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Susan Burton shares her powerful journey from cycling through prison to founding A New Way of Life, an organization providing housing and support for formerly incarcerated women with a 94% success rate. Her story illuminates how systemic racism criminalizes Black women's survival strategies while offering a model for healing through love, tolerance, and community care.

• Experiencing the tragic death of her five-year-old son and lacking access to healing resources in South LA
• Discovering the disparity between how addiction is treated in Black communities (prison) versus white communities (treatment)
• Creating A New Way of Life to offer housing, family reunification, workforce development, and time to heal
• Describing prison conditions as dehumanizing systems that strip identity and dignity
• Emphasizing how faith grounds her work as "a vessel for God's work"
• Challenging churches to move beyond judgment to practical support and abolition
• Extending her mission beyond reentry to community mutual aid during crises

Visit anewwayoflife.org to learn more about Susan Burton's work and upcoming events including the Justice on Trial Film Festival on October 4th and their annual gala on December 7th.

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When flames tore through Altadena on January 7th, they destroyed more than buildings—they revealed deep inequities in how America responds to disasters in Black communities. Against the backdrop of California's fifth deadliest wildfire, this episode brings together two survivors with starkly different recovery experiences.

Tamil, an intergenerational homeowner who operated a braiding business from the house her mother owned for 50 years, woke to find her world literally on fire. "I just sat there for hours as people on the news showed Altadena Drive burning," she recalls. "We left the car and I cried." Sixty miles away from her community and client base, Tamil now struggles with insurance paperwork, mortgage forbearance, and the isolation of starting over without adequate support.

Alongside her sits Shimika Gaskins, president of End Child Poverty California, whose professional connections mobilized immediately after she lost her home. "My place of work was super supportive. My team stepped in to make sure we had everything we needed right away." The contrast between their experiences highlights a troubling reality: disaster recovery systems work better for those already connected to resources.

Both women speak candidly about the failures that endangered lives—no functioning alert systems, fire hydrants without water, and delayed emergency responses compared to more affluent areas. "It's angering when we think about what could have prevented the fire," Shamika notes. "The fact that there was no alert system... it's just unacceptable."

Six months later, their faith remains tested but unbroken. Despite disappointment with some local churches, they've found strength in community and spirituality. "God never makes a mistake," Tamil reflects. "He does send his angels." Their advice for others still struggling resonates beyond disaster recovery: find your supportive people, protect your peace, remember to breathe, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

This powerful conversation reveals both heartbreak and hope—a testament to Black women's resilience and a call for equity in disaster response. Listen now and join us in supporting those still rebuilding their lives after the flames.

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What does one night of freedom look like when you're trapped in systems designed to extract your labor, silence your voice, and deny your humanity? In Ryan Coogler's masterful film "Sinners," this question unfolds through the story of Sammy, a young guitarist who seeks artistic expression outside the church walls in 1930s Mississippi. But freedom comes with costs, raising profound theological questions that still resonate today.

This riveting episode of Abolitionist Sanctuary features three brilliant scholars examining how "Sinners" disrupts traditional narratives about sin, salvation, and spirituality. Dr. Funayo E. Wood (Harvard PhD and Ifa Orisha priestess), Dr. Deanna Reed-Hamelin (religious studies scholar specializing in horror), and Dr. Candice Laughinghouse (theologian and musician) bring their unique perspectives to this Juneteenth special that celebrates Abolitionist Sanctuary's fourth anniversary.

