Show Notes for Let’s Talk: Passion & Purpose with Nicole Thomas

Episode Title: Award-Winning Author, Educator, and Speaker: A Conversation with Shonda BuchananEpisode Description:

In this captivating episode of Let’s Talk: Passion & Purpose, host Nicole Thomas welcomes the award-winning author, educator, and speaker Shonda Buchanan. A Kalamazoo, Michigan native, Shonda shares her journey as a writer, her passion for storytelling, and her work as an advocate for cultural history and mixed-race identity. Dive into her inspiring career and gain insights into her powerful works, including her memoir Black Indian and her forthcoming poetry collection, The Lost Songs of Nina Simone.Key Discussion Points:

1. Shonda Buchanan’s Literary Journey:
   • Her path to becoming a twice Pushcart Prize & Best of the Net nominee and PEN Emerging Voices Fellow.
   • The inspiration behind her critically acclaimed memoir Black Indian, which PBS NewsHour recognized as a “Top 20 books to read to learn about institutional racism.”
2. Poetry and Advocacy:
   • Exploring her three collections of poetry: Who’s Afraid of Black Indians?, Equipoise, and Poems from Goddess Country.
   • A preview of her forthcoming works, including The Lost Songs of Nina Simone and America’s Bloodflowers: Poems.
3. Cultural Identity and History:
   • Shonda’s exploration of mixed-race migration in her essay collection Children of the Mixed Blood Trail.
   • Her dedication to preserving and sharing the stories of African, Indigenous, and mixed-race peoples.
4. Shonda’s Role as an Educator and Mentor:
   • Teaching creative writing and BIPOC/American literature for over 24 years.
   • Her contributions as a professor at Western Michigan University and Alma College’s MFA Program in Creative Writing.
5. Writing on Sacred Lands:
   • How her heritage as a descendant of the African Mende nation, Coharie, Choctaw, and Cherokee peoples influences her work.
   • The significance of writing on Chumash/Tongva lands in Los Angeles and Ojibwe/Anishinaabe lands in the Midwest.

Guest Spotlight:
Shonda Buchanan is a prolific writer, storyteller, and advocate for cultural heritage. Her works have appeared in The Mississippi Review, Los Angeles Times, Indian Country Today, AWP’s The Writer’s Chronicle, and many more. She is also a former Board President of Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center and a current Board Member of the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival and Arts Council.Takeaways for Listeners:

• Gain insights into Shonda’s powerful storytelling and how it sheds light on cultural history and identity.
• Be inspired by her journey of resilience, creativity, and advocacy.
• Discover how Shonda uses her platform to preserve and honor diverse narratives.

Call to Action:
Learn more about Shonda Buchanan and explore her works by visiting www.shondabuchanan.com. Follow her on social media to stay updated on her latest projects, publications, and events.

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#LetsTalkPassionAndPurpose #ShondaBuchanan #NicoleThomas #BlackIndian #MixedRaceIdentity #BIPOCAuthors #CulturalHeritage #Storytelling #PoetryAndAdvocacy #CreativeWriting #InspiringAuthors