What if the narrative you've been told about Black women's education was disrupted and rewritten by the very women it aims to define? That's exactly what my guest, Jen Franks, the founder of Disruptive Truth LLC, is doing with her groundbreaking project, Black Women World Record. Join us as we navigate this transformative journey, honoring Black women's academic achievements, and challenging the societal norms.
As we delve into this enlightening conversation, we uncover Jen's inspiring journey to Harvard and how she's using her experiences to empower Black women through storytelling and speaking disruptive truths. We discuss the phenomenal response to the celebration on Ruby Bridges' birthday, where over 1000 black women proudly shared their graduation pictures and certificates online. From high school diplomas to PhDs, we celebrate all forms of education, and Jen enlightens us on how the act of speaking one's disruptive truth can challenge existing power structures and create a positive change.
Ever wondered about the power of self-love and resilience? We explore this, drawing from the inspiring lyrics of Lauren Hill's music that resonate with the importance of self-respect and love for black women. We also discuss the upcoming documentary about Black Women World Record, a testament to the power of celebrating Black women's stories and achievements. Come, join us on this inspiring journey that highlights the importance of disrupting the norm and celebrating the achievements of Black women.
What if the narrative you've been told about Black women's education was disrupted and rewritten by the very women it aims to define? That's exactly what my guest, Jen Franks, the founder of Disruptive Truth LLC, is doing with her groundbreaking project, Black Women World Record. Join us as we navigate this transformative journey, honoring Black women's academic achievements, and challenging the societal norms.
As we delve into this enlightening conversation, we uncover Jen's inspiring journey to Harvard and how she's using her experiences to empower Black women through storytelling and speaking disruptive truths. We discuss the phenomenal response to the celebration on Ruby Bridges' birthday, where over 1000 black women proudly shared their graduation pictures and certificates online. From high school diplomas to PhDs, we celebrate all forms of education, and Jen enlightens us on how the act of speaking one's disruptive truth can challenge existing power structures and create a positive change.
Ever wondered about the power of self-love and resilience? We explore this, drawing from the inspiring lyrics of Lauren Hill's music that resonate with the importance of self-respect and love for black women. We also discuss the upcoming documentary about Black Women World Record, a testament to the power of celebrating Black women's stories and achievements. Come, join us on this inspiring journey that highlights the importance of disrupting the norm and celebrating the achievements of Black women.
Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Listen Linda show. You guys already know what time it is. You know how I do Give me three minutes of waiting music and we are going to get started with ladies first, ladies first, with special guest Jen Franks. Okay, you guys. So give us a second, give us three minutes of waiting music and we are going to get this thing started. Music, music, music, music, music, music.
Speaker 1:Music, music.
Speaker 2:Welcome, welcome, welcome everyone to the Listen Linda show. Today is a special day. I have a special guest in the room with me in the waiting room. This edition is called ladies first, with special guests. I don't want to mess up. Your name is Jen, so I'm just going to say Ms Jen Franks. Hey, how are you doing today, ms Jen? Hit your mic, sweetheart.
Speaker 3:There we go. Perfect, all right. Can you hear me okay now? Perfect, perfect, all right. Yes, so I'm doing very well. Thank you Listen. I am so excited to be on your show, linda.
Speaker 2:I'm so excited. Thank you so so much. And yes, for those who don't know, she called me Linda, by my stage name, by my radio name. I am. Jacqueline Cox, I'm listening to you. Guys are my lindas, but today we are speaking to not just the Harvard graduate, not just the, the mogul behind disruptive. Oh, excuse me, come on, help me out, tell people what you do. I'm super excited, I'm trying to introduce you, girl, but I'm just, I'm elated to have you here.
Speaker 3:Sure, sure, no problem, no problem. And you know, and I'm calling you Linda, I know that you're Jacqueline, obviously, but but yeah, so I'm Jen Franks. I go to. I am the founder of a company called disruptive truth, and we are all about supporting black women and speaking our truth in order to change the world. Our first project has been a project called black women world record, and that happened on September 8, and what we did was we took to the internet streets on Facebook and Instagram with pictures of ourselves and our graduation certificates. So that was anything from high school graduations. You know, ged is associate degrees, undergraduate, professional certificate, graduate degrees, doctoral degrees, all of it. We celebrated all of it, and so black women with any of those certificates we posted to social media and we created a world first record based on the academic achievements of black women.
Speaker 2:Amazing, amazing, amazing. And I will tell you guys that I just happened to be one of those people. Yes, and she's Shah Halliburton, you will be all. Later this month she actually posted and I was like, what's this? I wouldn't do it too. And because I thought it was cool, and I was like, oh yeah, I got my degree. You know, it took me a while to get it. Everybody who knows my story knows I went through a lot to get my degree. I went through a lot of trials and tribulations to get to where I am and I just thank God for it. So, before we get into questions, I'm going to if you don't mind, jean, I'm going to say a prayer, get us started, and then we're going to go into questions. How'd you, how'd you like that? That sounds perfect, okay, great.
Speaker 2:Dear Heavenly Father, we come today with grateful hearts, seeking guidance and inspiration on this special occasion, as we gather in this virtual space to listen, learn and connect. We invite your presence to be with us. We are honored to have our esteemed guest, ms Jean Franks, aha, goto, the CEO of Disruptive Truth LLC, joining us today. We ask you, god, for your blessings upon her as she shares her wisdom, her experiences and insights that have the power to inspire and empower us all. May this podcast be a platform where authentic conversations unfold, ideas are explored and truth is discovered. Lord God, may it serve as a catalyst for a positive change, encouraging listeners to embrace disruption as a mean of growth and transformation. Grant us the ability, lord God, to listen with open hearts and minds, allowing us to truly hear and understand the messages that are being conveyed today.
