All Anti-Racism Posts
Black and Brown Emojis Are Not a Punch Line
This episode can be summarized with one sentence: Please stop using Black and Brown emojis if you are not Black or Brown. Skin color is something that should be celebrated,…
Invisible Lynching and What It Says About the Fight for Justice
Trigger warning: Before you continue reading these show notes or listening to this episode, please be aware that it discusses lynching and white supremacist violence. Lynching is a reality both…
3 Things I’ve Learned On My Anti-Racist Journey
This episode is a bit of a role reversal with someone I admire SO MUCH. I have been a longtime fan of Rachel Nielson’s podcast 3 in 30: Takeaways for…
The Story of the First Openly Gay MLB Player: Glenn Burke
Happy Pride my friends, especially to the LGBTQ+ members in our community! To celebrate Pride, I wanted to share an episode from my Bite-Sized Black History program that features a…
Motherhood: An Unexpected Act of Resistance
This episode is a special one to me, one dedicated to all of the Black and Brown moms out there. A lot of my Black and Brown friends who are…
Am I Engaging in Service or Saviorism?
Service is SO IMPORTANT for so many reasons, one being that it is a great way to get on a first name basis with others. It’s a way to get…
4 Podcasts to Hep You Learn More About Martin Luther King Jr.
To say Martin Luther King Jr.’s work has impacted my own anti-racism work is an understatement. His legacy is foundational to so much of my experience as a Black person…
Jesus Had Brown Skin
When we really take a moment to step back and think, it’s easy to agree that Jesus had brown skin because he was from the Middle East. If that’s the…
The 3 Types of Microaggressions
Microaggression may have “micro” in its name, but that doesn’t mean these assaults are small. Two women I admire so much for their anti-racism work explain it like this: “There’s…
The Importance of Black and Asian Solidarity with Joanna Ho
To say I’m obsessed with New York Times bestselling author Joanna Ho’s novel “The Silence That Binds Us” is an understatement. Yes, it’s a book technically written for young adults,…
How the One Drop Rule and Blood Quantum Show Just How Made-Up Race Really Is
When you take the time to understand all the “rules” around race, it becomes so obvious how made-up race and the laws about race really are. They are full of…
Real Quick: Black Voting Power
If you’ve been around a while, you’ve heard me say it hundreds of times: Race is a social construct. Race was created and has always been manipulated to make sure…
What is a Decolonized Story? Here Are 3 Characteristics
We hear all the time how the episodes in our Untold Stories series are some of everyone’s favorites — and we totally agree! Part of what makes our Untold Stories…
3 Common Critical Race Theory Myths and How You Can Respond
Despite what you may see on social media, Critical Race Theory is not the boogie man! Critical Race Theory, or CRT, became a major buzzword in the news and immediately…
Children of Color in Schools: the Stories Behind the Statistics
One of the biggest messages we’re trying to get across with First Name Basis is that learning a person’s story and getting to know them as an individual is the…
You Know the Truth About Christopher Columbus. What Should You Do Now?
We need to stop celebrating Columbus Day — immediately. By celebrating Columbus Day, our country has erased the history of Indigenous Peoples, and now is the time to give it…
How Do I Start Talking to My Kids About Racism?
When your kiddo says something racist or is exposed to racism in some way, it is, of course, a time you need to respond and have a conversation with them…
Age Appropriate Anti-Racism
My dear friends, we have been on this anti-racism journey together for 3 years, and it’s AMAZING to think about the growth we’ve gone through together. Over the course of…
My Child Just Said Something Racist. What Do I Do?
What should you say and do if your child says something racist? Moments when that happens can be stressful, emotional and hard to hear, but I have some suggestions to…
Oh No! I Talked About Racism and Made Things Worse
I’ve heard from so many parents who have been listening to the First Name Basis Podcast and other anti-racist educators, have tried to implement the suggestions they learn as they…
Where Did Student Loans Come From and Why Is College So Expensive?
The fact that there is a need for student loan forgiveness really paints a picture of just how complicated education funding has become. So how did we get to this…
I Want to Teach My Kids to be Anti-Racist. Where Should I Start?
