Denizen

In this episode of the Denizen podcast, host Jenny Stefanotti and activist Julia Rhodes Davis delve into the concept of 'white work,' which goes beyond confronting and dismantling racialized identities. They discuss the importance of understanding personal legacy, taking accountability for ancestors' actions, and taking actions individually to repair past harms. They also discuss the inner, interpersonal, and cultural aspects of this work. Julia emphasizes the importance of ongoing practice within a community setting.   00:00 Introduction to Solidarity and Whiteness 01:22 Meet Julia Rhodes Davis 01:34 Exploring White Work 02:13 Putting White Work within the Denizen Inquiry 02:32 Julia's Background and Evolution 05:25 Understanding Racialized Capitalism 07:51 Personal Stories and Ancestral Context 11:30 The Inner Work of Racial Justice 25:42 Misguided White Work and Diversity 32:17 White Work as a Lifelong Practice 33:17 Understanding Shame and Discomfort in Anti-Racism Work 34:57 Circles of Practice: Community and Storytelling 38:36 Depersonalizing and Understanding Racial Conditioning 46:41 The Role of Inner Work in Anti-Racism 48:28 Exploring Power Dynamics in Relationships 51:18 Rupture and Repair in Relationships 57:12 Building Solidarity Against Fascism 59:40 Closing Remarks and Community Engagement   Resources: * Julia's website and writings: https://www.jrdavis.me/ [https://www.jrdavis.me/] * White Supremacy Culture - Still Here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XR_7M_9qa64zZ00_JyFVTAjmjVU-uSz8/view], Tema Okun To stay connected to all things Denizen, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.becomingdenizen.com [www.becomingdenizen.com].  There we share our latest content alongside community events, educational opportunities, and announcements from our many partner organizations.

We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Tema Okun to the Denizen podcast for this important conversation. Tema is the author of the influential 1999 paper "White Supremacy Culture" and has been a leader in the racial justice movement for over 35 years. In this insightful episode, Jenny and Tema explore the pervasive influence of white supremacy culture in society. They discuss the concept's historical context, its impact on both personal and systemic levels, and the importance of recognizing internalized racist conditioning.  Tema shares the journey of her original paper, detailing its attributes and their societal implications. She also outlines into the interconnectedness of colonialism, capitalism, and white supremacy.  Tema and Jenny reflect on the necessity of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a culture of appreciation as antidotes to these ingrained systems. The dialogue also highlights the significance of love, belonging, and making conscious choices in combating fear-based energies, ultimately advocating for a collective effort towards systemic change and personal transformation.  Outline for the episode: * 00:00 Introduction to Racist Conditioning * 00:35 Meet Tema Okun: Activist and Educator * 00:47 White Supremacy Culture and Denizen Community * 01:54 Personal Reflections on White Supremacy * 03:09 Understanding White Supremacy Culture * 05:46 The Role of Fear in White Supremacy * 09:26 Intersectionality and Systemic Context * 12:27 The Origins of the 1999 Paper * 24:55 Perfectionism and White Supremacy * 29:04 Transforming Defensiveness into Curiosity * 30:19 Qualified Paternalism and the Hero Complex * 34:41 The Flaws of Capitalism and the Growth Imperative * 36:35 The Importance of Process and Connection * 38:32 Urgency and the Right to Comfort * 45:33 Cultural Antidotes and Emotional Intelligence * 53:14 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude   Resources: * White Supremacy Culture website [https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info/] * "White Supremacy Culture [https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info/uploads/4/3/5/7/43579015/okun_-_white_sup_culture_2020.pdf]" original 1999 paper * "White Supremacy Culture - Still Here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XR_7M_9qa64zZ00_JyFVTAjmjVU-uSz8/view]" 2021 update * Racial Equity Principles [https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info/racial-equity-principles.html] * Tema's website: https://www.fiercelove.info/ [https://www.fiercelove.info/] * 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership [https://conscious.is/15-commitments] * The New Rules of Marriage [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-new-rules-of-marriage-terrence-real/21573677?ean=9780345497383&next=t], Terrance Real To stay connected to all things Denizen, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.becomingdenizen.com [www.becomingdenizen.com].  There we share our latest content alongside community events, educational opportunities, and announcements from our many partner organizations.

