52.2K
Downloads
120
Episodes
If you are a BIPoC writer, Reed, Write, & Create, is the podcast you need to stay motivated and inspired to write. Award-winning author, educator, and creative writing coach, Lori L. Tharps ( ”Hair Story,” ”Kinky Gazpacho,” and ”Substitute Me”) knows how hard it is to stay committed to your writing projects - whether you’re working on that debut novel, a gut-wrenching memoir, or an essay about your trip around the world. Writing can be your passion, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Even if you’re a seasoned author. On the show, Lori is here to serve as your creative-writing coach and she wants to help you tap into your divine right to write. You’ll get inspiring pep talks and literary life lessons based on the lives of our BIPoC literary ancestors. Think Toni Morrison, Lorraine Hansberry, Phillis Wheatley e.t.c. You’ll also hear inspiring interviews with contemporary, best-selling, BIPoC authors who share actionable writing tips and techniques to help improve your craft and better understand the business of writing and the publishing industry. If the idea of having your very own creative writing coach sounds like just what you need to optimize your writing life, then this is the podcast for you. New episodes are released on Mondays. Subscribe to the show and find more writing resources for BIPOC writers and the readers who love them at ReedWriteandCreate.com.
Episodes
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Episode 49 of the podcast is our first official lesson in the "Don’t Be Racist Series." And the first lesson is all about Mindset. In order to be an anti-racist warrior, you have to master your mindset. On the show I share why this is necessary, and how to get it done.
Research shows that the difference between those who succeed with their goals and those who fail, often comes down to mindset. But the good thing is, we control our mindset. So, essentially, we are in control of whether we’re going to be successful at something or not. And because I want everyone who listens to this podcast to become confident and successful anti-racism warriors, then we have to make sure we're coming to anti-racist work with the right attitude, energy and purpose.
For the record, anti-racism work isn't about saving the colored people and it shouldn't be approached out of sense of guilt or ancestral obligation. Listen in as I break down why white people should be embracing anti-racism work and how to get in the right frame of mind for something that may seem scary or intimidating.
It's a short but useful episode, so listen in and take notes.
Useful Links + Resources
I wrote a blog post about the importance of a mindset change for white America as they approach anti-racism work. It should be helpful as you contemplate this work.
Check out the My American Meltingpot Bookstore on Bookshop.org for anti-racism titles and great multicultural fiction and nonfiction.
Homework Assignment to Help Master Your Mindset
Watch one documentary about racial injustice. Here are three offerings on Netflix you might want to check out:
13th -This award-winning documentary by Ava DuVernay is about the criminal justice system and its treatment of African Americans.
Immigration Nation - This new docu-series takes a deep look at immigration in the United States today.
The Two Killings of Sam Cooke - "While Sam Cooke rose to stardom as a soul singer, his outspoken views on civil rights drew attention that may have contributed to his death at age 33."
Thank you for listening!
Friday Sep 18, 2020
Friday Sep 18, 2020
On Season five of the podcast, we’re doing something a little different. From now until the end of November, we’re running a special series called, “Don’t Be Racist.” On each episode, I’ll be sharing short, actionable, bite-sized lessons on how to be an anti-racist. New episodes will appear every Friday.
On episode 48, I'm sharing my reasons for launching this series and explaining what you can expect from me, your favorite anti-racism educator. In a nutshell, I plan to show up to make this series as pleasant and invigorating as anti-racism work can be. I'm giving you real-life lessons that you can start applying to your daily life right away. I’m not here to guilt you into doing better, or to beat you up for your ancestors' crimes. I just want to be the spark that inspires you to embrace an anti-racist attitude and take action.
America needs you. The world needs you. I need you.
So, tune in next Friday and be ready to work.
Also, tell your friends about the series. Remember, sharing is caring.
In the meantime, if you want some homework, go listen to a few of our past podcast episodes that will help get you thinking about anti-racism work, white supremacy and how to have conversations about race. This post offers a list of episodes to get you started.
Finally, be sure to follow me on Instagram where I will be sharing additional content meant to inspire you on your anti-racism journey.
Let's do this!
Friday Aug 07, 2020
Friday Aug 07, 2020
On episode 47 of the podcast I sit down with Lauren Francis-Sharma, the author of the My American Meltingpot Summer Book Club selection, Book of the Little Axe.
