Awakened in America
Awakened in America
S1 Ep #1: Meet Your Hosts
How did we get here? A constructive dialogue on the awakening of our minds to the issues of Black America.
You're listening to awaken in America, two minds on a journey to create dialogue about diversity, inclusion and optimism.
Speaker 2:Hi, and thanks for joining awakens in America. This is the very first episode and titled getting to know your house. We are so excited to have you you'll meet Jess and Z today, and we hope you'll stick around for more. So does, can you tell us what made you want to do this podcast?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think, uh, for me it was this period of reflection I've been going through and our friendship, which started before quarantine and before all of that, it was kind of like this perfect storm and got me into this, um, head space of, you know, how can I evolve as a person during this time when I'm stuck at home and, you know, we can't go anywhere. And, um, just kind of wanting to have, you know, an opportunity to grow as a person. I'm so immersed in my life as a mom and, um, as a wife and a friend and you know, other things, but I've, I haven't really had a time in my life that I can remember where I've had a chance to really look inward and, you know, figure out ways that I can improve or grow. And then you entered my life as a friend and then we got locked down and, um, you know, just keeping in touch with you throughout this period and these three things that you and I have talked so much about. I think the political environment, you know, that we're in with the current president combined with COVID and, you know, really the heaviness of that topic and thinking about mortality and, um, you know, for me, I kept thinking, you know, what am I going to do with my life while I'm here and finding a way to feel like I'm doing something, um, you know, ultimately the, I can be proud of that. My kids can be proud of. And then for me, I think the, you know, the murder of George Floyd that happened at the end of may was the tipping point for me, where I felt an urgency to find a way to channel these feelings and to make it into something, you know? And I remember when we first started talking about this, you and I said, even if we're the only ones that listened to it, or if it's just my mom and dad or my sister, you know, whoever close friends, at least it'll make me feel like I'm doing something. Cause I do feel this empowerment, you know, right now because of those things that have happened to express myself about this topic about diversity and inclusion and, um, optimism, which is, I think, you know, the angle that you bring to this, you're so optimistic and so positive and have really given us this idea, you know, it was you who said, maybe we should start recording. Maybe we should do a podcast and you have so much going on. So I was really flattered that that was something that you would even want to do. Um, but how about you? What are, what are your thoughts on why you wanted to do the podcast?
Speaker 2:I'm like you, I thought that it was a rare opportunity, um, to discuss all these issues, um, on a platform that was safe, um, that was constructive and, um, in an unbiased way between two friends, um, in a nonjudgmental way too. Um, because there are so many facets to what we're experiencing as I think, as humans, as individuals, as mothers, um, as daughters. And, um, and I think that humanity is crying out right now for a change. Um, I don't know how long it will take that change to come, but it feels like the wheels are in motion more than they ever have been. And that it would be a missed opportunity if we didn't take advantage and do something with it now. And I feel like there are a lot of people who also, this has stirred up a lot of emotion for them, and they're looking for positive ways to channel that emotion and what can I do? And it's, it's lending itself to different perspectives. Um, and people are allowing themselves to experience all these emotions because of COVID like you said. Um, and so I also think that the time is now because we have video cameras. I don't think that, um, that people weren't aware that this happened, but I think people were able to brush it off or dismiss it easily before, because it wasn't taped and they didn't see it with their own eyes or they didn't experience it, um, because they weren't the same color. And so now the veil has been removed and it's, it's really up to each individual person to say, you know, either I accept responsibility for my role in it because everyone plays a role. It's, it's a universe, it's a world. So no matter how small a part you may play, everyone plays some role. And I think that, um, we all have to find what our role is to play. It's not going to be the same for everyone. Um, and, um, I think that that's fair, but I think that should acknowledge that a change needs to occur. And it's not just a change for Brown people or black people. It's a change for humanity because we got created us or whoever you want to believe created you. Um, but we were all created. We didn't just appear here and, and, and believing that we were all created, then we all have some value just like the animals, just like the dragon flies, everything has value. And I think that just like we fight for the whales and the ocean, the tortoises, the polar bears, we need to fight for people.