Raising Joyful and Resilient Black Children

On this episode, we're joined by Kelly Starling Lyons , an award winning author and co-founder of The Brown Bookshelf , for a great conversation about her new books, Ty's Travels and Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations, her work to raise awareness of Black book creators and celebrating Black children through stories. Producer/Host: Jacqueline Douge Music produ...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, about her work to help children and families deal with the pandemics of COVID-19 and structural racism, her tips for helping her family and her upcoming memoir about how her patients have transformed her. Producer/Host: Jacqueline Douge Music produced by: Manni Festo Follow us at @whatisblk Sign up for...

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Kimberly N. Parker, educator, adolescent literacy expert and co-founder of #DisruptTexts and #31DaysIBPOC., about how she's working to disrupt the books that are taught to Black and LatinX children, her work with #Disrupttexts and tips to help parents advocate for a more inclusive curriculum in schools. Organizations mentioned in episode: Disrupttexts.org Pro...

On this episode, we're joined by Mahogany L. Brown (@mobrowne) a poet, writer, organizer and educator for an inspiring conversation about her books, Woke Baby, Black Girl Magic & Woke A Young Poet's Call To Justice, an excerpt from her upcoming YA book, Chlorine Sky , power of poetry, social justice, and ways to cultivate the voices of young people. Books and author discussed in this...

This past summer we've seen the role of youth leading calls for social justice and racial justice. In this episode, we're joined by Nina Douge, guest host and What is Black? Podcast Advisory Board Member, to discuss youth activism. Nina is joined by her friends, Caleb Dunson, Ruqaiyyah Lucas-Caldwell and Jacob Starobin for an engaging conversation about the following topics: What youth a...

Andrea Davis Pinkney is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author. In this episode, we talk about her new book, Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell it, a book the provides a front-row set to the dramatic events that led to the African-Americans earning the right to vote, it's relevance to today's events and her role as an author historian. This episode brought to...

Michael W. Waters is an award-winning author, activist, professor, and pastor. A sought-after speaker to national and international audiences, he is a frequent social commentator for major media outlets. In this episode, we talk about his new picture book For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World, the importance of joy and tips for parents to talk their children about questions about...

We're planning to take a mid-season break to plan for the second half of season 2. In addition, we'd love your feedback to help inform the future direction of What is Black. To complete survey go to https://www.whatisblack.co and click on the banner.

In this second part of a two part series on colorism, I speak with developmental psychologist Dr. Sheretta Butler-Barnes, Ph. D. We discuss practical strategies parents can use to help talk to kids about colorism. The episode is brought to you by Audible. You can sign up today for your free 30 day trial at www.audibletrial.com/whatisblack Go to https://www.whatisblack.co to sign up for our newslet...

In the first part of a two-part series on colorism, I'm talking author and educator Alicia D. Williams about her book Genesis Begins Again. We'll discuss her inspiration for writing the book, talk about colorism in the Black family, and learn how colorism impact children. The episode is brought to you by Audible. You can sign up today for your free 30 day trial at www.audibletrial.com/wh...

This episode is an excerpt of a special live recorded conversation that I had a few weeks ago with my colleagues, we discuss how our children are doing and coping during these unprecedented times and ways to improve the systems that determine health outcomes. Featured guests are: Dr. Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, MS Dr. Nathan T. Chomilo, MD Dr. Monique Jindal, M.D. Dr. Jasmine Zapata, MD, MPH Resou...

On this episode, I interview Mijha Godfrey, co-founder of Jambo Books, a multicultural book subscription service for kids ages 0-13. Mijha is committed to ensuring that children of color have books where they see themselves as the stars of the story. She does this through curating diverse, inclusive, entertaining and engaging books for families. During our conversation, we talk about the important...

In this episode, were joined by sociologist Dr. Margaret A. Hagerman. These past few weeks have made this conversation that was recorded a few weeks before the recent news reports of the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and the experience of Christian Cooper just doing what he enjoys, watching birds in the park, more necessary. During our conversation, youll hear about Dr....

