1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: On this week's episode of Cultivating her Space. 2 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 2: I believe one of our highest priorities should be about 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 2: how we're educating ourselves and everyone within our communities in 4 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 2: ways that reinforce love for ourselves and each other. Collectivity 5 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 2: over individualism, collectivity over capitalism, collectivity over patriarchy, like compassion 6 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 2: and dignity over patriarchy and all the patriarchy's tentacles of 7 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 2: transphobia and homophobia, all those things, misogyny, all of those 8 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 2: things that come from that. How are we actually practicing 9 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 2: love with each other and for one another in ways 10 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 2: that allows us to maintain our individual and collective dignity. 11 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 1: Today's episode is sure to provide you with motivation, inspiration, 12 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: or a fresh perspective. If you have any AHA moments 13 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: or appreciate anything from this episode, please leave us a 14 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: review to let us know we're on the right track. Also, 15 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 1: we release episodes every Friday, so be sure to subscribe 16 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: on iTunes and visit cultivatingheirspace dot com to access our 17 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,039 Speaker 1: exclusive after show and other bonus content from the Patreon tab. 18 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 3: Welcome to Cultivating her Space, a podcast dedicated to uplifting 19 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 3: women like you. We're your hosts, Doctor Dominique Brussard, a 20 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 3: college professor and psychologist. 21 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 4: And Terry Lomax, a techie and motivational speaker. In a 22 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 4: world where Black women are often misrepresented and misunderstood, please 23 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:43,040 Speaker 4: join us as we initiate authentic conversations on everything from 24 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 4: five roids to fake friends and create a safe space 25 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 4: where black women can just be. 26 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 5: Hey, lady, it's Terry here from the Cultivating her Space podcast. 27 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 5: I'm hosting a free podcasting masterclass where I'm going to 28 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 5: teach you how to create your impactful podcast and how 29 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 5: you can generate multiple streams of income. You can visit 30 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 5: podcast with Terry dot com to register for free. I 31 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 5: hope to see you there. 32 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 4: All right, lady, we have a very special guest in 33 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 4: Cultivating her Space. We are going to just go ahead 34 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 4: and jump into our amazing bio and then jump into 35 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:21,920 Speaker 4: the juicy conversation. 36 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: Charlene A. 37 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 4: Carruthers she Her is a writer, filmmaker, and Black Studies 38 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 4: PhD student at Northwestern University. A practitioner of telling more 39 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 4: complete stories, her work interrogates historical conjunctures of black freedom making, 40 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 4: post emancipation and Decolonial Revolution, black governance, and black feminist 41 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 4: abolitionist geographies. She is the author of Unapologetic, a Black 42 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 4: queer and feminist mandate for Radical Movements. Now, Lady, there 43 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 4: is so much more that we could say about Charlene, 44 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 4: but we're just going to jump right on in. So Charlene, 45 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 4: welcome to cultivating her space. 46 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me. 47 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 4: You're so welcome. We're excited to have you. 48 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 6: Yes, we are definitely excited for this conversation. And so 49 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 6: we're going to start with our quote of the day, 50 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 6: which Charlene will sound really familiar to you because we've 51 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 6: been doing our research and this quote comes from one 52 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 6: of your Instagram posts. Oh and it was part of 53 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 6: a much longer quote. But this quote says, may I 54 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 6: do what I came here to do. And I'm gonna 55 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 6: say that one more time for the people in the 56 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 6: back in case you didn't hear it. May I do 57 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 6: what I came here to do. Charlene, When you hear 58 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 6: your words being said back to you and you think 59 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 6: about all that you do. 60 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 4: What comes up for you? 61 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I do what I came here to do. Well, 62 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 2: first of all, thanks for thank y'all for having me 63 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 2: on today and for pulling that particular quote. Now I'm 64 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 2: curious about the broader context for what else did I say? 65 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 2: Where I just come from? Because the way my brain works, 66 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 2: when I think about what I came here to do 67 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 2: and put that together with the speed at which my 68 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 2: brain moves and how many things happen in my brain 69 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 2: at any given time, it's like, what thing am I 70 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 2: going to do that I came here to do at 71 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: any given time? And what energy do I have to 72 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 2: put towards it? Who do I need to collaborate with 73 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: in order to like actually fulfill that particular part of 74 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: my broader purpose? And you know what legacy is it? 75 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 2: A part of That's what I think of, because I 76 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: don't think anything that I do is just magically exists 77 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 2: because of me as an individual, of course, or it's 78 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: like me as an individual, I pick I portant role 79 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: in the work that I do. But I understand everything 80 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 2: that I do to be a part of a much 81 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: longer continuum of the black ridical tradition of black feminism, 82 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: of black queer and trance, liberation and resistance and all 83 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: that work like abolitionists work, all of that work. I 84 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 2: see my work like what I came here to do. 85 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,919 Speaker 2: Is a part of something that began before me and 86 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 2: will continue after. 87 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 4: Me, beautifully stated, And that gave me chills when you 88 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 4: read that down. What a powerful quote, like so on purpose, right, So, Charlene, 89 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 4: we're going to dive more into the work that you 90 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 4: do and what you came here to do. But can 91 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 4: you tell us about your origin story, like how did 92 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 4: you become the Charlene Corrothers that we know today? 93 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, I just turned thirty seven almost a 94 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 2: month ago, and I would say that my origin story 95 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: is the story of my parents, of my grandmothers, of 96 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,360 Speaker 2: my great grandmothers, and the mothers of their mothers, and 97 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 2: so on and so forth. I'm always thinking in the 98 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,279 Speaker 2: sense of genealogy, and not just like in a neat 99 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 2: lineage line like this happened, and this happened, and this happened, 100 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 2: but a genealogy and the sense of how things are 101 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 2: connected across time, through time, outside of even any base, 102 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 2: any strict construct of what we many of us are 103 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 2: told time is. And so my origin story has everything 104 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 2: to do with the fact that both of my grandmothers 105 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 2: migrated from Mississippi to Chicago. My origin story has everything 106 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 2: to do with the fact that I was born and 107 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 2: raised on the South Side of Chicago. In so many ways, 108 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 2: Chicago shaped who I am, made who I am, and 109 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 2: at the same time, my travel around the country and 110 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:57,359 Speaker 2: my travel across the world really raised me in ways 111 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 2: that Chicago didn't even raise me being be it the 112 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 2: solo traveling I did, for solo traveling i've done, or 113 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 2: group traveling that I've done, political traveling that I've done, 114 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: leisure travel that I've done across the world has really 115 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 2: shaped me. I am who I am because of also 116 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 2: the many people who are poured into me since I 117 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 2: was a child. For some you know, I think for 118 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: good reasons. People saw something in me, including how talkative 119 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 2: I was as a child, how many questions I had 120 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 2: as a kid, and just my interest in always wanting 121 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 2: to know more and learn more. And so ever since 122 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 2: I was as long as I can remember, I've been 123 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 2: either in a leadership role and or in a leadership 124 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 2: development kind of workshop training community where someone or a 125 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: group of people were pouring into me to develop my 126 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 2: own leadership. For me, it's all of those things that 127 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 2: make me who I am, and that the last thing 128 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 2: I would add about my origin is that from at 129 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: least third grade on. I was always in some sort 130 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 2: of arts like practice, be it dance or singing, or 131 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 2: visual arts drawing, painting, then later ceramics. And I literally 132 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 2: just came from a quilting class right before our conversation. 133 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: And so I've always been an artist. Well, I've always 134 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 2: been an artist. And although I spent you know, over 135 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 2: fifteen years with community organizing work, my latest work as 136 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 2: a filmmaker really allows me to bring together my organizing 137 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 2: experience and also my experience as an artist since I 138 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:36,439 Speaker 2: was a child. 139 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 7: Lady, you not, this is a grown woman podcast, okay, 140 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 7: And chances are, if you're an avid listener, you know, 141 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 7: we get a little blatchet over here. We get bougie, classy, 142 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 7: and we get ratchet. So today's sponsors should not come 143 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 7: as a surprise. Uber Lube is a luxurious, high grade 144 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 7: silicone lubricant made from clean, body friendly ingredients. It's just 145 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 7: silicon with a little bit of vitamin The vitamin E 146 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 7: leaves a velvety finish that actually moisturizes the skin. Lube 147 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 7: is the key to maximizing pleasure, whether alone or with 148 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 7: a partner. And if you're gonna lubricate you want to 149 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 7: make sure it's done with the highest quality, body safe ingredients, 150 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 7: and nothing beats uberlub. Y'all, i'dn't test this out myself, 151 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 7: and let me tell you it's a one. 152 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 4: Okay. 153 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 7: It's great for all kinds of play, vaginal, oral or anal. 154 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 7: There's no flavor or a scent. It's latex compatible, so 155 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 7: it's safe and effective to use with condoms. And uber 156 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 7: Lube even works underwater, making it great for fun and pools, 157 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 7: hot tubs, bad tub, all that good stuff. Okay, Right now, 158 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 7: uber lub is offering cultivating her Space listeners a special 159 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 7: offer ten percent off and free shipping when you use 160 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 7: our code her space at uberlube dot com. That's ten 161 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 7: percent off and free shipping. Just use code her space 162 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 7: at uber luvee dot com. All right, let's dive. 163 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:08,199 Speaker 6: Wow. You know we ask that the origin story question 164 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 6: in all of our interviews, right, and it's always so 165 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 6: fascinating to hear everyone's responses. And I truly appreciate how 166 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 6: you in your origin store, you are acknowledging all of 167 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 6: those who came before you who contributed, whether they are 168 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 6: whether they were aware of it or not, that they 169 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 6: contributed to who you are today. I think that is 170 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 6: so beautiful and so powerful to acknowledge that. And then 171 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 6: I think about how you shared of all of the 172 00:10:49,760 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 6: many roles that you have, right, community organizer, artist, author, filmmaker, doctors, 173 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 6: a real student. I've been a doctoral student. 174 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 2: I know, yeah for sure. 175 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 6: And so when you think of all of the various 176 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:22,199 Speaker 6: roles that you have, what is the thread that ties 177 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 6: all of them together? You started to share a little 178 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 6: bit about that? Can you give us a little bit more? 179 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: Sure? So? In my work, be it as a community organizer, 180 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 2: it's a writer, filmmaker, all of that work is about 181 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 2: telling a more complete story about Black people's lives, and 182 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 2: that and telling a more complete story about our lives, 183 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 2: be it where I am in this particular moment, be 184 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 2: it three four hundred years ago, or be it even 185 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 2: the people who do the work to talk about black 186 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 2: folks living in a future time, a future in doing 187 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 2: that and telling more complete stories and thinking about who. 188 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 2: Who's a part of the dominant narrative, even the dominant 189 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 2: narratives about black people and how, and the dominant narratives 190 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 2: about how black people live their lives, how we live 191 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 2: our lives. Who's missing in those stories, and how can 192 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 2: we strive in our work to tell more robust, bigger, deeper, fuller, 193 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 2: wider stories about black folks lives. We can actually craft 194 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 2: more complete solutions to the challenges what some people consider dilemmas, 195 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 2: issues and problems that black folks experience across the world. 196 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,839 Speaker 2: Across the world, we can get to more complete, more 197 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 2: complete solutions. And so that's that's the that's what ties 198 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 2: all of my work together, is how can I add 199 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 2: to the broader tapestry of how people understand what it 200 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 2: means to be black and alive or black and it 201 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 2: existing in any point in the time space continuum. 202 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 4: Again beautifully stated, you're a writer, so I feel like 203 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 4: I'm going to probably say that after every answer you share, 204 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 4: so just get ready for that. But no, it really was, 205 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 4: I mean very powerful. And when you think about the 206 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 4: activism work that you do, I'm going to assume that 207 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:22,560 Speaker 4: it requires a great amount of deliberate and intentional energy. Right, 208 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 4: And so what are some of the self care practices 209 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 4: that you put in place to ensure that your work 210 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 4: is sustainable? And how do you avoid burnout? 211 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 2: So for me, how I take care of myself and 212 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 2: how I may literally just maintain my sense of self 213 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 2: and my what's the word I want to use, not 214 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 2: just wellness, but feeling grounded, as grounded as possible in 215 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 2: the world that we live in. It requires a whole 216 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 2: bunch of stuff. There's not just one thing in therapy, 217 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 2: physical movement, doing things I enjoy to do. I'm gonna 218 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 2: talk about the schools in class probably fifty times tonight, 219 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 2: because it really means spending two and a half hours 220 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 2: just focused on a creative task that is not for work. 221 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 2: It's no one's paying me to do it. I'm not 222 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 2: required to do it. It's simply a creative outlet that 223 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 2: I get to do something with my brain, my heart 224 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 2: and with my hands. And so having a number of 225 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 2: outlets that are outside of like the public, gays or 226 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 2: anything like that is really helpful. And I already mentioned therapy, 227 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: and you know, having strong, strong relationships with people, both 228 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 2: a romantic relationship and other platonic friendships, all of those things, 229 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 2: in family relationships, milial relationships, all those things matter. And 230 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 2: then the other part is pacing myself and not feeling bad. 231 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 2: And I'm still working on it now, feeling bad when 232 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 2: I have to say no to something because I said 233 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 2: yes a lot for a number of years, and it 234 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 2: is why I don't do organizing on a day to 235 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 2: day basis anymore. Actually, in many ways, my foray into 236 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 2: the Academy is a break from that. It's like a 237 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 2: transition from that sort of day to day work because 238 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 2: I knew I wanted to be in a different feeling, 239 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 2: do the work that I knew, do what I came 240 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 2: here to do, and in another way, another way, and 241 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 2: so I think it's all of those things. And I'm 242 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 2: by no means perfect, and I feel like it's a 243 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 2: lifelong journey to figure out how to both take care 244 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 2: of myself and allow other people to help take care 245 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 2: of me as well. 246 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 4: I love that we often hear people mentioned therapy right 247 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 4: when they talk about self care. But the fact that 248 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 4: you mentioned I love that you mentioned a romantic relationship, 249 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 4: platonic relationships, and also those it's the creative outlets outside 250 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 4: of the public gaze, like something just for you that 251 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 4: is powerful. Okay, that's a word right there. Y'all got 252 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,479 Speaker 4: to take some notes that you listen to this episode, 253 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,359 Speaker 4: all right, So, Charline, this has already been really insightful, 254 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 4: inspiring and we're going to dive more into that, but 255 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 4: we want to shift up the energy a little bit. Okay, 256 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 4: And because we recognize, appreciate, and celebrate the multi faceted woman, 257 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 4: and we believe that it's okay to be bougie and 258 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 4: classy and ratchet, we believe that you can still be 259 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 4: elegant and dance to strip club music if you so choose. Darlene, 260 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 4: we want to invite you to the oh you blatchet segments? 261 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 4: So do you take on the challenge? 262 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 3: Sure? 263 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 4: Agreed? Okay, So now we're going to tell you what 264 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 4: you agree to. So we're going to ask you. We're 265 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 4: going to ask you three questions. We're going to share 266 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 4: three sentence complete and then very close by, we have 267 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 4: three photos pulled up of you from social media. We've 268 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 4: been doing our researching and that facial expression is exactly 269 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 4: what we want to see. She's like, oh shit. 270 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 2: I started filtering my social media very long time ago. 271 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 4: Really, okay, Okay, So we didn't catch you, We didn't 272 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 4: catch you slipping. Yeah, Okay, it's all good. We got unlikely. 273 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 2: It's not impossible, but it's unlikely. 274 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 4: So what we're gonna do is we're gonna have you 275 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 4: choose a number out of one in three and we'll 276 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 4: reveal that particular photo and then you we want you 277 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,639 Speaker 4: to tell us more context about the photo or something 278 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:40,919 Speaker 4: that we wouldn't know just by looking at the photo 279 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,639 Speaker 4: on social media. And so we're gonna go ahead and 280 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 4: jump on into the first question. The first question is 281 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 4: what's the best piece of wisdom or advice you've ever received? 282 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 2: That one's easiest from my dance coach in high school. 283 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:59,159 Speaker 2: She said a few things. She said, the captain always 284 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 2: needs the most practic This always needs the most practice 285 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 2: because oftentimes the captain of the team is like helping 286 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:09,199 Speaker 2: other people rehurts and showing like bits and pieces and 287 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,080 Speaker 2: watching other people do all the moves and giving them 288 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 2: feedback or giving them support, but not necessarily doing all 289 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:20,159 Speaker 2: the moves themselves themselves, every year themselves every time. The 290 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 2: other piece was what you're doing. Practice is going to 291 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 2: show up on the floor on competition day. So practice 292 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 2: is though it is the day, like it is the 293 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 2: thing that you're going to do. And then number three 294 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 2: is always be mindful who could be Basically like in 295 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 2: the toilet stall, when you in the bathroom, you never 296 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:42,560 Speaker 2: know who's going to be there. You never know who 297 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 2: could be listening, So be mindful of what you say. 298 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 2: And so I literally this woman said this to me 299 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 2: almost twenty years ago, to like almost twenty years ago, 300 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 2: over like a little bit. Yeah, I guess I was 301 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:57,360 Speaker 2: like probably over twenty years ago. I must have been 302 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 2: like sixteen seventeen. Yeah, And I still remember it, every 303 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 2: single one of them, every single one. And now she 304 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 2: said and while throwing the keys, and Miss Brenda she 305 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 2: passed away, but she was saying that while throwing the 306 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 2: keys on the board. She was wild. This woman was wild. Okay, 307 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 2: she was, she was really wild. But those are three 308 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 2: pieces of advice, three pieces of advice that she gave 309 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 2: us that stick with me to this day. 310 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 6: Wow. Those are shout out to miss Brenda because those 311 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 6: are three important life lessons, pieces of advice to carry 312 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 6: with you. So now I don't know, you know, miss 313 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 6: miss Brenda may be watching over us. Yes, And I 314 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,400 Speaker 6: don't know what she would say to this, but we 315 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 6: want to know, Charlie mm hmm, twork or two steps both? 316 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:54,959 Speaker 2: Why do you have to choose? 317 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 8: Yes? 318 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 2: I love that. I love that. We love to hear, 319 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 2: that's what we love to hear and just kind of 320 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 2: keeping on with this blatchet theme because my next question, 321 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 2: our final question for you before we move on to 322 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 2: sentence completions, is what's the sexiest item you own? I'm 323 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 2: thinking about what my fiance was saying and then like 324 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:20,159 Speaker 2: what I would say, because she is very different. She 325 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 2: thinks the damn move move is like what do I think? Yoh, 326 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:30,639 Speaker 2: this is hard because I don't really Hm, maybe my 327 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 2: bad sheets. They are very nice eucalyptus, very luxurious bad sheets, 328 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:38,680 Speaker 2: and they are very very soft. And these are sheets 329 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 2: that you want to get in, like you want to 330 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 2: get in these sheets, like these are great, These are 331 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 2: excellent sheets. 332 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 8: Yeah, you might need to share the link to that 333 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 8: because I need to get People don't know how people 334 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 8: don't know how much I spend on sheets, So you. 335 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 6: Know what something are investment pieces. 336 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 2: They should are. That's what the sheets are. They are 337 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 2: and they've been washed several times and they still have 338 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:13,400 Speaker 2: the same like integrity. They are still soft. That's amazing. 339 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 4: Okay, after the show offline, we're gonna we're gonna get. 340 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 6: Okay, yes, yes, okay, Charlene. So we're gonna move to 341 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:28,160 Speaker 6: the sentence completion Okay. One question or topic I wish 342 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 6: people asked me about more often is. 343 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 2: I wish people would ask me about what I am 344 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:49,640 Speaker 2: yearning for as an artist and as an intellectual. I 345 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 2: also wish people would ask me more about food because 346 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 2: I'm a food person. Yeah, I'm a person that goes 347 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 2: to the restaurant and those the restaurants, but I'm also 348 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,479 Speaker 2: like a growth of food person, the science behind food person, 349 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:07,120 Speaker 2: the history of food person. Like I know food pretty well. 350 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 4: It is so interesting because our next sentence completion is right, 351 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 4: isn't this crazy? It's what I'm yearning for artistically and intellectually. 352 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 2: Is look at that as a mentor. Artistically I have 353 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 2: cerebal intellectual mentors, but an artistic mentor, I'm yearning for that, 354 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 2: and I'm yearning for more artistic and intellectual community that 355 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 2: is trying to be in it for the long term, 356 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 2: Like we're gonna do this for the next twenty years. 357 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 2: We may come in and out, we may not be 358 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:58,919 Speaker 2: there every day like as individuals, but we're gonna be 359 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 2: in this for the long term, and we may lose 360 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 2: some people along the way because we know how the 361 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 2: world works and how life works, like We're going to 362 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,399 Speaker 2: do this for a long time together, and we're going 363 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 2: to figure it out, and we will show up in 364 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 2: the best way that we can when we can, and 365 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 2: not be punished because we didn't. But those who can will, 366 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 2: and we, you know, do what we can so that 367 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 2: people can show up as the cells that they want 368 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 2: to show up at. So that's like, I think that's 369 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 2: what I'm yearning for, that community, long term community and 370 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 2: mentorship that I've had mentorship in so many other areas 371 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 2: of my life, but not as an artist, as an 372 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:34,479 Speaker 2: adult artist. 373 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 6: Go ahead, don I love that, and I appreciate you 374 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 6: putting that out there, and so I hope that now 375 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 6: that you have spoken that out loud, that we stay 376 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 6: in touch and you and we see that you get 377 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 6: that mentor that you are yearning for. Thank you, and 378 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 6: so our final sentence completion. What I love most about myself. 379 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 2: Is these days, I'm loving that I refuse to give up, 380 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 2: like my insistence to keep trying, my ability to keep trying. 381 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 2: I love that about me. Yeah, Like I'm not gonna 382 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 2: just take a no at for an answer for something 383 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:29,360 Speaker 2: that I want for my life. And I'm not talking 384 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 2: about like, you know, something that depends on somebody else 385 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,640 Speaker 2: being vulnerable or you know, risking putting themselves at Risthm. 386 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 2: I'm like that. I'm like, oh, this is the thing 387 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:40,880 Speaker 2: that I want. Oh it's hard to get. I'm gonna 388 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,159 Speaker 2: try to get. I'm still gonna try to do it, 389 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 2: even with all these obstacles in the way. 390 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:50,199 Speaker 4: Yeah, amazing, amazing, amazing. All right, Charlie. That concludes the 391 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 4: sentence completion. So get ready because we've got some photos 392 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 4: pulled up of you and they're all so good. So 393 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 4: a future I don't know which one we'll see, we'll see. 394 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:00,400 Speaker 4: What we want you to do is to the number 395 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:02,439 Speaker 4: out of one in three and then we'll just reveal 396 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 4: that particular photo on screen. So it feel fore to 397 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:07,360 Speaker 4: choose your number, and then I'll show you the photo. 398 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:13,480 Speaker 4: Two two, All right, this is a badass photo, y'all. 399 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 4: Get ready. So everyone will not see the video, So 400 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 4: if you can explain the photo first and then give 401 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 4: us a context behind the photo. 402 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, okay, okay. So this photo was taken by 403 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:33,880 Speaker 2: Sasha Matthews, who is a photographer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 404 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 2: and it is at the Chateau de Versailles in France 405 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:43,400 Speaker 2: in Versailles, France. I think that's versa I think it's 406 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 2: like technically Versailles. It's like outside of Paris. Somebody can 407 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 2: correct me if I'm wrong. It was very cold outside, 408 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:53,159 Speaker 2: very very cold. We could see our breath and I 409 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,200 Speaker 2: am standing in front of the golden gate that lead 410 00:25:56,280 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 2: into Versailles in a long dress. It's like a blue 411 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,240 Speaker 2: color dress and my hair is like flowing in the 412 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 2: wind because literally the cold wind was blowing outside. And 413 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 2: we were in Paris. Chanelle and Sasha are twins and 414 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 2: they invited us all to go to Paris for their birthday. 415 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 2: I think it may have been for thirty five, like 416 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 2: we're all the same age, so around the same age, 417 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:23,920 Speaker 2: but I can't remember the exact birthday it was for 418 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 2: for them. But yeah, we were all there. We were 419 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 2: there with much a very large group of black people, 420 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 2: mostly black people, taking photos. There was a photo shoot 421 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:37,120 Speaker 2: in front of her side. 422 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, I would have never guessed that it was cold 423 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 4: outside because of the look. But you got the wind 424 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 4: blowing in the hair. I mean, this is a bomb photo. 425 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,000 Speaker 4: There are all the good but thank you for sharing 426 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:47,120 Speaker 4: the contact with us. 427 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 2: We appreciate it. 428 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 4: Yes, so at this point, we're going to hope back 429 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 4: into some of those questions that we have for you, 430 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:57,680 Speaker 4: but we appreciate you participating in Oh you flatchit and 431 00:26:57,720 --> 00:26:59,360 Speaker 4: being down with the challenge. 432 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 2: That was fun. 433 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 6: Good, glad you enjoyed it. And so diving back into 434 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:14,760 Speaker 6: the interview, what advice would you give a person, regardless 435 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 6: of their age or ability status, looking to begin their 436 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:24,640 Speaker 6: journey in activism. The first piece of advice I would 437 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 6: give anyone who is like. 438 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,520 Speaker 2: It usually is a die people rarely take their time 439 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 2: getting into the work, is to be curious before reaching conclusions. 440 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:43,040 Speaker 2: Ask questions. Ask questions not out of a space of 441 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 2: like agitation necessarily, but out of like a deep place 442 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 2: of curiosity because you want to know more. And then 443 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 2: also figure out how you can be of service as 444 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 2: opposed to how movement, especially at the beginning, can be 445 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 2: of service to you, Like, how can you be of service? 446 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:04,919 Speaker 2: How can you contribute to work that began before you 447 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 2: got there, absolutely began before you got there? And then 448 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:12,679 Speaker 2: I think also like humility is really really important and 449 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 2: oftentimes hard for people to grasp onto And I don't 450 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 2: mean like it should be practice humility without discernment or 451 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:26,359 Speaker 2: humility without curiosity, but humility with compassion for yourself and 452 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 2: other people. And then to build on the curiosity that 453 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:35,639 Speaker 2: I mentioned earlier is also a commitment to studying. Like 454 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 2: to study. Study can happen from watching films. It can 455 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 2: happen from being inn ap plitical education, study group, It 456 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 2: can happen from reading articles or books. I am almost 457 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 2: certain that reading is required no matter how you read, 458 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:59,160 Speaker 2: no matter how you read, if you have the ability 459 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:05,040 Speaker 2: to act us any sort of written form or audiobook, 460 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:11,280 Speaker 2: even any sort of way to process literature written works, 461 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 2: however that is, it is necessary to take in literary 462 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 2: sources of information as a part of your study. And 463 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 2: so if audiobooks are your jam, do audiobooks. If reading 464 00:29:23,200 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 2: articles are your jam, start there. If you got a 465 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 2: book ahead of you and you need to read this 466 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 2: book over a year, do that, take your time, do 467 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 2: it with the group, whatever that is. I think that 468 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 2: reading is essential. 469 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:39,959 Speaker 4: I'm so glad you pointed that out, and I really 470 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 4: appreciate the fact that you shared. I want to say 471 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 4: modern ways of studying because I feel like when we 472 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 4: were younger, we used to be in the library. You 473 00:29:47,040 --> 00:29:49,960 Speaker 4: remember opening those big books and library you could smell 474 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 4: the smell the library, sit on the books, and now 475 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 4: it's like everything is just Google, right. So I love 476 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 4: that you provided those other aspects there for folks. There 477 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:01,479 Speaker 4: seem to be competing priorities in the black community. What 478 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 4: are the things that we can focus on in our 479 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 4: communities that can make a big impact on the collective. 480 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 2: I think they're always competing priorities in any given community. 481 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:16,000 Speaker 2: For Black folks, I believe one of our highest priorities 482 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:19,960 Speaker 2: should be about how we're educating ourselves and everyone within 483 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 2: our communities in ways that reinforce love for ourselves and 484 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:32,920 Speaker 2: each other. Collectivity over individualism, collectivity over capitalism, collectivity over patriarchy, 485 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:36,960 Speaker 2: like compassion and dignity over patriarchy and all the patriarchy's 486 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:42,600 Speaker 2: tentacles of transphobia and homophobia, all those things, misogyny, all 487 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 2: of those things that come from that. How are we 488 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:49,560 Speaker 2: actually practicing love with each other and for one another 489 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:53,600 Speaker 2: in ways that allows us to maintain our individual and 490 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 2: collective dignity and that requires like accountability that is not 491 00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 2: reliant on punishment, because that's what so many institutions around 492 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 2: us teach us and reiterate or reinforce for us, and 493 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:13,240 Speaker 2: I think there's always going to be competing priorities. And 494 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 2: just because we are black doesn't mean we're going to 495 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:17,800 Speaker 2: have the same values or doesn't mean that, you know, 496 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 2: we are going to be anti capitalists, or we're going 497 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 2: to be anti parcural punishment, none of that. Just because 498 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 2: you're black. All of it is a choice. It is 499 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 2: all a choice. When the Kumbe River Collective talked about 500 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:34,600 Speaker 2: identity politics, they were talking about politics that were informed 501 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:40,720 Speaker 2: by their specific identities as being black, lesbian, socialist women like. 502 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:43,120 Speaker 2: That's what they were thinking about. It was the set 503 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:46,280 Speaker 2: of values that were connected to their personal experiences and 504 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 2: choices to take up a certain set of politics. And 505 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 2: so for me, it's like, okay, we black, what's the 506 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 2: next question, What do you believe in? And how do 507 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 2: your actions reflect the thing that you say that you 508 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 2: believe in. That's how I like to think about, and 509 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:04,960 Speaker 2: then we can go from there to discern whether or 510 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 2: not we are actually on the same page. Because we 511 00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:07,720 Speaker 2: may not be. 512 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 6: That is so true, That is so true, and that 513 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 6: we because we are not a monolith, there is room 514 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 6: for us to have different priorities with the same goal. 515 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 6: Of liberation for black folks, and so we're gonna shift 516 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:33,120 Speaker 6: gears a little bit. So you recently made your filmmaking 517 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 6: debut with the film short The Funnel. Can you tell 518 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:41,680 Speaker 6: our audience more about it and what inspired you to 519 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 6: set the film in the nineteen forties? 520 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 2: Okay? So The Funnel is a short film that follows 521 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 2: a young black woman who was a poet living on 522 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 2: the South Side of Chicago and during the in the 523 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 2: midst of the foreclosure prices that black people were disproportionately 524 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:01,000 Speaker 2: hit by and to around two thousand and eight. And 525 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:03,800 Speaker 2: then she has this deeply spiritual experience in which she 526 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:07,560 Speaker 2: connects with one of our ancestors who is also navigating 527 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 2: a housing crisis in the nineteen forties. So, I guess 528 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:12,840 Speaker 2: I don't want to give the whole thing away, but 529 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 2: it was inspired by Sadilla Hartman's book Wayward Lives Beautiful Experiments, 530 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:20,440 Speaker 2: where she looks at the intimate lives of these rebellious 531 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:25,680 Speaker 2: anarchist young Black women in the early twentieth century, and 532 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:27,640 Speaker 2: so I decided that I wanted to bring the story 533 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:31,840 Speaker 2: to Chicago and the Funnel. The title itself comes from 534 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,600 Speaker 2: a Richer write quote where He talks about the kitchenette 535 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:39,480 Speaker 2: building as the funnel through which our polarized lives are lived, 536 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,960 Speaker 2: and Sadia Hartman writes extensively about the hallway and how 537 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:47,240 Speaker 2: black people live their intimate lives in these hallways and 538 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 2: these tenement buildings. And so this film, our film takes 539 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:55,800 Speaker 2: place in a kitchen, largely in a kitchenette building as well, 540 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:59,000 Speaker 2: where we look at the internet lives of black people. Yeah, 541 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:02,400 Speaker 2: I'm I guess I should start there. People can check 542 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 2: us out on the Funnel film dot com and they 543 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:07,800 Speaker 2: can also follow us on Instagram at the Funnel Film. 544 00:34:07,800 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 2: We're the Funnel Film on Everything, and we're screening at 545 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:13,439 Speaker 2: a number of film festivals across the country right now. 546 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:18,040 Speaker 4: Yes, so make sure you all go out and support Charlene. 547 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:20,600 Speaker 4: We have one last question for you, Charlene, and we 548 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:23,400 Speaker 4: want to talk a bit about queer rights and access 549 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:25,920 Speaker 4: to affordable housing. We know that those are still issues 550 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:29,880 Speaker 4: today that impact Black Americans. Two questions here, what parallels 551 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 4: do you see between the issues now and then or 552 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 4: back then? And then what suggestions do you have for 553 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 4: those who want to help out their queer family who 554 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 4: might be facing housing instability at this time? 555 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:46,399 Speaker 2: So in the Funnel, a number of the characters are 556 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:49,640 Speaker 2: black and queer and trends who live in this kitchen 557 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 2: net building, and we don't actually state it in the 558 00:34:53,200 --> 00:34:55,400 Speaker 2: film because it's like not like if this is not 559 00:34:55,520 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 2: a teaching film where we say this person is this 560 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:00,840 Speaker 2: and this person is that, Like, no, that's actually not necessary. 561 00:35:01,160 --> 00:35:04,000 Speaker 2: It's like, these are black folks. They have various experiences 562 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:06,960 Speaker 2: in being black and living in these in these settings. 563 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:11,040 Speaker 2: And so for people, first of all, don't put your queer, 564 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:13,799 Speaker 2: trans child or family member out the house of their 565 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:16,399 Speaker 2: queer their trands. That's number one. Don't put them out, 566 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:19,240 Speaker 2: and don't be okay if one of your family members 567 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:24,360 Speaker 2: put somebody out, don't do that. It's not okay. Trans 568 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:27,759 Speaker 2: people are not your enemy. They're not your enemy. Queer 569 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:30,479 Speaker 2: people are not your enemy. Queer and trans people, trans 570 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:32,279 Speaker 2: people can be queer, all of that. They're not your 571 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:36,640 Speaker 2: enemy's That's that's the first. Like start at home, and 572 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:41,080 Speaker 2: then in your community where where what kinds of housing exists? 573 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:45,600 Speaker 2: Is there housing for folks who have been houseless or 574 00:35:45,640 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 2: folks who have been homeless looking for a place to live, 575 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:52,120 Speaker 2: and is it inclusive of all people regardless of their background. Like, 576 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:54,240 Speaker 2: if there are things that are going to be created, 577 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:56,240 Speaker 2: if you want to create, if you want to create 578 00:35:56,320 --> 00:35:58,880 Speaker 2: some sort of housing justice project, is it really for 579 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:01,719 Speaker 2: all black folks or just for some people? Is it 580 00:36:01,760 --> 00:36:05,359 Speaker 2: even for people who are disable physically disable, who need 581 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:07,799 Speaker 2: to get in and out like all of those things are. 582 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:10,480 Speaker 2: Don't say it is if it's not, And don't say 583 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:12,640 Speaker 2: you're gonna build housing for black people if you don't 584 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 2: actually need all sorts of black folks, Just say who 585 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:21,400 Speaker 2: leave out a whole swath of black folks? Because if 586 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:26,160 Speaker 2: you know that, especially a number of black people who 587 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:29,720 Speaker 2: do not have homes are young people who are clearing trends, 588 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:33,320 Speaker 2: they don't have a place to live. And so how 589 00:36:33,880 --> 00:36:37,120 Speaker 2: is your housing, like the project that you're building out 590 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:40,120 Speaker 2: your housing initiatives, how is it helping to meet that 591 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:43,000 Speaker 2: need for folks? You know? And then what is it 592 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:45,880 Speaker 2: just all? And then also who's already doing that work? 593 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:48,840 Speaker 2: There are people who have been doing that work, support 594 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 2: their work, flank their work, and ask them questions about 595 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:53,840 Speaker 2: how to do it as opposed to trying to just 596 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:56,600 Speaker 2: figure it out on your own. Excuse me, I think 597 00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:59,720 Speaker 2: that's I think that's really important and in the question 598 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:04,000 Speaker 2: of them, and now, unfortunately, so many things are the same. 599 00:37:04,520 --> 00:37:06,839 Speaker 2: In the nineteen forties, most black people when they moved 600 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:10,200 Speaker 2: to Chicago, they could only live in a kitchen net building. Now, 601 00:37:10,239 --> 00:37:12,160 Speaker 2: of course, we have more options of places to live 602 00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:15,440 Speaker 2: in Chicago. Now there are places in other parts of 603 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:18,560 Speaker 2: this country where you have to work a certain amount 604 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:21,400 Speaker 2: of hour, You have to work well over forty hours 605 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 2: a week in order to even afford a one bedroom apartment. 606 00:37:24,560 --> 00:37:28,000 Speaker 2: And that is absolutely disproportionately impacting black folks. And so 607 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:31,600 Speaker 2: it's not enough to buy up the block. It's not 608 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:34,080 Speaker 2: enough to buy up the block. What is the housing 609 00:37:34,080 --> 00:37:36,880 Speaker 2: policy in your state, what's the hot housing policy in 610 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:40,479 Speaker 2: your city, what is our federal housing policy? All those things. 611 00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:44,000 Speaker 2: Individuals are not going to solve the problem on their own. 612 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:48,080 Speaker 2: Of course, millionaires, a billionaire should be taxed up. They 613 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:52,359 Speaker 2: should absolutely be tax tax, tax, tax tax, that's one part. 614 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:55,440 Speaker 2: But your individual homie buying up the block. Sure it 615 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:58,640 Speaker 2: can help folks, but that is not the solution. Actually, 616 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:01,760 Speaker 2: our government owes us a lot more than we receive. 617 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:08,000 Speaker 6: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, you better say that all 618 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:11,319 Speaker 6: of it, because I think it's something that needs to 619 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:16,360 Speaker 6: be heard, and Charlene, I think you know. I just 620 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:19,400 Speaker 6: want to thank you for all of the work that 621 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:23,479 Speaker 6: you do through all of the various avenues in which 622 00:38:23,520 --> 00:38:26,640 Speaker 6: you are putting things out there for folks to see 623 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:27,120 Speaker 6: and hear. 624 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:28,440 Speaker 2: Thank you. 625 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:33,000 Speaker 6: And so for folks who haven't figured out who you 626 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:37,759 Speaker 6: are yet, let's let the people know where they can 627 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:43,319 Speaker 6: find you on social media, what other projects you have 628 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:46,279 Speaker 6: in the works, where they can get your books so 629 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:49,400 Speaker 6: that they can start their reading. So let's let the 630 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:49,840 Speaker 6: people know. 631 00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:55,000 Speaker 2: Okay, Well, my website is Charlene Caruthers dot com. I'm 632 00:38:55,040 --> 00:38:58,720 Speaker 2: on Instagram, same name, Charlene Carruthers. I'm also on Twitter, 633 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:02,839 Speaker 2: not very much these days, but Charlolene's cac I'm on there. 634 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:06,719 Speaker 2: I pop in and out for sure, usually to live 635 00:39:06,760 --> 00:39:09,120 Speaker 2: tweet marrit at First Sight or something like that, but 636 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:14,600 Speaker 2: I'll retweet other things and then I also you. Of course, 637 00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:18,920 Speaker 2: you can purchase Unapologetic at any independent bookstore or anywhere 638 00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:25,160 Speaker 2: frankly online. It's available in heart back paperback. It's a 639 00:39:25,160 --> 00:39:27,520 Speaker 2: hardcover pick. I don't know all these I told y'all 640 00:39:27,640 --> 00:39:31,000 Speaker 2: later it gets but you can get a hard cover 641 00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:33,400 Speaker 2: or you can get a paperback. You also get in 642 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:36,880 Speaker 2: audio as well, and I'm actually reading it, so folks, 643 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:38,600 Speaker 2: if you want the audio version, you can do that. 644 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:42,880 Speaker 2: And then I actually just wrap. I directed another short 645 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:47,080 Speaker 2: film produced by Full Spectrum Features here in Chicago title 646 00:39:47,160 --> 00:39:50,520 Speaker 2: l'a salida and it's about anti blackness in the non 647 00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:53,120 Speaker 2: black Liatin Next community. It's a narrative film, so it's 648 00:39:53,120 --> 00:39:56,520 Speaker 2: about it's actually following. It takes place in the midst 649 00:39:56,560 --> 00:39:59,680 Speaker 2: of the protests after George Floyd was killed in twenty twenty. 650 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:02,320 Speaker 2: So I just directed that film. It was the story 651 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:06,360 Speaker 2: was developed by David Rojas, community storyteller, and I directed 652 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:08,400 Speaker 2: the film, so it should be out later this year. 653 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:11,000 Speaker 2: And then you know the funnel and we're screening at 654 00:40:11,120 --> 00:40:13,279 Speaker 2: from festivals across the country, so check us out on 655 00:40:13,320 --> 00:40:14,760 Speaker 2: our website and on social media. 656 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:19,160 Speaker 4: That is so amazing. Congratulations, and I'm just want to 657 00:40:19,160 --> 00:40:20,879 Speaker 4: say to the ladies listening, make sure you go out 658 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:23,080 Speaker 4: and support. Okay, you will add all the links to 659 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:25,360 Speaker 4: the show notes, so be sure to support, support, support, 660 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:28,480 Speaker 4: and again, Charlene, thank you so much. We appreciate you. 661 00:40:28,680 --> 00:40:30,919 Speaker 2: Of course, thank you for having me. Thank you. 662 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:34,440 Speaker 6: Hey, lady, it's doctor Dom here from the Cultivating her 663 00:40:34,480 --> 00:40:38,479 Speaker 6: Space podcast. Are you currently a resident of the state 664 00:40:38,520 --> 00:40:43,960 Speaker 6: of California and contemplating starting your therapy journey well, If so, 665 00:40:44,719 --> 00:40:49,000 Speaker 6: please reach out to me at doctor Dominique Brusard dot com. 666 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:54,360 Speaker 6: That's d R D O M I N I q 667 00:40:54,640 --> 00:41:00,080 Speaker 6: U E b R O U ss AR D dot 668 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:05,280 Speaker 6: to schedule a free fifteen minute consultation. I look forward 669 00:41:05,320 --> 00:41:09,560 Speaker 6: to hearing from you. Thank you, thanks for joining us today. 670 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:16,080 Speaker 6: Please note that our show may contain conversations about self help, advice, 671 00:41:16,680 --> 00:41:20,920 Speaker 6: self empowerment, and mental health, but is by no means 672 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:24,840 Speaker 6: meant to be a substitute for an ongoing formal relationship 673 00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:28,880 Speaker 6: with a trained mental health provider. If you are someone 674 00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:32,280 Speaker 6: you know is in need of mental health care, please 675 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:37,520 Speaker 6: visit a Therapy for Black Girls directory Psychology today or 676 00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:39,280 Speaker 6: contact your insurance provider. 677 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:41,279 Speaker 4: If you liked what you heard and want to keep 678 00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:45,200 Speaker 4: the conversation going, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and 679 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:50,040 Speaker 4: Twitter at her space podcast, or check out our website 680 00:41:50,080 --> 00:41:51,760 Speaker 4: at herspace podcast dot com. 681 00:41:52,040 --> 00:41:54,480 Speaker 7: And before we meet again, repeat after me. 682 00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:58,800 Speaker 1: I attract abundance and prosperity with ease