Everyday Conversations on Race

Frank Carbajal on Latino Leadership: From Migrant Farmworker Son to Silicon Valley Voice

Frank Carbajal grew up the son of Mexican migrant farmworkers in California's Imperial Valley, where summer temperatures hit 115 degrees and his mother worked the fields through her third trimester. Today he's the founder and president of Es Tiempo LLC, a co-author of three books on Latino leadership, founder of the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit at Stanford University, and a former keynote speaker in Ken Blanchard's network. In this conversation with Simma, Frank talks about what it actually means to be Latino in America today — and why that word doesn't fit everyone who could claim it. He breaks down the Bracero Program that brought his parents to the U.S., the "101 Infrastructure Divide" that shows how Latino hands built Silicon Valley while Latino representation in tech sits in the single digits, and why his mother told him being bilingual is a superpower. This is a conversation about immigration, identity, family, and what it takes to move from picking fruit in the fields to standing in front of executive boardrooms — without ever forgetting where you came from. What You'll Learn * What the Bracero Program was, and how it shaped Mexican American families in California for generations * Why "Latino" is not one identity — and how to talk to people about their background without making assumptions * The real numbers behind Latino representation in education, the corporate boardroom, and venture capital * How to start a conversation across race and culture without getting yourself into trouble * Why being bilingual is a competitive advantage, not something to hide * What "the 101 Infrastructure Divide" means and why it matters for anyone working in or with the tech industry * How to spot the difference between performative diversity and actual connection Key Takeaways * Latinos are not a monolith. There are 20 Latin American countries, multiple generations of Latino Americans, and people who identify as Latino, Latina, Chicano, Mexican American, American, or simply as a leader — and all of those answers are valid. * The hands that built Silicon Valley are not the hands sitting in its boardrooms. Latino representation in tech leadership and venture capital is still in the low single digits despite Latinos making up over 40% of California's population. * Conversations across race work when you start with what's in front of you — food, art, family, a shared interest — not with politics or assumptions. * Bilingualism is a superpower. So is resilience. Frank's parents had third- and fourth-grade educations and built a life for their children through nothing but hard work. * Leadership, not identity politics, is the through-line that travels across borders, languages, and generations. Timestamps [00:00] — Simma's opening: why this podcast exists for anyone who wants to talk across race but is afraid of saying the wrong thing [02:30] — Meet Frank Carbajal: Es Tiempo LLC, Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit, two published books, and the award he's most proud of (hint: it's not the corporate one) [05:00] — What legacy means in a Latino family [07:00] — The elephant in the room: why race conversations are crucial conversations, and what "healthy conversation" actually looks like [09:00] — The numbers don't lie: 65 million Latinos in the U.S., but only 1–2% of PhDs, 1.5% of CEOs and board members, and less than 2% of venture capital [11:00] — What is the Latino community, really? Why "Latino" doesn't fit everyone — and why some people say "Just call me a leader" [14:00] — The Bracero Program explained: Frank's parents, migrant farmworkers, and the pathway that shaped a generation of Mexican American families [17:00] — Born on Juneteenth in 115-degree heat: Frank's mother worked the fields through her third trimester and almost died giving birth to him [19:00] — The 101 Infrastructure Divide: how Latino hands built Silicon Valley's buildings by hand — including NVIDIA's $4.9 trillion headquarters — while Latino representation in tech stays in the single digits [22:00] — When Simma brought a Spanish-speaking facilitator to a workshop, and her class hated him. Why language alone is not connection. [25:00] — Frank's mother's wisdom on sangrón: how she could spot arrogance instantly, and why she'd rather work with a humble white person who spoke Spanish than an arrogant Latino with a sense of entitlement [28:00] — Bilingual is a superpower: Frank's parents told him to never be embarrassed, and why he tells his own daughters the same thing [30:00] — "Wow, you speak without an accent" — the microaggression Latino