Talk Black & Give Back

We Started at Greatness: The Battle for Our Narrative


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In this powerful late-March reflection, host Jennifer Nickerson-Turner moves us from the high-energy joy of February’s HBCU celebrations to the "Bridge of Truth"—the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery.

Jennifer shares a deeply personal journey, reflecting on her own experience as a young Black girl in the South during the ’80s and ’90s, and a shocking more recent encounter at the dinner table with her son. From the halls of Hawfields Middle School to the floor of the United Nations, this episode explores why truthful history isn't a "divisive concept"—it is the only map our children have to dream the big dreams they were born to carry.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

  • The "Bridge of Truth": Moving from the celebration of Black History Month into the deep honor of our ancestors’ resilience.
  • The Battle for the Narrative: A breakdown of the 2026 UN vote on slavery as a "crime against humanity" and the impact of the "Restoring Truth and Sanity" executive order.
  • The Dinner Table Wake-Up Call: Why a 7th-grade lesson on Eli Whitney proved that the fight for accurate history is far from over.
  • Grassroots Warriors: A call to action to support the North Carolina organizations standing in the gap for our children’s education.

Grassroots Warriors: Call to Action

We challenge every listener to visit one of these sites and "Give Five" ($5) or an hour of your time:

  • The Dudley Flood Center: Supporting youth-led social justice through "History Counts."
  • Village of Wisdom: Protecting "Black Genius" and empowering parents in Durham.
  • BCDI Greensboro: Bridging the literacy gap with culturally centered after-school care.
  • Talk Black & Give Back: Join our virtual home for truth, business directories, and peer support.

Key Quote:

"We didn’t start at slavery. We started at greatness. If our children don’t have the full story to reflect on, they can’t dream the big dreams they were born to have."

Connect with Us:

  • Instagram: @TalkBlackGiveBack
  • Facebook: Talk Black & Give Back
  • Website: https://talkblackgiveback.org
  • Phone: (336) 343-8694
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Talk Black & Give BackBy Jennifer Nickerson-Turner