When Latunja Sockwell was diagnosed with HIV in January 1997, there weren’t a lot of treatment and resource options. Today, she’s using her experience and compassion to help pave an easier path for others.Visit blackbeltvoices.com for a full summary of this episode.Links to what we discussed:“On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of “Straight” Black Men Who Sleep with Men” by. J. L. King and Karen Hunter (Foreward by E. Lynn Harris)The Center for HIV Law and PolicyCONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICESFollow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices.CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKSThis episode was edited and produced by Katrina Dupins. Special thanks to Prentice Dupins Jr. for composing our music and Black Dude White Dude podcast for the use of their recording studio. The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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The Blackbelt Voices podcast tells stories from and about Black folks down South that honor our history, celebrate our culture, and shape our future. Through first-person narratives and in-depth conversations, hosts Adena J. White, Kara Wilkins, and Katrina Dupins share the experiences of Black Southerners living in, loving, and reconciling with the region we call home. 
Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. 
Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

We're back in the saddle! In this episode, Adena and Kara discuss the relaunch of Blackbelt Voices as a platform for authentic storytelling. After completing a Social Impact Storytelling program at Georgetown University and a fellowship with Solutions Journalism Network, Adena has come back with fresh ideas of how Blackbelt Voices can emphasize the importance of authenticity, belonging, and connection in storytelling.

Brené. Beyoncé. Belonging.

Adena and Kara talk to writer and self-proclaimed Wypipologist Michael Harriot. The South Carolina native is well known for his wit, cultural commentary, and gift of mixing humor and historical context. In this episode, Michael breaks down the discipline of Wypipology, Black humor, and the story behind his coining of the phrase "invited to the cookout." (Yes, he's the one who came up with it.)

Michael Harriot: The King of Breaking It Down

La'Twana Scott, the owner of Sweet Mama T's in El Dorado, Arkansas, developed a reputation as a great cook at an early age. The El Dorado native enjoys cooking for people and got her start from helping her mom as a child.

Turn to Your Neighbor: La'Twana Scott - El Dorado, Arkansas

On episode 37 of Blackbelt Voices, we continue our conversation about Black food, this time focusing on barbecue. Guest Michael “Mike D” De Los Santos of North Carolina walks us through his journey of becoming an expert on the topic, which eventually led to him creating his own sauces and rubs and selling through his company, Mike D’s. 

Mike’s journey to becoming a small business owner has uplifting and heartbreaking turns, including the loss of his infant son Aaron, which he wrote about in a book he authored called “My Heart Warrior: Living With HLHS Through A Father’s Eyes.” 

Mike and his business was also featured on Discovery Channel’s “I Quit.”

SOUL FOOD - Farm to Table: The Table

In episode 36 of Blackbelt Voices, Adena and Kara continue the conversation about Black food culture – this time from an agricultural angle. Our guest, Gerald Harris, along with his partners Derek Beasley and Gabrielle E.W. Carter (who was featured in the Netflix series High on the Hog as well as the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal) started Tall Grass Food Box, a community-supported agricultural model (CSA).

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