professionals know too well, and how Frank handles it [32:00] — Afro-Latinos, Caribbean Latinos, Mexican Americans, Chicanos, Latinos of European descent: why the Latino community is not a monolith, and the language families use to describe all the shades within it [35:00] — Frank's Brazilian soccer coach who was Afro-Latino, spoke three languages, and taught a 10-year-old Frank what unity actually looks like on a team [37:00] — How to have a conversation across difference without stepping on a landmine: Frank's mentor's advice about reading the room — start with the Frida Kahlo painting on the wall, not politics [40:00] — Simma and Frank agree: food and stories are how you build a bridge. Why curiosity beats tiptoeing every time. Guest Bio Frank Carbajal is the founder and president of Es Tiempo LLC, a leadership development and keynote speaking firm. He is the founder of the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit, held at Stanford University, which brings top Latino thought leaders together from across the country. He is co-author of Building the Latino Future: Success Stories for the Next Generation (with a foreword by management guru Ken Blanchard) and co-author of El Futuro Latino, published in 14 Latin American countries. He was part of Ken Blanchard's keynote speaker network and works with CEOs, executives, managers, and small business owners on leadership development. Frank received the 2013 Father of the Year Award from Building Peaceful Families and the 2013 Portraits of Success Award from the Hispanic Development Corporation. He serves on the advocacy committee for the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. He is the son of Mexican immigrants, the husband of a Salvadoran American wife, and the father of three daughters. Connect with Frank Carbajal * Email: frank@estiempo.com * LinkedIn: Search Frank Carbajal (C-A-R-B-A-J-A-L) * Company: Es Tiempo LLC [https://www.estiempo.com/] Click here to DONATE and support our podcast [https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people] All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist, helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. Simma is the creator and host of the podcast, Everyday Conversations on Race. Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com [Simma@SimmaLieberman.com] to get more information, book her as a speaker for your next event, help you become a more inclusive leader, or facilitate dialogues across differences. Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition) [https://inclusioncoalition.info/] Connect with me: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/simma.lieberman] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/raceconvo] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@simmalie] Twitter [https://www.twitter.com/@theinclusionist] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com//in/simmalieberman/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@simmatheinclusionist] Website [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/www.raceconvo.com] Previous Episodes Dr. Gina Paige on African Ancestry: How DNA Reconnects Black Americans to Their African Roots [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/dr-gina-paige-on-african-ancestry-how-dna-reconnects-black-americans-to-their-african-roots] From Black Panther to Corporate America: Elmer Dixon on Race, Revolution, and Why DEI Is Not Dead [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/from-black-panther-to-corporate-america-elmer-dixon-on-race-revolution-and-why-dei-is-not-dead] Why We Can't Stop Talking About Race: A Conversation with Carole Copeland Thomas [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/why-we-cant-stop-talking-about-race-a-conversation-with-carol-copeland-thomas] Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people/id1416323393]

Dr. Gina Paige on African Ancestry: How DNA Reconnects Black Americans to Their African Roots

For most Black Americans, the family tree stops at a wall built by slavery. Dr. Gina Paige co-founded African Ancestry to tear down that wall. In this episode, she explains how her company uses DNA to trace Black people back to specific African countries and ethnic groups — not vague regions, not percentages, but actual present-day nations and peoples. Gina walks Simma through the science in plain language, explains why African Ancestry gets results other DNA companies can't, and talks about what happens inside people when they finally know where they come from. She also addresses the fears many Black Americans carry about genetic testing — Henrietta Lacks, Tuskegee, and who owns your DNA after you mail it in. This conversation is about identity, agency, and reclaiming what slavery tried to erase. Timestamps 02:15 — Meet Dr. Gina Paige The co-founder who started her first business at age 8 — before the internet. 