Ep. 176: Read Less Basic Book Club --Nice White Ladies

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In this episode of #readlessbasic, we dissect "Nice White Ladies" by Jessie Daniels, a book challenging the complicity of privileged white women in perpetuating systemic racism. We interviewed Jessie Daniels back in Oct. 

Roundtable guests:

  • Annie Jansen is a former teacher and current apprentice electrician.

  • Christina McDade, school counselor and former guest the Nerdfarm Podcast Ep. 90 “On Representation & Making Space for Black Women in the Workplace” 

  • Marco Manuel–MS history teacher.

We start by examining the book's provocative opening line and share our initial reactions. Despite not all being the target audience, we reflect on how this influences our engagement with the text. Each of us highlights two significant ideas or passages and discusses how our perspectives have evolved. We explore actionable steps proposed by Daniels for white women to become genuine allies in the fight against racism. We debate whether we'd recommend the book and where it stands among other race/antiracism literature like "Caste" and "Stamped." Join us as we navigate the complexities of privilege, allyship, and social change.

Ep. 121: Identity is Not a Plotline--On Cozy Mysteries & Representation

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EQ:  How has the commitment to authenticity and intersectionality by  authors of color changed the writing landscape?

We’re so excited to announce our new author series! Joining us today is  Mia Manansala, author of Arsenic and Adobo (Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries series).

  • Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MPMtheWriter  

  • Check out her website: www.miapmanansala.com 

In this episode we learn all about the cozy mystery, a subgenre of crime! As you might predict, it is often described as “hallmark movies with dead bodies in them.” Mia shares her writing journey shouting out key mentors such as Kellye Garrett and Lori Rader Day. We discuss how the publishing scene is a business rather than an art, thus is slow to change. However, the consistent effort by the “everyday” reader (and any allies who want to see more representation)  is helping put pressure on the industry to expand the stories and authors they support.  We really appreciate Mia’s openness with us about her triumphs and challenges as a newly published author transforming a genre! 

Other Writers to Check Out:

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: Check out Mia’s books–library or purchase!

  • Megan: Read the work and post about it!

  • Mia: Check out Crime Writers of Color

Read Less Basic Book Club: The Body is Not an Apology

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Essential Question: How can radical self-love and our relationships with our own bodies change the systems and world around us?

Guests: 

Janice Bridges-- Janice is a Mom of 4 of The Best People in the World and grandma to 4 amazing boys.She lives in Tacoma and loves it. She is retired after working nearly 20 years at Pierce County Juvenile Court.

    • She is also running for Pierce County Sheriff (find out more details on FB)

Christina McDade--Christina is from Gary, Indiana and has been working on behalf of teens most of her professional career. She is currently a high school counselor in Abu Dhabi. And like most of us, has been caught up in diet culture most of her life. She was also a guest on Nerd Farmer Podcast Ep 90 “On Representation & Making Space for Black Women in the Workplace”

Megan Holyoke joins Hope in her first episode as Co-host to discuss Sonya Renee Taylor’s book The Body Is Not An Apology. The episode starts with an overview and conversation about initial thoughts on the book. We then move into defining what Radical Self Love actually is and have a discussion on how it is different from Body Positivity. We have an honest conversation about our own relationships with our bodies, and reflect on how that relationship impacts the people and systems around us.  

List of Resources/Social Medias mentioned:

Learn more about Janice Bridges campaign for Pierce County Sheriff at the Facebook Page Mamzforsheriff

Ep. 54: Read Less Basic Book Club--"White Rage" by Carol Anderson

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Today we're discussing our 2nd book in the #readlessbasic book club. We encourage listeners to read more of Carol Anderson’s work and listen to her interview on Democracy Now.

Guests: Nate Bowling and Jennifer Newton

  • Nate Bowling, host of the Channel 253 Nerd Farmer podcast

  • Jennifer Newton, long time listener and even longer time friend. Educator, NBCT and general rabblerouser

Discussion Highlights:

  • The connection between Anderson’s work and Derek Jensen’s Endgame

  • The nature & goals of the book. Feels almost like a “second in a trilogy”

  • Things we gloss over in history classes but Anderson brings home

  • How our own racial identity influences our reading of the book

  • Criticism and wishes for the text

  • Why everyone should read White Rage in the current political climate

Listener To Do List:


Ep. 41: An Interview With Author Robin DiAngelo

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Special Guest: Dr. Robin DiAngelo has a PhD in Multicultural Education from the University of Washington in Seattle in 2004 and is a two-time winner of the Student’s Choice Award for Educator of the Year at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work. She is the author of White Fragility, Why It’s So Hard For White People To Talk about Racism (2018), and What Does It Mean to Be White: Developing White Literacy (2012). Check out this NEWLY RELEASED, FREE White Fragility Reader’s Guide

We were elated to conduct this interview! Some highlights of the conversation include:

  • A description of “whiteness studies”.

  • The elevation of white people as the norm for humanity which reproduces white supremacy & white fragility when you challenge it.

  • No matter where you travel in the world, white fragility is the SAME (even if the history of the region is different).

  • Anti-blackness is EVERYWHERE--doesn’t matter what country (ex. Aboriginals in Australia and Native people in Canada).

  • White people don’t understand that we bring our histories to each situation. In particular, teachers bring this history of harm, especial for students of color. Teachers get offended rather than understanding the context of time and place. See the example of The Citadel, an all-male military school.

  • Race work is sometimes “only” given to people of color which reinforces the notion that we’re racially innocent. There is no “clean” space outside white supremacy.

  • A mapping out of Mark Meadows white fragility in response to Tlaib’s speech

  • People have a hard time talking about race because they are afraid of being called a racist and want to point out all the ways they aren’t a racist.

  • They want to be divorced from that term. In particular, white men get to yell and shout and be victims when they want to.

  • Advice for white parents: Slow it down, do your own work around your whiteness. When children of color (with white parents)  have some structural analysis they do better--it’s not just about “something is wrong with me”. Check out DiAngelo’s resources for white parents.

The interview questions were listener-driven. Shout out to: Jennifer B, John M, Shannon M, Marguerite M, Siri K, Jacquie J, Stephen M, and Hilary S.

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Read Less Basic Book Club: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

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Discussion Highlights Include:

  • Passages that resonated with us - insights, challenges, surprises, and takeaways

  • Discussion around the  idea that “Racism is a structure, not an event,” (J. Kēhaulani Kauanui)

  • Colorblindness and associated issues

  • White women’s tears

  • Personal experiences dealing with racism as perpetrators or bystanders and how white people must disrupt racism to make any meaningful change

  • Lessons from the book that we can apply to our everyday lives and next steps

Listener To Do List:

  • Read White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo so this episode makes sense

  • Reach out to IWL on social media if you have questions for Robin DiAngelo - we’re interviewing her in early March!

  • Become a subscribing member of Channel 253

  • Borrow or buy (at your favorite local bookstore) our next #readlessbasic book - White Rage by Carol Anderson