Know Better Do Better

In this episode, I unpack my conflicted thoughts on affirmative action, reparations, and race-conscious policies, using Black land loss as a case study for why this debate resists easy answers. Tech difficulties delayed us a week, but I hope you'll enjoy the final episode of the year.

Here’s something you might not realize: Progressives focus on the harms of over-policing, but Black Americans are more worried about under-policing. While progressives shout “abolish the police,” most Black Americans don’t want that at all. In fact, they overwhelmingly want *more* effective policing, not less. There's a lot to unpack.  Click here to support Marie's work and catch up on all the new...

First I was sure implicit bias explained everything. Then I was sure it explained nothing. These days, though, I'm in more of an awkward in-between.  In this episode, I walk through how I got convinced, de-convinced, and and landed here — still side-eyeing the science on implicit bias, but not ready to write it off completely. Click here to support Marie's work and catch up on all the new members-...

The GI Bill fueled America’s prosperity — but for Black families, it deepened inequality. I'll explain the racist design of the GI bill and what its connection is to the racial wealth gap. Following the money, we can see how a single policy helped shape the economic divide we still live with today. Click here to support Marie's work and catch up on all the new members-only episodes, which are rele...

Black soldiers have fought in every American war. They have, by their own admission, fought for a country that didn't fight for them. This Veterans Day, we look at the history of Black military service — and the paradox of Black patriotism. Click here to support Marie's work and catch up on all the new members-only episodes, which are released weekly.  Oh, and here is Marie's article she mentioned...

This Columbus Day—more aptly, Indigenous Peoples’ Day—we’re talking about the mounting efforts to rewrite American history in real time. From pushing pro-slavery cartoons into classrooms, to pressuring the Smithsonian polish up and whitewash the past, to scrubbing Harriet Tubman and Jackie Robinson from federal websites..... There's a lot to unpack. Click here  to catch up on all the new members-o...

I'm laying out exactly what I have to say to people on the far-left, the far-right, and everyone in-between. And I'm not mincing words.  (This first episode, I intended to only share with paid subscribers, but I decided to release for everyone. It just had to reach more ears, okay?) You can expect more new episodes, just for paid members, coming this week. If that's you, get excited. If it's not, ...

We’re back, baby.  In this honest, tell-all comeback episode, I’m sharing where I've been and what’s been happening behind the scenes in the world of DEI. I’m talking backlash, bans, breakthroughs, and what the future of the podcast — and the movement — really looks like.  If you want to keep listening (and help make this work possible), I’d love to have you  join me as a paid supporter . You gain...

This episode is a goodbye, at least for now. (And it's also a few quick words on The Fourth of July, since that feels relevant.) I'll miss ya dearly.  If you want to keep hearing from Marie each week, head to patreon.com/mariebeech  for a new article in your inbox every Friday.  Related episode: The War Within Antiracism: Why the Movement is Divided on Apple & Spotify If you're not ready for i...

A concerning op-ed revealed that “three quarters of white people don’t have any non-white friends.” Why is this? What are the most shocking stats? And what should you do? This is a new, updated version of one of the most popular episodes. I've filled it out with more context, more info, and answers to the questions that you sent in.  Related episodes: Diversifying Your Social Circle– the Dos and D...

Why is cultural appropriation such a controversial topic? How are opinions on cultural appropriation changing in recent years? What actually counts as cultural appropriation? Are you guilty of it? This episode has been pulled from the archives. I answer all of the most pressing questions and offer clear guidance. Enjoy. To support Marie and get exclusive resources, head to patreon.com/mariebeech ....

There is a way that we are unintentionally amplifying the negative impacts of racism. Some of our most celebrated methods of antiracism are provoking a little thing called stereotype threat. Okay, so it's actually a big thing, and it's very bad news for people of color. I explain all that in the episode and reveal the surprising way we can correct course.  This is a new, updated version of one of...

A clear, concise lesson on what systemic racism actually is. What is the full definition of racism? Why do I take issue with how I hear people using the term systemic racism? And how do you avoid that common mistake? I've got you covered. This is a new, updated version of one of the most popular episodes. Mentioned:  Biased by Dr. Jennifer Eberhadt Related episodes: Should We Embrace Race or Move...