04:30 — What African Ancestry actually does Tracing Black people back to specific African countries and ethnic groups before the transatlantic slave trade. 06:45 — From Colgate-Palmolive to Howard University How a corporate marketer partnered with a genetic researcher to build something that had never existed before. 09:20 — Why genealogy fails Black Americans Black people weren't counted as human beings in US records until the 1870 census. DNA is the only way back. 11:30 — The science, made simple "If your mother's yellow and your father's blue, what color are you?" How mitochondrial DNA holds the key. 14:15 — Why everyone gets "Nigeria" from other DNA tests African Ancestry has 33,000+ samples from 35 African countries. The closest competitor has 6,000 — half of them Nigerian. 17:00 — How African Ancestry is different Other companies look at the mixing. African Ancestry looks at the lines that never mixed. 19:40 — Charlamagne Tha God and Ebro's roots revealed Mende people in Sierra Leone. Masa people in Cameroon. Specific. Named. Real. 21:30 — What happens when people get their results "We don't come from people who were enslaved. We come from doctors, healers, astronomers, philosophers, kings and queens." 24:45 — Why erasing Black history is a losing game Gina on power, pride, and what oppressors don't want you to know. 27:20 — Your DNA, protected African Ancestry is the only company that cannot sell or share your genetic data. The lab is contractually required to destroy your DNA after testing. 29:50 — The 23andMe bankruptcy and what happens to your DNA Why insurance companies and pharmaceutical firms should never have access to your genetic information without your knowledge. 32:10 — Henrietta Lacks, Tuskegee, and the case for participating anyway Gina's honest answer to Black friends who refuse genetic testing out of fear. 36:00 — One test, one whole family Why Simma's sister taking the test means Simma already has her answer — and so do 25 of her cousins. 39:15 — Citizenship, name changes, and going home The 12 people who gained Sierra Leonean citizenship. The artists, authors, and families whose lives changed after one result. 42:30 — What to look for in any at-home DNA test Gina's three rules before you spit in a tube or swab your cheek. Guest Bio Dr. Gina Paige is co-founder and President of African Ancestry, Inc. In 2003, she pioneered a new way to trace African lineages through genetics. She has revealed the African roots of Oprah Winfrey, John Legend, Chadwick Boseman, Spike Lee, Condoleezza Rice, and the King family. A Washington, DC native and lifelong entrepreneur, Gina launched her first business at age eight and spent her early career running brands at Colgate-Palmolive and Sara Lee before building African Ancestry into the world's largest collection of indigenous African lineage samples. Click here to DONATE and support our podcast [https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people] All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist, helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker, and facilitator. Simma is the creator and host of the podcast, Everyday Conversations on Race. Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com [Simma@SimmaLieberman.com] to get more information, book her as a speaker for your next event, help you become a more inclusive leader, or facilitate dialogues across differences. Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition) [https://inclusioncoalition.info/] Connect with me: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/simma.lieberman] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/raceconvo] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@simmalie] Twitter [https://www.twitter.com/@theinclusionist] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com//in/simmalieberman/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@simmatheinclusionist] Website [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/www.raceconvo.com] Previous Episodes From Black Panther to Corporate America: Elmer Dixon on Race, Revolution, and Why DEI Is Not Dead [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/from-black-panther-to-corporate-america-elmer-dixon-on-race-revolution-and-why-dei-is-not-dead] Why We Can't Stop Talking About Race: A Conversation with Carole Copeland Thomas [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/why-we-cant-stop-talking-about-race-a-conversation-with-carol-copeland-thomas] What Happens When a White Neighbor Writes a Black Woman's Story? [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/what-happens-when-a-white-neighbor-writes-a-black-womans-story] Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people/id1416323393]

