Celebrating Black History Month: Listen, Read, Watch
In honor of Black History Month, we are excited to spend the next month celebrating the amazing Black scholars, activists, and theologians who are a source of deep inspiration for us at Introspective Space. Centering the voices of Black leaders is essential in working towards the liberatory world we are all interested in creating and is a source of celebration everyday, not just this month. The intention of this series is to pause to highlight the work of incredible Black scholars, activists, theologians, and Introspective Spaces community members who influence us everyday and who we may have referenced in different ways over the past year. We know that our humanity is inexplicably intertwined with each others and our fight for racial justice doesn’t end until we have a world of justice, equity, and liberation.
Listen: Blacktivism in the Academy
You may have seen us highlight this podcast in one of our prior newsletters! I've absolutely love this podcast hosted by Interfaith America alum Dr. JT Snipes and the incredible scholar-activists at the DREAM collective. I am so inspired by the countless scholars who are dedicated to dismantling racist structures. I learn so much each podcast!
Read: Between the World and Me
When I think about which books I have carried in my heart for years, I always think of Ta-Nahesi Coates “Between the World and Me.” I listened to this book many years ago during my research year from medical school on my long drives from San Francisco to Palo Alto. Ta-Nahesi Coates’ poignant, heart-wrenching letters to his son (even more meaningful if you can listen to him narrate) left me in tears by the end of every ride. I am so inspired and moved by his willingness to share his deepest vulnerabilities as Black man in America and highly recommend this book if you haven’t read it!
Watch: Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones’ Allegories on Race and Racism
One of my joys as a new attending physician has been teaching a racial justice journal club for Stanford and UCSF residents with my dear friend and colleague Dr. Abi Dairo Oguntebi. In our journal club, we feature one of Dr. Jones’ quintessential articles highlighting how the research we conduct can be deeply influenced by our own biases. I love this video because Dr. Jones’ does an incredible job using storytelling to demonstrate the different levels of racism and highlights that racism will never end unless we address it at the systemic, interpersonal and internalized levels. A wonderful video to watch and share!
Do you have any books, podcasts, videos, stories, people who inspire that you would like for us to highlight? Email us your thoughts, feedback, suggestions anytime at hello@introspectivespaces.com.
Image Attribution here.