Episode 11, finds co-hosts Lanier and Lessie in an engaging discussion of the strategic, systematic erosion of civil liberties and civil rights for Black America’s and those who would support our just and righteous cause, through criminalizing Constitutionally protected liberties of freedom of speech and protest.  With America’s democracy in what can only be described as tatters, will the U.S. Supreme Court rule Tennessee's law in contradiction with the United States’ Constitution’s Bill of Rights or can citizens of Tennessee and other states kiss those liberties good-bye.

Our audience call to action is

Our call to action with this episode is self-care!  If necessary, seek help from a professional who can and will validate the realness of what you’re feeling and experiencing, even if not directly on the front lines but vicariously!  A lot is being thrown at Black folk to the point it can have the effect of desensitizing us. To the protestors who are on the front lines, we are grateful.  Thank you. To those of us not out in the protests, please use your gifts, talents and abilities for the collective good and uplift of Blacks as we press on for justice, equality and equity in all areas of political and socioeconomic spheres!

Co-host Book Suggestions

Leviathan Or the Matter Form and Power of a Commonwealth, Ecclesiastical and Civil by Thomas Hobbes

Bearing Witness While Black: African Americans, Smartphones, and the New Protest #Journalism  by Allissa V. Richardson

Additional links

NY times article: BLM may be the largest movement in the US History

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/03/us/george-floyd-protests-

crowd-size.html

Link from Clip played: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH33NX29b4I

Legislatures crack down on protestors:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/12/tennessee-passes-law-targeting-protesters-makes-capitol-camping-felony/3354879001/

constitution act:

https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/#:~:text=Congress%20shall%20make%20no%20law,for%20a%20redress%20of%20grievances

https://blavity.com/why-19-black-families-purchased-9671-acres-of-land-in-the-midst-of-protests-and-a-pandemic?category1=opinion&category2=news

Thanks also to David L Branch II a/k/a Lil Sourstraw for the beat “Toronto.”

In Episode 10, Lanier and Lessie are discussing VP nominee Kamala Harris (pronounced Comma-la).  The Co-hosts discuss the importance of Black voters not falling so in love with the “vision” of a Black woman Vice President of the United States the same way they did with the vision of a Black man as President during Obama’s presidency. They touch on  Kamala’s presidential run, the importance of holding Biden/Harris accountable to their agenda and promises should they win and ponder Harris’ position on various criminal justice issues.

Our audience call to action is

Focus on getting to know both Kamala Harris and Joe Biden.  Pay attention to the debates. Make a list of things that are important to you.  Listen to determine if they’re speaking on the issues that are important to you and what their plans are to address those issues. Let’s not get lost in the identity -- her Blackness, her gender, or her Greek life affiliation!

Co-host Book Suggestions

Say It Louder! Black Voters, White Narratives, and Saving Our Democracy by Tiffany Cross

Forbes Article Why Black Women Are Better Leaders

Fortune 500 Women CEO Index

Thanks also to David L Branch II a/k/a Lil Sourstraw for the beat “Toronto.”

Episode 9 finds co-hosts Lanier and Lessie talking about lynchings in 21st Century America. A form of domestic terrorism, lynching was a method to dominate and subjugate Blacks during antebellum and civil rights eras as a way to maintain “law and order.”  It appears to be attempting a comeback.

Our audience call to action is

>Statistically in percentages and actual numbers, Blacks are outnumbered. There is literally nothing to stop such terrorism from happening again, especially given our present circumstances.  We need allies sure enough.

>Get back to building community.  Kinship is important, get to know your neighbors and know the parents of your children's friends.  We need to be accountable to one another and accountable for one another.  No Black man, woman, boy or girl, gets left behind.

Co-host Book Suggestions

Lynching in America: A History in Documents 1st Ed. Edition, by Christopher Waldrep (Editor)

A Brief History of Slavery and the Origins of American Policing  Written by Victor E. Kappeler, Ph.D.

https://plsonline.eku.edu/insidelook/brief-history-slavery-and-origins-american-policing

Thanks also to David L Branch II a/k/a Lil Sourstraw for the beat “Toronto.”

In Episode 8 Lanier and Lessie discuss America’s response to the economic downturn in light of COVID-19 and racial unrest. The co-hosts critique federal government leadership, why it is so difficult for America to be charitable to its own citizens and what people are spending their stimulus checks on! Lanier and Lessie provide information on how to determine if you’ve been issued a stimulus check and when you can expect it to arrive.

Our audience call to action is

>Register to vote, get 15-20 other people to vote. Fill out the census.  In New York state we miss out on close to $2700 per person/per year times ten years for federally funded programs by folk not being counted.

>Research where your stimulus check is. The IRS website can help you track where your check is and when you'll receive it.

Co-host Book Suggestions

More of an article suggestion, this episode. https://nypost.com/2017/07/10/why-ordinary-americans-hold-politicians-and-media-in-contempt-all-in-one-hamptons-party/

Thanks also to David L Branch II a/k/a Lil Sourstraw for the beat “Toronto.”

In Episode 6, Lanier and Lessie aim to help our listeners to understand how intricately woven politics and the economy are.  We also want to help Black communities identify an area they would like to participate in as it relates to restructuring their communities by way of politics and economics.