From Black Panther to Corporate America: Elmer Dixon on Race, Revolution, and Why DEI Is Not Dead

Simma Lieberman and Elmer Dixon go back over 50 years — she was in the Young Patriots, he was co-founding the first Black Panther Party chapter outside California. In this conversation, they cut through the lies, revisionist history, and current attacks on DEI to talk about what the Black Panther Party actually stood for, why erasing Black history will never work, and what it takes to stay courageous when the political winds turn ugly. Elmer shares what it was like to transition from revolutionary to corporate diversity consultant, corrects the record on the myths about the Panthers, and gives three direct pieces of advice for anyone trying to stay grounded right now. What You'll Hear • Why Elmer and Simma were part of the original Rainbow Coalition — and who actually coined that phrase (hint: it wasn't Jesse Jackson) • The two biggest lies still being told about the Black Panther Party — and the truth behind them • What it felt like to leave the movement and step into "Babylon" with four kids to feed • A Black student who compared the Panthers to the KKK — and what that tells us about deliberate historical distortion • How the Netherlands teaches Black Panther history in school while the U.S. tries to erase it • The Seattle Black Panther Legacy Center opening this June in Pioneer Square • Why DEI is not affirmative action, and what "DEI hire" really reveals about the people saying it • Elmer's three things everyone needs right now: self-education, self-love, and courage Timestamps [01:30] Introducing Elmer Dixon — 52 years of knowing each other, Black Panthers and Young Patriots [03:00] Elmer's full bio — Seattle BPP, city cabinet, Executive Diversity Services, global work [06:30] Is it still important to talk about race? Elmer answers directly [08:00] From revolutionary to corporate America — the transition, the trauma, and the four kids [11:00] The early days: co-founding the Seattle chapter, Bobby Hutton's funeral, J. Edgar Hoover's threat designation [15:00] Bobby Seale for Mayor, political prisoner, shifting eras inside the party [18:00] Simma's question: What do you say to people spreading lies about the Black Panther Party? [20:00] Correcting the record — Japanese BPP member Mike Tagawa, mixed-race members, Huey Newton's own words on racism [23:00] The Rainbow Coalition — who really coined the phrase, and which organizations were part of it [25:00] The two lies: "They were racist" and "They were violent" — and what the party actually stood for [29:00] The art school student who compared the Panthers to the KKK — and how deliberate distortion works [32:00] Speaking in France, and why Dutch schoolchildren learn the real Black Panther history [36:00] The attempt to erase Black history — why it won't work, and who's holding the torch [39:00] The Seattle Black Panther Legacy Center — Pioneer Square demo site opening June 2025, permanent site search [43:00] Young people picking up the torch — the Black Panther Park mural, the historic family home as landmark [46:00] DEI is not affirmative action — what "DEI hire" really means, and why companies are wrong to be scared [50:00] Paper tigers — how the Panthers faced Nixon and Hoover, and what that means for today [53:00] Elmer's three pieces of advice: self-educate, love yourself first, be courageous Guest Links • Elmer Dixon website: elmerdixon.com • Book: Die Standing: From Black Panther Revolutionary to Global Diversity Consultant (Two Sisters Writing and Publishing, 2023) • Elmer's TEDx Talk: Stories from the Revolution's Front Lines Connect with Simma • Website & episodes: raceconvo.com • Email: simma@simmalieberman.com • Donate to support the show: raceconvo.com Guest Bio Elmer Dixon [https://elmerdixon.com/#elmer] has spent his life fighting for justice, equality, and belonging—values rooted in who he is and the experiences that shaped him. At 17, inspired by the Black Liberation Movement of the 1960s, he co-founded the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party with his older brother, Aaron. It was the first chapter outside of California, and together they built a movement that provided essential services to Black and Brown communities in their city. Connect with Simma Lieberman Need a speaker, facilitator, or dialogue leader who helps people talk with each other—not past each other? Contact Simma: simma@simmalieberman.com Learn more and support the show: RaceConvo.com Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/simma.lieberman] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/raceconvo] Twitter [https://www.twitter.com/@theinclusionist] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com//in/simmalieberman/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@simmatheinclusionist] Website [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/www.raceconvo.com] Share the Conversation If this episode made you think, please share it with a friend or colleague. Real conversations across differences start when someone decides to listen. Please help these necessary conversations continue- Make a one-time, or monthly tax-deductible donation of $5.00 https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people [https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people] All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people/id1416323393] Previous Episodes Why We Can't Stop Talking About Race: A Conversation with Carole Copeland Thomas [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/why-we-cant-stop-talking-about-race-a-conversation-with-carol-copeland-thomas] What Happens When a White Neighbor Writes a Black Woman's Story? [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/what-happens-when-a-white-neighbor-writes-a-black-womans-story] Do We Still Need to Talk About Race? [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/do-we-still-need-to-talk-about-race]

Why We Can't Stop Talking About Race: A Conversation with Carole Copeland Thomas

Carole Copeland Thomas has been black all her life — and she's spent decades making sure that means something in every room she walks into. Born in a Black hospital in Detroit during segregation, raised in a middle-class family where college was expected and Black excellence was the air she breathed. Carole became a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) who helps organizations turn complex challenges into real action. In this conversation, Carole and Simma go deep — on race, history, identity, the current political moment, and what all of us need to do right now. They talk about why race is still the conversation we can't skip, what the BAFTA incident with John Davidson tells us about how racist language gets embedded in the brain, and why erasing HBCUs, Black Greek organizations, and Black history doesn't just harm Black people — it harms everyone. They also get into the overlooked history of Black-Jewish solidarity in the civil rights movement, the economic consequences of Project 2025, and what resistance actually looks like in 2026 — from Delta Sigma Theta's Capitol Hill days to the Costco parking lot. This is a conversation for people who want to understand where we are, how we got here, and what to do next. 3 Key Takeaways From This Episode 1- Know your history — all of it. You can't understand where we are without knowing how race was legally constructed in this country, why HBCUs and Black Greek organizations exist, and why the Black-Jewish alliance in the civil rights movement matters. Ignorance isn't neutral — it leaves you open to misinformation. 2- A reason is not an excuse. Whether it's the BAFTA incident, racially charged policies, or everyday bias — understanding why something happened doesn't make it okay. Hold both truths: context matters, and so does impact. 3- Resistance is not optional — and it's not one thing. Vote in the 2026 primaries. Show up for your neighbors across difference. Support organizations like the ACLU and NAACP. Use your voice at work, in your community, and at the polls. What Simma and Carole do every day — having these conversations — is also resistance. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Introduction & welcome 2:15 — Introducing Carole Copeland Thomas: CSP speaker, leadership expert, Boston-based 5:00 — Carole congratulates Simma for keeping the podcast name9:00 — DEI under attack: Time Magazine, equity vs. equality, and why the concepts aren't going anywhere13:30 — "We're OGs in this field" — what diversity originally meant before it became a buzzword15:30 — Why are we still talking about race? Race as a social construct rooted in the 1700s18:00 — The Constitution, Article 1, Section 2: when race became law 20:00 — The BAFTA incident: John Davidson, Tourette's, the N-word, and Michael Jordan on stage 25:00 — How does a word get imprinted in the brain? Why that question matters 28:30 — Carole's personal story: growing up Black and middle class in Detroit32:00 — Born in a Black hospital — segregation in Michigan in the 1950s 35:00 — Black excellence, Black businesses, and a community that thrived inside restrictions38:00 — HBCUs: Carole went to Emory (a PWI); why Black colleges matter and always will 42:00 — Black Greek organizations — Delta Sigma Theta, the Divine Nine, and lifelong public service 46:00 — Black history IS American history — you can't erase one without erasing the other 49:00 — The Black-Jewish relationship: deep history, civil rights, shared struggle53:00 — Julius Rosenwald, Rabbi Heschel, and the Jewish funding of the civil rights movement 57:00 — Stephen Miller and the contradiction of Jewish white nationalism 1:01:00 — The N-word: its history, its use within the Black community, and why context doesn't make it okay for outsiders 1:05:00 — Nazi Germany, Project 2025, DOGE, and the parallels people need to wake up to 1:10:00 — Erasing immigrants, cutting Black scholarships, defunding trades: who's going to do the work?1:14:00 — What we must do: vote in the 2026 primaries, resist, and educate 1:17:00 — Costco stands firm on inclusion — and the people showed up 1:20:00 — White allies who gave their lives: Viola Liuzzo, Goodman and Schwerner, John Brown 1:23:00 — Carole's closing message: neighbors across difference, the world she wants to live in 1:26:00 — How to reach Carole; Simma's closing and call to action About the Guests Carole Copeland Thomas [https://www.tellcarole.com/] has been impacting the world in a significant way for over thirty-six years. Captivating audiences around the world since starting her business in 1987, Carole creates community as an internationally-recognized keynote speaker, thought leader, and cultural collaborator. She has spoken in nearly every state in the US and nine other countries, including England, Canada, Kenya, India, Guyana, Japan, El Salvador, South Africa, and Australia. Carole presented her signature message on "Facing Fear" at the TEDx Waltham event in Waltham, Massachusetts. The speech is available to view on the TEDx Channel on YouTube. In addition to her other business client activities, Carole served for 18 months as the Interim Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts. RESOURCES MENTIONED ● USUK Race Summit — Michael Curry's keynote available at usukrace.com [http://usukrace.com/] ● Carole Copeland Thomas — carolcopelandthomas.com [http://carolcopelandthomas.com/] ● ACLU — aclu.org [http://aclu.org/] ● NAACP — naacp.org [http://naacp.org/] ● Delta Sigma Theta Sorority — Delta Days at the Nation's Capitol (annual legislative advocacy event) ● The US Constitution — Read and memorize the First Amendment ● BAFTA 2025 incident — John Davidson, Tourette's syndrome, and the N-word on stage ● Project 2025 — referenced throughout as the policy blueprint behind current administration actions ● Julius Rosenwald — co-founder of Sears, funded education for Black students across the South ● Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel — Jewish civil rights leader who marched alongside Dr. King ● Viola Liuzzo — white Detroit mother killed during the Selma-to-Montgomery marches, 1965 ● Andrew Goodman & Michael Schwerner — civil rights workers murdered in Mississippi, 1964 ● James Baldwin — writer and intellectual; his work on Black-Jewish history referenced Connect with Simma Lieberman Need a speaker, facilitator, or dialogue leader who helps people talk with each other—not past each other? Contact Simma: simma@simmalieberman.com Learn more and support the show: RaceConvo.com Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/simma.lieberman] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/raceconvo] Twitter [https://www.twitter.com/@theinclusionist] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com//in/simmalieberman/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@simmatheinclusionist] Website [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/www.raceconvo.com] Share the Conversation If this episode made you think, please share it with a friend or colleague. Real conversations across differences start when someone decides to listen. Please help these necessary conversations continue- Make a one-time, or monthly tax-deductible donation of $5.00 https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people [https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people] All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people/id1416323393] Previous Episodes What Happens When a White Neighbor Writes a Black Woman's Story? [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/what-happens-when-a-white-neighbor-writes-a-black-womans-story] Do We Still Need to Talk About Race? [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/do-we-still-need-to-talk-about-race] Can Women of Color and White Women Be Friends? [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/can-women-of-color-and-white-women-be-friends]

What Happens When a White Neighbor Writes a Black Woman's Story?

