First Name Basis Podcast

Think back to when you were a kid. Remember when you'd be playing a game and you were about to make an epic power move or even win the game, and the person you were playing with would suddenly shout, "I HAVE A FORCE FIELD!" They knew they were about to lose, so they changed the rules or made up a new one to make sure they could win. Remember how frustrating that was?

That, my friends, is what racism is: Made up rules to keep the same people (the ones in the dominant culture) always winning.

In today's episode, we're starting the first part of a two-part series where we're breaking down some of the big, obvious examples that show just how big of a lie racism is built on, starting this week with blood quantum and the one drop rule. In this episode, you'll learn:

• How race is the product of racism, not the root of it.
• What it means to be part of the "dominant culture."
• The history of determining social status.
• What the "one drop rule" and "blood quantum" are and how they are used as a tool in white supremacy.

Juneteenth Jubilee

Juneteenth is coming up next month, and we have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee is our brand-new program that gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner.

It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.

Click the button below to sign up to be on the waitlist!

Send in your Loving Day submissions!

Loving Day is coming up on June 12th, and I want to celebrate with you!

Loving Day is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that made interracial marriage for heterosexual couples legal in all 50 states, and I want to make an episode about the significance of Loving Day to those of us in interracial relationships. This means everyone — LGBTQ, straight, dating, married — anyone who loves someone who is a different race than their own.

What I need you to do is record a voice memo that includes three things:

1. Your name
2. Where you are from
3. And the answer to one question: What does Loving Day mean to you?

Send the voice memo to [email protected] with "Loving Day" in the subject line. If you'd like to include a picture, I would love to share your pictures on Instagram on Loving Day.

The deadline for submissions is June 4, 2022.

I can't wait to hear from you!

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

First Name Basis Podcast Season 3, Episode 26: "What is Juneteenth and How Can I Celebrate?"

First Name Basis Podcast Season 3, Episode 29: "Critical Race Theory In School"

First Name Basis Podcast Season 2, Episode 14: "What is Privilege and What Do I Do With It?"

First Name Basis Podcast Season 5, Episode 5: "Raising Mult-Racial Children" with Dr. Jenn Noble

Learn more about Ally Elementary and join the waitlist at firstnamebasis.org/allyelementary.

"People Are Angry President Trump Used This Word to Describe Undocumented Immigrants," by Abigail Simon, Time

"Trump: 'Animals' comment referred to MS-13 gang members," by Rebecca Morin, Politico

"Immigrants Contribute Greatly to U.S. Economy, Despite Administration's 'Public Charge' Rule Rationale," the Center on Budget and Policy

Article about John Punch on Thirteen.org

"How the 'One Drop Rule' Became a Tool of White Supremacy" by Yaba Blay

"Hypodescent: The 'One Drop Rule'"

"'One Drop Rule' Persists" by Steve Bradt

The Code Switch Podcast, "So What Exactly is "Blood Quantum?"

All My Relations Podcast, "Love in the Time of Blood Quantum"

"The 'One Drop Rule' in America, a story"

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

I recently received a question from a parent in our First Name Basis fam that boiled down to: what do I do when my child's school says to leave anti-racism at home? I have a hunch that many of you are in a similar situation, or know of a school in your area who would say the same thing. Tune in to learn a few action steps that you can take to partner with your child's school and create an environment where children are embraced, respected, and protected.

This episode is part of our "Ask Jasmine" series. "Ask Jasmine" is a mini podcast segment that we send out to our Fam Favorites email list. Periodically, I choose one of your questions to answer and share the response with everyone on the list! Click here to sign up for our Fam Favorites email list so that you can get "Ask Jasmine" sent straight to your inbox.

Join Fam Favorites

Each week we round up our favorite resources to give you a deeper understanding of the featured episode topic. Fam favorites is the only place you can access our mini segment "Ask Jasmine" where I answer one of your pressing questions. Click here to join for free!

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 5, Episode 16: "Age Appropriate Anti-Racism"

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

Happy Ramadan to all of our Muslim brothers and sisters!

