The Offshoot Podcast

It was just after her first birthday that the parents of Journee Perry noticed that she was not verbalizing as expected for a one-year-old.  Her father, Ira Perry, comes to The Offshoot Podcast to tell what it was like learning that his youngest child of nine was on the spectrum for autism.  There was a lot of waiting for professional assistance and a lack of resources, so instead of passing the time waiting for appointments, he turned to artificial intelligence. Perry is utilizing his entrepreneurial expertise to mitigate the time it takes to determine if and where children are on the spectrum for autism. He has launched an AI platform,  https://klongen.ai, that will assist professionals in diagnosing autism more quickly, and that AI platform, thereby, will help children more easily adapt to social norms and calm traits like anxiety and over stimulation.  The holographic technology, Klonggen AI, helps families and their children with autism by keeping consistent the familiarity that those on the spectrum need to calm anxiousness and better understand their surroundings. On this episode of The Offshoot Podcast, listen to how this one Black father is supporting his daughter, and how he plans to share Klongen AI, with others, professionals, to ensure that children with autism are up to par with their peers.  https://klongen.ai.Support the show

From Angela Harper, daughter of Archie HarperArchie Harper is 91 and still hitting the gym three times a week. That tells you something about his approach to life.Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, he made a decision at 18 that would shape everything: he joined the U.S. Air Force. What followed was three decades in uniform, with deployments that took him across the globe - including service during the Vietnam War. After military retirement, his service continued: first as a procurement specialist, and then in security at the Sacramento International Airport.He earned a degree in Education from Southern Illinois University, but his real classroom has always been his life experiences and the people he's met along the way. Ask him about his guiding principles and he'll tell you: truth, friendship, spirituality, and treating others the way you want to be treated. Simple ideas that aren't always simple to live by.His personal motto is "Keep on keeping on"—words that seem to capture his persistence, his positive mindset, and his pragmatism. Looking back, he says joining the military was the best decision he ever made.But these days, Archie is thinking bigger. His hope is that humanity can figure out how to sit down and talk instead of fight. "We could accomplish so much more," he said, "if we just stopped and listened to each other." Archie and his wife of 50 years reside in Sacramento, CA.Support the show

Emmy nominated and executive producer of movies and television shows  like "A Match Made In Heaven," "Call Me Zaddy," "False Advertisement," and "Sorry About That," Lena Jenkins-Smith doesn't give a lot of interviews.  She is more comfortable being behind the camera, managing a team of creatives, to produce non-traditional content  -  films different from typical Hollywood stories.  She has been in the game for more than 20 years, having got her big break working for renowned comedian Katt Williams, whom she still does some production work.  She would say it started from being at the bottom, but now, she leads her own production company Goldstrand Media with business partner Jonathan Williams.  Coming from behind the camera, Lena sits down for a conversation on this episode of The Offshoot Podcast.  From her beginnings as an extra in the classic John Singleton film "Poetic Justice," to her leadership role as a entrepreneur, motherhood, and producer, Lena has taking many pivots in her career but has stayed on the path - through the ups and downs.  She is still learning and growing, and with that she is bringing young people along with her.  In her conversation with The Offshoot, Lena speaks truthfully about the disappointments, the euphoria, the challenges, and her faith.Support the show

Dating isn't what it used to be - at least not prior to the advent of social media and reality TV dating shows.  It seems that in today's world of dating, there is an over emphasis on romance, which is not always a bad thing, when it is genuine, but it is certainly not a good thing when it is expected to be what is seen in the fictional world of motion pictures.  On this episode of The Offshoot, the discussion is about the fantasies surrounding dating in a time of heavy social media use and false realities.Support the show

Baltimore, that once thriving industrial city caught between the nation's capitol of Washington, D.C. and the city of brotherly love Philadelphia, is again making noise with music.  A new form a house music and club music, that is unique to Baltimore, is drawing dancers and club goers to the city, and the musicians behind it all are now taking their creations to wider audiences globally.  DJ and producer S.DOT is among the artists bringing attention to Baltimore's new and growing music scene, and he is on this episode of The Offshoot Podcast to talk about his music and what's happening musically in Baltimore. The Baltimore house and club music sound had been in the city for years but it was considered, somewhat, underground.  One still has to be in the know to get into the best clubs to dance and sweat or just vibe to the music, and S.DOT has a plethora of tracks befitting any mood down for a good time.  On The Offshoot Podcast, S.DOT talks of the vibrancy of house music and club music in Baltimore, and he talks about talking influence from Chicago house and AfroBeats to create a Baltimore House sound that is infectious and damn right good to listen to.  S.DOT is about to go on tour, which means he can be seen and heard:May 2 at 1722 in BaltimoreMay 3 at 618 Cocktail & Whiskey Lounge in Washington, DCMay 10 at 1835 W Oxford Philadelphia May 17 at Pianos in New York City https://www.instagram.com/p/DItbZJDs4cs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ruvWpLs2aMVuibVXpsJwL?si=TQDvPcIcSEmYgymRETdIKQhttps://sdotmusic1.bandcamp.com/https://soundcloud.com/sdotmusik/tracksSupport the show