Our Audience call to action

>find out who your community leaders are and learn where their offices are and what their position is on issues that are important to you and when meetings are held

The Great Transformation by Karl Polanyi

In Episode 7 Lanier and Lessie discuss COVID-19’s impact as correlated to race and why Black folk are the most impacted by this disease. The co-hosts aim to advance the idea that universal healthcare is a time whose idea has come for America. They also admonish people to know their rights as it relates to healthcare and vaccines and wrap up with finding doctors who will actually hear you when you bring your health concerns to them and not act with implicit bias or dismiss your health concerns out of hand.

Our audience call to action is

>Watch Implicit Bias -- How it Effects Us and How We Push Through | Melanie Funchess | TEDxFlourCity

Co-host Book Suggestions

Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) by Institute of Medicine (Author), Board on Health Sciences Policy (Author), Committee on Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care (Author), Alan R. Nelson (Editor), Adrienne Y. Stith (Editor), Brian D. Smedley (Editor)

Just Medicine;  A Cure for Racial Inequality in American Health Care  written by Dayna Bowen Matthew

Thanks also to David L Branch II a/k/a Lil Sourstraw for the beat “Toronto.”

In Episode 7 Lanier and Lessie discuss COVID-19’s impact as correlated to race and why Black folk are the most impacted by this disease. The co-hosts aim to advance the idea that universal healthcare is a time whose idea has come for America. They also admonish people to know their rights as it relates to healthcare and vaccines and wrap up with finding doctors who will actually hear you when you bring your health concerns to them and not act with implicit bias or dismiss your health concerns out of hand.

Our audience call to action is

>Watch Implicit Bias -- How it Effects Us and How We Push Through | Melanie Funchess | TEDxFlourCity

Co-host Book Suggestions

Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) by Institute of Medicine (Author), Board on Health Sciences Policy (Author), Committee on Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care (Author), Alan R. Nelson (Editor), Adrienne Y. Stith (Editor), Brian D. Smedley (Editor)

Just Medicine;  A Cure for Racial Inequality in American Health Care  written by Dayna Bowen Matthew

Thanks also to David L Branch II a/k/a Lil Sourstraw for the beat “Toronto.”

In Episode 7 Lanier and Lessie discuss COVID-19’s impact as correlated to race and why Black folk are the most impacted by this disease. The co-hosts aim to advance the idea that universal healthcare is a time whose idea has come for America. They also admonish people to know their rights as it relates to healthcare and vaccines and wrap up with finding doctors who will actually hear you when you bring your health concerns to them and not act with implicit bias or dismiss your health concerns out of hand.

Our audience call to action is

>Watch Implicit Bias -- How it Effects Us and How We Push Through | Melanie Funchess | TEDxFlourCity

Co-host Book Suggestions

Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) by Institute of Medicine (Author), Board on Health Sciences Policy (Author), Committee on Understanding and Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care (Author), Alan R. Nelson (Editor), Adrienne Y. Stith (Editor), Brian D. Smedley (Editor)

Just Medicine;  A Cure for Racial Inequality in American Health Care  written by Dayna Bowen Matthew

Thanks also to David L Branch II a/k/a Lil Sourstraw for the beat “Toronto.”

In Episode 6, Lanier and Lessie aim to help our listeners to understand how intricately woven politics and the economy are.  We also want to help Black communities identify an area they would like to participate in as it relates to restructuring their communities by way of politics and economics.

Our Audience call to action

>find out who your community leaders are and learn where their offices are and what their position is on issues that are important to you and when meetings are held

The Great Transformation by Karl Polanyi

In Episode 6, Lanier and Lessie aim to help our listeners to understand how intricately woven politics and the economy are.  We also want to help Black communities identify an area they would like to participate in as it relates to restructuring their communities by way of politics and economics.

Our Audience call to action

The Great Transformation by Karl Polanyi  Thanks also to David L Branch II a/k/a Lil Sourstraw for the beat “Toronto.” Connect with HERe ME Podcast: HERe ME Podcast Twitter handle @HEReMEPodcast1 HERe ME Podcast IG handle @heremepodcast

In Episode 5, “Blackenomics” Kanye Legacy Building and the New Black Wealth, everyone’s favorite Co-hosts Lanier and Lessie discuss wealth, how it is acquired and the difference between wealth and income and offer different ways to think about wealth.

We invite our audience into this discussion and ask our listeners to consider why representation matters and what is the allure of the Forbes billionaire list.  Why do people mainly think of wealth as an output or a goal and not an input that gives one agency?  After all, wealth begets wealth!

Our Audience call to action is find simple ways to "sock" away money for seed capital to purchase wealth building assets, like sous sous. Know about the free and readily available resources in your city, county and state. Google your nearest job center. Engage with local libraries, SCORE organizations and develop professional relationships with their volunteer staff, many who are retired CEOs and CFOs. They are a "wealth" of information.

Co-hosts Book Suggestions:

Lessie:  Being Black, Living in the Red: Race, Wealth, and Social Policy in America by Dalton Conley

Lanier:  financialstarterkit.com, capitalSB.com and marcusgram.com - these are websites that provide information on managing finances and creating passive income.

Thanks also to David L Branch II a/k/a Lil Sourstraw for the beat “Toronto.”

Connect with HERe ME Podcast:

HERe ME Podcast Twitter handle @HEReMEPodcast1

HERe ME Podcast IG handle @heremepodcast