According to the US Census, the Native American population has grown by 1600% from 1960 to 2020. We’re closing out our theme of race as a social construct by exploring the phenomenon of White men purchasing Native American identity prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Dr. Lezli is joined by Dr. Gregory Smithers, a professor of American history at Virginia Commonwealth University and author of Reclaiming Two-Spirits. His book is a sweeping history of indigenous traditions of gender, sexuality, and resistance. The two converse about what set the train of $5 Indians in motion, why it was so easy and lucrative for White men to purchase Indigenous identity, and why present-day Indigenous tribal leaders are grappling with what to do with the descendants of those who purchased Indigenous identity and are currently on tribal rolls.

Relevant and Recommended Reads: 

• Dawes Act (1887) | National Archives
• Paying to Play Indian: The Dawes Rolls and the Legacy of $5 Indians
• The race-shifting of 'Pretendians' : NPR

IDE Impolite Conversation is available on all major platforms. 🎧 Listen 🎧 on our YouTube Channel or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Have thoughts on this episode? Share them on social media using the hashtag #impoliteconversationpodcast. Also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter and email [email protected] with feedback or questions! A FREE and easy way to support is to rate and review us.

Pod Team = Dr. Lezli Levene Harvell (Host & Executive Producer) / Justin Bates (Sound Engineer) 

#podcast #IDEimpoliteconversation #IDEPodcast #IDE #production #culture #storytelling #producers #community #nativecommunities #indian #cherokee #nativeamericans #tribalnations #najavonation

Continuing the first theme of Season 2, IDE Impolite Conversation is exploring race as a social construct. The first three episodes of the season explore how the “race” or social stratification can be changed with the stroke of a pen or even purchased. In this episode Dr. Lezli is joined by the founding director of the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies (WiCDS) in Johannnesburg, Dr. Melissa Steyn. Since 2014, Dr. Steyn has held the South African National Chair (SARChI) Chair in Critical Diversity Studies and is an expert on Whiteness Studies. Dr. Steyn is the author of “Whiteness just isn't what it used to be: White identity in a changing South Africa.” The two converse about what it means to be a White person in South Africa 25+ years post-apartheid.  

IDE Impolite Conversation is available on all major platforms. Listen on our YouTube Channel or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Relevant and Recommended Reads: 

• Umqombothi The Traditional South African Beer Of The Xhosa Tribe - Travel Noire
• ​Rise of the shebeen queens - The Mail & Guardian
• A Guide to South Africa’s Historic Shebeen Speakeasies | Vogue

IDE Impolite Conversation is available on all major platforms. 🎧 Listen 🎧 on our YouTube Channel or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Have thoughts on this episode? Share them on social media using the hashtag #impoliteconversationpodcast. Also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter and email [email protected] with feedback or questions! A FREE and easy way to support is to rate and review us.

Pod Team = Lezli Levene Harvell (Host & Executive Producer) / Duresny “Rez” Nemorin (Producer) / Justin Bates (Sound Engineer) 

#podcast #IDEimpoliteconversation #IDEPodcast #IDE #production #culture #storytelling #producers #community#apartheid #southafrica #criticaldiversitystudies #whiteness #shebeen #beer #whiskey #gin

Dr. Lezli kicks off Season 2 of IDE Impolite Conversation exploring race as social construct with leading anti-caste expert, journalist, and award-winning author, Yashica Dutt. Yashica is the author of “Coming Out As Dalit: A Memoir”. The two explore Yashica’s journey hiding her lower, “formerly untouchable” Dalit caste, why "nobody cares about caste anymore" is laughable, passing as an upper caste Indian, and why ALL Indian cultural exports from movies to food have to be viewed through the lens of caste.

Relevant and Recommended Reads: 

• Rare Caste Bias Case Advances, Raising Calls for Federal Action
• All Cal State universities add caste to anti-discrimination policy
• Lagaan to Dhadak: Bollywood has a Dalit problem and it refuses to fix it

IDE Impolite Conversation is available on all major platforms. 🎧 Listen 🎧 on our YouTube Channel or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Have thoughts on this episode? Share them on social media using the hashtag #impoliteconversationpodcast. Also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter and email [email protected] with feedback or questions! A FREE and easy way to support is to rate and review us.

Pod Team = Lezli Levene Harvell (Host & Executive Producer) / Duresny “Rez” Nemorin (Producer) / Justin Bates (Sound Engineer) 

#podcast #IDEimpoliteconversation #IDEPodcast #IDE #production #culture #storytelling #producers #community #caste #anticaste #dalit 

Lezli and her ON THE YARD co-hosts Zuri and Nava; Spelman College ‘21 + ‘23 close out Season 1 with the last part of a two part conversation. They get an update from Environmental Studies Major at Howard University; Danurius “Danny” Williams ‘21 who joined for Episode #2 under the theme “Climate Change + COVID-19 + Communities of Color and Divine Linus ‘23; at Morehouse College who joined for Episode #10 Nigerian Students at HBCUs. They provide updates on how being forced to live off-campus impacted them financially, the ability to get off-campus employment in current climate, and how they plan to move forward in the coming semester.

