Remembering Us

In this episode we hear from Dr. David Ragland, professor, political activist and co-founder of the Truth Telling Project. Dr. Ragland describes reparations as a spiritual and material midpoint between truth and reconciliation, and shares the countless ways that we can, as a society, recognize harm and make amends in order to be in right relationship with one another, and ourselves.

Dr. Ragland unfolds the deeper spiritual element of racial healing and justice in his work of transforming systems and policies at the local and national scale. Their work at the Truth Telling Project uses this spiritual lens to mobilize congregations and religious communities of many faiths across the country into action and creating repair.

In this episode of "Remembering Us," we delve into the deeply intertwined lives of two high school peers whose connection transcends time and history. Join us as we journey alongside them, uncovering the unexpected ties that bind them together through the legacy of slavery.

From the initial revelation of their connection to the profound impact it has on their lives and perspectives, this episode offers a tangible illustration of the commitment to truth, friendship, and the enduring potential for healing in the face of historical trauma.

Consider contributing to support compensation for our Guest of Color and the BIPOC-led organizations that have shaped the work and the foundation for this podcast. Check out Jubliee Justice where we share our contributions to: Jubilee Justice.

Find out more about Jimmie Lee and De's Documentary: A Binding Truth

We are honored to launch the second series of Remembering Us with Briayna Cuffie and Lotte Lieb Dula who coined the term Reparative Genealogy, a practice of researching family lineage to understand each of our direct connections to slavery, and how to work toward repair. Through Briayna and Lotte’s stories we can plainly see the ongoing obstructions for some, and indisputable benefits for others, that have created and deepened the racial wealth gap throughout time.

In this episode, we follow them both through their journeys of diving deeper into their family histories - the surprises, the throughlines, and intuitive unfoldings along the way. Throughout the episode their tangible connection to each other and to their purpose provide a living example of direct, interpersonal reparations.

You’ll hear how together they’ve created an interactive website and portal Reparations4slavery.com for those looking to deepen their knowledge on reparative genealogy and reparations.

In this episode, we are joined by Anna Blackshaw, anti-racist organizer, and co-founder of SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) Bay Area. She takes us through the challenges and tactics of anti-racist parenting, healthy racial identity formation and the intersections of class and race. She shows us how we can make the anti-racist movement more accessible by understanding the relationship between Economic and Racial justice.

Please consider making a contribution to support compensation for our Guests of Color and their organizations, our editing and posting software, and BIPOC-lead racial justice and healing organizations that have shaped the work and foundation of this podcast.

https://gofund.me/8e3ae1f4

In this episode, we feature Gregory Mengel - a writer, facilitator, and educator as he discusses the fabrics of white supremacy conditioning and masculinity. We dive into the meaning of stories and how the narratives of ourselves impact the ways we show up in the world. Gregory speaks about his personal journey working in white male affinity groups and of the value and importance of doing internal work in order to deconstruct systems of dominance.

Please consider making a contribution to our Go Fund Me raising money to support compensation for our Guests of Color and their organizations, our editing and posting software, and BIPOC-lead racial justice and healing organizations that have shaped the work and foundation of this podcast.

https://gofund.me/8e3ae1f4

On this episode we are joined by Jesse “JD” Mass who grew up in a culturally diverse community in St. Louis, Missouri, where he witnessed racism in his interpersonal relationships as well as in the institutional and social realms. These experiences sparked an inner desire to understand why we created such a world. He has published a book called Race for What, A White Man’s Journey & Guide to Healing Racism from Within.

In this episode we feature podcast co-host Lisa Dean, a teacher in San Francisco, who shares her journey of going to the south to uncover the hidden truths of her ancestry - and this country. She traces her lineage to the first governor of Louisiana, and with the support of Jubilee Justice and justice-fighting historians like Leon Waters, makes history personal for the sake of healing, atonement and creating a new legacy.

What do we inherit from the generations before us, and what do we have the power to transform?

In this opening episode of Remembering Us, co-host Ellery Graves, founder of Culture Shifters, reflects on the family stories, traditions, and relationships that shaped her—from her grandparents' stories to difficult conversations about race around the family dinner table. She shares how confronting her own whiteness shifted her understanding of racial injustice, and explores the complexities of family, ancestry, healing, and accountability along the journey of becoming more deeply rooted in anti-racist practice.

This conversation invites us to reflect on where we come from, what we carry forward, and how tending to our own histories and relationships might be connected to the larger work of racial justice and collective healing.