Speaker 2:Lord God, may this conversation spark curiosity, ignite creativity and foster connections that go way beyond this virtual space. Lord God, we express our gratitude for the opportunity to learn from one another, recognizing that every individual's story and perspective holds value. Help us to approach this discussion, lord God, with respect, empathy and a willingness to challenge our own assumptions. Now, as we embark on this journey together, lord God, we ask for your guidance, your wisdom and your discernment. Lord God, may our time together be filled with insights that inspire us to think differently, take action and, most importantly, make a positive impact on the world around us. With your gratitude and anticipation, we begin this podcast knowing that we are supported by your divine presence. In your name we pray Jesus, amen, amen, amen, amen. So you know I got questions. I'm a question queen, okay, so can you tell us more about your media company, disruptive Truth LLC, and how it puts black women at the center of their own stories?
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, so you know it's interesting because the media company really came out of the inspiration. Like black women world record inspired the media company itself, because what I found was that, with black women world record, so you know, as I was saying, it was all about us posting pictures of ourselves with our graduation events, but but, of course, isn't way deeper than that and it goes way deeper than that and it's really about storytelling, right, it's really about speaking your truth, telling your story. You know, for women to talk about their experiences and when I asked people questions about okay, tell me about an important moment in your educational journey is a very simple question, but so much came out of that question, right, in terms of the answers that people were giving and talking about. You know their, their legacy, right, like where, where their parents came from, what experiences that they had. People would talk about the. You know how challenging it was to get their education right.
Speaker 3:People have related to all different things around their jobs, around.
Speaker 3:You know all different experiences that they've had and many of those, many of those stories have been deeply emotional stories, deeply emotional, and it's like, just by asking a very what seems on the surface a very simple question when deep, really, really fast, and so it was really clear to me that that storytelling and not just storytelling like storytelling is such as, again, it's like a simple word is like telling a story, but it's really like telling something that maybe you've never spoken about before, maybe you have felt some kind of way about that, you haven't always felt safe to say, and and it just there were so many women who were sharing things that they had never shared before, sharing things in a way that they had never shared before, and so it was very clear to me that the next step around this was to tell more of our stories and to have a larger platform for that, and so I just decided I was like okay, this, this got to be immediate company, because so many like, if you think about the stories that you have heard or the stories that we get told, yes, some of them are steeped in what it is to be a black woman and many of them are not right.
Speaker 3:When you think about, like, the media that's out there, when you think about what's on Netflix right, or different platforms and things, it's like, okay, well, there is so much more space for us to tell our story in our way, in a way that's really healing for us to share and that's really important for other people to hear. So that was what caused me to say there's a media company now.
Speaker 2:And you know what you are doing. Such a phenomenal job. Yeah, she took me on the whole way because I had just met it in the group chat. I was like come on, jen, you gotta help me out, girl, I gotta be a part of this thing. She's like I got you, huh, crystal, they both. Crystal is another one Just a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful person. I think her name is crystal Davis. She is such a wonderful person. They just took me. They say we got you, girl, you're gonna be a part of this thing to. We got you and they did. They took me and I am and I got my hands and I'm gonna get my book and I'll get my emblem.
Speaker 2:But enough about me. I'm super excited to be a part of this because I've never like I've gotten a few awards here, there, but I've never gotten any recognition for something so meaningful Other than my diploma. You know, like I haven't, unless it was my kids person tip, because you know my marriage license or something. But something as meaningful as this that I say you know what? I'm a world record holder, and I'm not just any world record holder, right, like I'm one here on a platform being recognized with thousands of other black women on educational achievement on the birthday of Ruby Bridges like this is amazing.
Speaker 2:So I just want to say thank you for even just I thank God for him to even give you this vision. To do this like this is amazing. What in? Can you share some insights? This the one I wanted to know. Can you share some insights into the incredible response other than mine that you received on September 8, when over 1000 black women shared their graduation pictures and certificates online? How did the celebration on a Ruby Bridges birthday for the people who don't know who Ruby Bridges is, yes, absolutely, absolutely so.
Speaker 3:So Ruby Bridges is a civil rights icon and, for any of you who don't know who she is, as a six year old child and she is another black woman, of course as a six year old child, she integrated schools in New Orleans, in her school on William Franz elementary school in New Orleans, and that was back in 1960. So you know, many of you may be seeing the photo of her, an iconic photo of her being marched into her school with federal marshals and literally at at six years old, she integrated schools and became a just a national treasure and an icon and a symbol of black female. You know resilience, education, power as a six year old and you know I have to. I have two daughters, I have a 14 year old and an 11 year old.
Speaker 2:Hit your mic, jen. We can't hear you, jen, hit your mic, sweetheart.