🎧 Listen 🎧 on #applepodcasts, #spotify, or wherever you get podcasts

Have thoughts on this episode? Share them on social media using the hashtag #impoliteconversationpodcast. Also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter and email [email protected] with feedback or questions! Please rate and review us.

Podcast Team = Lezli Levene Harvell (Host & Executive Producer) / Zuri Levene Harvell (Co-Host) / Nava Levene Harvell (Co-Host) / Justin Bates (Sound Engineer) 

#podcast #IDEimpoliteconversation #IDEpodcast #IDE #production #culture #storytelling #producers #community #blackwomen #blackpeople #hbcus #spelman #spelmancollege #semester #auc #internships #offcampus #blueapron #fooddesert #howarduniversity #morehousecollege #environment  #financial

Lezli has her final deep dive of Season One with Dr. Régine Jean-Charles, associate professor of French and African and African Diaspora Studies at Boston College. During this penultimate episode of the season, the two discuss Haiti's significance as the first Black republic, the global significance of Haiti’s defeat of France, as well as the Haitian sacrament that takes place around the world on January 1st.

Relevant and Recommended Reads: 

• The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) 
• The most successful slave rebellion in history created an independent Haiti and secured the Louisiana Purchase 
• A Warming Soup Joumou Family Recipe From Sommelier Bianca Sanon 

🎧 Listen 🎧 on #applepodcasts, #spotify, or wherever you get podcasts

Have thoughts on this episode? Share them on social media using the hashtag #impoliteconversationpodcast. Also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter and email [email protected] with feedback or questions! Please rate and review us.

Podcast Team = Lezli Levene Harvell (Host & Executive Producer)  / Duresny “Rez” Nemorin (Producer) / Justin Bates (Sound Engineer) 

#podcast #IDEimpoliteconversation #IDEpodcast #IDE #production #culture #storytelling #producers #community  #haitian #soupjoumou #haitians #haitianrevolution #haiti #napoleon #french #frenchrevolution #toussaint #independence #france

Lezli and her ON THE YARD co-hosts Zuri and Nava; Spelman College ‘21 + ‘23 close out Season 1 with the first of a two part conversation. They get an update from Zuri’s classmate, Chantia Murphy ‘21 who joined for Episode #4 under the theme “Climate Change + COVID-19 + Communities of Color. Chantia is an English Major with a 3.9 GPA, first generation American and college student with aspirations of working for a media outlet that focuses on telling Black stories. Earlier in the season Chantia shared the financial impact of COVID-19 on her family meant she might not be able to return to Spelman for her senior year. With first semester complete Chantia provides an update.

🎧 Listen 🎧 on #applepodcasts, #spotify, or wherever you get podcasts

Have thoughts on this episode? Share them on social media using the hashtag #impoliteconversationpodcast. Also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter and email [email protected] with feedback or questions! Please rate and review us.

Podcast Team = Lezli Levene Harvell (Host & Executive Producer) / Nava Levene Harvell (Co-Host) / Zuri Levene Harvell (Co-Host) / Justin Bates (Sound Engineer) 

#podcast #IDEimpoliteconversation #IDEpodcast #IDE #production #culture #storytelling #producers #community #blackwomen #blackpeople #hbcus #spelman #spelmancollege #semester #auc #internships #corona #environment  #financial

Lezli finishes up her two-part conversation with Dr. Charles L. Hughes, author of Country Soul: Making Music and Making Race in the American South, which was named by Rolling Stone, as one of the Best Music Books of 2015. Charles is the DIrector of the Lynne & Henry Turley Memphis Center at Rhodes College, where he is also an Assistant Professor of Urban Studies, History and Africana Studies. The two explore prominent Black R&B and Soul artists such as Ray Charles that also made Country albums, how Charley Pride navigated the homogeneity of the Country Music genre, the dynamic that created the Lil Nas X controversy, and what his hopes are for the future of Country Music.

Relevant and Recommended Reads: 

• Charley Pride Country Music Hall of Fame
• Ray Charles’ “Modern Sounds in Country” Cultural Impact 
• Country Music is Also Mexican Music 

🎧 Listen 🎧 on #applepodcasts, #spotify, or wherever you get podcasts

Have thoughts on this episode? Share them on social media using the hashtag #impoliteconversationpodcast. Also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter and email [email protected] with feedback or questions! Please rate and review us.

