OwnYourStories

One thing we learned in recent years is that finding the joy and finding the humor in things when everything else is chaotic is a powerful muscle. That's what Siona and Michael talked about the day after the election while the results were still being counted. There is so much work to do nd we, like others, plan to stay just as committed to pushing for change in our communities ond in our lanes. But it doesn't mean we can't enjoy sh*t in the meantime.

The election is on Tuesday and progressive voices across the country told us what they are feeling. You should listen.

Revisiting a conversation with Najee Wilson, the muse behind Kehinde Wileys "Rumors of War."

For almost three weeks Black Lives Matter chants have filled the streets throughout the world - a chant of reckoning A reckoning sparked by the death of George Floyd but rooted in centuries of imperialistic violence pushed onto Black and Brown bodies by powers in Global North.In the U.S. the most obvious example is historical police misconduct and police brutality - but this violence is seen everywhere. So, people everywhere are pushing back on the anti-blackness and anti-otherness. "Reckoning in the (Former) Confederacy" features different voices of people in Richmond who are showing up to in different ways -whether in protests or moments of reflection. People who are pushing against the same thing while many people figure out what exactly is their lane in long term resistance and interrogation of systems and how do we make sure that Black Lives Matter INCLUDES ALL Black life. Putting together this episode was hard in so many ways, First, because every technological malfunction that could happen DID happen. Plus, mentally - I've been burnout and distressed since the top of May when I saw the video of Ahmaud Arbery. I was cussed out several times and told to go back where I come from as I gathered audio for this. And working in news doesn't help. Which is why I'm even more proud of this episode So please do listen and do share. Because when so many spaces don't tell the range of Black & Brown stories properly and when so many media spaces try to limit the voices of Black storytellers like me, we gotta say 'nah fuck that shit' and push back. Next episode we really gonna dive headfirst into intersectionality! Today we reflect on that and so many other experiences.

Welcome to the first episode of the OwnYourStories podcast! A few weeks ago we asked, "What song takes you back to moments in your childhood?" - and y'all truly delivered. People's memories of childhood music are sentimental, unexpected and have an impact on people today even if they don't listen to those songs often anymore. Take a listen, enjoy and stay tuned for next week's episode! OwnYourStories on SoundCloud AND on Instagram for updates for weekly question prompts. Also - share, share and share some more.