Dive-In-Justice

As we finally close the season, Shadiin both apologizes AND blames Delma for being at fault for this episode taking soooo long to record/post...

Delma checks in about Christmas covid, working in a predominantly white institution (PWIs) and what it's like to navigate these spaces. He gives a shout to Corporate Erin and #NonProfitBoss for giving voice to the strangeness of the culture.

Shadiin and Delma reflect on how we choose to engage with the heaviness of the conflict in Gaza and how we decide when to do so v not. We leverage that conversation to look at what it means to have the privilege to "look away."

Shadiin discusses reuniting with family for land rematriation and all the beauty the process brought up even as they collectively mourned the passing of an uncle.

The duo then reflect on season 3's themes around the tension between our values and our money and the various lessons learned by our powerful and committed guests.

Thanks SO MUCH for taking this journey with us. Look for us to return with SEASON 4: LOVE, in late April!

We have something special to share with you this week. This is the audio version of an essay, written by one of our collective members at the Center for Whole Communities, Samara Gaev. We simply invite you to close your eyes and take this in when you have the time, and listen as Samara gives voice to the tender reality of what it’s like to bring young ones into this world in a time of conflict, trauma, and chaos. You can also find the written version here. And if you would like to contribute to CWC's winter fundraising campaign, and support our collective transition, you can donate here.

The accompanying music for this piece is Compassion, by Cellomano.

Thank you for your patience faithful listener!

This week, Shadiin opens up by saying the quiet part out loud and admits she loves to hear Delma stumble over pronunciations.

Delma checks in about what it means to respond to the world around us based on perceived racial identity and gender and how we potentially replicate the very systems we seek to change. Shadiin reflects on the pride she feels in watching her children become "good humans" in this world. She also discusses the way recent events and triggered her anger and how she's managing (or not) to move with it.

After the break, our fearless hosts welcome back poet, activist, educator, and facilitator Kellie Richardson who's work center's Black humanity as sacred, divine, and worthy. Kellie joins us to talk about surviving cancer, making a living, living life, and what it means to tell her story in predominantly white institutions and spaces in everything from health care, to art.

Our hosts open up how much Shadiin REALLY appreciates Delma's presence in her life. From there, they discuss the nature of contemporary politics and the role of Trump in changing the political landscape so much that you start to miss Reagan and Bush. Shadiin talks about the way our various "hats" we wear impact how we choose to show up in various places. Are we being our authentic selves? CAN we be our authentic selves and still hold down a job?

DIJ then welcomes our guest, Ginny McGinn, the long-time director of Center for Whole Communities. Ginny discusses what it means to lead an agency through justice work while holding her own integrity while navigating sexism and white identity. She discuss the role of allyship in the face of these intersectional realities. She discusses the risks inherent in justice work and how she determines when to push while trying to meet people where they are.

With the encouragement of both Shadiin and Dr. Finney, Delma briefly considers taking up late night DJ-ing. Shadiin and Delma check in about the passing of Delma's colleague and classmate, Dr. Charles Banks and the disproportionate health outcomes of BIPOC populations. Shadiin discusses her son's and their future plans. She also raises what it means to receive feedback from listeners about her "single" status and what it means practice relationships beyond monogamy and her recent dating fun in her dating life.

After the break our hosts welcome the "notorious" Dr. Carolyn Finney who discusses her journey through higher education and what it means to navigate the struggle of meeting her own expectations around social justice work and "the invisible list of rules" that come with being on "the left." She discusses how making money can conflict with her desire to be true to herself when "the rules" don't serve her. She powerfully discusses the task of knowing and meeting her own expectations in the face of people and institutions who expect something less than authenticity.

Shadiin sets up Delma once again to mispronounce Indigenous nations. They check in on the Trump's team showing up in Fulton County and the idea that Fani Willis deserves her flowers sooner than later. Shadiin discusses the crazy-making that is holding people in loving accountability and the toll it takes on BIPOC.

After the break, our fearless hosts welcome Taj James: Founder and former Director of the Movement Strategy Center, Curator at Full Spectrum Labs and Principal at Full Spectrum Capital Partners. Taj invites us to consider a different form of capitalism wherein people are creating markets that more aligned with the earth, our values, and the future we want to see for our beloveds.

Our Apologies...we had some tech difficulties with this ep. Here's to never giving up...

Our hosts check in about the start of the school year so Delma can complain about having to start getting up earlier and getting organized again. They take a moment to reminisce about his Aunt Emma as she transitions into "the pantheon of ancestors." Shadiin reflects on what it means to be tough, the trauma we navigate to get there, and what our kids gain and lose in the process of protecting them from it.

Our fearless hosts then welcome our first guest of the season: Jonah Canner! A long time friend, colleague, teacher, and practitioner, Jonah joins us to discuss what it means to do this work while loving ourselves, the work, and each other. He discusses how he makes decisions about when to hold his position and when to fold and walk away (if not be escorted out).

Our hosts check in about the start of the school year so Delma can complain about having to start getting up earlier and getting organized again. They take a moment to reminisce about his Aunt Emma as she transitions into "the pantheon of ancestors." Shadiin reflects on what it means to be tough, the trauma we navigate to get there, and what our kids gain and lose in the process of protecting them from it.

Our fearless hosts then welcome our first guest of the season: Jonah Canner! A long time friend, colleague, teacher, and practitioner, Jonah joins us to discuss what it means to do this work while loving ourselves, the work, and each other. He discusses how he makes decisions about when to hold his position and when to fold and walk away (if not be escorted out).

Shadiin and Delma open up discussing the cultural relevance of the "Rock at the Dock," The "Fadesgivin' Festivities, " otherwise known as the August 5th "Montgomery Mollywhop," wherein a group of white Alabamans fucked around and found out.

They discuss how the role of blood quantum and other western notions of belonging continue to haunt the Pueblo nation Shadiin belongs to and what it means to dive into the work of calling in folks who look just like you but hold VERY different politics.

Finally, as our hosts hit the halfway point of the season, they pause to take note of what the season has been and what we hope it'll be moving forward.

This week, we join our fearless/fearful hosts as Shadiin tells salacious lies regarding the origin of Delma's humor. They check in about the intersection of anger, mourning, and disproportionate health outcomes as Delma continues to mourn the loss of his father. Shadiin processes recovering from covid in the midst of a retreat she was central in putting together after 2 years of continuous work.

After checking in, our hosts look at the ways we embody white supremacy culture in our hyper-focus on tending to "our own" issues and ignoring the plight/struggles of others. What does it mean to move in an intersectional way? How do we acknowledge that we'll never know everything about everyone and yet continue to learn and grown as we navigate one another in the midst of the overwhelming forces of white supremacist patriarchy? We don't know, either...