Learn the complicated origin of Juneteenth, get informed about the best terms to use, and gain clarity on what Juneteenth means for us today. This episode is a new, update version of previous releases related to Juneteenth. Related episodes: Slavery—  All the Stuff No One Ever Taught on Apple and Spotify The Forgotten Period of Unbelievable Racial Progress: Reconstruction on Apple and Spotify A De...

I’d bet money that you don’t know as much as you think you know about critical race theory. I was surprised when I went to the original work of the scholars who created it. In this episode, we clear away the assumptions and we get right at the heart of the matter: What is critical race theory, really? And why is it so controversial? This is a new, updated version of one of the earliest, most popul...

Consider this Intersectionality 101. Learn about the origins of intersectional theory, how intersectionality gained widespread attention, what critics take issue with, and why it matters. This episode has been pulled from the archives and given a fresh twist. Related episodes: Should We Embrace Race or Move Past It? It's Complicated. on Apple and Spotify Antiracism 101: 3 Basic Ideas You Need to K...

White people often make sense of their racial identity by thinking of themselves as an oppressor or savior. But these flawed core beliefs don’t translate into much. To gain a better view of yourself and other white people, you need a healthier way to make sense of white identity. This episode has been pulled from the archives and given a fresh twist. Related episodes  Dissecting Robin DiAngelo's (...

Now that we're a year and a half into this thing, I figured it's about time I revist my story and share details I never have before. I open up about my hardships, my radical transformations, my plentiful mistakes, and how I got to where I am now. Don't miss this rare, unguarded episode  — it'll probably be another two years before I decide to be this open again. Kidding. Well, only kind of.  Relat...

From Ubers to courtrooms to classrooms, there's a pernicious kind of racial discrimination in which a few bad apples spoil the bunch. In this episode, I'm sharing a perfect case study — one that will make it easy for you to explain what systemic racism really is and how it works.  Related episodes: Systemic Racism 101 on Apple and Spotify Antiracism 101: The 3 Basic Ideas You Need to Know on Apple...

Despite being widely criticized, White Fragility has been hugely successful. The best-selling book, which fraught with mistaken assumptions and misguided directives, epitomizes a very flawed approach to antiracism. This episode is a clear, concise explainer of three major issues —  and these are critiques you'll want to hear.  Related episodes: Everyone’s Wrong About Racial Bias on Apple and Spoti...

Robin DiAngelo's rationale is littered with issues, but this episode is devoted to one error in particular — a teaching that I followed until it just about ran me into the ground. A teaching that too many of us have adopted.  Related episodes: Systemic Racism 101 on Apple and Spotify Microaggressions in 15 Minutes on Apple and Spotify Referenced: Nice Racism by Robin DiAngelo New Yorker Interview,...

When it comes to DiAngelo's approach to antiracism, I have some weighty grievances. Concerns, if you will. Let's talk about them.  Related episodes: Identity Politics... It’s Complicated on Apple & Spotify Exposing the Lies That Make Us Fragile on Apple & Spotify White Allies, You Need to Change How You Think About Whiteness on Apple & Spotify Referenced: Nice Racism by Robin DiAngelo...

Let's turn our attention to misogynoir, the unique struggle of Black women.  Related episodes: Intersectionality in 30 Min: How it Originated, Gained Popularity, & Has Rapidly Changed on Apple & Spotify Sources: Demarginalizing the Intersections of Race and Sex by Kimberle Crenshaw PBS, "Not All Women Gained the Vote in 1920" NPR, "The Root: How Racism Tainted Women's Suffrage" To support...

I have good news and bad news. I'll start with the bad news: The desire to be thought of as antiracist doesn't actually make you antiracist. If only! The good news: If you do want to be antiracist, there's a clear and attainable threshold that you can meet, and it's probably not what you think.  Related episodes:  Ep. 1, sharing my story on Apple & Spotify Exposing the Lies That Make Us Fragil...

I'm feeling brave enough to address criticism I've received in response to previous episodes. Since I talk a big game about facing conflict and disagreement, I figured it's time to practice what I preach. So, buckle up. My critics make some good points.  Related episodes: Why I'm Not Worried About Book Bans on Apple & Spotify Learn Critical Race Theory in 20 Minutes on Apple & Spotify The...