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jocelyn Mitchell-Williams, MD, PhD, Associate Dean for Diversity and Community Affairs and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. We discuss the topic of talking about sexual health issues facing teens and young adults, how gynecologists can help parents and their daughters navigate conversations about se...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This episode we share a great resource to address mental health in the Black Community. During this episode, I speak with Dr. Riana Anderson and Dr. Shawn Jones, clinical psychologists and researchers. We discuss their series, Our Mental Health Minute and how they're using media to increase the accessibility of mental health resources and destigmatize the...

The COVID-19 pandemic has shed new light on the health inequities faced by the Black community and other communities of color. One strategy that might help to address these health inequities is to increase the number of doctors of color in medicine. This week we're discussing the importance of increasing the diversity of doctors in medicine. My guest is Dr. Frank Clark, MD. Dr. Clark and I di...

St. Clair Derrick-Jules shares her new book Dear Khloe: Love Letters to My Little Sister , inspired by her 6-year-old sister Khloe to help her love her afro. Dear Khloe features photos of a hundred Black women, accompanied by their personal narratives of sometimes harrowing but always triumphant journeys through a hostile landscape towards love of their natural hair. She put together this book bec...

On this episode of What is Black Podcast, we're joined by Drs. Lanre Falusi and Lisa Varghese-Kroll to discuss the unique health challenges experienced by immigrant families and children, their immigrant experience, impact of COVID-19 and a preview of their upcoming podcast, Health and Home with the Hippocratic Hosts. To learn more about our guests go to https://www.whatisblack.co/podcast Wha...

It's important that moms feel supported and there's no better way to find that support than in a community with fellow moms. During today's episode, I'm joined by Lara Schulte, host of Generation. Mom podcast, to talk with me about why it's so important for moms to build communities. What's in this episode: Lara discusses why she and her co-host Jenn Rout created Gene...

Ashli St. Armant (@AshliStarmant) shares her Audible Original book VIVA DURANT AND THE SECRET OF THE SILVER BUTTONS, about 14-year-old Viva Durant who visits her grandmother in New Orleans for the summer and while she's there she ends up solving a mystery. During our conversation You'll learn about Ashli's connections to New Orleans The role jazz plays in the story History of hand c...

During this season we'll be featuring more children's authors. As a pediatrician, I love books and want to promote reading and authors of color. Books are magical and a great resource for kids to see themselves, learn, discover, explore and have fun. Books are conversation starters. In this weeks of What is Black podcast, we talk about a new childrens book, Fry Bread, that explores a mod...

Brandy Colbert (@BrandyColbert) shares THE ONLY BLACK GIRLS IN TOWN, an unforgettable story about the only two black girls in town who discover a collection of hidden journals revealing shocking secrets of the past. The book is filled with family, love, friendships, celebrates diverse families and explores themes of micro-aggressions, racism & colorism. Join our conversation as we discuss THE...

Jewell Parker Rhodes (@jewell_p _ rhodes) shares BLACK BROTHER, BLACK BROTHER , A powerful coming-of-age middle-grade novel about two brothers, one who presents as white, the other as black, this story explores the complex ways in which they are forced to navigate the world all while training for a fencing competition. The book addresses issues of colorism,the school-to-prison pipeline, and racial...

Blogger and writer Amanda Rodriguez also known as the Dude Mom discusses her new book, 50 Things to Do in Babys First Year: The First-Time Moms Guide for Your Baby, Yourself and Your Sanity, a guide to surviving and thriving the first year of parenting. During our conversation she discusses the following: Her perspective and experience on parenting and raising three sons Importance of having suppo...

On today's episode, we're joined by Lori L. Tharps to discuss black hair and her book, Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America. Lori is a set-described diversity diva and hairstorian. During this episode we cover the following topics and so much more! The complicated history of Black hair Strategies to help kids learn to love their hair Cultural and historical importanc...