Parenting for Liberation

During our discussion with Cecilia Caballero of Chicana M(other)work we explore: 1. being a parent in academia and the organizing taking place on campuses throughout Los Angeles and Chicana M(other)work 2. anti-blackness in brown communities including personal experiences with colorism and internalized oppression 3. the victim blaming of local state-violence victim Jesse Romero (http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/08/10/boyle-heights-deadly-officer-involved-shooting/) 5. ideas for how to engage Brown communities for Black Power www.parentingforliberation.org

I've heard many parents ask, how do I talk to my kids about racism--well sometimes it isn't the parents leading the discussion. In this candid convos with my kid while cooking dinner, my step daughter and I were just talking as usual--she calls it "History 101" learning about "Racism" and "Stereotypes" and the discussion turned to recent murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. I didn't know that she had a seen the videos of the murders (ones that I couldn't bring myself to watch). In about ten minutes we explored stereotypes of good cop/bad cop, "bad" black folks; we discussed how to recover and heal from that trauma; and we discussed what parenting for liberation means----all while preparing dinner. I'm not sure I handled every question right--but I'm practicing parenting for liberation.

I had the honor of chatting with Monalisa Oluko Diallo--mother, educator, activist from Baltimore who has raised 3 children. During our exchange, she reflects on her experiences as a child experiencing blatant, overt racism in early education--and used that experience to inform her own parenting choices. She shares amazing tips on how to raise knowledgeable, well-rounded, globally sound Black children. parentingforliberation

With Father's Day just around the corner, I connected with my fellow gender-violence against and brother in the movement, Quentin "Q" Walcott, Co-Executive Director of CONNECT to learn about CONNECT's 7th Annual Father's Day Pledge to End Violence. During our exchange, we explored the following: -the role of men in ending violence against women -how Black boys are conditioned toward stereotypical notions of masculinity, and how can we shift to new behaviors and attitudes -the buffers that parents provide to protect against the impacts of -systemic violence on Black male behaviors and attitudes -tips for parents to challenge traditional gender roles in our homes with our children For a special treat, Q blessed us at the conclusion of the call with a spoken word piece entitled "ManCHILD" in addition to reciting pieces from the Father's Day Pledge Against Violence. To learn more about the Father's Day pledge and how you can engage boys and men in your community please visit www.connectnyc.org or on twitter @CONNECT_NYC. You can also reach out to Q on twitter @QuentinWalcott.

During this podcast for Parenting for Liberation, we had the unique honor of being in conversation with Mai'a Williams, contributing editor of Revolutionary Mothering: Love on the Front Lines. In our discussion, we explored segments of her writings and Mai'a shared her radical mothering principles when it comes to safety, boundaries, resiliency from trauma.

Show: D Report Topic: "Parenting for Liberation" conversation with Trina Greene-Brown What is Parenting for Liberation? How do we parent without fear? Is possible to raise critically aware children that are also happily care free? Air date: 05 /20/ 16 on KUCR 88.3 FM. Time: 5:15 pm Simultaneously streams online on www.kucr.org

James Baldwin "The Fire Next Time" Inspiration by Parenting for Liberation

Saying Yes to My Son by Parenting for Liberation

Black Parenting Matters: Raising Children in a World of Police Terror. Thursday, 01 October 2015 By Eisa Nefertari Ulen, Truthout My child's breath is a freedom song. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. The rhythmic pulse of air he powers is love, is life, is liberation. In. Out. In. Out. My child is breath. "I am here," his body says with each inhalation. "I am alive," his body offers with each exhalation. Each breath is a life force and each life force is a gift, is Holy. He is Divine. He is more than mere existence. He is complex sinew, meat, blood, mind, matter, running, laughing, playing, smiling, healthy. He is boy in motion, chasing balls, jumping rivers, leaping meadows, climbing trees. He is an idea made flesh. He is a rebellion. A riot. A rage against the machine. http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/33040-black-parenting-matters-raising-children-in-a-world-of-police-terror