If you are not Muslim, perhaps you've seen Ramadan listed as holiday on your calendar but don't really know what it's all about. Well, here at First Name Basis, we believe the best way to learn about traditions, beliefs and people that are unfamiliar to you is to get on a first name basis with members of that community, so my friend Felicity LeFevre is on the podcast this week to help us learn more!

Ramadan is the Muslim holy month of fasting, which started this year on April 2 and continues until May 1. And while my conversation will leave you with additional insight into why this is such an important holiday to our Muslim friends, this interview goes beyond that to tackle Islamaphobia, which continues to be a disturbing problem throughout the world.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What Ramadan is
• What you can do to show support during Ramadan
• How to talk to your children about Islamophobia
• Action steps you can take with your family to help stop Islamaphobia

Felicity is Muslim, an artist, a teacher, an illustrator and mother of six children. She was a classroom teacher for 18 years and has taught prekindergarten, kindergarten and high school art. She is passionate about creating education resources and loves to share those resources with teachers around the world. Felicity also recently had her first illustrated book published, "I Can Achieve Anything" by MoNique Waters, and hopes to continue to create books that can positively impact children.

I hope you'll take time to listen and come up with an action plan for what you will do to be in solidarity with the Muslim members of your community.

Ally Elementary & Ally Elementary Jr.

Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so I created Ally Elementary — and registration is now open! And we're also excited to announce that we will be launching our new program, Ally Elementary Jr., for kids in preschool through second grade at the same time.

During this five-week program parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home, and I will be there to guide them every step of the way. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action.

Click here to access the coupon code, just be sure to use it before 11:59pm on April 5th

Click here to register for Ally Elementary (3rd-8th graders).

Click here to register for Ally Elementary Jr. (preschool-2nd graders).

Don't wait to register! Registration closes on Friday, April 8th!

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Felicity LeFevre's Instagram account

Felicity LeFevre's Instagram account @palettebyfelicity

Felicity LeFevre's Teachers Pay Teachers site

"I Can Achieve Anything" by MoNique Waters and illustrated by Felicity LeFevre

First Name Basis Bookshop: Featuring Muslim Characters Bookshelf

Monique Waters' Instagram @itsmoniquesworld

Redistribute your resources by giving money to help provide iftar dinner for those in the Muslim community who need help at: Islamic Relief USA, Muslim Aid USA, Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center

Women's History Biography Poster & Coloring Book from Felicity's Teachers Pay Teachers

Asmahan Mashrah's free Ramadan activity book on Teachers Pay Teachers. Or here is a more detailed version you can purchase

Example letters that parents and teachers can use to communicate about Ramadan by the Muslim Educators Collective

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

My dear friends, we have been on this anti-racism journey together for 2.4 years, and it's AMAZING to think about the growth we've gone through together.

Over the course of almost 100 episodes, we've gone from talking about the basic building blocks to more in-depth conversations. And just like we as adults have worked to build up our own understanding of anti-racism, we need to do that for our kiddos too — and we need to do it in a way that is developmentally appropriate.

These conversations need to be happening while our kiddos are young, but that doesn't mean we need to have them drinking out of the fire hose — we need to see where they are and present the concepts in a way that are appropriate for their current understanding, using their language.

So how do you do that? We're here to help! In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why we need to be having these conversations and providing the building blocks to our young kiddos.
• The 4 goals of anti-bias education and how they apply differently to different age groups.
• More about our two at-home anti-racist education programs — Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. — and how each can help you creat an anti-racist family culture.

Ally Elementary & Ally Elementary Jr.

Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so I created Ally Elementary — and registration is now open! And we're also excited to announce that we will be launching our new program, Ally Elementary Jr., for kids in preschool through second grade at the same time.

During this five-week program parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home, and I will be there to guide them every step of the way. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action.

Click here to register for Ally Elementary (3rd-8th graders).

Click here to register for Ally Elementary Jr. (preschool-2nd graders).