You know anti-racism is important and you want to teach your kids to be anti-racist, but sometimes it can be tricky to know where to start. Well, here at First…
Ways to Make Immigration About People, Not Status
Immigration is about so much more than debates, laws and policies — it’s about people. Every person who has interacted with the immigration system has their own story that goes…
You Are Not Meant to Do This Alone: The Power of Anti-Racist Community
Anti-racism is meant to be done in community. It makes sense, right? This work is SO important and we need to be sharing it with others in order for change…
How Can I Help My Kiddos Grapple With Hard History?
You know what would really help us all out? If we realized that historical figures are more than the heroes/villains that we often reduce them to. Although past presidents and…
Anti-Racist Education at Home and in the Classroom
We want our children to embrace anti-racist education both at school and at home, but what does that actually look like? We’re talking about anti-racism in the classroom for the…
3 Things Children Need to Know About Slavery
As a Black bi-racial person, learning about slavery growing up was so hard for me for so many reasons — it was traumatizing and heartbreaking to think about the conditions…
Racism is Built on a Big Fat Lie, Part 2: Uncle Tom and Other Myths
If you’ve been here for a while, you’ve probably heard me say about a million times that race is a completely made up social construct — with no basis in…
Racism is Built on a Big Fat Lie Pt. 1: Blood Quantum and the One Drop Rule
Think back to when you were a kid. Remember when you’d be playing a game and you were about to make an epic power move or even win the game,…
Age Appropriate Anti-Racism
My dear friends, we have been on this anti-racism journey together for 2.4 years, and it’s AMAZING to think about the growth we’ve gone through together. Over the course of…
Anti-Racism: Where Do I Start?
This episode answers one of the most common questions I receive: Where do I start? Press play if you’re taking your first step on your anti-racist journey or if you’ve…
Black Lives Matter: How Will You Respond?
In the summer of 2020, author Veronica Chambers had what she calls an “aha moment.” Born in Panama and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Veronica’s Afro-Latina heritage has always been…
Stop Using MLK to Justify Racism
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is less than a week away, and I couldn’t let this important day pass without another episode. This is actually my THIRD episode about Martin…
Rich People Commit Crimes, Too
This past week we’ve had some deep and meaningful conversations about responding to the myth of “Black on Black crime.” As our conversations unfolded I realized that I left out…
What About Black-on-Black Crime?
When a white person murders a Black person and we try to call it like it is — RACISM — there’s a response that, without fail, will crop up. The…
Anti-Racism is a Both/And Situation
When I first started learning about anti-racism, before I ever started First Name Basis, I remember thinking, “I wish I could just turn it off sometimes and enjoy things.” That…
The Memory That I Can’t Shake: The Why Behind Ally Elementary
ALLY ELEMENTARY IS HEEEEERE! Pop all of the confetti cannons in the world because I am so dang excited to share this transformational program with you and your family! In…
If Reverse Racism Isn’t Real, Then What Is It?
Have you ever heard a white person claim that they’ve experienced “reverse racism”? I sure have! But here’s a spoiler alert for you: Reverse racism is not real. Don’t get…
Is Reverse Racism Real?
Have you ever heard a white person claim that they’ve experienced “reverse racism”? I sure have! Let’s break this down together because I’ve heard from many of you that you’re…
How to Respond to Stereotypes Against Asians
Books are such a powerful teaching tool because they give us glimpses into experiences beyond our own — which is something children’s book author Andrea Wang is an expert at….
What Should I Do When I Hear and See Microaggressions?
