The Color Between The Lines with Esther Dillard

As a new year begins, this episode takes a moment to pause and reflect on the conversations that shaped the past one. Over the last year on The Color Between the Lines , I spoke with authors, advocates, and public voices about history, power, health, and the stories that continue to influence our communities. This episode looks back at a few of those conversationsnot as nostalgia, but as context f...

Do economic boycotts actually work or are they just symbolic gestures? In this companion episode of The Color Between the Lines , journalist and educator Esther Dillard examines how economic protest has shaped real change in American history from Elizabeth Jennings 1854 streetcar case to the Montgomery Bus Boycott , and into present-day movements. Drawing on historical precedent and modern example...

Civil rights advocates are warning about a proposed rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that could significantly weaken enforcement of fair lending laws making it harder to challenge discriminatory lending practices. In this episode of The Color Between the Lines, host Esther Dillard speaks with Alphonso David, President and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum and a longtime civi...

In this episode of The Color Between the Lines , journalist and host Esther Dillard speaks with LaTosha Brown , co-founder of Black Voters Matter , about the national We Aint Buying It economic pressure campaign. Launched during the Black FridayCyber Monday shopping season, the campaign urges consumers to withhold spending from major corporations accused of enabling policies that undermine voting...

Actress, entrepreneur, and author Tia Mowry joins Esther Dillard for a powerful conversation about family, food, and the difficult health conversations we often avoid during the holidays. In this intimate interview, Tia opens up about: Losing her grandmother and aunt to cancer Her own abnormal mammogram scare and what it taught her Why Black families face higher cancer death rates How the American...

AI is getting better but its also getting bolder. And last week, a viral post claiming Patti LaBelle visited Chaka Khan in the hospital fooled thousands of people. It looked emotional. It looked dramatic. It looked real until I started checking the facts. VEED-subtitles_Esther's Video - In this episode of The Color Between The Lines , I break down 10 quick, journalist-approved ways to spot an AI-g...

In this special episode of The Color Between the Lines, Esther Dillard brings forward a hidden chapter of American civil rights history that predates Rosa Parks by more than a century. Before the Montgomery Bus Boycott before Jim Crow was challenged in the Supreme Court before the modern civil rights movement had a name there was Elizabeth Jennings . In 1854, on the streets of New York City, a you...

In this powerful episode, Esther Dillard sits down with VuAn Foster , founder of Life After 2 Losses , a New Jersey nonprofit providing free grief support to families after pregnancy and infant loss with a special focus on Black mothers who are too often ignored in medical settings. VuAn shares the heartbreaking moment a nurse told her your baby is going to die and the painful neglect that followe...

In this episode of The Color Between the Lines , journalist and host Esther Dillard speaks with James and Krista White , the father-daughter team behind the acclaimed book Culture Design: Strategies for Building Diverse, Equitable, and Innovative Organizations. They discuss what it really takes to build company cultures that dont just talk about diversity but live it. From boardrooms to classrooms...

In this episode of The Color Between the Lines , journalist Esther Dillard speaks with author, filmmaker, and educator Dr. Jeanne Nutter , whose new book Images of America: Walnut Street YMCA and YWCA celebrates a pivotal piece of Black history in Wilmington, Delaware . Dr. Nutter reveals the untold stories of how the Walnut Street Y became a hub for Black excellence, community leadership, and cul...

In this episode of The Color Between the Lines , journalist Esther Dillard speaks with author and financial coach Michael Wynn , whose book Habits Dont Lie shows how small, consistent actions can create major life breakthroughs. Michael opens up about overcoming bipolar depression, bankruptcy, and self-sabotage , and how developing the right habitsand faithhelped him rebuild both his finances and...

In this powerful episode of The Color Between the Lines , journalist Esther Dillard speaks with Dr.  Phillip Atiba Solomon , Professor of Psychology and Black Studies at Yale University and Co-Founder of the Center for Policing Equity. Dr. Solomon warns that the growing militarization of Americas police and cities could signal a dangerous shift toward authoritarianism. He explains how federal...

In this episode of The Color Between the Lines , host Esther Dillard talks with Tami Charles , New York Times bestselling author of All Because You Matter , about her newest and final book in the trilogy Together United . Tami shares how her son inspired the first story, how she and illustrator Bryan Collier collaborated to bring its message to life, and why she believes unity only happens when we...

