First Name Basis Podcast

We've got some changes coming at First Name Basis! I started the First Name Basis Podcast back in 2019 when I looked at my tiny daughter and wanted to make the world a better place for her — a place that would be more inclusive, kind and anti-racist.  In the past almost 5 years, we've created this beautiful community where we've had so many hard but productive conversations both on social media and through the podcast. As I prepare to welcome our third little one into our family, it feels like time to change how a few things are done here at First Name Basis, including: Putting the podcast on hold so I can focus on my consulting clients. Transitioning all of our paid resources to only be available for purchase by schools and community organizations for now. Changing the way we deliver our paid resources to those who have already invested in them. Running a sale with the biggest discounts we've ever offered! Listen in to hear all of the details! Thank you for being here with me in this work. These last 5 years have been a dream come true, and I'm excited to continue the work in this new way. And don't worry — I don't think I'll be able to stay away from my podcast microphone forever. As always, I am SO GLAD that you are here. You are what has made First Name Basis what it is.   Don't miss our big sale! If you have been waiting to purchase any of our paid resources, now is your final chance to do so before they're put to bed for the next few years. We're offering BIG discounts, and the sooner you buy, the bigger the discount you get! From now until July 1, you can use the code FNB50 for 50% off any of our products. **This is the biggest discount we will offer during the sale, so don't wait to snag what you've had your eye on!** From July 2 until July 8, use the code FNB40 for 40% off! And from July 9 until July 15, use the code FNB30 for 30% off! So don't wait to snag those products you've been keeping your eye on! Head over to firstnamebasis.org/resources to learn more.   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. From providing professional development for teachers to curriculum consulting to implementing her unique anti-racist resources to parent education events, Jasmine is your go-to anti-bias and anti-racist education resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information.   Song credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

In case you haven't noticed yet, I'm passionate about Black History Month. I did not enjoy learning about Black history growing up. It felt more like grieving than celebrating for me, and because of that it's my dream to make Black History Month a positive experience for ALL children and students. So today, as part of that, I'm talking about 3 mistakes parents and teachers should avoid when talking to kids and students about Black History: 1. Don't say “because they were Black.” It's time to put the onus on racism. 2. Don't refer to Black people as “non-white.” This makes it seem as if being white is the “norm.” Just use the correct identifiers and describe people for what they ARE instead of what they aren't. 3. Don't only focus on struggle. When we do this, it doesn't just harm Black students. It harms ALL students. And this is why I created Bite-Sized Black History, to be able to celebrate all the joyful things about being Black. And y'all know me, I would never give you 3 things NOT to do without also giving you lots of things to DO, so press play on the episode to learn more about these three don'ts and to get ideas for some actionable steps for making Black History Month a meaningful celebration.   Bite-Sized Black History Bite-Sized Black History is a collection of mini-podcast episodes that empower you to teach kiddos about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. You know about Dr. King and Rosa Parks — now it's time to explore other Black leaders and learn from their stories! I just released 12 new episodes as part of Bite-Sized Black History Season 4 — bringing the total number of episodes in the library up to 40! The catalog includes activists, inventors, scientists, entertainers, artists and more, and each episode comes with an accompanying coloring page and reflection questions to help you have meaningful conversations with the kiddos in your life. From now until the end of February, you can use the code BSBH29 for 29% off any Bite-Sized Black History package — 29% in honor of leap year giving us an extra day to celebrate Black History Month. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/blackhistory to learn more and to have a meaningful Black History Month by getting your copy of Bite-Sized Black History today.   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. From providing professional development for teachers to curriculum consulting to implementing her unique anti-racist resources, Jasmine is your go-to anti-bias and anti-racist education resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode “Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves,” by Julie Olsen Edwards and Louise Derman-Sparks Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio  

Can you believe February is right around the corner?! And with it comes BLACK HISTORY MONTH! Celebrating Black History Month is so important for ALL kids, not just Black children, and I created Bite-Sized Black History to help kiddos everywhere be able to learn about Black history in a way that is both meaningful and joyful. In this episode, I'm telling you all about Bite-Sized Black History and including a sample episode for you to check out that is all about singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte! Bite-Sized Black History is a collection of mini-podcast episodes that empower you to teach kiddos about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. You know about Dr. King and Rosa Parks — now it's time to explore other Black leaders and learn from their stories. Each Bite-Sized Black History lesson will give you everything you need to foster meaningful conversations that go beyond the bounds of civil rights and enslavement to celebrate the creativity, ingenuity, joy, and brilliance of the Black community. Season 4 is now available and features 12 new episodes bringing the total number of episodes in our library up to 40! The catalog includes activists, inventors, scientists, entertainers, artists and more, and each episode comes with an accompanying coloring page and reflection questions to help you have meaningful conversations with the kiddos in your life. Press play to learn more and to hear the sample episode! Be sure to check out our sale! And, as a special treat, from now until the end of February, you can use the coupon code BSBH29 for 29% off any Bite-Sized Black History package — 29% in honor of leap year giving us an extra day to celebrate Black History Month. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/blackhistory to learn more and to have a meaningful Black History Month by getting your copy of Bite-Sized Black History today.   Song credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio  

We're wrapping up Season 8 with this episode, and it's got me thinking all about our evolution over the years. From beginning as a tiny Instagram account to starting the podcast, from working with families to working with schools, First Name Basis has grown in ways that is a dream come true! I consult with schools across the country to implement anti-racist education. But as some of you have said, you're not sure what that would look like, so in this episode, I'm giving all the details of what it looks like for me to work with your school! It's one thing to know that anti-racism is important but it's another thing altogether to get it started. So many schools have diversity statements for prioritizing anti-bias and anti-racist learning, and getting those good intentions to be practical action is what I'm here for! In this episode, I talk all about:  • Why it's important to have anti-racism in schools • What a partnership with me looks like • How to get a partnership started   • What you can do to get the ball rolling at your school   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. From providing professional development for teachers to curriculum consulting to implementing her unique anti-racist resources, Jasmine is your go-to anti-bias and anti-racist education resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Head to firstnamebasis.org/schoolconsultinginfo to get our school consulting guide where I explain  First Name Basis Podcast, Season 6 Episode 9: “Creating Change in the Classroom” with Patrick Harris    Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

Like so many of you, I have been all consumed the last few weeks by the events going on in Gaza and the genocide that is being carried out against the Palestinian people. We've put everything on pause at First Name Basis to be able to try to share updates and share actions that we can be taking as a collective to try to support the activists and so many amazing humanitarian workers that are on the ground in Gaza. After having some conversations as a team, we realized that continuing to do anti-racism work is one of the things we can do as a group to facilitate productive conversations around big hard topics genocide and anti-Semitism. Listen in to hear more about what I mean. And be sure to follow along as we continue to amplify the voices of the affected populations on Instagram, and check out the show notes for resources to help you redistribute your resources to help in the humanitarian efforts and to help you advocate for a ceasefire. Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode 5 Calls App is pre-loaded with information about many current issues and includes links for you to learn more and scripts for what you can say to advocate for a ceasefire. Use Action Network to contact your representatives and advocate for a ceasefire Organizations to consider redistributing resources to: UNRWA, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestine Children's Relief Fund, Middle East Children's Alliance, Islamic Relief USA.   

This episode can be summarized with one sentence: Please stop using Black and Brown emojis if you are not Black or Brown. Skin color is something that should be celebrated, not laughed at, but I have seen people using emojis that don't match their skin tone time and time again. I think a lot of the time people aren't intentionally trying to do something racist, but when you peel back the layers you realize that the only reason why doing this could be funny is because of racism, and racism is not funny. And, like we talk about all the time, the IMPACT of an action always outweighs the INTENT. In this episode, we'll look at: • A brief look at what digital blackface is. • An explanation on why using Black and Brown emojis as a joke is harmful. • How you can respond when you see people misusing Black and Brown emojis.   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. From providing professional development for teachers to curriculum consulting to implementing her unique anti-racist resources, Jasmine is your go-to anti-bias and anti-racist education resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode “Blackface has resurged in the internet age. And you might be part of the problem,” by Tor Haugan, Berkeley Library “What Is Digital Blackface? Experts Explain Why The Social Media Practice Is Problematic,” by Madeline Howard, Women's Health “​​Digital Blackface: How 21st Century Internet Language Reinforces Racism” by Erinn Wong Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

Trigger warning: Before you continue reading these show notes or listening to this episode, please be aware that it discusses lynching and white supremacist violence. Lynching is a reality both now and in the past. Yet despite the fact that lynching continues to happen, it took more than 120 years to get an anti-lynching bill passed.  In that time, more than 200 iterations of bills that would make lynching a federal crime were introduced and failed to pass over and over again — including one that was voted down only three days before Ahmaud Arbery was lynched in February 2020. It wasn't until May of 2020 that Ahmaud Arbery's story became national news. Before then, it was an invisible lynching — one that wasn't widely known. But that doesn't mean it should just be ignored, and the fact that these “invisible lynchings” still happen says a lot about what still needs to be done in the fight for justice. In this episode, I talk more about: The work I'm doing with a company called Litby that sparked the research for this episode. The struggle to pass an anti-lynching bill The importance of continuing to fight against lynching and other acts of racism — both the ones that make big headlines and those that don't.   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. From providing professional development for teachers to curriculum consulting to implementing her unique anti-racist resources, Jasmine is your go-to anti-bias and anti-racist education resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2 Episode 17: “Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd: Unpacking Racism” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2 Episode 4: “3 Steps To A More Inclusive Bookshelf” Litby offers a supplemental novel study program that supports students in reading, comprehending, and engaging with rigorous novels.  Invite Jasmine to work with your school at firstnamebasis.org/workwithme “Lynching is now a federal hate crime after a century of blocked efforts” by Eric McDaniel and Elena Moore, NPR “U.S. House To Vote On Anti-Lynching Act — Finally,” All Things Considered, NPR   Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio  

Growing up as a multiracial child, I often felt my racial identity shifting and developing — heck, even as an adult I do! Navigating what it means to be multiracial continues to be a journey for me, which is why I was so excited to be able to interview Dr. Jennifer Noble. Dr. Jenn, as she's known online, is a licensed psychologist, parent coach and associate professor of psychology, who shares her expertise both in her private practice in Los Angeles and online. She focuses on identity and mixed race experience as she works with mixed race teens, BIPOC women and other marginalized groups. In our conversation, we discuss: • The experience many multiracial children have of shifting identity development. • How parents can help their multiracial children prepare to answer questions about their identity. • Affirming identity in the face of other people's assumptions. • How terminology can change based on where the mixed race person is in their identity journey. • Building resilience in kids and their parents through open communication. I hope any of you listeners out there who are multiracial or raising multiracial kiddos leave listening to this conversation feeling like you can be more fully connected to your family and your identity. And for anyone who is monoracial, I hope this gives you a better understanding of how you can support the multiracial people in your life.   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!   Get your Little Allies Activity Book If you're looking for activities for your kids or students to do that are both fun and meaningful, we've got something for you! Our Little Allies Activity Book is now available! It's a coloring book that is focused on allyship, and all the activities are based around anti-racism. The Little Allies Activity Book includes:  Color by number  Protest I Spy  Dot to dot Anti-racist word search  Black history unscramble  And more! Get your hands on it today by heading to firstnamebasis.org/store!   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Dr. Jenn's website, which includes information about Mixed Life Academy Dr. Jenn's Instagram account @drjennpsych Dr. Noble's therapy practice website Multiracial Bill of Rights by Dr. Maria Root “One Drop of Love” by Fanshen Cox “50 Experiences of Racially Mixed People” by Dr. Maria Root   Video of a mom in England giving her son a shirt to tell him he's leaving the school where he's been bullied   Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