Speaker 3:It's historic right, and so Ruby Bridges was just a natural person that we wanted to anchor on, that we wanted to honor. We are donating to the Ruby Bridges Foundation as part of the fundraising for this movement and for Black Women World Records. So, yeah, you know, I'm literally right now in my office and looking at a picture of, you know, one of the books around that talks about her life, and it was really actually an honor to go a little bit deeper into who she was as a part of this project, and her story is incredible, and so are the stories of all the other women right who are part of Black Women World Records. So, yes, yes, ruby Bridges is a very important part of the larger story of what we have all been able to achieve because of the actions, literally, of a six-year-old girl and her family's decisions to integrate schools Very powerful.
Speaker 2:Every time I think about Ruby Bridges and what she did as far as civil rights. That took so much courage.
Speaker 2:I would have been scared Like oh my goodness, like I couldn't imagine what was going through her mind and her body. But one thing she was was focused on getting her education, and she was not. She was pulling all stops. She was like nope, I'm not allowing any fear to deter me from what I deserve, which was a very valuable education. So thank you so much for sharing that. We'd love to hear about the upcoming projects that you have in the works. Can you provide a glimpse into what's on the horizon for destructive truth LLC and your mission to gather Black women together to speak their truths and change the world? That's what's right.
Speaker 3:Sure, so this Black women world record project is. It's really a year-long project, and the reason for that is that, yes, so on September 8th, we shared pictures of ourselves with our graduation certificates, but there's so much more to that, and so there are other parts of the project that are coming up, and actually we were just on a call together, jacqueline, where we were talking about the fact that we've got an in-person event coming up. So we are hosting an event in Washington DC coming up in February Again anchored in our history right for Black History Month. And the reason that we engage and that we provide different opportunities to engage in different ways is because different things come out of coming together in different spaces, right? So it's one thing to post online and that's a way to share who we are. Then we also have calls every week where we get to talk a little bit more intimately. People get to tell their stories and celebrate each other on those calls, and then now we're having an in-person event where, you know, it's a larger stage and it's like we're going to have a gala. People are going to be coming in, you know, all of their beautiful dresses and dressed up, and we'll be able to meet each other in person, which we're so excited about, and we're going to be doing filming there because we are turning this into a documentary as well.
Speaker 3:So we have already started production on the documentary and we are going to be talking about this story right of how Black Women World Record came to be. We're going to talk about my own family's educational journey. We're going to be highlighting women who are part of Black Women World Record and their journeys, and so there is just so. There are so many different layers to this and many different ways that we can see each other and share and share with the world. And I'm so excited about the documentary because we are going to be bringing it around to all the Black Film festivals and, you know, awards and also pitching to streaming services in 2024. So I feel like that's enough for now. That's what we got going on for now and that's going to take us, you know well, into next year, and I'm just so excited about all of it.
Speaker 2:I'm excited too, because I want to be a I know my face going to be on that documentary about, even if I'm sitting right next to you talking about cheese. I'm here, I'm her assistant, but no, I would definitely be at the gala and watch Tadee. See, I cannot wait Now. Another thing I wanted to I'm going to speak with you more about in that your journey through to college. You know you're a Harvard graduate and for a Black woman, I know that had to be tough. But before we speak on that, I'm going to play a song. Okay, Sounds good.
Speaker 5:And we'll make a beer. You break you, take you. Now it's time to run. Can you relate to a sister's open up to make your holler and scream? Let me take it from here.
Speaker 4:Excuse me, but I think I'm about to get into precisely what I am about to do on conversation to the folks who have no idea where the clue. So listen very carefully as I break it down for you Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. High five, happy, overjoyed. Please will all the beats around my sister's have employed Clickers. We're going down the sound totally. Yes, let me state the position. Yes, yes.
Speaker 5:Sloppy, slouching is something I won't do, something that we can't flow, stereotypes. They got to go, got to go. I'm gonna mess around and flip the scene into reverse with what? With a little touch of ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first. Yeah, there's gonna be some changes right here. I'm gonna go down the sound totally Ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first.
Speaker 4:Ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first, ladies first. Ladies first, ladies first, ladies first. Who's the root of the NX? I'm the N-E-E-N-O-N-A-E-L-O-V-E-N-I-1 Cause. I'm a L-A-D-I-E.
Speaker 5:Contacting. In fact, the Styler gets hard. I'm coolin' on a scene with my European partner Layin' down track after track, waitin' for the climax. When I get there, that's when I text the next man or the next woman, it doesn't make a difference. Keep the competition comin'. And I recite chapter in verse. The title of this recital is Ladies First, ooh, ladies first, ladies first Step out into the night. Queens of civilization are on the mark. The scene is ripe, the crowd is hype. I expel the wack and those who bite. Why? Cause I'm that type, swaying with beats, 45 King style. He wants me to sing, but I'll swing. So meanwhile I'm flittin' up for the opposite sex. Moni, rip the mic, I rock it next. Plex, you never catch me. At my worst you get the drift. It's ladies first.
Speaker 2:Ooh, ladies, first, ladies, first Tell me what you think about that, jean.
Speaker 3:I was over here jammin'. I was having a good time over here.
Speaker 2:How do you think that song resonates with your movement, that you started with our movement, but the movement that God gave you the vision for, how does that song resonate to your movement?
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, well, you know, for our meetings, whenever we meet every week, we always choose a song to play. And I definitely gotta add this one Because, you know, I think for me, with music it's a lot about the energy, right? So I, just when I was hearing that song, I felt so much like positive energy and movement and like I literally was like dancing over here, like having a good old time, and so you know, a big piece of what Black women world record is, it's about celebration and it is about joy, and that has always been the thing that underscores the whole movement, like it, just everything. We are celebrating, we are joyful, and it doesn't mean that we don't share things at a hard or have serious moments, but it is, you know, it's about the joy Of sharing those things with other women and with women who understand you and hear you. And when I think about the lyrics, ladies first.
