Challenging the Narrative: Decolonization, Black Scholarship, and Self-Determination

In this episode of Mama We Made It, Dj and Reg go deep on the meaning of freeing and decolonizing the mind.  The hosts share personal journeys around mentorship, parenting, and how their upbringings as Black men shape their skepticism and curiosity about mainstream narratives, especially in education. Reg details taking "two sets of notes" in school, one for the grade, one for survival, and how a lifetime of voracious reading, from Nikki Giovanni to Toni Morrison to W. E. B. Du Bois, has been foundational to his consciousness. Dj reflects on familial lessons about economic self-reliance, early experiences with being objectified in classrooms, and how those shaped his framework for resisting exploitation. The two examine shifting forms of content consumption among younger generations, the often invisible forces within public education that mold how Black youth see themselves and the world, and the power of intentionally diversifying what and how we learn.  They highlight authors like Dr. Grada Kilomba and the importance of tools like Google Scholar for grounding knowledge in research—not just opinion. Ultimately, this conversation is a call for ongoing curiosity, critical thinking, and creating more space for self-determined Black intellectual tradition. When and Where I Enter by Paula Giddings - https://www.amazon.com/When-Where-Enter-Impact-America/dp/0688146503   The ISIS Papers by Frances Cress Welsing - https://www.amazon.com/Isis-Yssis-Papers-Keys-Colors/dp/1602819599   Race for Profit by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor - https://www.amazon.com/Race-Profit-Industry-Undermined-Homeownership/dp/1469653664  Plantation Memories by Dr. Grada Kilomba - https://www.amazon.com/Plantation-Memories-Episodes-Everyday-Racism/dp/1771135506/  Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon - https://www.amazon.com/Black-White-Masks-Frantz-Fanon/dp/0802143008/ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NwQumFBr7JA  You can also listen to Mama, We Made It! with Dj & Reg on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mama-we-made-it-with-dj-reg/id1809918939          Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/20eLaINMng2ISxB3TH6hED?si=ac880381abfd406f