This episode is a bit of a role reversal with someone I admire SO MUCH.  I have been a longtime fan of Rachel Nielson's podcast 3 in 30: Takeaways for Moms. Each episode is 30 minutes long and provides 3 ACTIONABLE takeaways for listeners to go and do. She has over 250 episodes covering a huge variety of topics — from potty training to mental health to tips for not looking at your phone as much — and I've been honored to be a guest on her podcast in the past to talk about anti-racism. And on top of that, I'm lucky to get to call Rachel a dear friend and podcasting mentor of mine. But today, Rachel is bringing her takeaways to First Name Basis as I interviewed her about three takeaways from her anti-racism journey. Rachel is white, which makes this episode relatable and a great opportunity to learn for anyone who is also white or benefits from white privilege. But if you are BIPOC, this episode is a helpful one for you to hear too because it can be one you can share with people you want to be able to have real conversations with about anti-racism. Rachel is so open and vulnerable in this episode as she shares her takeaways, which are so profound in how foundational they are. Her takeaways are: 1) Be willing to acknowledge the possibility that you might be racist. 2) Start looking for examples of racism in yourself. 3) Diversify your community — both online and in person. I hope you take time to listen and reflect on what your own anti-racism takeaways would be.   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or click the button below for more information!   Get your Little Allies Activity Book If you're looking for activities for your kids or students to do that are both fun and meaningful, we've got something for you! Our Little Allies Activity Book is now available! It's a coloring book that is focused on allyship, and all the activities are based around anti-racism. The Little Allies Activity Book includes:  Color by number  Protest I Spy  Dot to dot Anti-racist word search  Black history unscramble  And more! Get your hands on it today by heading to firstnamebasis.org/store!   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Rachel's Instagram @3in30podcast Rachel's website Rachel is hosting a FREE masterclass on how to be a less angry mom. Register and learn more at 3in30podcast.com/freeclass Three of my favorite 3 in 30 episodes are:  • “How to Stop Looking at Your Phone So Much–and Why It Matters with Dr. Katie Penry” • “​​How to Be the Mom You Are–Instead of the Mom You Think You Should Be with Julie Bastedo” • “More Peace, Less Frustration: The Power of Family Systems with Susie Salinas” My episode on Rachel's 3 in 30 Podcast: “Teaching Your Kids about Racism & Bias” Harvard implicit association test TEDx Talk by Verna Myers, "How to Overcome Our Biases: Walk Boldly Towards Them" Rachel's Declutter Your Mother audio course Join the waitlist for Rachel's Self-Assured Motherhood program 

Language is always evolving and we need to evolve with it. Reflecting on the words we're using and recognizing opportunities to grow and change is a natural (and necessary) part of our anti-racist journeys. It means breaking down and unlearning things that we thought in the past, but the result is language that better aligns with our intent. So this week we're taking a look at the term “under-resourced” and discussing why we need to switch it out for something new. If you've been around for a while, you've already heard me talk about how I changed from using “low-income” to “under-resourced,” but I've learned recently that “under-resourced” may not be the most accurate term after all. In this episode, I share: • Why I'm now choosing to say “historically exploited communities” or “systemically exploited communities” instead of “under-resourced.” • More about what it is that causes words and meanings to change. • The journey I take, the feelings I feel, and the questions I ask myself when I'm considering how my language should change to reflect my anti-racist journey.   Get your Little Allies Activity Book If you're looking for activities for your kids or students to do that are both fun and meaningful, we've got something for you! Our Little Allies Activity Book is now available! It's basically a coloring book that is focused on allyship, and all the activities are based around anti-racism. The Little Allies Activity Book includes:  Color by number  Protest I Spy  Dot to dot Anti-racist word search  Black history unscramble  And more! Get your hands on it today by heading to firstnamebasis.org/store!   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast, Season 8, Episode 2: “What is Coded Language?” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 7: “Service, Not Saviorism” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 22: “The Danger of Gaslighting” “The House of Eve” by Sadeqa Johnson Bite-Sized Black History (Season 1 features Dr. Charles Drew) A Guide to Coded Language in Education by Class Trouble  

July 26, 2023, is the 33rd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. If you're doing the math in your head, let me give you a shortcut: That means the ADA wasn't passed until 1990. 1990?! It took quite a while for Americans with disabilities to officially be named a protected class as neither the 1964 Civil Rights Act nor the 1965 Voting Rights Act included people with disabilities — and the United States still has a long way to go in making our public spaces, businesses and communities truly accessible. In honor of the 33rd anniversary, I wanted to invite a very special guest — Amy Webb — on the podcast to teach us about how to talk to children about disabilities.  Amy is a DREAM guest of mine. She exudes passion for all of the things that she does, and that's just one of the many reasons why I admire her so much. Amy is an artist, writer, mother and creator of the blog This Little Miggy Stayed Home. As the mother of a disabled daughter, she advocates for the disability community through her writing and Instagram platform. She is the author of two children's books. Her first, “When Charley Met Emma,” teaches children about disability, friendship and inclusion and her second book, “Awesomely Emma,” is a sequel that teaches the power of self-advocacy. Amy lives with her husband and three beautiful daughters in Ohio. This interview is full of Amy's thoughts and wisdom, and she teaches us about: Identity first vs. person first language. How to respond when our children point out disabilities. Why it's important to never ever touch someone's wheelchair without asking.  The importance of having a plan for supporting disabled children during emergency situations. How a place is not accessible if a bathroom is not accessible.  What action steps non-disabled people can take when we come to a place that is not accessible. The intricacies of the “just ask” philosophy   Get our resource email to learn more about the ADA July is Disability Pride Month, a time to recognize people with disabilities, their inherent worth and their invaluable contributions, as well as to bring awareness to the ongoing fight for disability rights. July 26 is also the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act being signed into law. We put together a resource email to help you learn more about the ADA, how you can get involved in disabilities rights advocacy and for ideas on how you can teach children about disabilities. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/ADA to get the email sent straight to your inbox!   Get your Little Allies Activity Book If you're looking for activities for your kids or students to do that are both fun and meaningful, we've got something for you! Our Little Allies Activity Book is now available! It's basically a coloring book that is focused on allyship, and all the activities are based around anti-racism. The Little Allies Activity Book includes:  Color by number  Protest I Spy  Dot to dot Anti-racist word search  Black history unscramble  And more! Get your hands on it today by heading to firstnamebasis.org/store!   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Amy Webb's blog, This Little Miggy Stayed Home Amy Webb's Instagram @thislittlemiggy  “When Charley Met Emma,” by Amy Webb “Awesomely Emma,” by Amy Webb

Y'all, I'm gettin' REAL in this episode. We always talk about how anti-racism is a journey not a destination, and it's so important to take time to reflect on that journey. So in today's episode, I'm sharing part of my journey with you!  You may have heard of the Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture developed by Tema Okun. She is a white woman who has been doing DEI work for more than 30 years, and she developed this list of 15 characteristics of white supremacy culture in the early 1990s, but the list has sort of been revived since 2020. In this episode, I share the 15 characteristics and more about where they came from but I really zero in on two of them — perfectionism and a sense of urgency — to talk about how I've seen them playing out in my own life and use them as a reflection tool.  None of us is immune to white supremacy culture, and I'm no exception. I hope hearing me talk about my own journey gives you the chance to reflect on where you are in your anti-racism journey, including how far you've come and where you still want to go.   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!   Get your Little Allies Activity Book If you're looking for activities for your kids or students to do that are both fun and meaningful, we've got something for you! Our Little Allies Activity Book is now available! It's basically a coloring book that is focused on allyship, and all the activities are based around anti-racism. The Little Allies Activity Book includes:  Color by number  Protest I Spy  Dot to dot Anti-racist word search  Black history unscramble  And more! Get your hands on it today by heading to firstnamebasis.org/store!   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode White Supremacy Culture by Tema Okun One Right Way Along with Perfectionism, Paternalism, and Objectivity by Tema Okun  Sense of Urgency by Tema Okun “Tema Okun on Her Mythical Paper on White Supremacy,” Deconstructed Podcast Bevelyn Afor Ukah   Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

Parents of Black children are all too familiar with “The Talk.” “The Talk” where they teach their kids not to have their hands in their pockets at a store. “The Talk” where they teach their kids how to act around police in an attempt to keep themselves safe. “The Talk” where they teach their kids about the racism they're already experiencing and will continue to experience. But the truth is, “The Talk” isn't something that only families with Black children should be having — it's something white children and other Children of Color should be hearing about as well so they can be part of the solution. And this week on the podcast, I have a powerful interview with author Alicia D. Williams to talk about “The Talk,” which is the subject and title of her new children's book. Alicia is an award-winning author of books that offer understanding, empathy, hope and inspiration, including “The Talk,” which received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor. She is a graduate of the MFA program at Hamline University and an oral storyteller in the African American tradition, and she lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the interview, we talk about: The story behind her book “The Talk” Why white children and other Children of Color need to have the talk as well Tips for how to have the talk How to teach children about the police How to talk to kids about the dangers of racism while also helping them feel safe   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!   Get your Little Allies Activity Book If you're looking for activities for your kids or students to do that are both fun and meaningful, we've got something for you! Our Little Allies Activity Book is now available! It's basically a coloring book that is focused on allyship, and all the activities are based around anti-racism. The Little Allies Activity Book includes:  Color by number  Protest I Spy  Dot to dot Anti-racist word search  Black history unscramble  And more! Get your hands on it today by heading to firstnamebasis.org/store! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Alicia's website Alicia's Instagram account @authoraliciadwilliams “The Talk” by Alicia D. Williams All of Alicia's books on the First Name Basis Bookshop “Watering flowers while Black: A pastor shares his story of wrongful arrest,” by Jonathan Franklin, NPR   Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio  

You probably learned in school all about the story of Francis Scott Key watching the “rockets red glare” and “bombs bursting in air” as a prisoner on a British warship and turning the experience into “The Star Spangled Banner.” But, in reality, there is a lot more to this story than you learned about in history class — and a lot of what you did learn in school was false.  In this replay of one of our Untold Stories episodes, we unpack the man behind “The Star Spangled Banner,” how it became our National Anthem, and whether it truly represents American values. It's the perfect episode to revisit for the Fourth of July holiday.   Juneteenth Jubilee Juneteenth was on June 19th, but there is still time to celebrate — in fact, the Fourth of July is a great time to talk about Juneteenth! We have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner. It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.  Even if you didn't celebrate on the actual day of Juneteenth, it's not too late to take the time to celebrate and reflect. So click here to invest in this resource to create a meaningful celebration for your family!   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Annotated National Anthem “The Short History of the War of 1812 in Maryland”  “Star Spangled Bigotry: The Hidden Racist History of the National Anthem” by Jason Johnson  “What So Proudly We Hail,” Documentary from Morgan State University  “Francis Scott Key Opposed ‘Land of the Free'” by Jefferson Morley, Zinn Education Project “Where's the Debate of Francis Scott Key's Slaveholding Legacy” by Christopher Wilson, Smithsonian Magazine “Star Spangled Banner Born From a Drinking Song 200 Years Ago,” NPR “The Fight for the Anthem” by Felicity Knox, Towson University Oscar Stanton De Priest  “Mississippi Lawmakers Pass Resolution Paving Way to Remove Confederate Symbol from State Flag” by Brittany Shammas, The Washington Post   Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

Happy Pride my friends, especially to the LGBTQ+ members in our community! To celebrate Pride, I wanted to share an episode from my Bite-Sized Black History program that features a Black American who was LGBTQ+. So today, we're learning about Glenn Burke, who was the first openly gay Major League Baseball player! Glenn Burke was an amazing athlete and always the life of the party. He wasn't afraid to be his authentic self, even when people were discriminating against him. He is even credited with creating the high-five!  Glenn's life was cut short by AIDS, and I've included in this episode some insights and lessons I learned from an LGBTQ+ activist for talking to kids about AIDS, which I hope are helpful to you as a parent, teacher or caregiver.  And I hope by listening to Glenn's story and reflecting on his life that we can be part of creating change so that others don't have to go through the same things he did.    Get your FREE coloring page to go along with the episode Glenn Burke's story is part of my Bite-Sized Black History program, where I feature 28 different Black Americans who you may have heard of but who have largely been overlooked in the history books. Each person is featured with a mini podcast episode, coloring page and reflection questions to help the kiddos in your life really learn about these amazing people in a meaningful way. And to go along with this episode, I'm giving away the coloring page and questions that go along with Glenn Burke's episode! Head over to firstnamebasis.org/mlb to get your copy sent straight to your inbox, and be sure to head over to firstnamebasis.org/blackhistory to learn more about Bite-Sized Black History.   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or visit firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast, Season 6, Episode 4: “Say This, Not That When Someone Comes Out to You” with Elena Joy Thurston Listen to this letter that Billy Bean, the second openly gay player in the MLB, wrote to Glenn. Watch Glenn Burke up to bat in the 1977 World Series.   Resources for teaching children about HIV/AIDS: This video explains what HIV is. Here is a StoryCorps episode about losing family during the AIDS epidemic  This video is about how to protect yourself and others from HIV. This video is about what it's like to live with HIV. This video is a segment from the Today Show called “Looking Back on 40 Years of the AIDS Epidemic.” The Reagan administration's response to the AIDS epidemic was rooted in homophobia. You'll see that through this video. I really love amaze.org for all of the different topics they cover about sexual health. Song Credit: “Clapping Music” by BrightestAvenue and “Sunshine” by lemonmusicstudio