Speaker 3:Okay, here's the thing With Black women world record. It has always been about Black women, for Black women, by Black women, and it has nothing to do with anybody else. It's putting us first, it's literally putting us at the center, and it's not through a white gaze. There's no male gaze. Like you know we are doing our own thing. It's for us, right, we are celebrating ourselves and it's not, you know, to try to be like the diversity, like somebody else's diversity, to be included by anybody else. It's just a space for us.
Speaker 3:And so when I think about you know, the lyrics of Ladies first, that's really what it's all about. And it's been interesting because people, you know, we I've had different types of people support the movement who are not Black women, right, so just all different kinds of people, but what they really appreciate about it Is that it's about us. So it's interesting because by being about us, we are really inspiring other people to think about, well, who am I and what is it that I want to, you know, put out into the world. So that's been really interesting. But at the center, at the heart, it's about Black women first.
Speaker 2:Love that, love that very powerful. Now, as a Harvard graduate, I wanted to get on. I want to touch on your education, because that is a big piece of what we're speaking about. You know Black women in education. What valuable lessons or experiences did you gain From your educational journey that have shaped your approach to empowering Black women and challenging societal norms? Right, because I know, like just from light, it was difficult for me as a Black girl To navigate through college. But going to a prestigious college, a predominantly white college like Harvard, how was that like for you? And you know how did you get through that journey?
Speaker 3:Yeah, how much time do we have? My goodness, you know, there's so many.
Speaker 2:Oh, my gosh, yes, yes, I love this.
Speaker 3:So you know, I think that what it comes down to is I definitely questioned Whether I belong there at the time. So I went to college in 1998 and you know, probably many people have heard about the Supreme Court decision to strike down Affirmative action recently. So at the time affirmative action was a thing and which is wonderful Because it gave a lot of people of color Opportunity. But then also I was definitely played with wondering Did I only get into Harvard because I was Black? And it's interesting because, like, I remember getting accepted and just like literally jumping up and down and screaming with my little sister, and you know it was like a massive celebration. And then, you know, doubts start to creep in, right, like, okay, well, why me? And you know, do I belong here? Do I deserve to be here? Did I earn it in the way that other people earned it? And you don't really. You know, like, where are you going to get answers to that question? There's no real place to go and get answers to that.
Speaker 3:So for a long time I really questioned that and after a while and this was probably this was after I graduated I remember talking to my dad and saying, like you know, did I only get in because I was Black Like what this really affected how I felt about myself and what it meant to be a Harvard graduate. And he was like, okay, no, listen, you, you know Harvard. You were able to get into Harvard Despite the fact that you were Black, right, the things that you needed to do in order to get into that university Makes you overly prepared for going to a university like that, and they are lucky to have you there. It's an honor for them for Harvard, for you to be there.
Speaker 3:And that conversation really changed my life and I will tell you you know, I'm not going to get into my whole life story but my dad it's actually my stepdad is a White guy and like super White, like you know, norwegian heritage, white, right and he saw that I needed to get that message right. And so, just, you know, to add a little bit of context to that, that was a very, very important moment and helped me to see that. It helped me to see my value and what I brought to the table and not just to say, well, I'm so glad to be accepted or I'm so glad to be, to be, that somebody allowed me to be a part of this. No, like y'all are lucky that I'm here.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. You know, I can resonate with that as far as like having that imposter syndrome. Right, you want to know that you're good enough, but then when you know you have things like affirmative action out there that's, you know, allowing you know people of color to go to these prestigious schools, it does kind of hinder or take a shot at your security as far as, like, how secure you are with yourself. But I'm so, so grateful that you have someone like your stepdad, who's actually your dad, no matter what color he was. But I think it was very significant. His heritage was very significant because you needed not somebody that was quote unquote black telling you that, because you're like, oh, you just saying it to make me feel better, but I think, if I'm not mistaken, what you're saying is because he was of that that different race that really made you question your place in that. You know, in that space, for him to say that it meant a lot more. Is that what you're saying?
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, that's a big part of it. It's like for for him to recognize that and to see, to see that in me, and listen, if, if, if anybody had told it to me, it would have been a powerful, powerful thing. But there was something about him understanding me at that, at that level that, you know, I don't always experience with white people, and so, yeah, I think that he understood that is is a very powerful thing.
Speaker 2:And you know one thing, you know, I'm sorry, go ahead. Oh yes.
Speaker 3:One other thing that I wanted to say, too, is is you know, it's not. It's also not that I think that affirmative action is a problem, like I think you know. I think that affirmative action is is actually really important, and I'm I'm curious to see what is going to be happening with some of these higher education institutions, now that you know we don't have the pathways for you know, different people of color in order to to get educated at various different universities. So I'm curious how that, what, what that is going to look like moving forward, knowing that a lot of schools are still dedicated to having diversity at their institutions. But you know, whether you, whether it's through affirmative action or not, I think that society is not always telling us, as black women, that we're worthy, and you know, I think, that in many ways, it was like well, either you got in on merit or you got in because you know you're black or because you know, whatever the situation is.
Speaker 2:So it's that one way to value it.
Speaker 3:We've got a really you know, we've got to really challenge that within ourselves and then also society as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because, going back to what I was saying, you know they were cracking down on affirmative sorry about that. They were cracking down on affirmative action and you know, you know, basically, oh, you know, you get in because you're a person of color and people will say, oh well, you know this and that. But a lot of times people are getting in just off the strength of who their parents was and the bigger donation you know, the bigger chances that their key is had to get into those universities as well. So I think once they start cracking down on them a lot of them being celebrities or what have you that's when they were like okay, well, since we're there, let's take this off the table as well. I think it was a more about okay, you want to take that?
Speaker 2:Then we're going to take this type of thing because it started to not just affect, you know, celebrities, but just you know people, the majority as well, so to speak. So, yeah, I have more questions for you. You know I do, girl, I got one more. We're going to go into another one. What advice or guidance do you have for black women who may be hesitant or afraid to speak their truth, and how can they find the courage and support to share their stories and make a difference.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I love that question too, girl, you got good questions. So, with speaking your truth, I think it definitely takes courage. It's definitely about going outside of your comfort zone, but also, you know, you don't necessarily want to do it anywhere in front of anybody, right? So you want to, you want to, you do want to think about where you do it and how you do it. And I will say, the first time, when I spoke what I would consider a disruptive truth and it was in a job that I had oh gosh, now it's probably almost 10 years now yeah, maybe seven or seven or eight years, let's say that and I needed to speak it in a safe place before I brought it out to a place where, you know, I was just going to need to see how it landed right.
Speaker 3:And so one piece of advice that I would give around speaking your disruptive truth is that it helps to be able to process what it is that you are feeling and what it is that you want to say in a space where you feel safe, and then bringing that out to a larger group. And then I think also that it's really about speaking from the heart. It's about speaking from within you what it is that you have to say and so, yes, you know, process that in a space where you feel safe and you feel comfortable. And then, when you share that, it's really. You know you're letting it out and people might like it, people might not like it, but it's really. The power comes from within you and it comes from you saying the thing that has always been there, or has been there for a really long time and a lot of times you know what that thing is. You just haven't given yourself the permission to say it. So do some processing in a safe place and then let it out.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah I.
Speaker 1:Don't give up. Wishing you the best, pray that you are blessed. No stress, I'm not gonna blast you.
Speaker 6:I'm not gonna lie you. Oh, I wanna survive. Yeah, I wanna make her our survivor. We have to survive, yeah, after all of the darkness and sadness Soon comes happiness If I surround myself with positive things.
Speaker 4:Heartfelt grill Keep on surviving. I will survive. Be a spy, I will.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, yes, survivor I'm going to get into the booty list is interviewed. I want to get past that, the interlude. But what do you think about survivor? It was such an impactful record in the early 2000s, especially for women. What did you think about that?
Speaker 3:when, jen, I mean I'm I litter than having a dance party over here. I'm like, you know, it's interesting because that song came out around the time when I was in college. At the time I think I was in college at the time, early 2000s yeah, it's just the classic. It's a classic. And again, I'm literally taking notes on all the songs I'm going to be playing in my group as well, and so, yeah, I just, it just reminds me of how powerful we are as black women. It just and there's so many different examples of it, it's like to me it's just everywhere, it feels like it's everywhere, and yet there still are a lot of stories that haven't been told, and yet there are still things for us to uncover.
Speaker 3:And I think that, you know, something was really uncovered through black women world record that we haven't really talked about our educational stories in a significant way, and I think that that up has been really important. And, honestly, one of the biggest things, one of the biggest themes that has come out of this is, you know, how women have had all of these obstacles. And, you know, I don't actually don't even want to think about them in that way because that sounds, you know, almost sounds like a negative thing. It's just, you know, people's journeys have been, whatever they are right. You know, women have started their education and it sometimes has taken 20 years, 30 years to complete it. And so to me, one of the biggest themes and you know when I think about this song in particular, it's really about us persisting and continuing and getting those degrees.
Speaker 2:Thank you for that. Yes, you know what. And another thing that I love so much about the Black Woman World Record. As far as education, you don't shun any form of completion of education. Like you included everybody. You included people at high school diplomas, you included people with their degrees, people with certificates, educational certificates, anything that they feel, or you know that they feel accomplished by being able to see those thousands of faces just delighted and so happy to say, look, I got it. Whatever it was, it could be a GED, it could be a high school diploma, it could be just like a certificate of achievement from whatever course they took or you know, training that they took. Whatever it was that made them feel accomplished. You guys shined a light on and you highlighted it and made us feel so special and from that I applaud you, I applaud Crystal Davis. You guys have really touched so many women just with this. And with that being said, how do you believe speaking once disruptive truth can create positive change and challenge existing power structures?
Speaker 3:Yes. So when you speak your disruptive truth, you are changed and you feel differently about yourself and about what it is that you are capable of, what it is that you are willing to accept and what you are no longer willing to accept. And it really is something that changes who you are or not. I don't want to say it changes who you are, but it's like you become a different version of yourself, a more powerful version of yourself, and then from there you move in the world in a different way and you affect change in a different way, in a more profound way. So, for example one just my own personal example I remember when I spoke my very first disruptive truth. So I was in a job where I had a leadership role in this organization and I was I was supervising just to be very frank about it I was supervising white women who were microaggressing me, right, and we had some good experiences, but there were also some problematic things that were happening, and so I was able to process that like, originally, I thought it was me. I really thought it was me, and so for many years, what I did was I tried to be a perfectionist and to just be better, because I felt like I wasn't good enough on some level right. And so in this particular situation, it was the first time that I finally realized like, this is not just me, there are other things at play here. There are, you know, racial dynamics at play here, and not just, you know, on those individuals, but just society in general and the kinds of messages that that black women, people of color, you know, all different kinds of people who are marginalized in some way, deal with on a daily basis. But it was the first time that I realized it like, oh, it's not just me, there are other influences. And so I spoke to that.
