Systemic

Violence, by definition, is the use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage, or destroy. So the definition of nonviolence should be the opposite. And by definition, technically it is. An “abstention from violence as a matter of principle.   When discussing nonviolence as a means of social change and resistance, though, we’re referring to two different types. The sanitized version, that fo...

Imagine pulling water out of thin air. It’s actually not that far fetched. Have you ever seen condensation on a cold bottle on a hot day? Well, what you’re seeing isn’t coming from the cold beverage. It’s the warm moisture in the air interacting cold surface and creating water. That’s a crude and basic version of what Moses West, of the Moses West foundation, and his Atmospheric Water Generation (...

In this episode of Systemic, our host Dan Kimbrough welcomes back guest Brittany Friedman, professor and now author of the forthcoming book "Carceral Apartheid: How lies and white supremacist run our prisons.” In the book, professor Friedman's research exposes the parallel systems of control that operate both outside and inside the prison walls - what she calls a "carceral apartheid." Through her...

When you think about Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben, what comes to mind? Beloved American food mascots or the caricatures of racist stereotypes for African Americans? In this episode of systemic, our host Dan Kimbrough sits down with Dr. David Pilgrim, founder and director of the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery. We discuss the toxic legacy of the Jim Crow era - a dark chapter in American history mark...

In this episode of Systemic, our host, Dan Kimbrough, sits with Romain Muhammad, the founder of Diversify World. Diversify World an agency dedicated to bridging diversity, equity, and inclusion gaps between the corporate world and marginalized communities. Today we discuss the power and resilience of the African diaspora. Romain has conducted extensive research on the political and cultural impact...

Headlines scream the "decline" of DEI, but here's the truth: most efforts have been performative. We're talking black squares on social media, not dismantling systemic bias. On this episode of Systemic, our host Dan Kimbrough talks with Farah Bala, a Leadership EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Oppression) expert. We unpack why surface-level DEI fails and what true inclusion looks like. Far...

hen we think of prison, we often focus on the criminal aspect of the institution. These individuals broke the law and are being punished for doing so. But the punishment, as intended, was to be removed from society for a predefined amount of time, and then, as part of your agreement, you are released back into society. But, while in prison, many prisoners are dehumanized and receive treatment that...

In this episode of Systemic, we hear from food activist Clancy Harrison and discuss the issues of food insecurity and The Food Dignity® Movement.  Clancy shares stories from her 14 years of experience from a nutritionist to fighting hunger, and explains The Food Dignity® Movement's approach of centering their work around other's lived experiences. We learn about the different levels of food securi...

In this episode of Systemic our host Dan Kimbrough sits down with Cleveland Way of the Poise Foundation and the Black Equity Coalition. We discuss how the Black Equity Coalition is working to address health disparities and inequities facing Black communities in Pennsylvania. In this episode, Cleveland Way, the Community Engagement Manager with the coalition, discusses their work focusing on COVID-...

Hollywood’s representation of underserved and marginalized populations has been under scrutiny since the first film flickered. Authentic storytelling that fully embraces the complexity and vibrancy of any people must be rooted in, and informed by, those people. Early in the 20th Century, film provided a window to the lives, stories, and narratives of those far and wide. And, as we learned from the...

On the episode of Systemic our host, Dan Kimbrough, sits down with Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, an Associate Professor, and  Director of the Food and Nutrition Education in Communities Program, in the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University Her research explores social and structural determinants of dietary behaviors and diet-related diseases in low-income and Black/Latinx populations an...

On this episode of Systemic, our host Dan Kimbrough sits down with Dr. Melissa Anyiwo. Dr. Anyiwo is an Associate Professor of History and Coordinator of Black Studies at the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania. She is also the Co-Chair of the Vampire Studies Area of the National Popular Culture Association. A transplanted Nigerian-British citizen with a background in race, gender, diversity, and...

