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

In this episode of The Color Between the Lines, journalist and host Esther Dillard speaks with LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter, about the national We Aint Buying It economic pressure campaign.

Launched during the Black FridayCyber Monday shopping season, the campaign urges consumers to withhold spending from major corporations accused of enabling policies that undermine voting rights, racial equity, immigrant communities, and economic justice. Brown explains how corporate rollbacks on DEI, political alignment with authoritarian power, and rising economic instability are pushing everyday people to reclaim their power through intentional spending.

Drawing historical parallels to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s focus on economic justice, Brown shares why redirecting our dollars is not just a protest but a democratic act. This conversation explores the intersection of capitalism, civil rights, corporate accountability, and community wealth-building, offering listeners a powerful framework for action during the holiday season and beyond.

#LaToshaBrown

Actress, entrepreneur, and author Tia Mowry joins Esther Dillard for a powerful conversation about family, food, and the difficult health conversations we often avoid during the holidays.

In this intimate interview, Tia opens up about:

Losing her grandmother and aunt to cancer

Her own abnormal mammogram scare and what it taught her

Why Black families face higher cancer death rates

How the American Cancer Societys new campaign, Recipes to Change the Odds, empowers families to talk about screenings and early detection

The influence of endometriosis, misdiagnosis, and chronic pain on her wellness journey

The small but meaningful changes families can make around the dinner table

Her favorite holiday traditions, recipes, and how she stays grounded as a mom of two

This is more than a celebrity conversation its a reminder that the holidays are a time for joy, connection, and protecting the people we love.

Listen now to hear how Tia Mowry hopes to help Black families change the odds against cancer, one honest conversation at a time.

Watch the full series Changing the Odds Against Cancer with Tia Mowry:

Subscribe to The Color Between the Lines for more interviews that inspire, inform, and shine a light on stories that deserve to be heard.

YouTube Channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecolorbetweenthelines

Please subscribe to my Substack for more behind the scenes content: https://substack.com/@iamestherdillard

#TiaMowry

In this special episode of The Color Between the Lines, Esther Dillard brings forward a hidden chapter of American civil rights history that predates Rosa Parks by more than a century.

Before the Montgomery Bus Boycott

there was Elizabeth Jennings.

In 1854, on the streets of New York City, a young Black schoolteacher was violently forced off a segregated streetcar after refusing to give up her seat. Her braveryalong with the activism of her father, abolitionist Thomas L. Jennings, and the legal skill of a young lawyer named Chester A. Arthur (the man who would later become President)led to a landmark court victory that began the dismantling of segregation in New Yorks public transit system.

This episode honors the overlooked legacy of Elizabeth Jennings while drawing a powerful connection to Rosa Parks, whose own courageous act took place 101 years later on December 1, 1955.

Esther also shares the inspiration behind her new animated documentary series, ERASED, produced in partnership with Amplified Voices TV, which brings these long-ignored stories to life through painterly animation and historical storytelling.

If you believe in the power of truth, storytelling, and preserving Black history, this episode is for you.

Watch the animated premiere on YouTube:

Follow the podcast:

#erasedseries #elizabethjennings #blackhistory #civilrightshistory #rosaparks #animateddocumentary #thecolorbetweenthelines #amplifiedvoicestv #hiddenhistory #untoldstories #blackwomenhistory #abolitionistmovement #freedomriders #historypodcast #alivepodcastnetwork

AI is getting better but its also getting bolder.

VEED-subtitles_Esther's Video -

In this episode of The Color Between The Lines, I break down 10 quick, journalist-approved ways to spot an AI-generated fake photo before you share it.

These tips will help you recognize:

People are being fooled not because theyre careless, but because AI tools are designed to confuse even smart, thoughtful readers. My recent LinkedIn comment on this Patti/Chaka photo reached 7,000+ impressions, which told me this is something people need help with.

This video is your quick guide to staying sharp, protecting yourself online, and not letting the internet play with your emotions.

If you found this helpful, please like, comment, and subscribe.

Want to see the screenshots and examples?

https://youtu.be/38lp8o7mQ-w

LISTEN ON AUDIO:

WATCH MORE FROM THE COLOR BETWEEN THE LINES:

https://www.youtube.com/@thecolorbetweenthelines

#medialiteracy #aifakes #misinformation #factcheck #storytelling #journalist #blackvoices #digitalawareness #aiimage #aiethics #colorbetweenthelines

In this powerful episode, Esther Dillard sits down with VuAn Foster, founder of Life After 2 Losses, a New Jersey nonprofit providing free grief support to families after pregnancy and infant loss with a special focus on Black mothers who are too often ignored in medical settings.

VuAn shares the heartbreaking moment a nurse told her your baby is going to die and the painful neglect that followed. But she also explains how she transformed her grief into advocacy, education, and healing for thousands of families across the country.

Were also joined by SPARK NJ, a trust-based philanthropy initiative that awarded VuAn a $15,000 grant to help expand her mission. Their model removes red tape and uplifts small, Black-led nonprofits making frontline impact.

If you care about maternal health, racial equity, community healing, or the power of storytelling this episode will stay with you.

#lifeafter2losses #vuanfoster #sparknj #blackmaternalhealth #pregnancyloss #blacknonprofits #griefsupport #healafterloss #communitycare #racialhealthequity #trustbasedphilanthropy #theblackperspective