In anti-racism — as in most things in life — knowledge gains power through action, and the same is true when it comes to microaggressions. Microaggressions are often covert to…
(Not So Micro) Aggressions
Microaggression may have “micro” in its name, but that doesn’t mean these assaults are small. Two women I admire so much for their anti-racism work explain it like this: “There’s…
Anti-Racist Education at Home and in the Classroom
We want our children to embrace anti-racist education both at school and at home, but what does that actually look like? In this episode I interview Alexandria Scott, Founder and…
One Year After the Murder of George Floyd
Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 marks one year since George Floyd was brutally murdered by the police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here are 3 things you can do to show solidarity for…
Our Thoughts on President Oaks’ and Elder Cook’s Conference Talks
In the most recent General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS Church leaders began to speak more directly about racism, unity, and inclusion. Carter and…
Anti-Racism in the Wild
You know that feeling you get when you’re surrounded by pine trees, breathing the crisp mountain air, and feeling the stresses of everyday life slowly melt away? Well, unfortunately that…
Real Talk: Cultural Appropriation and White Supremacy
On the surface cultural appropriation might not seem very harmful, but when you peel back the layers it is clear that cultural appropriation is a function of racism and perpetuates…
How to Become an Informed Voter
I have heard from so many of you that this election season has left you feeling confused and overwhelmed. That is completely understandable —2020 has been a year full of…
Cancel Culture Pt. 3: Removing Statues
Our country is in the midst of a social revolution. People everywhere are standing up and fighting for racial equity and part of the protesting has included taking down statues…
Cancel Culture Pt. 2: What Is Cancel Culture And What Do We Do About It?
Cancel culture is difficult to define and widely viewed in a negative light. It could be defined as a modern form of protest or boycott and therefore it has an…
Cancel Culture Pt. 1: Calling Out, Calling In & Tone Policing
In this first episode of our three-part cancel culture series, we lay a foundation for the conversation by getting clear about the difference between calling someone out and calling someone…
How You Can Support Anti-racist Educators
Anti-racism work is critical to creating the community that we all want, and those of us who have been called to lead this movement are carrying a heavy load. In…
The Danger of Spiritual Bypassing
There have been many different types of reactions to the calls for racial justice that are going on in our country right now. If your social media looks anything like…
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is the oldest celebration of the abolition of slavery here in the United States. Every year on June 19th families come together to celebrate the resilience of our ancestors…
Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd: Unpacking Racism
Right now our country is reeling from the murders of our Black brothers and sisters. You may be confused by all of the uprising and rebellion, but you need to…
What Is Privilege And What Do I Do With It?
White privilege is one of the strongest pillars that upholds racism. In her article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” Peggy McIntosh describes white privilege as: “An invisible package of…
Teaching Our Children About Immigration
Immigration is one of those things that we really struggle to agree on as a country. No matter your feelings or political leanings, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity…
How to Talk to Your Children About Racism
Racism is a topic that can be hard to know where to start when talking to your kids about it. It’s important to be honest about it, but how can…
Cinco de Mayo is Not Mexican Independence Day
It seems like we need to shout it from the rooftops because most Americans are pretty convinced that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, and that is just not…
Let’s Talk Language: Black or African-American?
This episode answers the number one question I’ve been asked since starting First Name Basis: How do I know whether to say ”Black” or “African-American”? I went straight to the…
How to be a Liberator
We had an amazing conversation on Instagram and I really didn’t want you to miss it! I shared a post about resisting the temptation to be seen as a savior…
How The Coronavirus Pandemic Unmasks Inequality In Our Society
I’m sure you’ve seen the headlines: The Black community has been hit the hardest by the coronavirus. Infection rates in Black counties are 3 times that of infection rates in…
The Untold Story of Rosa Parks
What did you learn about Rosa Parks growing up? You may have learned, like I did, that she was a tired seamstress on her way home from work and when…
A Conversation With My Dad About Black History Month
In this episode my dad and I dig deep about the importance of Black History Month. This is one of my favorite conversations I’ve ever had on the podcast because…
Bringing Chinese Culture Into Our Homes
Lunar New Year is right around the corner. What are you doing to teach your children about the traditions and history of this holiday? Listen in to my conversation with…
The Face of DACA
In this episode we interview Ivan Aragon, a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient. Ivan is from Chihuahua, Mexico and came to the United States with his family when…
Small Wins: Teaching 3rd Graders About Melanin, Race, and Civil Rights
In this episode, we share stories of how we’ve used the lessons we learn through First Name Basis in real life. Jasmine tells the story of how she was taught…