What happens when two neighbors—one Black, one white—move beyond small talk and start sharing their real stories? In this episode, Simma talks with Sandra Eggleston and Bill Byrne, whose unlikely friendship led to the book MLK to Brother Ray: A Woman's Adventure of Social Transformation, Political Revolution, and Personal Affirmation. Sandra spent four decades as a United Airlines flight attendant during a time when the U.S. was being reshaped by the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Movement. Along the way she met cultural icons, witnessed historic events, and navigated racism and sexism in ways many younger Americans have never heard about firsthand. Bill, her white neighbor in Virginia, started hearing Sandra's stories around neighborhood gatherings. The more he listened, the more he realized these weren't just personal memories—they were living history. What began as curiosity turned into a book and a friendship that changed how he sees the world. Their conversation with Simma explores how stories build understanding, why personal relationships matter in conversations about race, and how history still shapes our lives today. PS- I did not want this conversation to end, and neither will you. Key Moments 00:00 – Simma introduces the show and the guests 03:00 – How Sandra and Bill became neighbors and friends 05:30 – Why Bill decided to write a book about Sandra 09:00 – Sandra's connection to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 13:30 – Growing up during segregation and the Civil Rights era 17:30 – Sandra's early experience as a Black flight attendant in the South 24:00 – How writing the book changed Bill's understanding of race and history 29:30 – Why personal stories matter more than statistics 34:30 – What meaningful cross-race friendships can teach us 40:30 – Books, music, and stories that help people understand each other 47:00 – Final reflections on relationships, history, and change About the Guests Biography of book's subject: Sandra Eggleston MLK to Brother Ray, A woman's adventure of social transformation, political revolution and personal affirmation, tells the story of Sandra Eggleston. "Sandee" came of age during a time of revolution. Regardless of the challenge, she found her way forward, often guiding those close to her along the way. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Godmother. Colleague. A platoon sergeant on the front lines of both the civil rights and women's liberation movements. Her journey took her to international jazz festivals, Caribbean beaches, and across the country in an MGB convertible. Sandee met political power brokers, sports superstars and music legends. She survived plane crashes, murder trials, and cancer, experiencing the full spectrum of life's joys and sorrows, from weddings and Christenings to divorce. Sandee's life experiences combined with the author's research into their historical context challenge the reader to move beyond a superficial debate of today's controversies. Stories from her home and workplace bring an intimate and compelling perspective to the social and political upheaval of the 1960s and 70s. The struggles and the victories. The heartbreaks, and the healing power of family, friendship, and faith. About the Author: Bill Byrne MLK to Brother Ray is the author's third and most recent writing project. Previous books include the science fiction thriller Total Immersion and the memoir, How Long Does It Take to Catch a Fish? Four lifelong friends find themselves trapped in a high-tech, virtual reality adventure of life and death in Total Immersion. How Long Does It Take to Catch a Fish is a collection of stories about fathers and sons and sons and fathers. It explores how dads and their male offspring can be understood as two sides of the same coin, - unique yet intertwined, shaping one another across generations. The author is a career switcher from technology marketing to education. He resides with his wife (also a teacher!) in Northern Virginia. They travel often to visit their children's growing families in Brooklyn and Florida. When not writing, he enjoys running and playing the fiddle. More information can be found at MLKtoBrotherRay.com [https://MLKtoBrotherRay.com] Book Mentioned MLK to Brother Ray: A Woman's Adventure of Social Transformation, Political Revolution, and Personal Affirmation by Bill Byrne Available on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/MLK-Brother-Ray-transformation-affirmation/dp/B0FL26LJQD/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1] More information: MLKtoBrotherRay.com Why This Conversation Matters Many people today know the Civil Rights Movement only through textbooks and headlines. Sandra lived it. Bill discovered it through listening. Their friendship shows what can happen when people take the time to hear each other's stories—something Simma has been encouraging through her work and this podcast for years. Connect with Simma Lieberman Need a speaker, facilitator, or dialogue leader who helps people talk with each other—not past each other? Contact Simma: simma@simmalieberman.com Learn more and support the show: RaceConvo.com Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/simma.lieberman] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/raceconvo] Twitter [https://www.twitter.com/@theinclusionist] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com//in/simmalieberman/] Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@simmatheinclusionist] Website [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/www.raceconvo.com] Share the Conversation If this episode made you think, please share it with a friend or colleague. Real conversations across differences start when someone decides to listen. Please help these necessary conversations continue- Make a one-time, or monthly tax-deductible donation of $5.00 https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people [https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people] All donations are tax deductible through Fractured Atlas. Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everyday-conversations-on-race-for-everyday-people/id1416323393] Previous Episodes Do We Still Need to Talk About Race? [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/do-we-still-need-to-talk-about-race] Can Women of Color and White Women Be Friends? [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/can-women-of-color-and-white-women-be-friends] What Was DEI Actually Meant to Do—and Why Did It Go Off Track? [https://raceconvo.libsyn.com/what-was-dei-actually-meant-to-doand-why-did-it-go-off-track]