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Season 5, Episode 9: "Don't Wait Until Something Bad Happens To Talk To Your Kids About Race with Dr. Lucretia Berry"

"Conversations With Kids About Race" by Margaret A. Hagerman

"Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves" by Louise Derman-Sparks & Julie Olsen Edwards

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

Sometimes when white women are at the start of their feminist journey they can get tunnel vision and make choices that ultimately harm Women of Color. Today on First Name Basis I'm joined by Channing Parker & Elise Poll who break down the pitfalls of white feminism and give practical tips for people who are looking to move into a space of anti-racist intersectionality!

Tune in to learn:

• Channing & Elise's go-to definition of feminism
• Common myths about feminism and why they're wrong
• The difference between white feminism and intersectional feminism
• The role that men play in the feminist movement
• Examples of what feminism can look like in yoru everyday life

Our guests today are brilliant! Together, Channing and Elise make The Faithful Feminists, an online community and weekly podcast dedicated to providing feminist interpretations of sacred texts, specifically aspects of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' "Come Follow Me" Sunday school manual.

Channing lives in Utah and is an essayist and poet who focuses on spirituality, nature and self-love. She enjoys reading, gardening and spending time with her husband, two children and poodle. Elise lives in Arizona, where she teaches communication courses at Arizona State University. She loves asking questions, discussing eminent and liberation theology, reading and music. "We are the girls who save a seat for you on the soft chairs and back up your comments in class, because that is what faith and feminism both do: love one another and make room for everyone."

Ally Elementary

Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast. So on March 29th Ally Elementary registration opens up again! And we're also excited to announce that we will be launching our new program, Ally Elementary Jr., for kids in preschool through second grade at the same time.

During this five-week program parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home, and I will be there to guide them every step of the way. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action.

To join our waitlist and be notified when registration is open, visit firstnamebasis.org/allyelementary

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Channing & Elyse's Reading List

Listen to The Faithful Feminists Podcast

Listen to Jasmine on the Faithful Feminists Podcast

The First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 14: "What is Privilege & What Do I Do With It?"

The First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 22: "Cancel Culture Pt 1. Calling In, Calling Out, & Tone Policing"

The First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 19: "The Danger of Spiritual Bypassing"

The First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 7: "Service, Not Saviorism"

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

Y'all, I am sooooo excited that I can finally share this with you! It's something that we've had in the works for a while now and something that I've been thinking about for even longer. Since the First Name Basis podcast launched in 2019, I have been amazed at the work you've done in your homes and classrooms. Now it's time to take the next step — to broaden the work we're doing at First Name Basis and take our values into our communities. If you aren't sure how to start, well, that's what Policy Parties are all about!

At each party you'll get to hang out with experts from community-based organizations who will help us understand the issues and give us specific, actionable steps we can take to make our communities more compassionate, inclusive, and anti-racist. Included in this post are some answers to the questions I know you'll be asking about our Policy Parties.

There are two ways to join us for the Policy Parties:

Join our Patreon community at patreon.com/firstnamebasis to have access to this Policy Party and all of our future parties!

Click here to join the First Name Basis Patreon Community

Or invest in a one-time Policy Party ticket to have access to the upcoming party!

Click here to purchase your ticket

I honestly cannot wait to move into this next phase of allyship with you!

Our first Policy Party will be this Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30 pm MT.

We'll be joined by the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. The Florence Project helps immigrants and asylum-seekers understand their rights, obtain access to legal counsel, and receive fair and humane treatment. A representative from the organization will outline the policies affecting immigration today and help us move from laying blame to taking action.

I can't wait to see you there!

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

Song Credit: "Snake on the Beach" by Nico Staf

"White passing" and "white presenting" are terms you've probably heard before when people are talking about being multi-racial, but what do they even mean? And where did they come from?

I talked to Dr. Gabriel Cruz, a lecturer in the communications studies department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, about this topic.

Dr. Gabriel A. Cruz received his Ph.D. From Bowling Green State University and focuses his research on intersectional critical race analysis of popular culture as well as white nationalist rhetoric. His work appears in multiple books and journals, as well as his pop-culture podcast "Office Hours With Dr. C."

I came across Dr. Cruz through the work he shares on TikTok (@dr._c) and Instagram (@gacruz_phd). If you don't follow him already, you should. His videos tackle topics in a way that makes them easy to understand and easy to share with others in your life. I've learned so much from him, both on social media and through this interview.