When looking at American media, images and portrayals of Middle Easterners and Muslims have always had a negative and terroristic focus. Given that the media we consume plays a large part in how we interpret and understand the world around us, the images have always been problematic for how these groups are treated in America.  In this episode of Systemic our host, Dan Kimbrough sits down with Rah...

Underrepresented students (while we acknowledge that the term includes a wide swath, for this podcast, we're referring to race and ethnicity) entering predominantly white campuses have not only the rigors of higher education to adjust to, but often, also a cultural shift that can leave them feeling lost and alone. While predominantly white institutions (PWI) try their best to diversify there campu...

Black history month is usually spent retelling the same stories and highlighting the same figures. And while it is important that we don't forget the struggles and sacrifices of the significant Black American heroes, have you ever wondered about the Black community and figures in your own backyard? Who were the local business owners and leaders, and what places hold significant value in your town'...

In this episod,e our host, Dan Kimbrough, talks with Rev. Joshua Brockway, who is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren where he serves as the Director for Spiritual Formation and Co-Coordinator for Discipleship Ministries. Rev. Brockway is also an adjunct history professor at Northern Seminary and was recently appointed to the City of Elgin Task Force on Policing.  We'll discuss the...

In this episode, our host Dan Kimbrough will explain the history, importance, and practices of Kwanzaa. While many still hold the idea that Kwanzaa is a replacement or alternative to other winter holidays, it is neither. It's a season of reflection and rededication to one's self, family, community, and people. 

In this episode of systemic, we talk with award-winning journalist Ernest Owens about his journey as a black queer man, his work to help reform queer communities in Philadelphia, the work we should all be doing to help empower marginalized groups in the fight against white supremacist ideology.  Ernest Owens can be found on ernestowens.com

In 1966 the New York Times wrote an article that first referred to Chinese-Americans as the Model Minority. It explained that during a time when billions were being proposed to uplift the Negro, Chinese-American immigrants were building successful lives all by themselves. With no help.  This was the beginning of labeling Asian Americans as the Model Minority. In the episode, we talk with Madalyn M...

Critical Race Theory teaches the truth about American history. The actual truth - good, bad, or otherwise. Learning this truth can be painful, uncomfortable, and bring about shame. Much to the dismay of many, those are good things. By working through our actual history, exploring racism and discrimination, and placing the proper context of how history impacts the country today, we can finally begi...

Creating a podcast about systemic racism, while experiencing it and seeing it play out day to day, can take a toll. One I wasn't mentally prepared for. So I took an unplanned break to regroup and get better at processing the content and discoveries that go into creating Systemic.  Thank you for your patience. And if you're so inclined and can do so, please consider supporting the podcast on patreo...

Did you know that 80 percent of white individual victims are killed by a white individual offender? The FBI reports on crime statistics every year and it turns out most racial groups are the number one offender against themselves. That's because murder, and most crimes, are mostly based on proximity. And with a long history of segregation and redlining, most American communities are homogeneous. S...

Part of discussing and combatting systemic racism is understanding its impact and hearing directly from those who have been impacted.  Mary Hudson was born at the start of the Civil rights movement and grew up with the hope and pain of the time. As a young child in the late 50's/early 60's, she picked cotton. In the '70s, she was jailed for protesting segregated schools, 17 years after Brown vs. B...

American history is filled with depictions of women, the LGBT+ community, and persons of color that are deplorable and reprehensible. From "Little Black Sambo" to black face, to advertising, to even Dr. Seuss, the discriminatory past of America can be vividly seen in how it portrays "the other".  Can and should we judge the artifacts, some that many hold dear, based on our modern notion of what is...

Implicit bias is a theory that suggests how we interact and treat others is based on inherited and learned stereotypes and prejudices. The assumptions we make about the world color how we see things and others.  When looking at training and work to check a person's implicit bias, the aim is usually to just make them better aware of their biases and how it’s affecting their behavior, thoughts, and...