Woke Isn't Enough

If our ultimate goal is to become accomplices and co-conspirators, how do we get there? What This week, Fiona and Jess share Healing Equity United's Five A's model which discusses the steps between ally and accomplice. Through examples in nonprofits, they'll share how each step shows up in racial justice work.

During this episode we were honored to have special guest, Michele Leonard join us. Michele discussed her decades of activism in the Native American community. She also shared her wisdom regarding the continued erasure of Native peoples from our history books and our consciousness. Finally, she schooled us on how we can show up to act as co-conspirators in solidarity with Native siblings. Believe us, this is a conversation that you don't want to miss!

The Black Lives Matter movement and protests are sparking questions from kids today. How early should you start talking to them about race? Where should we begin the conversation? Hear from Fiona Oliphant and John Nguyen-Yap (in a moderated discussion by Jess) as they share tips and strategies on how they navigate race-based conversations with their children. 

This week, Jess interviews Helen Kim Ho, a fierce Asian American activist in Atlanta who founded the first Asian Pacific American civil rights organization in the Deep South. Listen as they discuss the tokenization of people of color in nonprofit organizations, the impact of COVID-19 in Georgia, and the impact of the John Lewis' passing on his community.

Learn more about Helen Kim Ho's work by visiting her website at: https://www.hkhlawllc.com/

We're reading all the books, going to trainings, and following the news. We've been awakened. But why isn't being woke enough in this moment? This week Jessica and Fiona discuss how we need to move beyond allyship to become co-conspirators in this moment. 

Congressman and civil rights icon, Representative John Lewis charged us all to "Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America." It is clear that there is a significant need for all of us to take up his call given the widespread and flagrant disregard for Black lives (e.g. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many more). This week Jessica and Fiona discuss how BLM protesters are marching to redeem America's soul and the federal response in Portland.

Since recording this episode on July 22, 2020 an article regarding the Wall of Moms has been posted accusing them of engaging in anti-blackness by leaders of a Black-led community group. We encourage you to read this article to learn more. 

Are you keeping a running list of all the things Black and Brown people cannot do without being harassed and having the police called on them? If not, then don't worry. A very helpful Karen or Ken will be sure to remind you of each verboten activity! During this episode, Jessica and Fiona will discuss Karens & Kens, the impact of their behavior and much more.

Can you remember how you were taught about the myriad of ways people of color contributed to US history? Were Black folx relegated to a few paragraphs abut slavery and the Civil War? Were Asian-Americans only discussed for a few moments during Asian Pacific American Heritage month? This week Jessica and Fiona tackle these questions and many more as they debate whether people of color have effectively been erased from US history and the implications that erasure has for attaining racial equity.

Performative allyship is often not helpful and can actually do more harm than we intend it to. How do we know when we are engaging in it? And what are some ways that we can recognize impact as we move towards fully embracing allyship while learning to become co-conspirators for racial justice?

The murder of George Floyd is another example of the police brutality and killing of young black men in America every day. What does it mean for Black and Asian communities? And what are some ways that we can take action as co-conspirators?