This episode is a special one to me, one dedicated to all of the Black and Brown moms out there. A lot of my Black and Brown friends who are stay-at-home moms in the thick of it with tiny kiddos have told me that they feel like they're not doing enough to contribute to the anti-racism movement. For my friends and anyone else in this community who reads that and thinks “that's me!” I have a message for you that I hope you hear loud and clear: Being a Black or Brown stay-at-home mother is an act of resistance, an act that is SO IMPORTANT to the movement. Please note that I am not putting down working moms down at all! I AM a working mom, and my mom was a working mom. I just don't think Black and Brown moms in particular don't hear enough that they are part of the movement and that what they are doing in their homes is such an important act toward justice and anti-racism. Press play on the episode to hear more about what I mean. It's one you're not going to want to miss!   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org for more information!   Check out our summer sale Ally Elementary Jr., Ally Elementary and Juneteenth Jubilee are all available RIGHT NOW! And to make that news even better, we're running a HUGE sale now through June 23! With Juneteenth right around the corner, you can get $25 off Juneteenth Jubilee to help you plan the perfect Juneteenth Dinner.  Or you can get $75 off Ally Elementary Jr. or Ally Elementary, and when you purchase either of those programs, you'll get Juneteenth Jubilee FOR FREE! No coupon code needed — the deal will automatically load itself into your cart. If you're interested in bringing anti-racist education into your home or classroom, now is the time to get them! Summer is a great time to start using these programs in your home or to prepare to use them in your classroom.  Head over to firstnamebasis.org/allyelementary to learn more or to get the programs!  Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 26: “My Working Mom: Chasing Her Dreams” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 14: “What Is Privilege And What Do I Do With It?” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 4, Episode 8: “Can We Talk About White Privilege?” “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

Did you read the title of this episode? It's a doozy! As convoluted as “The Untold Story of the Story That I Told” is, I couldn't resist calling this newest episode that because of the WILD ride I went on making it. Years ago I made an eBook called “Rise and Resist” where I highlighted five different Black people who were alive around the time of Juneteenth. I told their stories and really wanted people to use this eBook to be able to share stories of Black resistance with children and students. I was planning on using one of those stories in today's episode as a way to illustrate how talking to kids about slavery can be complicated, but when I opened the book, I was astounded. I could not believe some of the stuff I wrote! There were things in there that I would never say today — things I would cringe about if someone else said them, but I double cringed knowing that I wrote them! So this episode is a little bit of what I had planned, but also a little bit of me correcting what I got totally wrong. I hope this episode reminds you how anti-racism is a journey. It's about growth. And the best thing we can do is keep moving forward and keep trying to grow. Sometimes we'll be in a position where our growth is evident, even if it's a little embarrassing, but it's worth it. If we're not trying to make change, speaking up and telling stories, then we might miss the opportunity to try to make things right — which is something I'm trying to do today!   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org for more information!   Check out our Summer Sale! We have a surprise for you — Ally Elementary Jr., Ally Elementary and Juneteenth Jubilee are all available RIGHT NOW! And to make that news even better, we're running a HUGE sale now through June 23! With Juneteenth right around the corner, you can get $25 off Juneteenth Jubilee to help you plan the perfect Juneteenth Dinner.  Or you can get $75 off Ally Elementary Jr. or Ally Elementary, and when you purchase either of those programs, you'll get Juneteenth Jubilee FOR FREE! No coupon code needed — the deal will automatically load itself into your cart. If you're interested in bringing anti-racist education into your home or classroom, now is the time to get them! Summer is a great time to start using these programs in your home or to prepare to use them in your classroom.  Head over to firstnamebasis.org/allyelementary to learn more or to get the programs!  Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Bookshop First Name Basis Podcast, Season 1, Episode 3: “Talking to Your Children About Slavery” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 26: “What is Juneteenth and How Can I Celebrate?” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 7: “Service, Not Saviorism” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 5, Episode 7: “The Untold Story of Rosa Parks” “How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America,” by Clint Smith “They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South,” by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story,” by Nicole Hannah-Jones  “Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America,” by Ibram X. Kendi Juneteenth Strawberry Lemonade Cards by First Name Basis Richmond was the second largest city in the South when Virginia seceded Virginia was the largest Confederate state NAACP Culpeper Branch style guide for writing and teaching about slavery “Against Wind and Tide: The African American Struggle against the Colonization Movement,” by  Ousmane Power-Greene “How a Movement to Send Formerly Enslaved People to Africa Created Liberia,” by Becky Little, History.com Elizabeth Van Lew, American Battlefield Trust Elizabeth L. Van Lew, Library of Virginia “American Police,” Throughline Podcast, NPR Article about Mary Jane Richards dated Oct. 7, 1865 in The Anglo-African Info about the history of The Anglo-African   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN  

I've been thinking a lot about coded language lately. If you're unfamiliar with that term, coded language is when someone is talking negatively about a marginalized group without explicitly saying who they're talking about — but the “code” is that other people in the dominant culture know exactly who they're talking about. While coded language is seemingly neutral, it is actually very harmful. In this episode, I share the story from my own life that is the reason why coded language has been on my mind, and you'll also hear: What coded language is generally What racist coded language is specifically What to do when you hear racist coded language Break down a few examples of codes language    Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Email hello@firstnamebasis.org or head to firstnamebasis.org/workwithme for more information!   Check out our Summer Sale! We have a surprise for you — Ally Elementary Jr., Ally Elementary and Juneteenth Jubilee are all available RIGHT NOW! And to make that news even better, we're running a HUGE sale now through June 23! With Juneteenth right around the corner, you can get $25 off Juneteenth Jubilee to help you plan the perfect Juneteenth Dinner.  Or you can get $75 off Ally Elementary Jr. or Ally Elementary, and when you purchase either of those programs, you'll get Juneteenth Jubilee FOR FREE! No coupon code needed — the deal will automatically load itself into your cart. If you're interested in bringing anti-racist education into your home or classroom, now is the time to get them! Summer is a great time to start using these programs in your home or to prepare to use them in your classroom.  Head over to firstnamebasis.org/allyelementary to learn more or to get the programs!    Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast, Season 5, Episode 8: “White Children and Uncomfortable History: What Do We Do?” Definition of coded language from Language, Please “7 Harmful Racial Discourse Practices to Avoid,” National Education Association “Ten Stages of Genocide,” The Genocide Education Project   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

Bite-sized Black History  Bite-sized Black History is a podcast just for kids that empowers you to teach the little ones you love about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. We featured 28 different people, one for each day of Black History Month! Invest today and use the coupon code BLACKHISTORY15 for 15% off until February 22nd.  Buy Bite-Sized Black History! We take purchase orders! If your a teacher or librarian interested in submitting a purchase order please email us at hello@firstnamebasis.org    Check out all 28 episodes of Bite-Sized Black History below! Season 1 Episodes Episode 1: Wilma Rudolph Episode 2: Richard & Mildred Loving Episode 3: Garrett Morgan Episode 4: The Hines Brothers Episode 5: Claudette Colvin Episode 6: Sidney Poitier Episode 7: Charles Drew Episode 8: Marie Van Brittan Brown  Episode 9: Bayard Rustin Episode 10: Norma Merrick Sklarek Episode 11: Bessie Blount Episode 12: Ella Baker    Season 2 Episodes: Episode 1: Dr. Debi Thomas  Episode 2: Mary J. Wilson Episode 3: Ronald McNair Episode 4: Eartha Kitt Episode 5: Azellia White Episode 6: Dr. Kenneth & Dr. Mamie Phipps Clark Episode 7: Lyda Newman Episode 8: Gwen Ifill Episode 9: CJ Jones Episode 10: Marva Collins Episode 11: Ernestine Eckstein Episode 12: Charles L. Sifford   Grand Finale Episodes: Episode 1: Gerald "Jerry" Lawson Episode 2: Lois Curtis Episode 3: Glenn Burke Episode 4: Eloise Greenfield     Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

It's been a few months since we moved across the country from Arizona to Maryland, and I've gotten questions from so many of you wondering how we like our new home. So this week for our Season 7 finale, my husband Carter and I are giving you all the details!  We're telling you all about our opinions on the East Coast, things we miss about Arizona, how we've made friends and what we like most about our new surroundings. Plus, I'm giving some exciting updates about some changes to the podcast next season and what you can expect from First Name Basis in the coming months. Press play to hear it!   Invite Jasmine to work with your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Head to firstnamebasis.org/workwithme or email hello@firstnamebasis.org for more information!   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode  First Name Basis Podcast, Season 6, Episode 7: “We Are Moving Across the Country” About Progress Podcast: “The Science of Making (and Keeping) Friends as an Adult” with Dr. Marisa G. Franco Shameless Mom Podcast: “Kat Vellos: Secrets to Cultivating Better Friendships” Our realtor in Maryland, Mac McCord My photographer friend Molly Hunter   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN 

When we really take a moment to step back and think, it's easy to agree that Jesus had brown skin because he was from the Middle East. If that's the case, why is Christ so often depicted as white with light skin, hair, and eyes? In this episode we uncover the roots of white Jesus, explain the impact this depiction has made on us and our communities, and discuss why it's important to use more accurate depictions of Christ in your home. First Name Basis Patreon Community Support First Name Basis and our mission to create anti-racist communities by joining our Patreon community! Members of our Patreon community come together once a month for a Q-and-A session or a Policy Party to learn more. For Q-and-A sessions, Patreon members ask me and my husband Carter their pressing questions about anti-racism, inclusion and what's going on in the world. For Policy Parties, we invite community experts to help all of us take our values into our communities and make change to policies relevant to their area of expertise. Trust me, both of these added opportunities to learn are opportunities you don't want to miss! To learn more about becoming a Patreon member, visit patreon.com/firstnamebasis. Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode  First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 24: “Cancel Culture Part 3: Removing Statues” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 15: “Diversity & Inclusion In LDS Art” “Where Did ‘White Jesus' Come From?” On the Media podcast “‘Color of Christ': A Story of Race and Religion in America,” Terry Gross interview with Edward Blum, NPR “How Jesus Became White And Why It's Time To Cancel That” by Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service “What's The Difference Between Puritans and Pilgrims?” by Dave Roos, History.com “The Harlem Renaissance,” History.com “Colonel Henry Stanley Todd, The Priory, and the Nazarene” by Claudia S. Fortunato Psychologist Simon Howard from Marquette University “Dylann Roof Appeals Death Penalty in South Carolina Church Massacre” The Associated Press “Archaeologists In Turkey Believe They Are Digging Up The Original Santa Claus,” by Ephrat Livni. Quartz Megyn Kelly: Jesus & Santa Are White Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN 