Podcast Team = Lezli Levene Harvell (Host & Executive Producer)  / Justin Bates (Sound Engineer) 

#podcast #IDEimpoliteconversation #IDEpodcast #IDE #production #culture #storytelling #producers #community #folk #folktraditions #countrymusic #charleypride  #thepointersisters #bluegrassmusic #popmusic  #raycharles #banjo #fiddle #nashville #nostalgia #americana #blues #roots 

Lezli and her ON THE YARD co-host Zuri; Spelman College ‘21 have a conversation with two HBCU VC Fellows; Kendall Camp; Morehouse College ‘22 Host of Privileged Black Kids Podcast and Trea'jure Dahl Spelman College ‘22. The four explore the minuscule percentage of VC dollars going to Black-owned startups, how Kendall and Trea'jure became interested in VC, what makes VC internships uniquely difficult to obtain, and how students should leverage their campus community whether they're interested in VC or not. 

Relevant and Recommended Reads: 

• Why it's so Hard for Black Entrepreneurs to Find Funding 
• A VC's Guide to Investing in Black Founders 
• Diverse Startups and Investors Matter

🎧 Listen 🎧 on #applepodcasts, #spotify, or wherever you get podcasts

Have thoughts on this episode? Share them on social media using the hashtag #impoliteconversationpodcast. Also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter and email [email protected] with feedback or questions! Please rate and review us.

Podcast Team = Lezli Levene Harvell (Host & Executive Producer) / Zuri Levene Harvell (Co-Host) / Justin Bates (Sound Engineer) 

#podcast #IDEimpoliteconversation #IDEpodcast #IDE #production #culture #storytelling #producers #community #blackwomen #blackpeople #hbcus #spelman #spelmancollege #morehousecollege #vc #venturecapital #startups #founders #invest #entrepreneurship #entrepreneurs #leanentrepreneurship

Lezli continues her exploration of American music with a two-part conversation with Dr. Charles L. Hughes, author of Country Soul: Making Music and Making Race in the American South, which was named by Rolling Stone, as one of the Best Music Books of 2015. Charles is the DIrector of the Lynne & Henry Turley Memphis Center at Rhodes College, where he is also an Assistant Professor of Urban Studies, History and Africana Studies. The two explore American folk traditions associated with Country Music, how people of color get written out of America’s folksy roots, the impetus for the creation of the “Hillbilly Music” genre; Country Music’s predecessor, why this music became central to American white identity and the fundamental differences between Country Music and Blues.

Relevant and Recommended Reads: 

• Square Dance Calling: The African-American Connection
• Ralph Peer- Country Music Hall of Fame
• Remembering Musician Lesley Riddle: Blue Ridge Heritage

🎧 Listen 🎧 on #applepodcasts, #spotify, or wherever you get podcasts

Have thoughts on this episode? Share them on social media using the hashtag #impoliteconversationpodcast. Also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter and email [email protected] with feedback or questions! Please rate and review us.

Podcast Team = Lezli Levene Harvell (Host & Executive Producer)  / Justin Bates (Sound Engineer) 

#podcast #IDEimpoliteconversation #IDEpodcast #IDE #production #culture #storytelling #producers #community #folk #folktraditions #countrymusic #hillbillymusic #bluegrassmusic #popmusic  #squaredancing #banjo #fiddle #nashville #nostalgia #americana #blues #roots 

Lezli and her ON THE YARD co-host Nava; Spelman College ‘23 finish up their two-part episode conversation with Alston Bowman; Spelman College ‘21 and Zula Oliveira; Clark Atlanta University ‘23 about what veganism elucidated for them regarding how Americans consume meat, the misconception that a vegan diet HAS to be more expensive than an omnivore diet, being policed by meat-eaters, tips for transitioning to a plant-based diet along with some of their favorite vegan brands, and vegan cooks and content to follow and subscribe to on the gram and YouTube.  

Relevant and Recommended Reads: 

• Why Black Americans are more likely to be vegan
• Can I afford to go vegan?
• 10 Black Influencers in the Vegan Instagram World to Follow

🎧 Listen 🎧 on #applepodcasts, #spotify, or wherever you get podcasts

Have thoughts on this episode? Share them on social media using the hashtag #impoliteconversationpodcast. Also follow the podcast on Instagram and Twitter and email [email protected] with feedback or questions! Please rate and review us.

Podcast Team = Lezli Levene Harvell (Host & Executive Producer) / Nava Levene Harvell (Co-Host) / Justin Bates (Sound Engineer) 

#podcast #IDEimpoliteconversation #IDEpodcast #IDE #production #culture #storytelling #producers #community #blackwomen #blackpeople #hbcus #spelman #spelmancollege #clarkatlanta #cau #clarkatlantauniversity #vegan #veganism #plantbased #vegetarians