In this episode, Dr. Cruz explains:

• Where the term "white passing" comes from.
• The difference between "white passing" and "white presenting."
• How to talk to children about their privilege as "white passing" individuals while also affirming their identity/struggle as someone who is multi-racial.
• Where white presenting people fit into the conversation about cultural appropriation.

Ally Elementary

Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast. So on March 29th Ally Elementary registration opens up again! And we're also excited to announce that we will be launching our new program, Ally Elementary Jr., for kids in preschool through second grade at the same time.

During this five-week program parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home, and I will be there to guide them every step of the way. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action.

To join our waitlist and be notified when registration is open, visit firstnamebasis.org/allyelementary

Diverse Book Challenge

It's National Reading Month, and we want to help you celebrate!

For years, National Reading Month and Read Across America Day has been celebrated on or near March 2, which is Dr. Seuss' birthday. The day has served not only as a time to encourage children to read, but as a day to honor and revere Dr. Seuss — which, because of his racist work and attitudes, is inappropriate.

The sentiment behind this celebration — fostering a love of reading in children and emphasizing resources available to help facilitate that — has always been and will always be important, but it is time to pivot in how we celebrate this holiday.

First Name Basis is here to help. We've compiled resources to help you and your kiddos celebrate reading with an emphasis on authors and books that encourage inclusivity and highlight diversity.

Trust me, this is a resource you're going to want!

Click here to get the resources sent straight to your inbox.

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Dr. Gabriel Cruz's Instagram account (@gacruz_phd)

Dr. Cruz's TikTok account (@dr._c)

Dr. Cruz's podcast "Office Hours With Dr. C" on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

The TikTok video by Dr. C that inspired this episode

Study "Passing for White: A Study of Racial Assimilation in a South African School" (1970)

Study by The National Bureau of Economic Research "The Fluidity of Race: "Passing" in the United States, 1880-1940" (2015)

Stuart Hall, "The father of modern cultural studies"

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

This episode answers one of the most common questions I receive: Where do I start? Press play if you're taking your first step on your anti-racist journey or if you've been at it for a while and want to bring the people you love along with you. In this episode I share 3 episodes from the First Name Basis archives that will help jumpstart your anti-racist journey.

Copycat Kiddos

I'm making an episode about how our children pick up on our biases without us even noticing. If you have a story about a time when your kiddo copied something that you did/said please complete this submission form so that I can read your story on the episode! Click here to submit your story! Submissions are due on March 18, 2022

firstnamebasis.org/copycat

Ally Elementary

Ally Elementary registration opens up again on March 29, and we're also excited to announce that we will be launching our new program, Ally Elementary Jr., for kids in preschool through second grade at the same time.

To join our waitlist and be notified when registration is open, visit firstnamebasis.org/waitlist.

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 9: "Racism 101"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 14: "What is Privilege and What Do I Do With It?"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 4, Episode 4: "Oh No! My Child Said Something Racist"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 29: "Critical Race Theory in Schools"

Race Talk Roadmap

Our Race Talk Roadmap is the tool you need to begin conversations about race and racism with your children! We have a list of three tips for parents of older children and a list of three tips for parents of younger children. Visit firstnamebasis.org/racetalk to get the Race Talk Roadmap sent straight to your inbox.

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

When something tragic happens, we often look to those around us — whether it's people we know in real life, people we listen to on the news or people we follow on social media — to help us process and understand what's going on.

And there's a phrase I've seen pop up over and over again among influencers (specifically white people on social media who consider themselves parenting experts) that makes me want to lose my mind.

"What you need to be doing right now is loving your children."

Don't get me wrong: Loving your family is and always will be important. But when they say that, are they encouraging you to do anything differently than what you are already doing? To change anything? To take action to make the world a better place?

If your favorite parenting expert is telling you to do nothing and you believe them, you're selling yourself short.

What I want to help you see through this episode is loving your family and activism go hand in hand. You have so much power to model what it means to be an activist, to teach your children to make a difference and to invite them to take action right along with you — all of which is one of the best things you can do for these little humans that you love so dearly.