We all know that 2020 was a wake-up call for a lot of people. It was a time of reflection, a time of change (hopefully), and a time where schools all over seemed to prioritize inclusion by drafting diversity statements. But here we are in 2022, and I find myself asking: Have the diversity statements made a difference? It's not enough for a school to just have a diversity statement up on its website — administrators, teachers, parents and students must be doing the work to make sure the values in that statement are actually reflected in how the school is run. Dr. Renata Williams knows first hand what it's like to help a school turn a diversity statement into a reality, and she came onto the podcast this week to help us learn how we can help our schools do the same. Dr. Williams is an education administrator with over a decade of experience who is currently the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania — the first person to hold this position at the school. She's worked with administrators at the school to design a comprehensive strategic diversity, equity and inclusion plan for everyone from faculty to students.  In this episode, Dr. Williams helps us understand: How we can help teachers feel supported as they integrate anti-racism curriculum into their teaching. How to embrace and foster students' budding activism. How parents, teachers and administrators can work together to make diversity statements have real impact at a school. The value outside experts can bring into helping a school prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion.   Invite Jasmine to speak at your school! Are you a parent or teacher who wants to help your school turn good intentions into positive action by making anti-racist education a priority? First Name Basis is here to help! Jasmine Bradshaw, the host and founder of the First Name Basis Podcast, is an anti-racist educator and former second-grade teacher who has a passion for helping schools make real change. Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker at your next PTA event, want to implement our Ally Elementary curriculum at your school, or need someone to consult with your school and provide teacher trainings, Jasmine is your go-to resource. Head to firstnamebasis.org/speaking or email hello@firstnamebasis.org for more information!   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode  First Name Basis Podcast, Season 7, Episode 6: “Age Appropriate Anti-Racism” Get in touch with Dr. Williams at williamsr@mercersburg.edu     Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

I made my “Untold Story of Thanksgiving” episode to help me — and hopefully you — understand the true, accurate history. As I think about the episode, I think it does a good job at correcting the history, but it still centers on the colonizers.  Because of that, I've been thinking a lot about how I can better make Indigenous Peoples the center of our conversations and learning around Thanksgiving, and I knew just the right person to turn to to help me. On this week's episode, my dear friend Jalynne Geddes joins me to help unpack what we can do to center Indigenous Peoples. Jalynne is Nehiyaw from the Beardy's and Okemasis Cree Nation and is the creator behind the Nehiyanahk Creations on Instagram, where she shares her work as an activist both through words and through her beautiful beadwork.  In this episode, you'll learn more about how our Indigenous brothers and sisters feel about Thanksgiving, how to center them during this time and how we can teach our kids about this as well. I hope by the end of this you have a clear understanding of what you can do in your family to decenter colonizers and instead give your focus to Indigenous Peoples this Thanksgiving.   Check out our Thanksgiving resources Thanksgiving is this week, and we have a gaggle of free resources for you! Want some ideas for how to talk to your kids' teachers about teaching Thanksgiving in an inclusive, Indigenous-centered way? Head to firstnamebasis.org/teachingthanksgiving for some sample letters and a free download that you can send to teachers to get the conversation going! Looking for ways to center Indigenous Peoples' in your family's Thanksgiving celebration? Head to firstnamebasis.org/thanksgiving to get some ideas sent straight to your inbox!   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode  First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 3: “The Untold Story of Thanksgiving” Jalynne Geddes' Instagram @nehiyanahk_creations Mark Ruffalo's land acknowledgement at the Emmy's Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

Have y'all ever driven down the East Coast? I don't mean to spoil the magic for you but I gotta say, it's basically a straight shot through a wall of trees. So I was pretty excited when I noticed a few colorful billboards dotting my path. That excitement quickly turned to disgust when I realized that those billboards were super-duper racist. These billboards not only appropriated Mexican culture but also used broken English and made fun of Mexican accents. Yikes.  In this episode we break down linguistic racism and dig deep into what it looks like and what we can do about it. Press play to learn: What linguistic racism looks like. The detrimental effects of linguistic racism. Why it's so important to talk to our children about unfamiliar accents.  Concrete ways to introduce unfamiliar accents to our children and fight linguistic racism.   Join us for a Policy Party You know what anti-racism looks like in your home, now let's take it into our communities! Join us for a Policy Party on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. ET, where Lindsay Dusard will talk to us about refugee allyship! At each Policy Party, we hang out over Zoom with experts from community-based organizations who will help us understand the issues and policies relevant to their area of expertise. Each party focuses on a different subject — anything from immigration to environmental justice and more! You'll leave each party with specific actionable steps you can take to make your community more compassionate, inclusive and anti-racist. My friend Lindsay will join us to discuss how we can be better allies to members of the refugee community. She has worked in refugee resettlement for over eight years and is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, where her work focuses on understanding factors related to refugee and immigrant students' sense of belonging, wel-lbeing and success in the U.S. school system. First Name Basis Patreon members will receive free admission, or you can purchase a one-time Policy Party ticket at firstnamebasis.org/policyparty. If you can't attend the Policy Party, replays are also available with admission.    Check out our Thanksgiving resources Thanksgiving is next week, and we have a gaggle of free resources for you — including multiple episodes, sample letters to send your kiddos' teachers and resources you can use in your home! Want some ideas for how to talk to your kids' teachers about teaching Thanksgiving in an inclusive, Indigenous-centered way? Head to firstnamebasis.org/teachingthanksgiving for some sample letters and a free download that you can send to teachers to get the conversation going! Looking for ways to center Indigenous Peoples' in your family's Thanksgiving celebration? Head to firstnamebasis.org/thanksgiving to get some ideas sent straight to your inbox! Looking to learn more about how to celebrate Thanksgiving in a way that reflects the true history? Check out all of Thanksgiving episodes: Season 1, Episode 13: “The Untold Story of Thanksgiving” Season 1, Episode 14: “How to Teach Your Children About Thanksgiving” Season 4, Episode 13: “How to Center Indigenous Peoples During Thanksgiving”   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Please note I am not linking Pedro's South of the Border because I do not want to drive traffic to their site. “This S.C. Roadside Attraction is Garish, Tacky and Un-PC — But I Stopped Anyway” by Maura Judkis, Washington Post  “The Pervasive Problem of ‘Linguistic Racism'”, BBC “The Reason You Discriminate Against Foreign Accents Starts With What They Do to Your Brain” by Michael Erard, Quartz “Everyone Has an Accent” by Walt Wolfram, Learning for Justice “Voices of North Carolina Dialect Awareness Curriculum”, North Carolina State University “What is Critical Language Awareness?” Annamend   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

To say I'm obsessed with New York Times bestselling author Joanna Ho's novel “The Silence That Binds Us” is an understatement.  Yes, it's a book technically written for young adults, but it's also one adults need to read — because not only is it a beautiful story of grief, but it is also an impactful story about anti-racism. I had the privilege of interviewing Joanna recently and talking to her about “The Silence That Binds Us” and specifically the lessons it teaches about Black and Asian solidarity. And just as much as “The Silence That Binds Us” is a book you don't want to miss, this interview is one you'll want to tune into as well! In this episode, Joanna and I discuss: Her process in writing “The Silence That Binds Us.” What Black and Asian solidarity looks like. The power of stories in anti-racism work. What we can do about book banning in our communities. Joanna Ho is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author “Eyes that Kiss in the Corners” and “Eyes that Speak to the Stars.” She has extensive experience as an educator (she's previously worked as an English teacher, a dean, the designer of an alternative-to-prison program, a creator of educator professional development, and a high school vice principal) and is passionate about anti-bias and anti-racism work. Joanna lives in the Bay Area where she enjoys chocolate chip cookies, being outside and having dance parties with her two kiddos.   Join us for a Policy Party You know what anti-racism looks like in your home, now let's take it into our communities! Join us for a Policy Party on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. ET, where Lindsay Dusard will talk to us about refugee allyship! At each Policy Party, we hang out over Zoom with experts from community-based organizations who will help us understand the issues and policies relevant to their area of expertise. Each party focuses on a different subject — anything from immigration to environmental justice and more! You'll leave each party with specific actionable steps you can take to make your community more compassionate, inclusive and anti-racist. My friend Lindsay will join us to discuss how we can be better allies to members of the refugee community. She has worked in refugee resettlement for over eight years and is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, where her work focuses on understanding factors related to refugee and immigrant students' sense of belonging, wel-lbeing and success in the U.S. school system. First Name Basis Patreon members will receive free admission, or you can purchase a one-time Policy Party ticket at firstnamebasis.org/policyparty. If you can't attend the Policy Party, replays are also available with admission.    Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode  Joanna Ho's website Joanna Ho's Instagram account @joannahowrites  Learn more about “The Silence That Binds Us” Pre-order Joanna's upcoming children's book “One Day” Pen America, which has reports about book bans in America and ideas about what you can do to help stop the bans  We Need Diverse Books, which advocates for diversity and representation in children's literature.  Joanna Ho's books   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

If you've been around a while, you've heard me say it hundreds of times: Race is a social construct. Race was created and has always been manipulated to make sure that the people in the dominant culture — in the U.S., that means people who are white, middle class, Christian, male and cisgender — can maintain power.  History is full of examples of this, but we don't need to only look to the past to see it happening — it happens all the time, right now, in our own communities, and one current example is the fight to restrict Black voting power. I'm sharing my thoughts about this in today's episode, “Real Quick: Black Voting Power,” which is the second episode in our new Real Quick series!  You know when you're talking to someone and the conversation is about to wrap up but there's one more thing you want to say before you part ways so you say, “Real quick, ____”? There are lots of things I want to say or wish I could add that don't quite fit in an episode or qualify as a full episode on their own, so this Real Quick series is my way of sharing those thoughts with you.  Whenever we have a Real Quick episode, you can plan on getting two mini-episodes that week. If you missed our first Real Quick episode that was released on Tuesday, don't forget to also check it out!   Get your Voting Action Plan Whether it's for a primary election or a general election, if you‘re voting for your local school board or president of the United States, being an informed voter is crucial — and takes more effort than just skimming headlines or reading one-off articles on social media. We're here to help! Head over to firstnamebasis.org/vote to have the First Name Basis Voting Action Plan sent straight to your inbox! Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode  First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 28: “How to Become an Informed Voter” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 7, Episode 11: “Real Quick: Politicians Need Experience” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 6, Episode 1:”Racism is Built on a Big Fat Lie Pt. 1: Blood Quantum and the One Drop Rule” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 14: “What is Privilege And What Do I Do About It?” “Who counts as Black in voting maps? Some GOP state officials want that narrowed,” by Hansi Lo Wang, NPR Song Credit: “Tomorrow is Far Away” by The Undertowns

Politicians need experience to do their job.  This may fall under the “unpopular opinion” category to some people, but it's something I feel strongly about and have been thinking about for a while.  You wouldn't want someone who played a surgeon on TV — but didn't actually go to medical school — to perform surgery on you. So why would you want someone with no experience or training in politics to be your elected official, especially when we're talking about a position with as much power as the President of the United States? I'm sharing my thoughts about this in today's episode, “Real Quick: Politicians Need Experience,” which is the first in our new Real Quick series!  You know when you're talking to someone and the conversation is about to wrap up but there's one more thing you want to say before you part ways so you say, “Real quick, ____”? There are lots of things I want to say or wish I could add that don't quite fit in an episode or qualify as a full episode on their own, so this Real Quick series is my way of sharing those thoughts with you.  Whenever we have a Real Quick episode, you can plan on getting two mini-episodes that week, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday, so be on the lookout later this week for another small dose of the First Name Basis Podcast!   Get your Voting Action Plan Whether it's for a primary election or a general election, if you‘re voting for your local school board or president of the United States, being an informed voter is crucial — and takes more effort than just skimming headlines or reading one-off articles on social media.  We're here to help! Head over to firstnamebasis.org/vote to have the First Name Basis Voting Action Plan sent straight to your inbox!   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode  First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 28: “How to Become an Informed Voter” “How Much Political Experience Does It Take to Be Elected President?” by Maggie Astor and Alicia Parlapiano, The New York Times Song Credit: “Tomorrow is Far Away” by The Undertowns