Book of the Little Axe takes place at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century and tells the story of Rosa Rendon, a Black Trinidadian woman who flees her island home and finds herself living among the Crow Nation in what is now Bighorn, Montana. She becomes the wife of a Crow chief and raises three mixed-race children with the nation.
In addition to Book of the Little Axe, Lauren is the author of the novel, Til the Well Runs Dry, which was awarded the Honor Fiction Prize by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Lauren is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan Law School. She is also a MacDowell Fellow and the Assistant Director of Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference at Middlebury College.
During our conversation, we talk about how Lauren came up with this epic story idea; the real life characters that populate the pages of Book of the Little Axe; why it's important to tell the stories of people of color in a historical context; and how Stephen King inspired Lauren to leave her corporate career and pursue writing! I promise it is an inspiring conversation all around.
For full show notes, please visit, My American Meltingpot.com.
Friday Jul 31, 2020
Friday Jul 31, 2020
On episode 46 of the podcast, I want to encourage everyone to pick up their pens and fight. Yes, become a revolutionary writer. We can all put pen to paper and write for our lives. You don’t need permission to write. You don’t need fancy tools or equipment. You simply must write.
You can write newspaper articles, blog posts, poems and manifestos. You can write novels, comic books, biographies and letters to your congressperson. You can write pamphlets, plays, memoirs and letters to your younger self. You can write text books and guide books and an entire magazine if you’re up for it. You can write song lyrics, movie screenplays, and letters to your racist uncle.
Join me as I share how revolutionary writers are born and stick around to hear from three extraordinary revolutionary writers – Tracey Lewis-Giggets, Kenrya Rankin and Zetta Elliott – who are all busy creating revolutionary works right now.
By the end of the show, I hope everyone is inspired to write!
For full show notes and links to the work of our guests, please visit My American Meltingpot.com.
Friday Jul 24, 2020
Friday Jul 24, 2020
On episode 45 of the podcast, I'm talking about a brand new book series called The Queens of the Resistance. A perfect collection for any wanna-be Revolutionary Reader, The Queens of the Resistance series is a group of four biographies saluting four of the most beloved boss ladies in Congress: Maxine Waters, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nancy Pelosi and Elizabeth Warren. Written by Brenda Jones & Krishan Trotman, these easy-to-read, illustrated biographies are super inspiring and informative. Also, the books themselves are absolutely beautiful to look at and would make a welcome addition to any bookshelf or coffee table.
It's another mini Revolutionary Readers episode, but we still get to hear from one of the co-authors of The Queens of Resistance series, Krishan Trotman.
Also, because self-care is also revolutionary, I also take a moment on the show to share my definition of a perfect summer beach read and two options for you to consider reading.
If you feel inspired by this episode and now you want to be a revolutionary reader, please share this episode with a friend or tell a lot of friends by leaving us a rating or review on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
For full show notes with links for resources mentioned in this episode, please visit My American Meltingpot.com.
Friday Jul 17, 2020
Friday Jul 17, 2020
On episode 44 of the podcast we're continuing with our Revolutionary Readers summer series. The topic? We’re going to be talking about how to raise young revolutionary readers, with the hope that the young people in our lives go from being revolutionary readers, to revolutionary leaders. Think about it, reading can be the spark that leads young people to do great things. Keeping in mind of course, that 'great things' could be defined as becoming the first female president of the United States, or it could mean starting a food drive for those in need in one’s community.
In addition to my suggestions for raising revolutionary readers, I also share my latest book crush, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet. This book incorporates all the elements I love to read about from Black identity, to family bonds, to colorism. You'll probably want to read it too!
Be sure to check the show notes at My American Meltingpot for a full recap of the show and for additional book recommendations for the young revolutionaries in your life.
Friday Jul 10, 2020
Friday Jul 10, 2020
I'm baaaack...for a special summer series on My American Meltingpot.
Normally, I would have taken the summer off from the podcast, to relax and refresh, but I just couldn’t put down the mic when there is just so much to talk about. But rather than rehash the day’s news, respond to every new event, or simply continue producing regular full-length episodes about race and real life, I decided to do something a little different.
