History Shows Us

Yes, an essay written 130 years ago—by a Black woman who was a crusader for justice—is still relevant today as we read and hear about what happened to Jordan Neely on a train in New York earlier this week.

In this episode, Lettie reads excerpts from "Lynch Law" (1893) by Ida B. Wells and shows vital connections to not only the killing and lynching of Jordan Neely, but also to the racist systems and institutions in the U.S. as a whole. History always shows us!

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Read more about and from Ida B. Wells:

• Crusade for Justice: The Autobiography of Ida B. Wells
• The Light of Truth: Writings of an Anti-Lynching Crusader
• Southern Horrors: Lynch Law In All Its Phases

"The progress is healing the wound that the blow made. And they haven’t even begun to pull the knife out, much less heal the wound. They won’t even admit the knife is there." - Malcolm X

Malcolm X was born on May 19, 1925. In this episode Lettie shares a few facts about him, she talks about a newspaper he started in 1960, and Lettie reads a few quotes you need to hear and remember because they are still just as applicable in 2023. Happy birthday to one of the most brilliant and influential revolutionary leaders in history!

Book recommendations:

• The Autobiography of Malcolm X
• Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention
• The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.
• The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X
• Malcolm X Talks to Young People

Other resources:

• "The Ballot or the Bullet" (read and/or listen to the speech)
• "Message to the Grassroots"
• Malcolm X's speech addressing police brutality

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Follow Lettie on Instagram @sincerely.lettie and the podcast at @historyshowsuspodcast

Understanding systemic racism also requires knowledge about the weaponization of whiteness and how it continuously functions. In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Kina Reed and we dive into this, anti-Blackness, the lies surrounding history and whiteness, Kina's perspective on trauma and how it affects humanity, and more.

Kina Reed is a DEI consultant and facilitator, researcher, learning strategist, community advocate, and someone who is committed to moving us all closer to the goal line of shared humanity. I met Kina through Instagram early last year and I'm so glad I did. Her spirit, ability to be unapologetically herself, and passion for racial justice is obvious!

Follow Kina on Instagram @theantiblacknessreader and @divestingfromwhiteness .

Follow me on Instagram @sincerely.lettie and @historyshowsuspodcast .

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There's this whole "we are going back to normal" idea going around now after receiving the news about President Elect Joe Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala Harris and, y'all, that mentality is dangerous. I talk about that in this episode and Quawan Charles, the 15-year-old Black child who should still be here today.

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