When the team here at First Name Basis was doing the research for our recent episode “Alcatraz: An Untold Story of Indigenous Resistance,” we came across the story of the Tammany Society — and we knew right away that story was too wild not to share! The Tammany Society — also known as the Tammany Hall or the Columbian Order — was organized in the late 1780s right alongside the founding of the United States. It was a group of white men who were influencing the politics in New York at the time and then spread out geographically from there.  Their story is one rampant with cultural appropriation that directly relates to injustices and racism we still see in this country today. And to make the story even more bonkers, one of the most notable members of the society is someone who has become a household name in recent years. “Pardon me. Are you Aaron Burr, sir?” The twists, turns and wild connections in this story are something you're not going to want to miss. In this episode, we'll tell you more about: The origins of the Tammany Society. How it's creation was in response to the creation of the Society of the Cincinnati (Spoiler alert: Alexander Hamilton enters in the story here too) The Tammany Society's many instances of appropriation of Indigenous culture. A look at a specific example of the Tammany Society's appropriation that we still see today (Spoiler alert #2: It's the Atlanta Braves)   Get your Voting Action Plan Whether it's for a primary election or a general election, if you‘re voting for your local school board or president of the United States, being an informed voter is crucial — and takes more effort than just skimming headlines or reading one-off articles on social media. We're here to help! Head over to firstnamebasis.org/vote your to have the First Name Basis Voting Action Plan sent straight to your inbox!   Get your FREE Halloween costume download Let us help you avoid cultural appropriation this Halloween with this FREE DOWNLOAD! We've created a printable decision tree to help you determine whether a costume falls into the “cultural appropriation” category. It's a great resource for helping you decide and for sparking conversations with your kiddos about what makes a costume appropriation or not. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/costumes to get your copy sent straight to your inbox!   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode  First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 28: “How to Become an Informed Voter” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 7, Episode 8: “Culture Is Not a Costume: Cultural Appropriation and Halloween” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 16: “How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 1: “Your Top 5 Cultural Appropriation Questions Answered” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 2: “Real Talk: Cultural Appropriation and White Supremacy” “Tammany Hall,” Britannica  “Tammany Hall Braves Honor Nation's Birth: Dedicate New Wigwam as Part of Tradition to Celebrate Fourth,” July 5, 1929, news article “Sachems & Sinners An Informal History of Tammany Hall,” Time “The History of Tammany Hall,” by Gustavus Myers “Native Americas: Tribal Leaders: Head Chief Tamanend the Affable of the Lenape,” The History Files “The Cincinnati: A Society That's In the Blood,” by Tim Page, Washington Post “Society of the Cincinnati,” Wikipedia Society of the Cincinnati website Applying for Membership, The Society of the Cincinnati website “Alexander Hamilton's American Revolution,” The American Revolution Institute “Surrogate Americans: Masculinity, Masquerade, and the Formation of a National Identity,” Carroll Smith-Rosenberg “Society of St. Tammany,” Encyclopedia.org “Sachem,” Online Etymology Dictionary “Tammany Hall,” Wikipedia “Fraternal Purpose In The Establishment Of Tammany's ‘American Museum,'” Timothy Winkle “The Timeline History of Celebrating (and Not Celebrating) Columbus Day,” by Rebeca Coleman, Smithsonian Magazine “Tammany: The Indian as Rhetorical Surrogate,” Alan Leander MacGregor “Becoming the Cleveland Indians and the Atlanta Braves,” by Bill Felber, Call to the Pen “Ward Wants His Team to be Called the ‘Boston Braves,'” Boston Globe article from Dec. 21, 1911 First Name Basis Untold Stories Episodes First Name Basis Podcast, Season 1, Episode 13: “The Untold Story of Thanksgiving” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 1: “The Untold Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 6: “The Untold Story of Dr. Seuss” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 5, Episode 7: “The Untold Story of Rosa Parks” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 14: “The Untold Story of Fried Chicken” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 4, Episode 7: “The Untold Story of Christopher Columbus” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 6, Episode 8: “The Untold Story of the Star Spangled Banner” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 7, Episode 7: “Alcatraz: An Untold Story of Indigenous Resistance” Song Credit: “Tomorrow is Far Away” by The Undertowns

One of the biggest messages we're trying to get across with First Name Basis is that learning a person's story and getting to know them as an individual is the best way to create understanding and foster anti-racist, inclusive communities. Heck, it's such an important concept that it's our name! Getting on a first name basis with people has so much power, and it's one of the things that made me want to watch the new documentary “Defining Us: Children at the Crossroads of Change.” Did you know that race is the #1 predictor of whether a student will be successful in the educational system? And according to “Defining Us,” almost 50 million children attend public schools in the U.S. and more than half are students of color. “Defining Us” goes beyond the statistics to tell the stories of BIPOC students in Los Angeles and New York — the country's two biggest school districts — and interviews experts on the topic of race and education. This week on the First Name Basis Podcast, I interviewed Paul Forbes and Stacey DeWitt about their work on “Defining Us.” Paul Forbes is one of the film's executive producers, director of partnerships and one of the experts featured in “Defining Us.” He is an anti-bias and educational equity consultant who worked in the New York City Department of education for more than 20 years and has worked for years on equity initiatives and training educators and administrators on bias, culturally responsive education and discussions about systemic racism. Stacey DeWitt is the director and an executive producer of “Defining Us.” She is an Emmy Award-winning producer, journalist and attorney who has produced over 65 documentaries, many of them focused on children and families. She is deeply committed to the power of storytelling through video and how those stories can create change. In our interview, we discuss: How the documentary came to be. How teachers and students can engage in conversations about race. The impact of systemic racism on education. The power of video in storytelling. Join First Name Basis on Patreon Support First Name Basis and our mission to create anti-racist communities by joining our Patreon community! Members of our Patreon community come together once a month for a Q-and-A session or a Policy Party to learn more. For Q-and-A sessions, Patreon members ask me and my husband Carter their pressing questions about anti-racism, inclusion and what's going on in the world. For Policy Parties, we invite community experts to help all of us take our values into our communities and make change to policies relevant to their area of expertise. Trust me, both of these added opportunities to learn are opportunities you don't want to miss! To learn more about becoming a Patreon member, visit patreon.com/firstnamebasis. And don't wait! Our next Q-and-A is Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET!   Get your FREE Halloween costume download Let us help you avoid cultural appropriation this Halloween with this FREE DOWNLOAD! We've created a printable decision tree to help you determine whether a costume falls into the “cultural appropriation” category. It's a great resource for helping you decide and for sparking conversations with your kiddos about what makes a costume appropriation or not. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/costumes to get your copy sent straight to your inbox! Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode  Watch the “Defining Us” trailer “Defining Us” website “Defining Us” on Instagram “Defining Us” on Facebook  Where to watch “Defining Us” Paul Forbes' company, Leading With Hearts and Minds Stacey DeWitt's company, CWK Network   Song Credit: “Tomorrow is Far Away” by The Undertowns

Can you believe that Halloween is just around the corner? I know some of you super-prepared parents out there are already getting costumes put together for your kiddos, and you may be wondering about cultural appropriation as you're looking through the shelves and online at all the costume options. I get asked all the time about how to avoid cultural appropriation with Halloween costumes, so this week, I'm bringing you TWO resources to help you as you navigate finding costumes for you and your kiddos. First is my podcast episode titled “Culture is Not a Costume: Cultural Appropriation and Halloween,” which is a one-stop shop for you to get all of your costume questions answered.  In the episode, you will learn about: Indigenous appropriation on Halloween and how these costumes put Indigenous women in danger. How you can avoid appropriation in Halloween costumes. When it is appropriate to wear cultural artifacts. Second is a free printable decision tree to help you determine whether a costume falls into the “cultural appropriation” category. It's a great resource for helping you decide and for sparking conversations with your kiddos about what makes a costume appropriation or not. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/costumes to get your copy sent straight to your inbox!   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode  First Name Basis Podcast: Season 3, Episode 1: “Your Top 5 Cultural Appropriation Questions Answered”  “These costumes objectify Native American women. Retailers won't stop selling them” by Nadra Nittle, Vox “Our Society Can Never Really Eradicate Patriarchy or Sexual Violence When We Permit Violence Against Indigenous Women,” by Dani M., Wear Your Voice  “Yandy Responds to New Times Article, Says Costumes ‘Pay Homage' to Native Americans” by Molly Longman, Phoenix New Times “Yandy Finally Got Rid Of An Offensive Costume. So Why Are Some Protesters Still Angry?” by Molly Longman, Refinery29 Corinne Grey Cloud's Instagram account “How to dress your Pākehā child up as Maui or Moana without appropriating Pasifika culture” by Emmaline Matagi, The Spinoff “Please don't tell your kids they can't dress as Moana this Halloween” by Preeti Varathan, Quartz “PSA: Don't Let Your Kid Dress Up In These Costumes” by Rachel Garlinghouse, Scary Mommy “Why Your White Kid Probably Shouldn't Dress Up As Moana For Halloween” by Eden Hagos, Today's Parent Little Koto's Closet Blog   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN 

Alcatraz. What comes to your mind when you hear the name of that little island off the coast of San Francisco? For me, I heard "Alcatraz" and I pictured that guy who says, "Say hello to my little friend." I know, I know, wrong coast. I couldn't have been more off base. But all I really knew is that it used to be a high-security prison and I imagined Scarface going there.  Well, did you know that Alcatraz was the site of an Indigenous protest so powerful that it was a catalyst for the Red Power Movement? In this episode we do a deep dive into this powerful untold story of Indigenous resistance. Press play to learn about: How a tiny clause in a treaty from 1868 sparked a years-long protest The Alcatraz Proclamation in which the Indigenous Peoples claimed the island “by right of discovery” Multiple examples of Indigenous Peoples choosing their values over money The connection of the Alcatraz occupation to Indigenous Peoples' Day   Get resources to honor Indigenous Peoples' Day sent to your inbox! Indigenous Peoples' Day is coming up on October 10, and one of the best things we can do to celebrate is learn more about the history of our Indigenous brothers and sisters. We want to help by sending you some resources to help you learn more. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/indigenouspeoples to get the resources sent straight to your inbox!    Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast, Season 1, Episode 13: “The Untold Story of Thanksgiving” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 1: “The Untold Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 2, Episode 6: “The Untold Story of Dr. Seuss” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 5, Episode 7: “The Untold Story of Rosa Parks” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 14: “The Untold Story of Fried Chicken” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 4, Episode 7: “The Untold Story of Christopher Columbus” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 6, Episode 8: “The Untold Story of the Star Spangled Banner” “Goodbye, Columbus? Here's what Indigenous Peoples' Day means to Native Americans” by Emma Bowman, NPR The Occupation of Alcatraz, University of Massachusetts Lowell Library  Definition of Red Power “The Grim Plight of the…” by Jerry Kamstra “In 1868, Two Nations Made a Treaty, the U.S. Broke It and Plains Indian Tribes are Still Seeking Justice” by Kimbra Cutlip, Smithsonian Magazine Treaty of Fort Laramie, National Archives “Why Native Americans Have Protested Mount Rushmore” by Jodi Rave, History.com “The Proclamation: To The Great White Father and All His People” “Rethinking How We Celebrate American History—Indigenous Peoples' Day” by Dennis W. Zotigh and Renee Gokey, Smithsonian Magazine “What is the history behind Indigenous Peoples' Day?” University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill “In South Dakota, It's Native American Day, Not Columbus Day,” ACLU South Dakota Indigenous Peoples Day, Unitarian Universalist Association “A Proclamation on Indigenous Peoples' Day, 2021,” The White House  “Biden is first president to mark Indigenous Peoples' Day” by Zeke Miller and Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press States that have celebrations similar to Indigenous Peoples' Day but under different names Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

My dear friends, we have been on this anti-racism journey together for 3 years, and it's AMAZING to think about the growth we've gone through together.  Over the course of more than 100 episodes, we've gone from talking about the basic building blocks to more in-depth conversations. And just like we as adults have worked to build up our own understanding of anti-racism, we need to do that for our kiddos too — and we need to do it in a way that is developmentally appropriate. These conversations need to be happening while our kiddos are young, but that doesn't mean we need to have them drinking out of the fire hose — we need to see where they are and present the concepts in a way that is appropriate for their current understanding, using their language. So how do you do that? We're here to help! In this episode, you'll learn: Why we need to be having these conversations and providing the building blocks to our young kiddos. The 4 goals of anti-bias education and how they apply differently to different age groups. More about our two at-home anti-racist education programs — Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. — and how each can help you creat an anti-racist family culture.   Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. Registration is now open for both Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr.! Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so I created Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr.  Ally Elementary is geared toward third-eighth graders, while Ally Elementary Jr. is for the smaller allies in our lives who are in preschool-second grade. During these programs, parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives to how they can learn more about their individual identity and culture. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action. Registration closes September 30, so don't miss your chance. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/sneakpeek for a look inside the programs and to receive a coupon code straight to your inbox! Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary (for third-eighth graders)  Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary Jr. (for preschool-second graders) Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast, Season 5, Episode 9: “Don't Wait Until Something Bad Happens To Talk To Your Kids About Race with Dr. Lucretia Berry” “Conversations With Kids About Race” by Margaret A. “Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves” by Louise Derman-Sparks & Julie Olsen Edwards   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

