Amaka Okechukwu (PhD, NYU) is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at George Mason University. She is an interdisciplinary scholar engaged in research on social movements, race, community studies, and Black archives.

Her work has appeared in Research in Conflicts, Social Movements, and Change and in The Sociology Project: Race and Ethnicity.

We dive into Amaka’s new book: To Fulfill These Rights: Political Contention Over Affirmative Action and Open Admissions in Public Universities (Columbia University Press). Pre-Order here

Her work explores and offers insight into:

We get into....

Check for Dr. Amaka Okechukwu on twitter: @PhdAmaka

And her Website: amakaokechukwu.com

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Links to a few of our past guest Black Friday deals (including Gabes NYT's rated show)--- AYYYYYY!  (follow us and all our past guests for all the plugs)

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MUCH LOVE XOXO - Christina & Deidra

Our guest for episode #18 is our boy Robert “Rob” Newman. Rob is a 2014 Morehouse College graduate, Alpha, and Artist from Arkansas now Harlem transplant kicking down all creative doors -- pulling up seats for his friends all over NYC.

 Rob is an AVP @ the Neuberger Berman finance firm by day. And exploring career and outreach through art whenever he can: the art of work-life balance #worklifeblend. His works and exhibitions include Words on White, Summer of 2016 & Silent Renaissance, an active experience. 

With Deidra & Christina, Rob explores:

For all things Rob Newman visit:  @WordsOnWhiteMovement; @rxbart; @SilentRenaissance

Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of the black, brown, and multifaceted excellence. Get the vibes that keeps all of us thriving, hydrated, and suckafree (LOL). Leave us a review on iTunes or drop a little of that coin into the support bucket at Patreon http://bit.ly/bnpsupport so we can keep bringing the latest and greatest.

In 2011 Founder and Creator of Oemi, Allison Shimamoto went natural. Taking the leap was a no brainer. Finding products that worked for her type 4 coils was the challenge. Most natural hair curly products are designed to ‘work’ with all curl patterns. But those products left her type 4 coils dry, flat, and rigid.

Fed up with the so-called natural products on the shelves, Allison made her own natural products at home. Perfecting her natural hair care craft for over 7 years then bringing Oemi it to the world. A unicorn product for all those rocking the type 4 curls. 

Allison took her passion for Type 4 curlies, what the food industry does for clean eating, and transforms natural hair care with her brand Oemi. A product so natural (and delicious) you can eat it (just don’t)! Shoot...you can even slather it on your skin. We love a good 2 for 1.

With Allison we talk:

PLUS

OEMI’s gift to you! Want to try all the clean, delicious hair care that is Oemi?

We have a promo code just for you: Enter “B&PPOD” @ checkout to save 15% off your first order.

Use it and grab their newest hair #goals kits:

- NEW Oemi Starter Kit for folks to test a 2oz butter of their choice and tea rinse sachet

- NEW Yokai Tea Rinse + Root Detox Kit with a full size tea,  muslin tea bags, wooden spoon and 2 tea bottles

- Or the classics like DAY 1 READY TO WEAR HAIR with CUPUAÇU + KOKUM CREAM (A MUST!)

Thank you so much to Allison for the gem drops, the discount plug, and her generosity!

Pivot! Maya Millett talks about her new project, Race Women and the stories we're not hearing in the history books (or seeing on the screen). 

Join us as we peel back the onion that is black women in history on episode 16, pt. 2 w/ Maya Millett

"For five years Maya Millet was the senior and later executive book editor at StoryCorps, the national oral history organization featured on NPR’s Morning Edition. Maya worked on three StoryCorps books: All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps (2012), Ties That Bind: Stories of Love and Gratitude from StoryCorps (2013), and Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work (2016).

These anthologies, celebrating the lives of everyday people, were published-published (The Penguin Press) and went on to become New York Times bestsellers. Maya also served as the executive producer of StoryCorps Animation, producing nearly 20 animated short films based on StoryCorps broadcasts, for which her team earned the Peabody and Columbia-duPont awards, and two News & Documentary Emmy Award nominations..."

An amazing virtual sitdown steeped in learning, unlearning and deep introspection -- while finding our own footing in anti-oppression work and communication we sit down with the brilliant, multifaceted creative, and anti-oppression consultant Bunny McKensie Mack

"Bunny McKensie Mack (pronouns: they/them/their) is an anti-oppression consultant, coach, facilitator, and the creator and founder of Boundary Work™ and Radical Copy™. As a former Executive Director of Art + Feminism, one of the largest social justice projects on Wikipedia, they led a global team of organizers working to correct skewed and biased content about marginalized communities on the internet.

Bunny holds two linguistics degrees from the University of Chicago and is currently pursuing a double Master's degree in Anthropology and Sociology.

For over 5 years, they’ve consulted with some of the largest for-profit and nonprofit organizations to develop cultures of accountability that dismantle racism and gender inequity at the individual, interpersonal, and institutional levels. Their work has been featured in NowThis News, Refinery29, The Guardian, Artsy, Afropunk, The New York Times, Pop Sugar, It Gets Better, Artsy, ArtNews, Wear Your Voice, Bubblegum Club, and  El País."

You can find and work with Bunny at all of the following:

The Boundary Work Mastermind™ 

Website: mckensiemack.com

Instagram: instagram.com/mckensiemack

Facebook: facebook.com/mckensiemack

Radical Copy: https://www.mckensiemack.com/radical-copy

Subscribe to her Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2PyUIcI

Erika Stallings is an attorney, writer and BRCA awareness advocate. In June 2014, she discovered she carried the BRCA2 gene mutation, a hereditary cancer mutation that causes up to an 85% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer (and other cancers too).

Just six months later she underwent a preventative double mastectomy -- at an age where most are just starting to come into their own.

Erika’s eye-opening experience and research led her to become an advocate for other young women facing the same fate, particularly black women who are underserved by genetic counseling and testing. She has spoken about her experience with BRCA and the many biases at the healthcare level.

Her message and mission have appeared in major publications such as Jezebel, Huffington Post, New York Magazine’s The Cut and O Magazine. She also serves as the founding co-chair of the Young Leadership Council for the Basser Center for BRCA.

You can find her on twitter @quidditch424 or all the fabulous publishings below.

If you or a loved one has been touched by Cancer, healthcare bias, or if you’re considering BRCA genetic counseling don’t hesitate to reach out to Erika for q’s and a’s here:  http://erikastallings.com/contact-me/

Learn more about BRCA & Erika’s story here:

Impostor or Imposter? The jury's still out but did you know 70% of people will or have experienced the dream crusher that is Imposter Syndrome in their lifetimes? The other 30% are str8 unicorns. Imposter Syndrome is hot, but is it real? On Episode 12 Emee Vida Estacio shows just how real it is. 

We chat with Emee about what Imposter Syndrome is, how to detect it, and how you can manage it effectively so you can stop op blocking yourself and flourish with confidence at work and in life.

Emee is a chartered psychologist and Founder of the PAME Code. Her passion is to help people embrace their true worth, so they can live happy and fulfilling lives. Throughout her academic, coaching, and research career, she has worked closely with individuals and communities to unlock their full potential using simple and easy to apply methods for limitless success in life. She is the #1 best-selling author of the "Psychology in Your Life" book series, including titles such as "The Imposter Syndrome Remedy", "Change Your Life for Good", and "Fear is Not My Enemy". She is also now helping aspiring authors fulfill their lifelong ambition to write and publish their own books with her flagship course, "Self-Publishing Made Simple".

Emee's books are available on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes

Audiobooks:

http://thepamecode.com/audiobook

Print and Kindle versions:

http://thepamecode.com/book-store/

Want to write a book?

Self-publishing made simple: https://selfpublishingmadesimple.thinkific.com

Connect with Emee:

For five years Maya Millett was the senior and later executive book editor at StoryCorps, the national oral history organization featured on NPR’s Morning Edition. Maya worked on three StoryCorps books: All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps (2012), Ties That Bind: Stories of Love and Gratitude from StoryCorps (2013), and Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work (2016).

These anthologies, celebrating the lives of everyday people, were published-published (The Penguin Press) and went on to become New York Times bestsellers. 

Maya also served as the executive producer of StoryCorps Animation, producing nearly 20 animated short films based on StoryCorps broadcasts, for which her team earned the Peabody and Columbia-duPont awards, and two News & Documentary Emmy Award nominations.

These days Maya is booked and busy as a freelance writer, editor, and producer of gripping, real-life stories and working on an anthology of her own, Race Women: A project honoring our earliest Black feminist foremothers. 

Join us for part 1 of the tea Maya spills about her time in the wondrous world of black media, Martin Luther King living his best life in Aruba, Harlem furs, our feminist sisters from the past & her journey to thriving and becoming a celebrated creative.

Thank you as always for tuning into Bagels & Plantains. You could be anywhere on the internet but you're here with us. If you like what we’re kicking in your ear and want to know more about upcoming guests, events, and BTS follow us on the gram @bagelsandplantains. If you want to show us, even more, love then don’t forget to leave us a review on iTunes or drop a little of that coin into the support bucket on Patreon http://bit.ly/bnpsupport so we can keep bringing you all the brown and black magic you love, keep the lights on and our amazing team booked and busy.