We are living in a moment of visible racism, rising authoritarianism, and uncertainty for many families.

In this episode of The Color Between the Lines, Esther Dillard sits down with feminist leader Gloria Steinem and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee to discuss why they wrote the childrens book Rise, Girl, Rise: Our Sister-Friend Journey. Together for All.

But this conversation goes far beyond a book.

They talk about:

How to raise strong girls in politically uncertain times

Gloria Steinem has been one of the most recognized feminist organizers in modern American history and co-founder of the Womens Media Center.

Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner who helped lead the womens movement that ended Liberias civil war.

If you are raising, mentoring, or advocating for girls in this moment this conversation is for you.

Subscribe to The Color Between the Lines for more conversations at the intersection of history, justice, leadership, and storytelling.

00:00 Living in a Moment of Racism & Fear

Did Reconstruction fall apart or was it ended by a single vote?

In this episode of The Color Between the Lines, South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn explains how three razor-thin votes reshaped American history including the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, the disputed 1876 election, and the decision that effectively ended Reconstruction.

By an 87 commission vote, Reconstruction came to an end. What followed was nearly 100 years of Jim Crow.

Congressman Clyburn draws powerful parallels between the collapse of the first Reconstruction and todays debates over voting rights, Supreme Court decisions, and democratic institutions.

We also explore the extraordinary life of Robert Smalls the formerly enslaved man who stole a Confederate ship, delivered it to Union forces, helped establish free public education in South Carolina, and served in Congress.

If youve ever wondered:

What ended Reconstruction?

This conversation connects the past to the present.

Because as Congressman Clyburn says:

The three most consequential things that happened to Black people in this country were each decided by a single vote.

The Color Between the Lines is Hosted by Esther Dillard.

Whats the real difference between being rich and being wealthy?

In this episode of The Color Between the Lines, Dr. Willie Jolley breaks down the distinction between income and ownership and why that difference can determine whether your financial success lasts for one generation or many.

We explore:

Rich vs wealthy explained

If youve been working hard but wondering how to move from earning money to building assets, this conversation offers clarity and practical insight.

Because wealth isnt just about what you make.

Its about what you build.

Book: Rich Is Good, Wealthy Is Better by Dr. Willie Jolley

Subscribe for more conversations that connect money, policy, history, and generational power.

#RichVsWealthy

In this interview, Moore reflects on:

Her defining Broadway role in Purlie and what it meant to win a Tony Award without formal theater training

Growing up with strong grassroots values and how family shaped her resilience

Navigating success, setbacks, and financial hardship in the entertainment industry

The role of faith in surviving difficult seasons and rebuilding her life

Why legacy, forgiveness, and healing matter more than accolades

Moore also shares reflections on mentorship, Black artists creating their own paths, and what it means to look back on a career that helped open doors for generations to come.

This conversation is a meditation on perseverance, purpose, and what it truly means to endure and evolve in the spotlight.

Why didnt we learn about Robert Smalls in school?

Robert Smalls was an enslaved Black man who stole a Confederate ship during the Civil War, freed his family and crew, delivered the ship to Union forces, and later became a United States Congressman during Reconstruction. Yet his name is rarely taught in American classrooms.

In this explainer episode, journalist and storyteller Esther Dillard examines why Robert Smalls story was left out of textbooks, how Reconstruction was later reframed as a failure, and how Black political leadership was pushed out of the national memory.

This episode connects Smalls life to a broader pattern of historical erasure and asks why stories about Black citizenship, democracy, and power remain contested today.

This audio explainer accompanies the animated short documentary ERASED: The Robert Smalls Story and invites listeners to rethink what American history chooses to rememberand what it leaves out.

Why didnt most Americans learn about Robert Smalls in school?

Robert Smalls was formerly enslaved, stole a Confederate ship during the Civil War, freed his family and crew, and later became a United States Congressman during Reconstruction. And yet, his story is rarely taught in classrooms.

In this explainer, journalist and storyteller Esther Dillard explores why Robert Smalls legacy was left out of history education, how Reconstruction was reframed as a failure, and how the erasure of Black political leadership still shapes how we understand citizenship, democracy, and power today.

This episode connects to the animated documentary ERASED The Robert Smalls Story and invites listeners to reflect on what else we may have been taught to forget.

Watch the full documentary on YouTube. 

https://youtu.be/-MWiO_FA_I0?si=F-4gvT1pnaymCSa4

https://estherdillard.com/why-dont-we-learn-about-robert-smalls-in-school/

Its one of the most common and misunderstood questions people ask about domestic violence. In this episode, Im joined by Nathaniel Fields, CEO of the Urban Resource Institute, to break down what survivors are really weighing when they decide whether to stay or leave.

We talk about the realities many people never consider including why survivors may stay to protect their pets, how immigration status can make leaving more dangerous than staying, and why shame and fear often keep people trapped in unsafe homes.

Nathaniel also explains how survivor-centered systems work, why punishment alone doesnt stop violence, and how programs like PALS (People and Animals Living Safely) and intervention initiatives are designed to interrupt cycles of harm before they repeat.

This conversation goes beyond awareness to explain what actually helps survivors reach safety and why domestic violence is a community issue, not a personal failure.

If youve ever wondered why leaving isnt simple, or what real prevention looks like, this episode provides answers.

Fair lending laws were designed to protect people not algorithms. So what happens when artificial intelligence starts deciding who qualifies for a loan, a mortgage, or financial opportunity?

In this explainer episode, journalist Esther Dillard breaks down how AI is being used in lending, what federal fair lending laws actually require, and where technology is already raising serious civil rights concerns.

This episode is connected to my in-depth conversation with Alphonso David, a nationally recognized civil rights leader and legal expert, who explains how automation and algorithms can quietly reinforce discrimination even without intent.

Youll learn:

How AI is being used in lending decisions today

Why neutral algorithms can still produce biased outcomes

What fair lending laws say and where the gaps are

Why this issue matters now, not later

This explainer sets the stage for the full interview, where we go deeper into accountability, enforcement, and what consumers and policymakers should be paying attention to.

As a new year begins, this episode takes a moment to pause and reflect on the conversations that shaped the past one.

Over the last year on The Color Between the Lines, I spoke with authors, advocates, and public voices about history, power, health, and the stories that continue to influence our communities. This episode looks back at a few of those conversationsnot as nostalgia, but as context for where we are now.

Featuring moments from conversations with ALelia Bundles, LaTosha Brown, and Tia Mowry, this reflection explores legacy, collective power, health advocacy, and why storytelling still matters.

As the show moves forwardincluding a return to my animated history series, ERASED: The Untold American Storythis episode offers clarity, perspective, and a moment to listen back.

Subscribe to The Color Between the Lines for thoughtful conversations connecting history, culture, and the present moment.

Key moments: 

00:00 Looking Back

00:28 Why Reflection Matters

01:10 A Year of Conversations

02:05 Legacy, History & ALelia Bundles

03:45 Economic Power & Collective Action

05:12 Health, Advocacy & Tia Mowry

06:48 Storytelling, Responsibility & Voice

07:52 What These Conversations Reveal

08:48 What Comes Next

#LookingBack

#TheColorBetweenTheLines

#BlackHistory

#Storytelling

#BlackVoices

#Advocacy

#SocialJustice

#HistoryAndCulture

Do economic boycotts actually work or are they just symbolic gestures?

In this companion episode of The Color Between the Lines, journalist and educator Esther Dillard examines how economic protest has shaped real change in American history from Elizabeth Jennings 1854 streetcar case to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and into present-day movements.

Drawing on historical precedent and modern examples including commentary from Jamal Bryant on the Target boycott this episode breaks down when and why economic pressure succeeds, and why visibility alone is never enough.

The historical blueprint behind successful economic boycotts

Why sustained, organized action matters more than viral moments

How education turns outrage into strategy

The economic conditions institutions actually respond to

This episode is a companion reflection to ERASED: The Untold American Story, which explores overlooked Black history and its relevance today.

For educators, organizers, and lifelong learners, this episode offers historical grounding and practical insight into how collective action creates measurable impact.

00:00 Do economic boycotts actually work?

00:32 When economic protest creates measurable impact

00:48 Pastor Jamal Bryant on the Target boycott and stock impact

01:22 Elizabeth Jennings and the economic roots of civil rights

01:42 Why public transportation was an economic pressure point

02:16 Black buying power and why economic decisions matter

02:47 The Montgomery Bus Boycott as an economic strategy

03:19 Why visibility alone doesnt force change

03:52 Sustained pressure vs. viral moments

04:25 How discipline and organization created integration

04:59 Why consistency, not emotion, drives movements

05:37 What makes economic pressure effective

06:15 How boycotts disrupt corporate confidence and markets

06:32 The psychological power of collective participation

07:08 Why education sustains long-term protest

07:49 How historical context builds endurance

08:06 The conditions under which boycotts succeed

08:44 Connecting Elizabeth Jennings to modern movements

08:59 Invitation to explore the ERASED series