I've heard from so many parents who have been listening to the First Name Basis Podcast and other anti-racist educators, have tried to implement the suggestions they learn as they try to teach their children … only to feel like it's all completely backfired. Perhaps you've been there, where you've talked to your kiddos about racism only to hear them express even MORE biases to you that they've picked up from their environment. While I get that it can be discouraging as a parent and it may feel like you're failing, the reality is quite the opposite! Did you know that it's actually super common for kids to make more — rather than fewer — biased comments when they're first learning about topics such as bias, differences, social justice and racism? While we, of course, never want kids to hold onto biased ideas, the fact that they're saying them out loud to YOU means you have built trust and opened that line of communication with them. In this episode, I'll talk more about: Strategies for supporting Children of Color, including exposing them to representation, helping them find safe people who can be allies and keeping an eye out for appropriated racial oppression. How parents of white children or children who benefit from white privilege can respond and reframe when it feels like their anti-racism efforts aren't working. How to use the times your kiddos express bias as a time to have more conversations about anti-racism and your family values.   Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. Registration is now open for both Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr.! Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so I created Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr.  Ally Elementary is geared toward third-eighth graders, while Ally Elementary Jr. is for the smaller allies in our lives who are in preschool-second grade. During these programs, parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives to how they can learn more about their individual identity and culture. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action. Registration closes September 30, so don't miss your chance. Head over to firstnamebasis.org/sneakpeek for a look inside the programs and to receive a coupon code straight to your inbox! Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary (for third-eighth graders)  Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary Jr. (for preschool-second graders)   Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast, Season 4, Episode 4: “Oh No! My Child Said Something Racist” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 1, Episode 1: “Talking to Young Kids About Race” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 1, Episode 2: ”Talking to Older Children About Race” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 9: “Racism 101” “Children Notice Race Several Years Before Adults Want to Talk About It,” American Psychological Association “Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide” by Britt Hawthorne “Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves” by Louise Derman-Sparks & Julie Olsen Edwards Song credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

The fact that there is a need for student loan forgiveness really paints a picture of just how complicated education funding has become. So how did we get to this point, and why is the already huge cost of attending college continuing to increase?  To answer this, I interviewed my dad, Ken Clarke, who spent more than 35 years working as a financial aid professional. When he retired, he was the dean of financial aid for all Maricopa County community colleges in Arizona, and he had helped thousands of students navigate the financial aid process throughout his career. In this episode, my dad talks more about the ins and outs of student loans, including: The history of student loans. Where student loans came from. What happened in history that made student loans so expensive and have such high interest rates. This is actually the second half of the conversation I had with my dad about student loans. If you missed the first part, head over to listen to Season 7, Episode 3: “Real Talk: You Should Support Student Loan Forgiveness,” where we tackle four of the most common arguments against student loan forgiveness.   6 Characteristics of a Positive Community Anti-racism is a vital part of EVERY community. It's not something we should silo away from the other communities we are a part of, whether that's your neighborhood, church, PTA, craft circle, fitness group, etc. We should just focus on building healthy communities — where we strive for fairness, communicate when there's friction, embrace freedom of expression and celebrate traditions together. And First Name Basis is here to help you do it! Visit firstnamebasis.org/positivecommunity to get your FREE printable of the 6 characteristics of a positive community, adapted for the podcast from Dr. Nicole Celestine's work.   Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. We are opening the doors to both Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. on Sept. 20! Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so I created Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr.  Ally Elementary is geared toward third-eighth graders, while Ally Elementary Jr. is for the smaller allies in our lives who are in preschool-second grade. During these programs, parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives to how they can learn more about their individual identity and culture. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action. Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary (for third-eighth graders)  Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary Jr. (for preschool-second graders)   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast: Season 7, Episode 3: “Real Talk: You Should Support Student Loan Forgiveness” with Ken Clarke First Name Basis Podcast: Season 2, Episode 5: “A Conversation With My Dad About Black History Month” with Ken Clarke First Name Basis Podcast: Season 3, Episode 14: “The Untold Story of Fried Chicken” with Ken Clarke First Name Basis Podcast: Season 4, Episode 10: “The Memory That I Can't Shake: The Why Behind Ally Elementary” First Name Basis Podcast: Season 5, Episode 16: “Age Appropriate Anti-Racism” “Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces Student Loan Relief for Borrowers Who Need It Most,” The White House Who is My Student Loan Servicer? Song credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

It's been a few weeks since the White House announced a plan for student loan forgiveness, and in that time, you've likely seen all sorts of articles and social media posts pushing back against it. Watching these arguments unfold has been frustrating, and it can be hard to know what to say. To help all of us know how to respond, I interviewed my dad, Ken Clarke, who spent more than 35 years working as a financial aid professional.  I mean it when I say my dad is the perfect person to walk us through this conversation. When he retired, he was the dean of financial aid for all Maricopa County community colleges in Arizona, and he had helped thousands of students navigate the financial aid process throughout his career. The conversation I had with him was so good and full of information that I ended up splitting it into two episodes. In this first episode, we address four of the most common arguments against student loan forgiveness: The argument that the plan only helps the “elite.” The complaints about having to “foot the bill” for other people's education. The objections that the plan is “unfair” to people who have already paid off student loans. The criticism that the plan is too expensive. And be on the lookout for the bonus episode with the second half of this conversation where my dad and I talk more about the history of student loans and how college became so expensive.   6 Characteristics of a Positive Community Anti-racism is a vital part of EVERY community. It's not something we should silo away from the other communities we are a part of, whether that's your neighborhood, church, PTA, craft circle, fitness group, etc. We should just focus on building healthy communities — where we strive for fairness, communicate when there's friction, embrace freedom of expression and celebrate traditions together. And First Name Basis is here to help you do it! Visit firstnamebasis.org/positivecommunity to get your FREE printable of the 6 characteristics of a positive community, adapted for the podcast from Dr. Nicole Celestine's work.   Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. We are opening the doors to both Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. on Sept. 20! Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so I created Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr.  Ally Elementary is geared toward third-eighth graders, while Ally Elementary Jr. is for the smaller allies in our lives who are in preschool-second grade. During these programs, parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives to how they can learn more about their individual identity and culture. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action. Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary (for third-eighth graders)  Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary Jr. (for preschool-second graders) Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast: Season 2, Episode 5: “A Conversation With My Dad About Black History Month” with Ken Clarke First Name Basis Podcast: Season 3, Episode 14: “The Untold Story of Fried Chicken” with Ken Clarke First Name Basis Podcast: Season 4, Episode 10: “The Memory That I Can't Shake: The Why Behind Ally Elementary” First Name Basis Podcast: Season 5, Episode 16: “Age Appropriate Anti-Racism” “Student Loan Debt by Race,” by Melanie Hanson, Education Data Initiative Leslie Streeter on Twitter  Jon Schwarz on Twitter  “Jim Crow Debt: How Black Borrowers Experience Student Loans,” by Jalil B. Mustaffa and Jonathan C.W. Davis, The Education Trust “What will student loan forgiveness mean for Black students and families?" by Andre M. Perry and Adrianna Pita, The Current Podcast from Brookings  “Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces Student Loan Relief for Borrowers Who Need It Most,” The White House Who is My Student Loan Servicer?   Song credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

Immigration is about so much more than debates, laws and policies — it's about people. Every person who has interacted with the immigration system has their own story that goes far beyond their status, and if we really want to make productive and lasting changes to policy, we need to start by focusing on the individual people and their unique experiences. Ana Wacker knows this from experience. Ana and I became friends when we were both living in New York City interning at Teach For America, and I've been wanting to have her on the podcast for a long time because I knew she had so much she could teach us through her lived experience. Ana identifies as a first generation immigrant, data analyst, and a mom. She and her family immigrated to the United States from Mexico when she was 4 years old and she knows first-hand both the practical and emotional aspects of navigating the immigration and citizenship process.  In this week's episode, Ana graciously shares her immigration story with us and provides actionable suggestions for what we can do to help make changes to immigration policy and to help immigrants in our own communities. You'll learn about: Why immigration is a community effort. Why it's important for immigrants to develop identity separate from. immigration status — and how nonimmigrants can support this process. What the citizenship process looks like. What policies we should be advocating for. The importance of mental health services for immigrants and how our communities can better provide that. How to talk to kids about immigration. 6 Characteristics of a Positive Community Anti-racism is a vital part of EVERY community. It's not something we should silo away from the other communities we are a part of, whether that's your neighborhood, church, PTA, craft circle, fitness group, etc. We should just focus on building healthy communities — where we strive for fairness, communicate when there's friction, embrace freedom of expression and celebrate traditions together. And First Name Basis is here to help you do it! Visit firstnamebasis.org/positivecommunity to get your FREE printable of the 6 characteristics of a positive community, adapted for the podcast from Dr. Nicole Celestine's work. Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. We are opening the doors to both Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. on Sept. 20! Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so I created Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr.  Ally Elementary is geared toward third-eighth graders, while Ally Elementary Jr. is for the smaller allies in our lives who are in preschool-second grade. During these programs, parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives to how they can learn more about their individual identity and culture. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action. Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary (for third-eighth graders)  Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary Jr. (for preschool-second graders)   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Aliento AZ  Jose Antonio Vargas  Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

Anti-racism is meant to be done in community. It makes sense, right? This work is SO important and we need to be sharing it with others in order for change to actually happen. But we also need support in it — especially during the times when it feel like that change is coming at a snail's pace. In this episode, we're talking more about why community is important and how we can go about creating a community in our anti-racist work. You'll learn more about: Why anti-racist community should really just be community and why there shouldn't be a need to separate it out. How community affects both your mental and physical health. The two main reasons why communities form. 6 of the characteristics of positive community.   Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. We are opening the doors to both Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr. on Sept. 20! Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so I created Ally Elementary and Ally Elementary Jr.  Ally Elementary is geared toward third-eighth graders, while Ally Elementary Jr. is for the smaller allies in our lives who are in preschool-second grade. During these programs, parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives to how they can learn more about their individual identity and culture. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action. Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary (for third-eighth graders)  Click here to join the waitlist for Ally Elementary Jr. (for preschool-second graders)   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Podcast, Season 5, Episode 4: “Black Lives Matter: How Will You Respond?” with Veronica Chambers First Name Basis Podcast, Season 5, Episode 16: “Age Appropriate Anti-Racism” First Name Basis Podcast, Season 4, Episode 10: “The Memory That I Can't Shake: The Why Behind Ally Elementary” “10 Traits That Make a Positive Community,” by Dr. Nicole Celestine Act Belong Commit “The Roseto Effect: The Amazing Power of Relationships for Heart Health” by Joel Kahn  “Strong communities, wellbeing and resilience,” The King's Fund Live Free Free Creative Grown Up Summer Camp    Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

