Commitment to Black Lives Matter

Full Episode description

I want to take a moment to speak directly to all of you about recent events. Eric Garner. Michael Brown. Trayvon Martin. Freddie Gray. Janet Wilson. Pamela Turner. Christopher Whitfield. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. George Floyd. Their deaths alongside the deaths of countless others at the hands of the police and the hands of fearful White people are tragic, intolerable, and remembered.  These black lives matter. ALL black lives matter. These black experiences matter. ALL black experiences matter. These black voices matter. ALL Black voices matter. These black stories matter. ALL black stories matter.

As I continue to record and produce episodes with people from all across our country writing stories for all different children, I want to reiterate my commitment to using this platform to lift marginalized voices and their stories.

This work is ongoing, though it is also of the moment, and I will continue to communicate my value of these stories and these voices through the interviews I conduct and share in the weeks and months and years to come, bringing you voices speaking their truths, speaking for justice and visibility, sharing stories that see and lift up our children, especially those who so seldom are seen and lifted up.

I encourage you to listen again to voices you’ve heard on this show. Voices like Cheryl and Wade Hudson and their book WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES. Voices like ANGELA JOY and her book BLACK IS A RAINBOW COLOR. Voices like Breanna J. McDaniel and her book HANDS UP! Voices like TONY MEDINA and his graphic novel I AM ALPHONSO JONES. And voices like MAHOGANY BROWNE and her book WOKE: A YOUNG POET’S GUIDE TO JUSTICE.

These and other books are here and have been here for you and for readers. There are other exceptional books, for more than I could possibly cover through interviews on this show, but I will continue to bring forward and lift up those books that are changing our world by seeing our kids and affirming their beauty and strength and world-changing presence. For now and for always, in solidarity.