How do you find success in a world obsessed with likes, followers, and quick wins? Author and motivational speaker Jimmy Jean says the answer is purpose. In this episode of The Color Between the Lines , Jimmy shares insights from his new book The Purpose Driven Influencer a soulful guide to authentic living and leading from the heart. From his early days working as a janitor to becoming a motivati...

The Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI) has opened a brand-new Culture Hub in New York City a space where books, stories, performance, and history come together to celebrate the African Diaspora. In this episode of The Color Between the Lines , Executive Director Melody Capote shares how the Hub will connect authors, artists, and community voices. We explore how storytell...

More than 300,000 Black women have lost jobs this year . But one leader is determined to change the narrative. In this episode of The Color Between the Lines , host Esther Dillard speaks with Kimberly Lee Minor, CEO of the Women of Color Retail Alliance (WOCRA) , about the upcoming B.I.G. Summit 2025 Blaze. Innovate. Grow. Kimberly shares how the summit will: Put women of color in the room with re...

What does it mean to turn a deeply personal, often taboo experience into powerful art? In this episode of The Color Between the Lines, journalist Esther Dillard sits down with award-winning storyteller, comedian, and social entrepreneur Satori Shakoor . From touring with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic as one of the iconic Brides of Funkenstein to creating Detroits Secret Society of Twist...

Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Imaeyen Ibanga (AJ+) joins Esther Dillard to discuss her acclaimed documentary series Zip Codes , which explores the Haitian immigration crisis and the realities Black immigrants face in America. We talk about: The human impact of ICE raids and deportations How U.S. history and policy shape Haitis struggles today Why Haitian voices must be centered in immigra...

In this episode of The Color Between the Lines , host Esther Dillard speaks with Contessa Gayles , the Emmy-nominated director and producer behind the acclaimed documentary The Debutantes . Through powerful storytelling and intimate visuals, The Debutantes reimagines the legacy of Black debutante cultureexploring how young women of color use these traditions to assert their identity, build communi...

In this inspiring episode of The Color Between the Lines , host Esther Dillard speaks with award-winning journalist and author ALelia Bundles , the great-great-granddaughter of the legendary entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker . ALelia shares her journey of preserving and telling her familys history, the untold stories behind Madam C.J. Walkers rise as Americas first self-made female millionaire, and w...

What happens when Black love is rooted in softness, caregiving, and legacy? In this episode, award-winning author Kennedy Ryan sits down with journalist Esther Dillard to talk about her newest novel Cant Get Enough a story that centers a Black male caregiver, an evolving romance, and the quiet strength found in caring for a loved one with Alzheimers. We explore: Why writing tenderness in Black lov...

Buzzsprout Podcast Description: In this powerful episode of The Color Between the Lines , host Esther Dillard speaks with Lola Greene , founder of Urban Indigo and the first Special Education PTSA in Georgia. As a passionate advocate for children with disabilities and their families, Lola shares personal insight into whats at stake as budget cuts and federal policy changes threaten vital services...

In this deeply moving episode of The Color Between the Lines , host Esther Dillard sits down with award-winning author Sharon G. Flake , best known for her iconic book The Skin Im In , to discuss her powerful new release, The Family Im In a heartfelt sequel exploring father-son dynamics, masculinity, and the emotional lives of Black boys. Sharon shares what inspired her to revisit the characters o...

In this powerful episode of The Color Between the Lines , host Esther Dillard sits down with Grazell Howard, Board Chair of the Black AIDS Institute, for a compelling conversation that pulls back the curtain on HIV and AIDS in Black communities. Howard, a passionate advocate and strategist, shares sobering facts and uplifting solutions about how HIV disproportionately affects not only Black gay me...

In this powerful episode of The Color Between the Lines , host Esther Dillard speaks with Nika Sewell-Smith, Senior Story Producer and Genealogist at Ancestry.com, about a revolutionary new research tool: the Articles of Enslavement Collection . This collection uses AI to surface hundreds of thousands of historical newspaper clippings that mention enslaved individualsfreedom seekers, auction listi...