Diverse Book Challenge

It's National Reading Month, and we want to help you celebrate!

For years, National Reading Month and Read Across America Day has been celebrated on or near March 2, which is Dr. Seuss' birthday. The day has served not only as a time to encourage children to read, but as a day to honor and revere Dr. Seuss — which, because of his racist work and attitudes, is inappropriate.

The sentiment behind this celebration — fostering a love of reading in children and emphasizing resources available to help facilitate that — has always been and will always be important, but it is time to pivot in how we celebrate this holiday.

First Name Basis is here to help. We've compiled resources to help you and your kiddos celebrate reading with an emphasis on authors and books that encourage inclusivity and highlight diversity.

Trust me, this is a resource you're going to want!

Click here to get the resources sent straight to your inbox.

Ally Elementary

Ally Elementary registration opens up again on March 29, and we're also excited to announce that we will be launching our new program, Ally Elementary Jr., for kids in preschool through second grade at the same time.

To join our waitlist and be notified when registration is open, visit firstnamebasis.org/waitlist.

Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 20: "5 Tips for Talking to Children About News"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 6: "The Untold Story of Dr. Seuss"

First Name Basis Podcast Season 2, Episode 5: "A Conversation With My Dad About Black History Month" with my dad Ken Clarke

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 26: "My Working Mom: Chasing Her Dreams" with my mom Dr. Leslie Telfer

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 17: "Ask Dr. Leslie Telfer (aka my mom)"

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 15: "A Survival Guide for Women in Male-dominated Fields" with my sister, Nina Clarke-Telfer

First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 21: "How to Teach Media Literacy to Our Children"

"How to Raise a Reader" by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo of The New York Times

"Role Model the Behavior You Want to See From Your Kids" by Amy Morin

Support Ukrainian People With Disabilities in Crisis

Comprehensive List of Various Resources for Supporting Ukraine and for Ukrainians Fleeing During the Crisis

Lost and Found Club

Song Credit: "Sleeper" by Steve Adams" and "Dive Down" by VYEN

Racism is traumatizing no matter what, but when it manifests itself in your personal relationships, it is crushing.

Dr. Lucretia Berry, an anti-racist educator, author, scholar and mother to three little girls, joined me on the podcast earlier this week to discuss the need to talk to our kids about race before something bad happens, but we also found ourselves talking about how to redefine relationships after racism. It didn't quite fit with the focus of my first episode with Dr. Berry, but the wisdom she imparted was too good not to share with you.

It's a conversation I needed to hear, and I know it will help you as you navigate your relationships, boundaries and safety as well.

Diverse Book Challenge

National Reading Month is coming up in March, with National Read Across America Day traditionally celebrated on March 2.

For years, Read Across America Day has been celebrated on or near March 2, which is Dr. Seuss' birthday. The day has served not only as a time to encourage children to read, but as a day to honor and revere Dr. Seuss — which, because of his racist work and attitudes, is inappropriate.

The sentiment behind this celebration — fostering a love of reading in children and emphasizing resources available to help facilitate that — has always been and will always be important, but it is time to pivot in how we celebrate this holiday.

First Name Basis is here to help. We've compiled resources to help you and your kiddos celebrate reading with an emphasis on authors and books that encourage inclusivity and highlight diversity.

Trust me, this is a resource you're going to want!

Click here to get the resources sent straight to your inbox.

Bite-sized Black History

Bite-sized Black History is a program that empowers you to teach the little ones you love about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. We featured 12 different people in Season 1 of the program and are featuring 12 all new Black Americans in Season 2. Season 2 is live, invest today!

Use code BLACKHISTORY5 to get $5 off until Feb 28, 2022 at 11:59pm!

Buy Bite-Sized Black History!

Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode

Dr. Lucretia Berry on Instagram (@lucretiaberry)

Brownicity's website

Brownicity on Instagram (@brownicity)

"Hues of You: An Activity Book for Learning About the Skin You Are In," by Dr. Lucretia Berry

Dr. Berry's TedX talk ("Children will light up the world if we don't keep them in the dark")