This conversation features Tyson Yunkaporta, academic, arts critic, researcher, and member of the Apalech Clan in far north Queensland. Tyson is the author of Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World; Right Story, Wrong Story: How to Have Fearless Conversations in Hell; and Snake Talk: How the World’s Ancient Serpent Stories Can Guide Us. Unlike our typical episodes which focus on a topic, here Jenny embraces Tyson's generative cultural practice of yarning. Tyson describes a yarn as "like a conversation but taking a traditional form his people have always used to create and transmit knowledge."  Thus here we capture a raw conversation between Jenny and Tyson, touching on topics of whiteness, identity, modes of cognition, justice, and the hero complex.  Tyson shares the story behind each of the three books in his trilogy, touching on their relevance for the modern technologically driven era. To stay connected to all things Denizen, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.becomingdenizen.com [www.becomingdenizen.com].  There we share our latest content alongside community events, educational opportunities, and announcements from our many partner organizations.

In this conversation Jenny and Jasmine discuss: * Four common internalized stories we have about money * Money trauma * The importance of talking about money * Jasmine's analogy of a water supply * Philosophical questions of enough and fairness * Banking: extractive vs. sustainable and community-oriented options * Public banking * Consumption decisions and Jasmine's no Amazon policy * The irony of conscious consumption * The role of third party certifications  * Investment decisions and investing in place * Structural economic implications of conscious investment and consumption * Giving and receiving money through philanthropy * Beyond personal finances: influencing financial flows * Participatory budgeting * Beyond financial flows: influencing corporate culture and decision making * Employee activism * Showing up for each other beyond money * Acknowledging non financial capital * Rethinking income: guaranteed income and UBI Resources: * Jasmine's website: https://www.jasminerashid.com/ [https://www.jasminerashid.com/] * Trauma of Money program [https://www.thetraumaofmoney.com/] * Friends of public banking pledge [https://friendsofpublicbanking.org/] * Just Economy Institute [https://justeconomyinstitute.org/] To stay connected to all things Denizen, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.becomingdenizen.com [www.becomingdenizen.com].  There we share our latest content alongside community events, educational opportunities, and announcements from our many partner organizations.

This powerful conversation explores the relationship between decolonization and consciousness. Ashanti is a systems change agent focused on helping organizations deconstruct dominant narratives of colonization and replace them with life affirming narratives that support a regenerative future. She believes that true transformation must begin within, guiding leaders to embrace spiritual coherence and walk their talk. ‍ Jenny and Ashanti discuss: * How to define what is right and good * Why the inner work is imperative * The consequences of the narratives we have internalized * Rethinking our understanding of leadership and power * Taking responsibility for ourselves and what inhibits us from doing so * The relationship between deconstructing our stories and spirituality * The importance of walking the talk and the harm caused by misalignment * Love as praxis: moving from fear to love * The role of fear in white supremacy * The Zulu concept of Ubuntu * Loving each other through our ugly * Love and spiritual growth * Love, consideration, and diversity in systems change work * Open and honest communication * The importance of expressing emotions and creating emotionally safe spaces * Calling out vs. calling in * Spiritual accountability, personal integrity, and coherent leadership * Spiritual discernment * Paying attention to our thoughts and language * Self-love   Resources * Learning 2 Unlearn, [https://www.learning2unlearn.com/] Ashanti's website * "White supremacy lives in the mundane" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76jSuwsisW0] Ashanti on Social Transformation * Pedagogy of the Oppressed [https://bookshop.org/p/books/pedagogy-of-the-oppressed-50th-anniversary-edition-paulo-freire/11951112?ean=9781501314131&next=t&next=t], Paul Freire * We Will Not Cancel Us: And Other Dreams of Transformative Justice [https://bookshop.org/p/books/we-will-not-cancel-us-and-other-dreams-of-transformative-justice-adrienne-maree-brown/14970781?ean=9781849354226&next=t&next=t], adrienne maree brown To stay connected to all things Denizen, you can sign up for our newsletter at www.becomingdenizen.com [www.becomingdenizen.com].  There we share our latest content alongside community events, educational opportunities, and announcements from our many partner organizations.