Show Highlights:
• Horror as a genre serves as the perfect medium for expressing Black religious experience and the quest for meaning
• The vampire trope symbolizes how oppressive systems extract life and culture from vulnerable communities
• African spiritual traditions like Hoodoo are portrayed as sources of protection and wisdom rather than being demonized
• Black women function as spiritual anchors, with their conjuring practices offering community protection
• Racial capitalism manifests through symbolic elements like wooden nickels that expose the fraudulent currencies of economic exploitation
• The dichotomy between sacred church music and profane juke joint music represents artificial boundaries that restrict freedom
• Questions of theodicy arise when prayers and protective practices work for some but fail to save innocent lives
• Freedom may be fleeting or limited, but artistic expression and spiritual practice offer glimpses of liberation

Keep your eyes on Abolitionist Sanctuary for more critical conversations at the intersections of religion, abolition, and Black motherhood. Visit abolitionistsanctuary.org to become a member and join our mailing list.

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Join us as we welcome the extraordinary Ebony Janice, a luminary in the realms of authorship and activism, hailing from the rural landscapes of Ohio and North Carolina to the vibrant streets of Harlem. Listen as she recounts her journey and the essence of her impactful work with the Free People Project and the Ebony Janice Project. Discover how she champions Black women's healing and pleasure, and how her parents and ancestors have profoundly influenced her mission. Explore the cultural significance of her visual presence, and dive into her reflections on spiritual and romantic pursuits that drive her activism.

Experience Harlem through Ebony Janice's eyes as we uncover the community's unique challenges with environmental noise and the concept of "hood wellness." Hear firsthand accounts of the persistent noise pollution that affects mental well-being and the role gentrification plays in altering the cultural fabric of marginalized neighborhoods. We discuss the essential need for tranquil spaces where Black women and femmes can reconnect with their bodies and find peace amidst chaos. The dialogue extends to her transformative spiritual journey, navigating beyond a Christocentric identity to Yoruba priestess after an enlightening mission trip to Kenya, and the complex intersections of Christianity, Black identity, and slavery.

Throughout our conversation, we celebrate the wisdom of Black women elders, honoring figures such as Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou, whose contributions have paved the way for future generations. We delve into the intersectional challenges of race, gender, and state violence, emphasizing the resilience and joy that Black women cultivate in the face of adversity. Envisioning a future rooted in community safety and well-being, we discuss an abolitionist approach that prioritizes the protection and cherishing of Black lives. 

This episode discusses the sharp contrasts among the attack, ascension, and activism of Black womanhood reflected in the murder of Sonya Massey by the police, the presumptive presidential nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris, and Black women leading organizing actions to redeem our democracy.

Don't miss this thought-provoking episode that honors Black womanhood, spirituality, and activism, offering both a reflective and forward-looking abolitionist perspective on these critical issues.

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Can racism be silenced? Join us as Reverend Nikia Smith Robert, PhD and Reverend Doctor Willie D Francois tackle this pressing question by exploring the concept of "white noise" from Francois’s book, "Silencing White Noise: Six Practices to Overcome Our Inaction on Race." Together, we dissect how racist speech, silence, and inaction serve to maintain white supremacy, and how even those affected by racism can unknowingly perpetuate it. From the specific vulnerabilities of Black women to the intersectionality of various forms of oppression, this episode lays bare the urgent need for comprehensive anti-racism practices.

Hear Dr. Francois and  Dr. Robert as they scrutinize the theological underpinnings of punishment and incarceration, revealing how entrenched societal narratives frame Black bodies as inherently dangerous. With insights from Christian doctrines on sin and punishment, parallels are drawn between the concept of hell and the punitive nature of prisons. By weaving in perspectives from Chinese Buddhism and real-life stories, such as that of Kelly Williams Bolar, we illuminate the moral and ethical implications of a racially biased carceral system.

Finally, this episode explore actionable steps toward creating a true abolitionist sanctuary, grounded in the rhythms of reparative intercession. Dr. Francois discusses moving beyond white guilt to racial grief, emphasizing the transformative power of Jesus' ministry in fostering compassion and justice. Discover how these spiritual principles can guide us towards a society where sanctuaries of refuge and solidarity replace systems of policing and punishment. Dr. Francois challenges us to stay connected as we strive for communal flourishing and a just society, following the teachings and hope of resurrection.

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