You know what would really help us all out? If we realized that historical figures are more than the heroes/villains that we often reduce them to.  Although past presidents and leaders had important titles with huge amounts of power, it's critical that all of us, including our children, understand that they were people. People who were complicated. People who did good things and bad things (sometimes very, very bad things that have been erased for a long time and need to be talked about). When we look beyond the hero/villian binary, we get closer to the truth and closer to learning the important lessons that history has to offer us.  In this episode — which is the last installment in our Summer School series — we are talking about how we can reconcile and grapple with hard history as adults and how we can help the kids in our lives do the same. Summer School is a series where I'm sharing quick tips and tidbits for you to be thinking about this summer when it comes to anti-racism. Some of the tips will be for grown-ups and some will be for kids, but all of them will leave you with more information in your anti-racism toolbelt. In this episode, you'll learn more about: How to reevaluate history beyond the heroes/villains, good/bad narrative. Why there's no such thing as old morals and new morals. How to help white children learn hard history while providing them a chance to identify with the allies and to see how they can be the change today. This episode contains excerpts from our Patreon Q-and-A sessions. Members of our Patreon community come together once a month to learn together and ask me and my husband Carter their pressing questions about anti-racism, inclusion and what's going on in the world. To learn more about becoming a Patreon member, visit patreon.com/firstnamebasis. Bite-Sized Black History Bite-Sized Black History is a program that empowers you to teach the little ones you love about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. We have two different seasons featuring 12 different people in each season, and each season comes with a workbook with illustrations to color and reflection questions to discuss.  Fam Favorites Each week we round up our favorite resources to give you a deeper understanding of the featured episode topic. And Fam Favorites is the only place you can access our mini segment “Ask Jasmine” where I answer one of your pressing questions. Sign up to get Fam Favorites in your inbox! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Patreon community Song Credit: “Tomorrow is Far Away” by The Undertowns

Social media feels like a double-edged sword: It can be a great way to keep in touch with family and friends and learn new things, but it can also be a place where debates run heated, long and seem unproductive. So how do you navigate knowing when and how to speak up when you see people post things that are racist, discriminatory and untruthful? We're answering that in this week's episode, which is the second in our Summer School series! Summer School is a brand-new series where I'm sharing quick tips and tidbits for you to be thinking about this summer when it comes to anti-racism. Some of the tips will be for grown-ups and some will be for kids, but all of them will leave you with more information in your anti-racism toolbelt. In this episode, you'll learn more about: Why we should default to speaking up. How you can determine whether saying something will be productive. How to overcome your fear of speaking up imperfectly. This episode is an excerpt from one of our Patreon Q-and-A sessions. Members of our Patreon community come together once a month to learn together and ask me and my husband Carter their pressing questions about anti-racism, inclusion and what's going on in the world. To learn more about becoming a Patreon member, visit patreon.com/firstnamebasis. Bite-Sized Black History Bite-Sized Black History is a program that empowers you to teach the little ones you love about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. We have two different seasons featuring 12 different people in each season, and each season comes with a workbook with illustrations to color and reflection questions to discuss.  Fam Favorites Each week we round up our favorite resources to give you a deeper understanding of the featured episode topic. And Fam Favorites is the only place you can access our mini segment “Ask Jasmine” where I answer one of your pressing questions. Sign up to get Fam Favorites in your inbox! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Patreon community Song Credit: “Tomorrow is Far Away” by The Undertowns

“Carbon credit” is a trendy term you might have heard being used by businesses, government officials and the news media, but what exactly is it? We're answering that in this week's episode, which is the first in our Summer School series! Summer School is a brand-new series where I'm sharing quick tips and tidbits for you to be thinking about this summer when it comes to anti-racism. Some of the tips will be for grown-ups and some will be for kids, but all of them will leave you with more information in your anti-racism toolbelt. This episode will help you know more about environmental justice and how you can make a difference. It's a clip from our Policy Party we had a few months ago with Joye Braun of the Indigenous Environmental Network. Joye is the real deal as a community organizer and activist who is on the frontlines of the fight for environmental justice, and her insight is so valuable. To learn more about what a Policy Party is and to access a full replay of our conversation with Joye Braun, visit firstnamebasis.org/policyparty, and keep tuning in over the next month for more helpful Summer School tidbits. Bite-Sized Black History Bite-Sized Black History is a program that empowers you to teach the little ones you love about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. We have two different seasons featuring 12 different people in each season, and each season comes with a workbook with illustrations to color and reflection questions to discuss.  Fam Favorites Each week we round up our favorite resources to give you a deeper understanding of the featured episode topic. And Fam Favorites is the only place you can access our mini segment “Ask Jasmine” where I answer one of your pressing questions. Sign up to get Fam Favorites in your inbox! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode First Name Basis Policy Party with Joye Braun, full replay available for purchase at firstnamebasis.org/policyparty

We want our children to embrace anti-racist education both at school and at home, but what does that actually look like?  We're talking about anti-racism in the classroom for the second week in a row because it's such an important topic to be thinking about right NOW. It might be a little early to be in full-on “back-to-school mode,” but it's not too early to be contacting school administrators and teachers to let them know you're committed to helping create an anti-racist culture for your kiddos. In this episode I interview Alexandria Scott — founder and editor-in-chief of Ditto Kids Magazine, an anti-racist magazine for kiddos — about everyday anti-racism in the home and in the classroom. Alex is a dear friend of mine, and she's a mom and professional who knows her stuff when it comes to anti-racism. In this episode, we talk about: How to incorporate anti-racism into our everyday interactions with our kiddos. How parents and teachers can partner in teaching anti-racism. Concrete steps for talking to your children's teacher about creating an anti-racist and inclusive environment. Listen in on your favorite podcasting app, but also RUN over to Ditto Kids to get your hands on this important resource. Alex announced recently that she is taking a break from making magazines and is in the process of selling out her inventory. So hurry on over to get Ditto Kids into your home and classrooms. Bite-Sized Black History Bite-Sized Black History is a program that empowers you to teach the little ones you love about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. We have two different seasons featuring 12 different people in each season, and each season comes with a workbook with illustrations to color and reflection questions to discuss.  Fam Favorites Each week we round up our favorite resources to give you a deeper understanding of the featured episode topic. And Fam Favorites is the only place you can access our mini segment “Ask Jasmine” where I answer one of your pressing questions. Sign up to get Fam Favorites in your inbox! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Ditto Kids' website Ditto Kids on Instagram 

Classrooms should be places of growth, discovery and change, and as parents and caregivers we need to support teachers in fostering a positive environment for students. And Patrick Harris II is a teacher who knows first-hand how important that is. Patrick is one of my teaching idols, and he recently released a book about being a teacher titled “The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers,” where he talks about what it looks like to try to make change from within and the importance of creating school communities where our kids feel safe, empowered, loved and encouraged to figure out who they are. Whether you're a teacher, parent or caregiver, this book is one you'll want to read. Patrick is a Black queer writer, storyteller, and middle school humanities teacher. He has won multiple national teaching awards for his leadership and innovation in the classroom. Teaching and creating is only part of who Patrick is. He is a big brother, a cat dad, lover of all things horror, a WWE fanatic and is obsessed with scenic hikes. In this episode, Patrick and I discuss: Why teaching is political. How we can reframe our focus away from what students want to do as a career and instead help them see who they want to be now. Tips for finding a school that fits your family's values. What parents and caregivers can do to support teachers who are trying to make change at school. Press play and I promise your appreciation for teachers and perspective on what a classroom should look like are going to change forever. Bite-Sized Black History Bite-Sized Black History is a program that empowers you to teach the little ones you love about brilliant Black Americans who have been largely overlooked by our history books. We have two different seasons featuring 12 different people in each season, and each season comes with a workbook with illustrations to color and reflection questions to discuss.  Fam Favorites Each week we round up our favorite resources to give you a deeper understanding of the featured episode topic. And Fam Favorites is the only place you can access our mini segment “Ask Jasmine” where I answer one of your pressing questions. Sign up to get Fam Favorites in your inbox! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Patrick's book, “The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers” Patrick's Instagram @presidentpat Patrick's Twitter @presidentpat Patrick's Facebook  Patrick's website Patrick's podcast, The Common Sense Podcast @blackgirlthatreads on Instagram Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

You probably learned in school all about the story of Francis Scott Key watching the “rockets red glare” and “bombs bursting in air” as a prisoner on a British warship and turning the experience into “The Star Spangled Banner.” But, in reality, there is a lot more to this story than you learned about in history class — and a lot of what you did learn in school was false.  In this replay of one of our Untold Stories episodes, we unpack the man behind “The Star Spangled Banner,” how it became our National Anthem, and whether it truly represents American values. It's the perfect episode to revisit ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. Juneteenth Jubilee Juneteenth was on June 19th, but there is still time to celebrate — in fact, the Fourth of July is a great time to talk about Juneteenth! We have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee is our brand-new program that gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner. It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.  Even if you didn't celebrate on the actual day of Juneteenth, it's not too late to take the time to celebrate and reflect. So click here to invest in this resource to create a meaningful celebration for your family! Don't forget to use the code CELEBRATE15 for 15% off your purchase Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode Annotated National Anthem “The Short History of the War of 1812 in Maryland”  “Star Spangled Bigotry: The Hidden Racist History of the National Anthem” by Jason Johnson  “What So Proudly We Hail,” Documentary from Morgan State University  “Francis Scott Key Opposed ‘Land of the Free'” by Jefferson Morley, Zinn Education Project “Where's the Debate of Francis Scott Key's Slaveholding Legacy” by Christopher Wilson, Smithsonian Magazine “Star Spangled Banner Born From a Drinking Song 200 Years Ago,” NPR “The Fight for the Anthem” by Felicity Knox, Towson University Oscar Stanton De Priest  “Mississippi Lawmakers Pass Resolution Paving Way to Remove Confederate Symbol from State Flag” by Brittany Shammas, The Washington Post Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN  

We're packing our boxes and leaving the dry Arizona heat for the suburbs of Washington, D.C.! This move has been in the works for two years now, and I can't believe it's finally happening! Carter and I have put a lot of thought into this move and where we want to raise our kiddos, and in this episode we're answering all of your questions about why we're moving. Press play to hear our story! Juneteenth Jubilee Juneteenth was on June 19th, but there is still time to celebrate, and we have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee is our brand-new program that gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner. It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.  Even if you didn't celebrate on the actual day of Juneteenth, it's not too late to take the time to celebrate and reflect. So click here to invest in this resource to create a meaningful celebration for your family! Don't forget to use the code CELEBRATE15 for 15% off your purchase Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

As a Black bi-racial person, learning about slavery growing up was so hard for me for so many reasons — it was traumatizing and heartbreaking to think about the conditions my ancestors lived through, it felt like a burden to be the only Black person in my class and having everyone look to me, and there were so many things that just didn't make sense to me about it, but asking those questions was the last thing I wanted to do.   With Juneteenth coming up this weekend, I've been thinking about slavery and things I wish I would have known when I was a kid, and I realized that there are 3 specific things that I wish an adult would have told me — that none of them did because they probably didn't know it themselves.   So in this episode, I want to help YOU learn those things so you can teach them to the kiddos in your life. Listen in to learn the 3 important truths your kids need to understand about slavery.   Juneteenth Jubilee   Juneteenth is coming up next month, and we have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee is our brand-new program that gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner.   It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.    The program is available now! So click here to invest in this resource to create a meaningful celebration for your family!   Don't forget to use the code CELEBRATE15 for 15% off your purchase   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode   First Name Basis “What is Juneteenth?”   First Name Basis “Talking To Your Children About Slavery”   First Name Basis “The Untold Story of Christopher Columbus”    “Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James Loewen    Ally Elementary   National Museum of African American History and Culture    Teaching Hard History Podcast created by Learning for Justice    “How The Word Is Passed” by Clint Smith   “30 Fun Things to Do in Nashville With Kids: The Best Family Friendly Attractions” *please note: I am linking this article because I want you to see how terribly they talk about plantation visits, I DO NOT recommend this article   Belle Meade: Historic Site & Winery   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN  

I've always thought Mildred and Richard Loving's last name was kismet.   Mildred was a Black woman and Richard was a white man who loved each other, and just wanted to keep on loving each other.    On June 12, 1967, Richard and Mildred Loving won their landmark civil rights case against the state of Virginia. Because of the Lovings, states were no longer permitted to create racist laws that would prevent heterosexual couples from marrying one another because of the color of their skin. Their story is beautiful, powerful and inspiring.   Every year on June 12, we celebrate the Lovings, their love, and the love of interracial couples everywhere. As the product of an interracial marriage who is in an interracial marriage myself, I will be forever grateful for the Lovings.   In this episode you will hear interracial couples from all across the country share the importance of Loving Day and what it means to them and their families. If you're anything like me you'll need a few tissues for this one. And a special thank you to those who sent their stories and shared their love with us. Happy Loving Day!   Juneteenth Jubilee   Juneteenth is coming up next month, and we have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee is our brand-new program that gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner.   It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.    The program is available now! So click here to invest in this resource to create a meaningful celebration for your family!   Don't forget to use the code LOVING15 for $15 off your purchase until 6/13/22!   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode   First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 24, “The Loving Story”   First Name Basis Podcast, Season 3, Episode 25, “Your Loving Day Stories”  Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams,” “Dive Down” by VYEN, and “Blue Dream” by Cheel 