For the next five weeks, I’m going to be hosting the Revolutionary Readers Summer Book Club here on the podcast.
I’m going to be sharing some reviews, recommendations, and interviews with authors. These are going to be short episodes that will hopefully inspire you to read and learn and take action in these crazy times we’re living in. I’ll be talking about fiction, non-fiction, books for kids and teens. I’ll be sharing about the books I’m reading and why. I’ll offer suggestions for books to help you cope and even books to make you laugh when everything else seems to be falling apart.
Basically, I'm going to be talking about how books and reading can be part of the revolution.
The book I'm talking about on this episode, is called Exile Music by Jennifer Steil.
For full show notes and links to books and resources, visit My American Meltingpot.com.
P.S. I hope you LOVE our new logo as much as I do!
Friday Jun 19, 2020
Friday Jun 19, 2020
On episode 42 of the podcast (the final episode of Season 4 by the way), I’m giving a lesson on colorism - that is the preferential treatment given to others based on the color or shade of their skin. At this pivotal moment in American society, as people grapple with dismantling racism, it is critical that folks understand that racism has a crafty cousin named colorism. And the truth is, if we don’t recognize the role colorism plays in maintaining a white supremacist society, then the fight to dismantle racism will never be won. If you want to slay the dragon, you have to kill all her helpers too. So, stay tuned for my primer on colorism, taught in five easy lessons that will help everyone be a better warrior in the fight against racism and discrimination.
But before we get to the conversation on colorism, I'm taking a meltingpot minute to honor Juneteenth Day, aka, Black America’s Independence Day.
For additional resources on colorism and/or Juneteenth Day, please visit the My American Meltingpot blog.
Don't forget to leave a review and/or a rating of the My American Meltingpot Podcast on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. I'll be back for the summer season of the podcast in July.
Friday Jun 12, 2020
Friday Jun 12, 2020
Happy Loving Day! Do you know what Loving Day has to do with today's current racial justice moment? Listen in to this inspirational Meltingpot Minute to hear how a supreme court decision in 1967 paved the way for people of different races to legally marry in all 50 states, AND dealt a serious blow to white supremacy. I hope this episode enlightens you about our history, and inspires you to keep fighting for our future.
For more information about Loving Day and how you can celebrate it with your family and community, visit MyAmericanMeltingpot.com.
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
Tuesday Jun 02, 2020
I know it's not Friday, but I wanted to launch this special Rewind episode of the podcast – with a new intro – as soon as possible. This moment that we're in right now as a nation, demands it.
Back in April 2019, journalists Akiba Solomon and Kenrya Rankin joined me on the show to talk about their new book, How We Fight White Supremacy. While I knew at the time how powerful the episode was, today I am convinced that this episode was made for this moment. Not only do Akiba and Kenrya break down exactly what white supremacy is and what it looks like in our daily lives, we also talk about the many ways we all can participate in the fight to dismantle this pernicious and multi-layered system of oppression.
The episode is extremely informative and enlightening, but more importantly, it is encouraging. Yes, there are tears on this episode, but I promise there is laughter too. My hope is that all who listen will understand why we have to fight white supremacy and how to get started. Nobody is promising a simple or easy battle, but it is possible once you understand that white supremacy is a lie and a distraction that harms us all.
Even if you listened to this show when it first aired in 2019, I beg you to listen again with fresh ears. Considering what is happening in America right now, I guarantee this conversation will resonate deeply.
For More Information
Please buy a copy of How We Fight White Supremacy for yourself and a friend. On Amazon, or an indie bookseller.
To keep up with journalist Akiba Solomon, follow her on Twitter at @akibasolomon. Update: At the end of 2019, Akiba left Colorlines to become Senior Editor at The Marshall Project.
To keep up with journalist Kenrya Rankin, visit her website, Kenrya.com. Update: At the end of 2019, Kenrya became Editorial Director of Colorlines.
For more resources on how to fight white supremacy and racism, please visit the Resources page on My American Meltingpot.
If you want to join the My American Meltingpot book club, we're doing a diverse reading challenge for 2020.
Remember that one of the easiest things you can do in this fight is to bring someone else along who needs to get to work but doesn't know where or how to start. Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.
Peace!