimalism can be liberation in YOUR life and other ways to view minimalism that aren’t part of the mainstream narrative. And then go and buy her book, The Afrominimalist. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com  What to listen for: Why minimalism is so difficult to begin to embrace in the first place What Afrominimalism does that makes it stand out from decluttering and following the Instagram vision of minimalism and Marie Kondo-ing your spaces How your energy shifts once as you transition to your own aesthetic, and how YOU can get started making changes in your own life right now About Christine:  Christine Platt is a modern-day Renaissance woman. From serving as an advocate for policy reform to using the power of storytelling as a tool for social change, Christine’s work reflects her practice of living with intention. She holds a BA in Africana Studies, an MA in African-American Studies, and a JD in General Law. Christine has written over two dozen literary works for people of all ages. When she’s not writing, Christine spends her time curating The Afrominimalist—a creative platform chronicling her journey to minimalism. Visit her online at TheAfrominimalist or on Instagram @afrominimalist.   Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

126: Minimalism Is Liberation, with the Afrominimalist

After what seemed like five years rolled into one in 2020, it’s hard to believe that we are now approximately halfway through 2021. We hope that our earlier summer episodes have given you all some ways to practically and intentionally think differently about small, yet impactful, decisions that we make as part of our everyday lives. But as we think of summer, we also think about the Summer Olympics. In general, we love everything about them - the athletics, the camaraderie, the national pride, the international nature. Really, we love it all. But what we don’t love about the Olympics this year (besides holding it during a global pandemic) is how Black athletes, and in particular, Black female athletes, have been treated even prior to a single Olympic event happening (and, at the time that we recorded this, it’s still unsure how and if events will happen as planned). We’re breaking down that disparate treatment in today’s episode, along with our thoughts about how best to show your support (the title is probably a spoiler alert there). Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com  What to listen for: The stories of Sha’Carri Richardson, Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi of Namibia, the Soul Cap, and other stories from this year’s Olympics that make it clear that Black athletes are being treated differently How the Olympics isn’t really about humanity and celebration of achievement, but about chasing dollars (or whatever currency you use!). Our view of what you can do to make change: consider not watching the Olympics this year.    Where to pre-order Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism: https://thecollectivebook.studio/dear-white-women Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

125: It’s Time to NOT Watch the Olympics

As we’re still in our summer of action, we had a conversation lately behind the scenes to ask ourselves: are these episodes actionable enough? And we really believe that to make all of this work sustainable, sometimes it has to be in the little things. It has to be in which link you send to your friend about a book you’re recommending - Amazon or Bookshop? - and it has to be in looking deep within yourself and looking around to build a more diverse community. But sometimes it’s also about doing work - social activism, DEI work in your organizations, and the groups you’re a part of.   We’re back with Part 2 of our fabulous conversation with Kelly and Aurora of The Opt-In to look at all different forms of activism, ways to think about where we’ve collectively been and where we are in this realm, and suggestions for courses and people to look at. And fundamentally the message is: we can do hard things. This isn’t even one of the hardest things we’ll do in our lives, but it may be what has the most lasting impact - not only for ourselves but for our kids. Remember: it’s seemingly little things and little choices that make lasting, much larger changes in our communities and our world. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com   What to listen for: How The Opt-In thinks about social activism, in both corporate and social spheres Why and how women have been doing tough things all along, and how women have the innate ability to do hard things Small ways in which we can shift our mindset and our actions to lead to bigger change Organizations and people Kelly and Aurora suggest we look at to do this work About Aurora:  Aurora Archer, an Afro-Latina, hustled up the corporate ladder to the executive suite, and yet still experienced the same implicit bias, microaggressions, and overt racism as her parents, who spent their lives working as domestic help while raising Aurora in Texas. After 25 years of marketing awards and promotions, Aurora realized there had to be a better way to use her talents without sacrificing her true self and health. She wisely identified the white supremacist cultural conditioning at the center of the problem, and Aurora set her sights on transforming our culture, from the inside out, one tough conversation at a time. In 2018, Aurora partnered with her white best friend Kelly Croce Sorg to form The Opt-In, and continued the journey of intentionally supporting Kelly and their white podcast listeners, learning community, corporate clients and others to learn with accountability the racial literacy, stamina, and introspective skills they need to help dismantle white supremacy within themselves and all aspects of their lives. About Kelly:  Kelly Croce Sorg, an expert in white womanhood, grew up über-privileged as the daughter of an NBA team owner. Her father lived the rags-to-riches story of the white American Dream, and her mom, a homemaker, raised the kids while her dad focused on numerous entrepreneurial ventures. After college, Kelly’s adult life looked a lot like those of her white friends and family. Ask most white women her age, and they would tell you Kelly had it all yet she constantly sought self-improvement. It wasn’t until her bestie, Aurora Archer, gifted Kelly the book White Fragility she realized she wasn’t as “woke” as she thought she was, and after numerous heart-to-hearts with Aurora, Kelly opted into examining her white identity as a way to claim her own humanity. She is now co-founder of The Opt-In, where she continues to learn while engaging in the uncomfortable, but necessary, conversations about race with her co-host Aurora, in what she calls a love letter to her white friends and family, advocating that they can all do better, herself included. Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