When a family member or friend chooses to come out to you, it is an extremely vulnerable moment for them, and how you respond is so important.    You may find yourself wondering what should you say that's affirming and loving — and what should you avoid saying that can be harmful.   This week on the podcast, we have Elena Joy Thurston to help talk us through how we can be better allies to our LGBTQ friends, family and neighbors.   Elena Joy is a member of the LGBTQ community and the executive director and founder of the Pride and Joy Foundation, an organization dedicated to reducing the rate of suicide and homelessness in the LGBTQ community by empowering parents and community members with the information and tools they need to be advocates. She also spends a lot of her time giving presentations and workshops about LGBTQ inclusion through her organization Elena Joy Experience.   In this episode, Elena Joy teaches us: Tips about things to say and do when someone comes out to you. Things to avoid when someone comes out to you. What straight people can do to help create safe communities for LGBTQ people. Why Pride Month is important and how families can celebrate.   Having Elena Joy on the podcast to share her insight, wisdom and heart was truly a joy, and I hope you take the time to listen and learn from her as well.   Juneteenth Jubilee   Juneteenth is coming up next month, and we have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee is our brand-new program that gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner.   It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.    The program is available now! So click here to invest in this resource to create a meaningful celebration for your family!   Don't forget to use the code LOVING15 for $15 off your purchase until 6/13/22!   Send in your Loving Day submissions!   Loving Day is coming up on June 12th, and I want to celebrate with you!   Loving Day is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that made interracial marriage for heterosexual couples legal in all 50 states, and I want to make an episode about the significance of Loving Day to those of us in interracial relationships. This means everyone — LGBTQ, straight, dating, married — anyone who loves someone who is a different race than their own.   What I need you to do is record a voice memo that includes three things: Your name Where you are from And the answer to one question: What does Loving Day mean to you?   Send the voice memo to hello@firstnamebasis.org with “Loving Day” in the subject line. If you'd like to include a picture, I would love to share your pictures on Instagram on Loving Day.   The deadline for submissions is June 8, 2022.   I can't wait to hear from you! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode   Elena Joy Thurston's Instagram account @elenajoyspeaks   Elena Joy Thurston's Ted Talk “Conversion Therapy Almost Took My Life, Mindfulness Saved It”   Pride and Joy Foundation's Instagram account @pridejoyfoundation   Pride and Joy Foundation website   Elena Joy Experience website   Pride and Less Prejudice, an organization dedicated to providing access to LGBTQ inclusive books   The Trevor Project   Find your state's nonprofit LGBTQ advocate group. Many of them are named “Equality (insert the name of your state),” such as Equality Utah, Equality California, etc.    Check out our LGBTQ Pride bookshelf on the First Name Basis Bookshop. We linked all the books Elena Joy mentioned in the episode there and many more.   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

If you've been here for a while, you've probably heard me say about a million times that race is a completely made up social construct — with no basis in biology — that is used to justify racism.   There are SO MANY examples in our society that prove just how made up race is, and this week in Part 2 of our two-part series, we're tackling a few of those myths and exposing them for what they are: big fat lies.   In this episode, we are breaking down two phrases that were born out of racism — Uncle Tom and Indian giver — as well as discussing common myths about Islam.   In this episode, you'll learn about: The origin of each of these phrases and how their “definitions” are exactly the opposite of reality. Why “Indian” is not a word you should be using if you are not Indigenous. Common myths about Islam and how the word “Islam” itself shows how false the myths are.   And don't forget, if you missed Part 1 about the one drop rule and blood quantum, be sure to listen to it on our website or through your favorite podcasting app. Juneteenth Jubilee   Juneteenth is coming up next month, and we have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee is our brand-new program that gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner.   It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.    The program is available now! So click here to invest in this resource to create a meaningful celebration for your family!   Don't forget to use the code LOVING15 for $15 off your purchase until 6/13/22!   Send in your Loving Day submissions!   Loving Day is coming up on June 12th, and I want to celebrate with you!   Loving Day is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that made interracial marriage for heterosexual couples legal in all 50 states, and I want to make an episode about the significance of Loving Day to those of us in interracial relationships. This means everyone — LGBTQ, straight, dating, married — anyone who loves someone who is a different race than their own.   What I need you to do is record a voice memo that includes three things: Your name Where you are from And the answer to one question: What does Loving Day mean to you?   Send the voice memo to hello@firstnamebasis.org with “Loving Day” in the subject line. If you'd like to include a picture, I would love to share your pictures on Instagram on Loving Day.   The deadline for submissions is June 4, 2022.   I can't wait to hear from you! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode   First Name Basis Podcast: Season 6, Episode 1: “Racism is Built on a Big Fat Lie Pt. 1: The One Drop Rule and Blood Quantum”   “Why African-Americans Lothe Uncle Tom” by Dr. Patricia Turner, NPR   “The Tom Caricature” by Farris University and the Jim Crow Museum   “Uncle Tom From Martyr to Traitor” by Dr. Adena Spingarn   “The Story of ‘Uncle Tom's Cabin' Spread From Novel to Theater and Screen” by Jane Ford, UVA Today   “The History Behind The Phrase 'Don't Be An Indian Giver'” by Lakshmi Gandhi   “Kris Jenner Uses the Term ‘Indian Giver'” by Dr. Adrienne Keene, Native Appropriations Blog    First Name Basis Podcast: Season 5, Episode 17 “Teaching Children About Ramadan & Islamophobia”

We've got a few things coming up and I want to tell you all about them. Don't worry, we'll have a new episode on Tuesday! Juneteenth Jubilee   Juneteenth is coming up next month, and we have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee is our brand-new program that gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner.   It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.    Click the button below to sign up to be on the waitlist!   Send in your Loving Day submissions!   Loving Day is coming up on June 12th, and I want to celebrate with you!   Loving Day is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that made interracial marriage for heterosexual couples legal in all 50 states, and I want to make an episode about the significance of Loving Day to those of us in interracial relationships. This means everyone — LGBTQ, straight, dating, married — anyone who loves someone who is a different race than their own.   What I need you to do is record a voice memo that includes three things: Your name Where you are from And the answer to one question: What does Loving Day mean to you?   Send the voice memo to hello@firstnamebasis.org with “Loving Day” in the subject line. If you'd like to include a picture, I would love to share your pictures on Instagram on Loving Day.   The deadline for submissions is June 4, 2022.   I can't wait to hear from you!   Policy Party Joye Braun of the Indigenous Environmental Network has agreed to talk with us during our Policy Party on Tuesday, May 31, at 5:30 p.m. PT. Let me tell you a bit more about Joye. She is the Frontline Community Organizer at IEN and a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She was was one of the first campers at Sacred Stone Camp, moved to Oceti Sakowin Camp, and was at Blackhoop or Seven Generations Camp during eviction of the camps. Joye's history of community activism includes the long fought campaign against the Keystone XL, the project resurrected at the same time DAPL was renewed and continues to threaten her homelands.    Joye travels extensively and speaks throughout the northern plains and participates in Indigenous gatherings in the U.S. and Canada speaking about the negative impacts the extractive economy has on the rights of Indigenous Peoples and more. She is also a wife, mother and grandmother.   I spoke to Joye recently on the phone and, let me tell you, she has some amazing stories, experiences and advice to give us. Purchase your one time ticket here. Purchase your ticket for this Policy Party and all upcoming parties by joining our Patreon community here.

As a former teacher and a mom, I have a recurring nightmare that I'm sure many of you share: a constant, ever-present fear of my children — and any other children — being exposed to or a victim in a school shooting.   It's an ever-present fear because it's an ever-present reality.    And this ever-present reality isn't only happening with school shootings but with gun violence at churches, in grocery stores — in places someone should never have to fear for their life.   We need more than moments of silence and trite words of condolence — we must speak up for real change. We need to feel more than outrage — we must take action. We need to do more than mourn the loss of life — we must fight to preserve life.    In this episode, we will talk about:   How gun safety saves lives. Where you can go to stay up-to-date on current gun safety legislation. What real change we can make in our communities and that we can encourage our lawmakers to adopt.   I hope you'll join me in doing more than just holding your little ones close when these tragedies happen — hold them close then go out and fight to make the world safer for them.   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode   Akilah Hughes Twitter    Clint Smith Twitter   “Guns Became the Leading Cause of Death for American Children & Teens in 2020,” Time   “Gun Safety Policies Save Lives,” Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund   “Background Checks on All Gun Sales,” Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund   “Extreme Risk Laws,” Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund   “Secure Gun Storage,” Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund   “Repeal Stand Your Ground Laws,” Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund   “Stop Permitless Carry,” Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund   “Gun Violence Prevention,” National Education Association Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

Think back to when you were a kid. Remember when you'd be playing a game and you were about to make an epic power move or even win the game, and the person you were playing with would suddenly shout, “I HAVE A FORCE FIELD!” They knew they were about to lose, so they changed the rules or made up a new one to make sure they could win. Remember how frustrating that was?   That, my friends, is what racism is: Made up rules to keep the same people (the ones in the dominant culture) always winning.    In today's episode, we're starting the first part of a two-part series where we're breaking down some of the big, obvious examples that show just how big of a lie racism is built on, starting this week with blood quantum and the one drop rule. In this episode, you'll learn:   How race is the product of racism, not the root of it. What it means to be part of the “dominant culture.” The history of determining social status. What the “one drop rule” and “blood quantum” are and how they are used as a tool in white supremacy.    Juneteenth Jubilee   Juneteenth is coming up next month, and we have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee is our brand-new program that gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner.   It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.    Click the button below to sign up to be on the waitlist!   Send in your Loving Day submissions!   Loving Day is coming up on June 12th, and I want to celebrate with you!   Loving Day is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that made interracial marriage for heterosexual couples legal in all 50 states, and I want to make an episode about the significance of Loving Day to those of us in interracial relationships. This means everyone — LGBTQ, straight, dating, married — anyone who loves someone who is a different race than their own.   What I need you to do is record a voice memo that includes three things: Your name Where you are from And the answer to one question: What does Loving Day mean to you?   Send the voice memo to hello@firstnamebasis.org with “Loving Day” in the subject line. If you'd like to include a picture, I would love to share your pictures on Instagram on Loving Day.   The deadline for submissions is June 4, 2022.   I can't wait to hear from you! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode   First Name Basis Podcast Season 3, Episode 26: “What is Juneteenth and How Can I Celebrate?”   First Name Basis Podcast Season 3, Episode 29: “Critical Race Theory In School”   First Name Basis Podcast Season 2, Episode 14: “What is Privilege and What Do I Do With It?”   First Name Basis Podcast Season 5, Episode 5: “Raising Mult-Racial Children” with Dr. Jenn Noble    Learn more about Ally Elementary and join the waitlist at firstnamebasis.org/allyelementary.   “People Are Angry President Trump Used This Word to Describe Undocumented Immigrants,” by Abigail Simon, Time   “Trump: ‘Animals' comment referred to MS-13 gang members,” by Rebecca Morin, Politico   “Immigrants Contribute Greatly to U.S. Economy, Despite Administration's ‘Public Charge' Rule Rationale,” the Center on Budget and Policy   Article about John Punch on Thirteen.org   “How the ‘One Drop Rule' Became a Tool of White Supremacy” by Yaba Blay    “Hypodescent: The ‘One Drop Rule'”    “‘One Drop Rule' Persists” by Steve Bradt   The Code Switch Podcast, “So What Exactly is “Blood Quantum?”   All My Relations Podcast, “Love in the Time of Blood Quantum”   “The ‘One Drop Rule' in America, a story”   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN