The Anna Jinja Show
The Anna Jinja show focuses on the stories, issues, and questions connected to adoption and foster care experiences.
The host is an international adoptee with biological roots in Korea and adopted roots in the United States. As you can imagine, her journey and experiences as a transracial adoptee are multifaceted. Her experiences have been with the pain of discrimination and rejection as well as the joys of self-discovery and learning to embrace all aspects of her identity.
Along the way, she has discovered that she is not alone. We’re all – in some ways – adopted into or out of homes, cultures, communities, and relationships as we grow and evolve. This show illuminates the theme of adoption, in all ways, in our lives. And how those experiences create who we are and who we are yet to be.
Her hope is that through engaging with the guests and creative content, we are welcomed home in this world, cradled in the belief that we belong, that we are worthy, and that we are loved.
So stay tuned, and you may discover your own adoption story.
The Anna Jinja Show
David Butcher & Paisha Thomas
"I Am Here": A Conversation on Adoption, Heritage, and Cultural Identity
How do we honor stories that some would prefer to erase? What does it take to raise children across racial lines in America? And how can art preserve what history tries to forget?
In this episode of The Anna Jinja Show, we explore these profound questions with two guests whose personal and professional missions are deeply intertwined with heritage, justice, and belonging.
David Butcher, Executive Director of the Tablertown People of Color Museum, shares his family's journey from slavery to freedom in Ohio, and offers invaluable wisdom as a father of two adopted children navigating questions of race, identity, and belonging.
Paisha Thomas, artist and founder of Land of the Freed nonprofit, uses music and activism to reclaim her ancestors' story—freed people who were violently denied 3,200 acres of land they rightfully inherited in 1846.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The challenges white parents face raising Black children and how to address them honestly
- Why cultural immersion is essential, not optional
- The power of museums and art to preserve what systems try to erase Resources for families, educators, and anyone committed to antiracism work
David shares a profound story about his white friend who adopted Black children and couldn't stop crying the first time he attended their biological family's church—the moment he finally felt what his children had been experiencing for years.
Paisha reminds us that so much of American culture originates from Black communities yet gets rebranded and its origins erased. Her song and her nonprofit work are declarations of presence and resistance.
This conversation offers wisdom for adoptive families, educators, museum professionals, and anyone who believes that knowing our full histories—the beautiful and the painful—is essential to creating a more just future.
Guest Links: https://tablertownmuseum.org/ https://www.paishathomasart.com/