124: We Can Do Hard Things, with The Opt-In (Part II)

We’re continuing our summer of action and diving deeper. And as we’re releasing this episode, we’re also in the midst of a summer that’s been filled with more friends and family and conversation and ability to BE TOGETHER in a way that we haven’t been able to be since March of 2020. #vaccines It makes us think of friendship, community, and how much we learn from each other - not only through our similarities, which is how we often create friendships, but also our differences, which can be particularly true when we think about cross-racial friendships and communities.   Today we’re excited to have Kelly and Aurora from The Opt-In, two of our very favorites, to discuss community, cross-racial friendships, and so much more. What we love about these women is that they are real - real about the good parts of their friendships and identities, and also the tough parts. And because we loved them so much, we split our conversation with them into two parts. Part I is this episode. Part II - well, you’ll have to stay tuned. But it centers around what we can all do in terms of social activism and moving the needle - and spoiler alert, it starts from within. Have questions, comments, or concerns? Email us at hello@dearwhitewomen.com   What to listen for: Who Kelly and Aurora are, and what community means to each of them How community can be hard to find for White people, and some of the ways in which that physically appears How we can create more inclusive communities for ourselves and our families The true strengths - and challenges - of cross-racial friendships About Aurora:  Aurora Archer, an Afro-Latina, hustled up the corporate ladder to the executive suite, and yet still experienced the same implicit bias, microaggressions, and overt racism as her parents, who spent their lives working as domestic help while raising Aurora in Texas. After 25 years of marketing awards and promotions, Aurora realized there had to be a better way to use her talents without sacrificing her true self and health. She wisely identified the white supremacist cultural conditioning at the center of the problem, and Aurora set her sights on transforming our culture, from the inside out, one tough conversation at a time. In 2018, Aurora partnered with her white best friend Kelly Croce Sorg to form The Opt-In and continued the journey of intentionally supporting Kelly and their white podcast listeners, learning community, corporate clients, and others to learn with accountability the racial literacy, stamina, and introspective skills they need to help dismantle white supremacy within themselves and all aspects of their lives. About Kelly:  Kelly Croce Sorg, an expert in white womanhood, grew up über-privileged as the daughter of an NBA team owner. Her father lived the rags-to-riches story of the white American Dream, and her mom, a homemaker, raised the kids while her dad focused on numerous entrepreneurial ventures. After college, Kelly’s adult life looked a lot like those of her white friends and family. Ask most white women her age, and they would tell you Kelly had it all yet she constantly sought self-improvement. It wasn’t until her bestie, Aurora Archer, gifted Kelly the book White Fragility she realized she wasn’t as “woke” as she thought she was, and after numerous heart-to-hearts with Aurora, Kelly opted in to examining her white identity as a way to claim her own humanity. She is now co-founder of The Opt-In, where she continues to learn while engaging in the uncomfortable, but necessary, conversations about race with her co-host Aurora, in what she calls a love letter to her white friends and family, advocating that they can all do better, herself included. Like what you hear?  Don’t miss another episode and subscribe! Catch up on more commentary between episodes by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter – and even more opinions and resources if you join our email list.

123: Cross-Racial Friendships with The Opt-In (Part I)

As women, we have the power of influence - whether through parenting, chatting in our social circles, voting, building and supporting consciously-run businesses, or simply listening to a different person's experience of the world. Two wickedly smart, funny, compassionate, visionary women, Sara and Misasha, want to help move the needle with conversations around race, identity, happiness and more. Join the community, as we look through different lenses like law and history, life coaching and positive psychology, to engage in uncomfortable conversations that will make change.

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Dear White Women

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