Speaker 3:When I spoke my first Destructive Truth, I talked about how difficult it was to supervise people who were microaggressing me, and I said that to those people right literally in like a big, you know, like a teen meeting. I was talking about this to those people and you know when I tell you that you could hear a pin drop as I was talking about this, that moment changed my life, because I understood how powerful I was as a black woman and that I could speak to the you know the challenges that were occurring, and I could say that to the people who were doing it and I won't go into all the things you know like. There were a lot of amazing conversations that that sparked and healing that. That sparked. But one of the reasons that I started Black Woman World Record is because of speaking that disruptive truth in that room on that day and that has sparked a whole, literally has sparked a whole movement from there. So that's what can happen.
Speaker 2:Amazing, amazing, amazing insight. I'm going to play the next song and then we're going to get ready for more with you and you guys.
Speaker 1:Girls. You know you better watch out. Some guys, some girls are only about that thing, that thing, that thing, that thing, that thing, that thing, that thing, something, that thing, that thing, that's all about her.
Speaker 7:Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah. Small three weeks since you were looking for your friend, the one you ever appears at, and never called you again. He told you he was bout to venture man's. You act like you're with him. You gave him a little trim to be given. Now you think you're really going for ten. But u wasn't down and lately called him again, plus Public. If you did it, then then you proppin' it Talking out your next in your question. I'm a slam sleepin' with the gin. Now that goes to the sin at the Jezebel. Who you gon' tell when the repercussions spin Showin' off your ass cause you thinkin' it's a train girl friend, let me break it down for you again.
Speaker 7:You know I only stay cause I'm truly genuine. Don't be a hard rock when you really are a gym baby girl. Respect is just a minimum. You still defendin' up now. Gon' friend is only human. Don't think I have to bend through the same predicament. Let the city style your head like a million women in Philly pen and silly one girl sell their souls because it's sad. Look at where you bein' Head weaves like your opinions. Fake nails up our Koreans. Come again, come again, come again, come again, come again, come again, come again, come again, come again, come again, come again. You know you better watch out. Some girls, some girls are only about that thing, that thing, that thing, that thing, that thing, that thing.
Speaker 7:The second verse is dedicated to the man For concern with his rims and his tits and his women. Him and his men come in the club like who they can. Don't care who they. You've been poppin' in Like you got ya. Let's stop pretending. The one to pack, pissed out by the waste men, criss-style by the casements, to the name of the space, the pretty face man Claiming that they did. A big man Need to take care of the three of four kids In the face, and court case when the child's in poor sleep. Money takin' heartbreak. And now you wonder why women hate men. And the sneaky, silent man, the punk, the master, the violence man, the quick, the super seemin', stop actin' like boys and be man. How you gon' win when you ain't right with them? How you gon' win when you ain't right with them? How you gon' win when you ain't right with them? Uh-uh, come again, yo, yo, come again. The rich, the ring, come again.
Speaker 1:And the sisters come again. Girls, you know you better Watch out some guys. Some guys want me About that thing, that thing, that thing, that thing, that thing, that thing.
Speaker 2:Guys, you know you better Watch out those girls some girls want me About that thing, that thing, that thing. Some guys, some guys want me Watch out some guys, some guys want me. Come on back, Come through Lauren Hill, one of my favorite hip-hop R&B soul artists of my time. It's Lauren Hill. Tell me what you think about that one, Jean. How does that song resonate with you, movement and what you're trying to do for black women and just women of color period?
Speaker 3:Yes, you're just playing all the hits, so that one came out my senior year of high school. So, talking about, you know, black women world record. That's when I was graduating high school and going into college. So, yeah, that that whole album was everything, everything.
Speaker 3:And you know, I think when I think about that album that that reminds me of disruptive truth. Right of saying that thing, like she you know, lauren Hill is giving you that warning, like she's telling you the thing, like people don't necessarily want you to, you don't necessarily want to hear it. You know other people don't necessarily want you to hear it, but you need to understand that. You know you got to take care of yourself, you got to respect yourself, you got to do what you need to do for yourself. Don't get, you know, twisted up in what is going on with other people or the things that other people are trying to get you to do, right. So that is a disruptive truth and it's all about. It's all about you, you know, taking care of yourself and really you know respecting yourself.
Speaker 3:And and I just you know, I just remember her whole album, her whole album on love, and you know all of the different, all of the different things that it means and all the different ways that it manifests. And you know, I, when I think of black woman world record, you know it's really about profound love for ourselves. That's really what it's about. And, yes, we are doing that in community with each other and that, for some reason, it helps to make it easier sometimes for us to really see ourselves, because other people can help us to see that, you know, to see us, and then to help us see, to see ourselves. But yeah, but it all, it all stems from, from that self-love, this what's most important it's so hard, just holding on and even picking up my phone.
