Episode 4.4: Surviving the Systems: Criminal Justice

Episode 4.4: Surviving the Systems: Criminal Justice

In this episode of the Surviving the Systems mini-series, we take a deeper look at the criminal justice system and the ways Black and brown communities have been over policed, criminalized, and forced to survive systems that were never built to protect us. This episode explores the historical roots of modern policing, including Black Codes, convict leasing, Jim Crow laws, and how incarceration became a continuation of racial control after slavery. We also discuss over policing in Black communities, mass incarceration, the War on Drugs, police brutality, and the emotional weight many Black families carry through “the talk” the survival conversation about interacting with police. We also examine resistance and community power through the work of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, their community programs, and the ways Black communities have always organized to protect and support one another when systems failed to do so. This episode reflects on the mental health impacts of systemic racism, generational trauma, and the fear that comes with simply trying to survive everyday interactions. Most importantly, it asks what real justice could look like if systems focused on healing, accountability, investment, and community care instead of punishment. This episode contains discussions of racism, police brutality, incarceration, violence, and systemic oppression. Listener discretion is advised.

Episode 4.3: Surviving the Systems: Healthcare

Healthcare in America has never been neutral, especially for Black and brown communities. In this episode of We Aren't a Threat we continue the Surviving the Systems mini-series by unpacking the deep roots of medical racism and how history still shapes healthcare today. We explore harmful medical myths, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the eugenics movement, coerced and forced sterilization, and the lasting impact of reproductive control on communities of color. This episode also breaks down why mistrust of the medical system is not irrational but learned through generations of harm dismissal and neglect. From birth control being used as a weapon to Black pain being minimized in modern medical spaces, this conversation connects pass and present to show how survival has become a form of resistance. Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of medical racism, reproductive violence, and systemic harm.

Episode 4.2: Surviving the Systems: Education

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses racial trauma, discrimination, and systemic inequities in education. Education was never meant to be equal for Black and brown communities. From underfunded schools to biased discipline, from the school-to-prison pipeline to barriers in higher education, systemic inequities shape every step of the educational journey. In this episode of We Aren’t a Threat, I break down how these systems operate, share my own journey earning a Bachelor’s and master’s in criminal justice despite the challenges, and explore the ways Black students continue to rise above these barriers. We also discuss solutions for creating equitable education, mental health support in schools, and how communities resist and thrive despite a system that wasn’t built for us.

Episode 4.1 Surviving the Systems: Housing

Trigger warning: racism, housing discrimination, displacement, and economic injustice. In this first episode of the Surviving the Systems mini-series, we explore how housing has been systematically denied and made inaccessible for Black and brown communities. From the history of redlining and segregation to modern gentrification and skyrocketing rents, we break down how these systems shape our daily lives, impact mental health, and create barriers to stability. We also highlight the ways communities resist, from tenant unions to mutual aid, and what survival looks like when the system was never built for us. Tune in for an honest, empowering conversation about housing, resilience, and community.

Episode 3: Mental Health Isn’t Weakness

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions about mental health, therapy, and suicide ideation. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of We Aren’t a Threat, I break down the stigma surrounding mental health in Black and Brown communities. From growing up in environments where “being strong” meant staying silent, to learning that vulnerability is actually power — I dive into what it means to heal in systems that were never designed for our well-being. I also share personal reflections on mental health, therapy, and the strength it takes to choose healing. Whether you’ve been struggling quietly or just beginning your mental health journey, this episode is a reminder that asking for help is not weakness — it’s survival.