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Yeah. I think, um, maybe we should talk about some of the reservations we had about starting this, um, because it is such a sensitive pain, you know, kind of riddled topic. And like I've told you before, I'm very open with, you know, how little I know about the history and what led us here, but I think that's important. And it's part of our value in this discussion in this podcast is opening up, you know, to one another, as friends and, and having people hear that vulnerability and accountability, holding myself accountable for the things that I haven't learned until now about my own country's history about, you know, um, things that have been happening in the world since the beginning of time, since beginning of humankind. But, um, like I told you, I think hopefully other people can identify with that. And I, you know, I think that's our goal. The second subset of our, of our goal is to socialize and normalize this really difficult, sensitive, painful topic. And the reason I'm speaking on my own behalf, the reason I haven't had those discussions is because of all those things, it's embarrassing, it's shameful, it's hurtful. I didn't know how to have those discussions, you know, and until this video came about where no one could avoid that video in the whole world, I don't think anybody could avoid it if you had a TV or if you had a device seeing this man, you know, calling out for his life and him being murdered by people that were supposed to trust, you know, and this happened in our own backyard and in, in a state that I really like in a city that I have visited and I've always actually thought really highly of it. There were so many layers to it that kind of just caught me by surprise. And I have to think, you know, I'm just one white woman, you know, mom, whatever, but there have to be so more like me that are kind of trying to come to terms and process these feelings that, you know, maybe they haven't had before, either in this level of intensity. And then, you know, if they're also like me in this time, I'm trying to find a way to make a difference. So for me, what I went through thought process wise, after all this, you know, the last few months happened was I really believe that these, you know, negative thoughts and the discrimination and the injustices, and a lot of that is bread at home and you can start it and ended at home. So I really kind of took that upon myself to take a look at how I'm raising my children and the conversations I'm having with my own friends and family, um, and make changes there, you know, and having my kids were very young, but having books around talking about inclusion and diversity and having toys that don't all look like us as white people, you know, because that's not reality and it shouldn't be the way we're raising our children, you know? And, um, that's my hope and my goal and, you know, a really big focus that I have from this point forward is to make this a part of our life, you know, as a family in our house and the way that we speak to each other and the way, you know, we make friends and I think how can you possibly really grow as a person, you know, or have your children grow if you're not bringing in other cultures and other types of people and other influences, and, you know, like my husband and I traveled, we were fortunate to be able to travel a lot before we had kids. And I would always take an interest in, you know, the different countries we were going to and learning about those cultures. So that was another kind of revelation that I had in the last few months. It was like, I've taken this, I've taken this interest in other places and other types of people and other cultures. Meanwhile, we had something going on right here in this country that I've paid such little attention to. And you know, now I feel very guilty about that. And so, um, you know, I did, like I said, I really want to make a point to take it upon myself, to educate myself so that it can teach my children and whoever else along the way, you know? Um,
Speaker 2:That's very, that's very, um, honest of you and it's very, it's very humbling to hear because a lot of people wouldn't be able to admit those things. And I think that's one of the reasons that I agreed to do the podcast[inaudible] it was because I felt like you, you were the type of person, if there was ever going to be a person or a time that, you know, you were the type of person that I could, I could be honest with. It's still difficult. And, um, it's, it is painful. It's painful because, um, you know, speaking for myself, you know, and I cannot speak for everyone and I do not aim to speak for every African American that's out there. We all have, uh, varying degrees of experience, um, depending on who we grew up with or, um, what we were exposed to, or, um, my social economic, you know, status or, you know, that kind of thing. So I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak, I think for majority and saying that, um, many of us, I think never really, unless we had a close white friend, wouldn't even bother to bring up any of these things because it would be dismissed. So, you know, if you feel like, you know, someone's gonna say something like, well, the reason he got shot was obviously because, you know, he was resisting police, um, or, you know, yeah. He had a criminal record or, you know, whatever the case may be, um, that, you know, because in those conversations that would be brought up as a way to dismiss, um, the injustice. It was like, why bother? Because you're going down a rabbit hole.
Speaker 1:All right. That was part one of episode one, meet your hosts. We will be back next week with more content and even better editing as we figure this out on the fly. Thanks for tuning in. Thank you for listening to awakened in America. If you enjoyed today's podcast, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. You can also find us on Instagram at awakened in America. That's awakened underscore in underscore America and remember be mindful, be grateful. And most of all be you.