Speaker 6:It's hard enough to be. Sometimes I do, and then I don't tell me what I'm doing wrong, tell myself that it ain't second guessing, it don't help me. I'm so tired of feeling my eyes. It's time to buy. Seems like I'm always a kid. Like. This is never. I refuse to let me.
Speaker 6:Mentally, spiritually, physically, I need my pee, I need my pee. I wake up every morning and tell myself gorgeous, sometimes you gotta look in the mirror and say gorgeous, no one else can make me feel this way, gorgeous, gorgeous. All the times that I hated myself, all the times that I wanted to be so what? All the times that I should have been gentle with me, all the times that I should have been careful with me, why did I hate myself so intensely? Go help me. I wake up every morning and tell myself gorgeous, sometimes you gotta look in the mirror and say gorgeous, no one else can make me feel this way. Gorgeous, no one else can make me feel this way gorgeous. I ain't talking about getting no hair and bake out. I'm talking about as soon as I wake up and say goodbye, good morning.
Speaker 2:Yes, I just got to wake up, look in the mirror and say, after I say thank you, lord, for being here. I say good morning, gorgeous Good morning, and good afternoon and good evening and good night to wherever anybody is in the world who's listening right now. Tell me, jen, I know you are Mary fans so you know how to squeeze her in there somewhere. So tell me what you think about that one.
Speaker 3:Yes, I mean. So. I'm from New York, I'm from Westchester County, New York, so Mary is my girl. What's? The 411 was my first tape, that's right. I'm 43 years old. I had a tape. And yeah, listen, mary could do no wrong. She could do no wrong, and I love this track. Just to me, it speaks to you know, for us to tell ourselves first how beautiful we are right. If you tell yourself that and you believe that at your core, then nobody can tell you anything. Then that's what it is. Whatever you tell yourself, that's what it is Whatever you tell yourself you are. That's who you are right. And so, yeah, mary is just amazing and that message is amazing. And I think that a big part of learning and growth adulting, you know, whatever you want to call it is to really come to the place where you tell yourself you wake up in the morning and you tell yourself how gorgeous and how beautiful and how amazing you are, and then that's who you are, because you've decided it.
Speaker 2:Exactly exactly, and that's why the power of words and affirmations are so important, because what we speak out of our mouths, you guys, it ignites something in our world, in our own universe, where we stand 10 toes down and like I'm not speaking on anything that's outside of your own personal space. When I say our world, I'm speaking about you and your own individual world within a 10-foot radius, 360 around you. Whatever you speak out of your mouth shall come to pass. It's in the word. So we have to be careful about what we say about ourselves, how we speak about ourselves and even how we speak to others and about others. Just putting out positive energy will also reflect on our outside.
Speaker 2:Correct me if I'm wrong, jen. If you're ugly on the inside and you're spewing hate and negativity, it's going to start reflecting on your outside. You're going to wake up and you're going to look like a totally different person than you did when you lay down, because now that negativity is starting to come out of you and you're starting to look like how you act. So we have to be mindful of how we address ourselves and so getting up every morning, thank God or whoever you pray to, because I'm not one to judge. But whoever you pray to or whoever you speak to or believe in, you give that person thanks, or you give that spirit, or you give that being, or you give the Almighty thanks for allowing you to see another day.
Speaker 2:But then you're looking at Mary, to number two, because God is always number one. You look at number two and you look them in the mirror and say good morning, gorgeous. So Mary did a phenomenal job with that and I love New York girls. So Jen says you are New Yorker. Can you give us some more insight about what you plan to do after a Black women world record, after you have completed that task, like what's next for you in film and documentary, because I got to get with you about my book Mountains Girls. So what do you have planned and how do you plan to impact people in other ways?
Speaker 3:Yes, I love that question and you know, just like we were saying, I think storytelling is very, very powerful and I think that what you were just speaking to is, you know, it's the story that we tell ourselves, right? So it can come in the form of an affirmation, it can come in the form of the word, it can come in, you know, all different form. It can come in the form of a story about your life, but no-transcript. You know that what we tell ourselves, how we tell our stories, is extremely powerful. And not only that, but who tells who's story right? And so I really want to be in the business of Having more of our stories, different kinds of stories, out in the world that we are telling about ourselves. And and you know, I like the idea of not just like the idea. I mean, I'm starting a media company because I want to Tell stories in different ways. So I'm a kind of person where I like to have a Form, like I know what I'm working on, so it is all about black women's stories, and then the form that I can take, you know, then I get to, I get to find that out as I go along.
Speaker 3:One thing that I'm definitely interested in is is more documentaries, more of our you know, more of our stories being told in the way that we want to tell it, and so that's a very I love.
Speaker 3:You know, I'm one of those people who I love speeches, like whenever I go to Graduations or weddings or birthdays or anything like whenever I'm sitting there and people are telling their stories, like I love good stories, I love bad stories, you know, funny stories, unexpected moments, just so storytelling in all its forms, but I would say Documentaries are definitely something that I want to. I Want to bring to light more of of a black women's stories. I am considering a podcast as well. Well, you know, just you know, very much like this where we can have some back and forth and and again, where women can talk, to speak to their own experiences Around different topics. And then I'm also, you know, I'm a Harvard nerd, so I like books as well and so I'm definitely interested in book clubs and then, you know, taking a lot of those books and bringing them to Big screens and small screens. So, you know, we'll see how it goes, we'll see how it goes.
