001: The Power of Different Spaces

If you were looking for event spaces to book for a birthday party, it’s not likely a morgue would be on your list. Why? Because a morgue is a place that handles death; a necessary space but not created with the intent of a celebration of the living. Understanding the intention of a space we occupy helps us calibrate expectations to appropriately meet the moment. When George Floyd was murdered in 2020, there were reactions of grief, anger, hopelessness, etc. At that same moment, Floyd’s death awakened White people to social injustices that had been in existence for hundreds of years. And because we were just a few months into the pandemic, all of those people who were mourning and waking up were expressing themselves on social media. On one hand, people were speaking out more and learning from so many. The chaos came when White people who were just waking up were asking Black people who were mourning to educate them. Watching that chaos unfold was what inspired me to start Building Allyship. Marginalized humans understand the power of being in community with their people, it is essential to our survival. White people who wanted to be better allies needed a space where they could learn, challenge their beliefs and find community with others who were on the same journey. In this introductory episode Dr. Jpop talks about what becoming an effective ally entails, why learning the history of the US and social injustices need to happen in an intentional space, and what to expect from this podcast. Neighborhood Action Steps: Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and SHARE! Send us an email and let us know what topics you’d like to hear on this podcast. Links of Mentions: brontë velez Building Allyship Find Dr. Jpop on IG | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook | Linkedin Join Dr. Jpop’s Neighborhood!