Not forgiving someone for a wrong is never discussed as often as forgiving someone for a wrong.  The mantra is to forgive and move on, but what if not forgiving someone who has perpetrated an act of betrayal, violence, broken trust or theft , which could lead to triggers or trauma, is healing?  What if it is not? On this episode of The Offshoot Podcast, Dr. Yve Michaels flips the script and has me, the host, on her couch, as we talk about not forgiving versus forgiving as part of process toward healing from triggers, trauma and other emotional pains.  Whether the pain came upon you from family, friends, co-workers, or the church, not forgiving can be easy but it is not the path to healing, according to Dr. Michaels. But, why do we sometimes feel that not forgiving is ideal?  Listen to Dr. Michaels, and she will tell you not forgiving has nothing to do with the other person but rather forgiveness is solely about you.Support the show

On this episode of The Offshoot Podcast, three incredible chefs define what makes food good, and it turns out good food is more than just about taste.  Chef Sherise, the owner of Sweet Sage Catering, Chef Steven Steven German-Jones the co-owner of Palate202 Catering, and Chef Maine, the owner of The Maine Course, define what is good food by telling stories about their grandmothers' cooking, the family connections, the history of Black food, and rising costs to prepares dishes like collard greens and oxtails. Food can be basic or it can be a memorable meal.  It can be an expensive cuisine of unique marinades and sauces or it can be a very satisfying grub that warms the soul.  But in both cases, and everything in between, food can be good, and according to all three chefs, food should be good. Not all mac & cheese is the same, so what makes one version of the iconic dish more good than the other?  Watch and listen to what Chef Sherise, Chef Steven and Chef Maine have to say about what makes food good on this episode of The Offshoot. To cater your next soiree, dinner party or brunch contact any of these fabulous chefs at:Chef Sherise of Sweet Sage Catering, www.sweetsagecatering.com, on Instagram at SweetsagellcChef Steven of Palate202 Catering, [email protected], www.palate202catering.com, on Instagram at palate_202Chef Maine of The Maine Course, www.themainecourse.com, on Instagram at _maine_courseSupport the show

I am going to venture and bet that there are many of us who went through the public education system, and perhaps throughout college and grad school, did not have many, if any, Black men as educators.  I would venture and add that for those individuals that attended private schools, there were not many Black men educators in their classrooms either. The lack of Black men in the classroom, direct correlation or not, seems to have impact on many youth in schools today.  The impact seems to hit harder when it comes to young, Black boys. Why are there so few Black men in education at every level of education?  On this episode of The Offshoot Podcast, posed that question to two Black men who had professions in education, but chose to leave for different reasons.  Their decision was despite the acknowledgement that Black men are needed in the classroom.  The education profession, to hear my guests talk, had become unsafe, high demand, and low in compensation.  But they offer solutions.  Take a listen to this episode of The Offshoot Podcast.Support the show

For young Black men, their voices are not often heard, and often times if their voices are head it is typically a soundbite, misconstrued and/or taken out of context.  Additionally, their voices seem to not matter unless it is via music (particularly Hip Hop),  and sports, and even via music and sports, their voices are often dismissed as being irrelevant or less important because they are Black and young.  Why is that? Why is that the given despite their small size in number that much of what everyday people debate in this political climate has some lineage back to Black men - especially young Black men.On this episode of The Offshoot Podcast, three young Black men join me in a discussion about the state of The United States of America from their perspectives.  Between the three of them there is agreement and disagreement on Black history, the economy, Black families, education, international conflicts, and the current president of The United States of America.  They challenge and correct each other and they support and give solidarity to one another.  It's a dynamic very common in the Black community but seldom ever featured in mainstream media in any format, hence the importance of this episode of The Offshoot Podcast.Support the show

Are you Black Indian? Well, if you're from South Carolina and you have Gullah Geechee roots, then there is a likely possibility that you are Black Indian - from a tribe called the Yamassee.  Though small in number today, in the 1600s and 1700s, the Yamassee Tribe was a force of nature. The tribe battled perpetrators on their land, now known as The United States of America, specifically South Carolina, and they fought to protect and help all people, particularly the Gullah Geechee peoples of South Carolina.  The Yamassee War of 1715-1717 was a major conflict between the Yamassee and the British, which led to the deaths of thousands.  These were my people. My grandmother told her children that she, they, we are Gullah Geechee and Black Indian. My research has confirmed this.  The lineage is very long - the history, which was passed down orally, is now being talked about and written.  But that history wasn't and isn't taught in schools, and it is up to those of us who know our identity to educate others.  The Gullah Geechee people and the Yamassee Black Indians have history that pre-dates the formation of The United States of America.  The history cannot be erased and will not be forgotten.Support the show