Speaker 2:Well, I got a couple of books that I've already gotten out and I need you, so we definitely gonna have to talk. I'm a part of this Anthology. I don't know if you've been following me, but I'm a part of this anthology cause she say yes herself unapologetically, and I got to get you with the visionary and the publisher because I think that we can collab on some stuff and I'm just you know. You know I got to put my bid in while we on air, so the millions of people can hear me that I asked you to be.
Speaker 5:You know, I got my bid in there.
Speaker 2:Jen, you know I got my bid in there, but no, it's been such, such, such an honor for you to just. You know I've been in your inbox big and girl like please come on.
Speaker 2:And you just so, so graciously, bless, bless my platform with your presence and I'm so, so honored. Is it anything else you would like to tell the listeners who are listening in now, who might catch the replay, who might catch this on? You know could, because I'm playing in 10 different countries, so would you. Is it anything else you would like to speak about or let people know more about you and how they can reach you?
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, and first of all, this has been such a good time, like so. For anybody out there, listen if Jacqueline, if she reaches out to you about being on her podcast, the answer is yes, so just so you know. So this has been an amazing experience and thank you. I just wanted to thank you for being a part of Black woman world record, but being a part of the community and, you know, amplifying our movement, and you know, I feel like you're just an example of the amazing women that we have in the community, and so I just wanted to thank you first, and then you know, I will say that for Any of you black women out there, or you know folks out there who who have a community of black women or no black women, who Would be interested in this and should be a part of this, please send them to black women world record calm. It's very simple black women world record calm and they can sign up. It's very simple. You just give in your name and your email address and then we take it from there. You get all the information and you know, like I said, we've got a group where we meet every week and we Talk to each other and show love to each other and all of that. We've got In-person events and document and we got all these amazing things. So please join us.
Speaker 3:We would love to have you and you know to the listeners around the world. And you know, black women world record is worldwide and so I really appreciate that this podcast is being broadcast around the world as well. And you know, I would just say that, in whatever form it takes, whatever it is, that is all about it takes whatever it is that is on your heart, speak it, say it. You know, in whatever way that you want to do that, I think that it's important to let that out and really, when you do that and you release that and it's like, it's like this beautiful surrender to who you are and who you have always been your life will change, the lives of people around you will change and we will all be better for it. So I hope that you know you go forth and do that and and again, for those of you black women in the audience, we would love to see you in black women world record.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for that, and right now we're gonna close out with prayer and then I'm a in with the song Dear God. As we come to the end of this show, we gather to express our heartfelt gratitude for the presence of gene in our lives. Lord God, we thank you for the joy, talent and passion she has shared with us today. We are grateful for the gift she has brought to this Platform, for the way she has touched our hearts and moved our spirits. Lord God, we acknowledged the hard work, the dedication and the sacrifices that she has made to shine her light on this, this platform. Lord God, we ask that you continue to bless gene with strength, inspiration and opportunities To showcase just who she is and who she plans to be. In your name, lord God, may she always find fulfillment and success in all her endeavors that she Wants to bring forth. Lord God, and as we bid farewell to this show today, we carry the memories of genes outstanding work that she is doing for black women, not just in the United States but around the globe, lord God, that are here today in honor of Ruby bridges, and For people, for black women who have yet to become women, for those little girls who don't think that they can succeed, for those little girls who feel, man, all I got is my high school diploma. I'm nothing.
Speaker 2:She is changing the mindsets and just bringing in so much security and admiration and telling them it's okay, that is the GED, it's the fact that you pursued it and that you did it, and you did it without fear. Faith without works is dead, but faith of a muster see can take you to Enormous places around the world and around the globe if you believe in God and you believe in yourself. So may she continue to inspire and uplift, lift us all as black women and just as black people as a whole. We give thanks for the joy and Admirations that she has brought to this platform and we ask for your blessings upon gene, lord, god and Everyone who is involved in this movement. May they all be filled with happiness, love and continued success. In your name, we pray Jesus, amen, amen, amen, amen. So I want to thank everybody for tuning in and I'm gonna leave you guys with Jens favorite artists and her favorite first album, her first cassette tape that she ever bought. Have a wonderful day, you guys.
Speaker 6:You remind me of suspect.
Speaker 1:Oh, you remind me.
Speaker 4:You remind me of a love that I want to do. Is it a dream or busy?
Speaker 6:day job. I just had to let you know, so I had to sing yeah.
Speaker 1:You boy I don't know, and the way you walk, and the way you walk and the way you move and you remind me of sugar, the way you dress and the way you dance and you relax a bit with a brand new, and you remind me, you remind me, yes, you remind me, yeah, you remind me.
Speaker 6:You remind me of memories and this is something you should know. Sweet baby darling, come on, just stop playing with my mind. Cause for you, boy, I don't know. I'm so lucky for you. Oh yeah, way to talking. You really like to do that. You're the way you've been, the way you've been. You really like to grow. You remind me. You remind me. You remind me, you remind me, you remind me of these. You, I'll see you again soon. Incitation will come, don't you know that? You remind me, yeah.
Speaker 1:That's the way you're walking, that's the way you're talking, the way you move, and you remind me of the way you've been, the way you dance and you really like to grow. You remind me, you remind me, you remind me. Incitation will come, don't you know that? You remind me, you remind me of these. You, I'll see you again soon. Incitation will come, don't you know that? You really do remind me.
Speaker 6:I'll see you. I'll see you before baby.