The president of the United States of America, in a recent press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accused the visiting diplomat of wanting a third world war.  Zelenskyy rejected that notion, and his disbelief of the comment was self-evident given his response - his faced looked of shock.  The behavior from the American president was unbecoming of any world leader, but what the behavior exposed was the American president's call for World War III by using a tactic called Accusation In A Mirror. Accusation in a mirror is defined as a false claim that accuses the target of something that the perpetrator is doing or intends to do. It's kind of like a preemptive accusation. It's a way to start a war and try to place blame on the target.  In this case, the American president falsely accused the Ukrainian president of wanting a war.  When a war starts, he'll blame Ukraine with hope that the general population will support his efforts to end the war when in fact the goal is to profit from it - monetarily and geographically. This tactic isn't new for the American president. His strategy has always been to accuse others of what he is doing and plans to do.  But this is dangerous. This could mean the deaths of millions of people worldwide.  War could come to American soil.Support the show

The brief interruption of access to TikTok prompted many Americans to find alternatives like RedNote, and what Americans found were images of China they had never seen before. Not surprising to me, they were shocked as to how developed the country has become - especially compared to the United States of America.  Then it got me thinking, why were people so shocked?  Then I realized it's because most Americans have never traveled outside the country.  And in thinking further, it led me to conclude that people's lack of knowledge about countries outside their own can be directly correlated to their politics - particularly when it comes to international issues.  The brief banning of TikTok got people to see that America isn't as above par compared to other counties as believed.  Perhaps if Americans traveled more they would gain a different perspective about political issues and thereby change their politics.  Perhaps that's why some political imps want to keep Americans from expanding their knowledge.Support the show

Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and in The White House have put out statements, made comments, and put forth legislation targeting Washington, DC under the premise that the District is a failing jurisdiction.  They are trying to put forth a narrative, a false notion, that the city is full of crime and has a corrupt government.  The truth of the matter is Washington, DC is a vibrant, beautiful city that has its share of issues, and strives despite constantly being under attack for being vocally progressive, heavily Democratic, and rich in its Black population and culture. On this episode of The Offshoot podcast, D.C. Councilman Zachary Parker counters the arguments made by members of the Grand Old Party.  The District is doing well, especially in comparison to other jurisdictions.  Are there opportunities for improvement? Yes, said Councilman Parker, and he speaks on three issues in which he is leading efforts to further the growth and prosperity of the city, its 750,000 residents and businesses.  From the much talked about crime, downtown revitalization, the youth to rank-choice voting, economic activity and budgets, Councilman Parker provides insight to the workings of D.C. Government that very few people know about let alone understand.Support the show

Buying and selling a home can be a daunting task, especially when it is your first. There are so many things to know, and one individual can't expect to know it all. Now, throw in a change in politics that comes with much ambiguity and you get a lot of unknowns when it comes to buying and/or selling a home. This creates fear for some people - no matter it be their first time buying or their second or third. To help ease the fear, three experts in the field of real estate take part in a lively conversation about the real estate market for 2025 on this episode of The Offshoot Podcast.  Demond Pollard with Smart Realty, Lisa Gaton-Rapena with Homeside Financial, and Mike Brown with Rlah Real Estate share their knowledge and forecasts for the 2025 housing market.  It's looking to be better than one might expect, which should ease some people's fears.  You can reach Demond Pollard at [email protected] or 804-386-2172.  You can reach Lisa Gaton-Rapena at [email protected] or 301-437-8725. And you can reach Mike Brown at [email protected] or 240-244-6221.  They are all on Facebook and Instagram.Support the show

From The Offshoot Podcast is another segment called "Thoughts." Life is Fair. Support the show

Most people can't define trauma let alone recognize it - even when they've experienced trauma themselves.  Too often, we ignore and dismiss incidents and experiences that truly are traumatic under the auspices that it will pass and things will be fine.  But the trauma is still there, and we often don't realize until after that fact or until it's too late the need to acknowledge the trauma and process it. On this episode of The Offshoot, trauma expert Cory George answers the question how to recognize trauma?  As someone who has recognized and learned from his own trauma, that date back to years, Cory defines trauma to provide a clear understanding of what it is to experience trauma.  He dives into the trauma of Black Americans who he describes as having generational trauma.  Additionally, he provides a way forward for any and everyone who is ready to heal and prevent their trauma from being passed down to their offsprings.Support the show

This episode of The Offshoot is 10 years in the making. It began a few years after the passing of my grandmother Irene Moody Nelson, at a time when I was beginning to question friendships - particularly friendships as relationships.  My grandmother had the best friends, and there were many friendships she cultivated.  To better my friendships, to work on them as friendship, I wanted to know what made her relationship with her friends so great. How were they able to be and remain such good friends until their deaths. I sit down and talk with three of my grandmother's friends: Ms. Mattie Roberts, Ms. Ellamenna Bullock, and Ms. Flossie Ford.  You may wonder why I use Ms. versus Mrs. Well, that's because I never knew their husbands. I never knew my grandmother's husband, James Nelson, who died in a tragic farming accident at age 50 (possibly age 48).  Like my grandmother, these particular three friends of hers, and there were others, were without husbands.  All had lost their husbands prior to my birth, expect Ms. Flossie, who left her husband.  Growing up, everyone referred to these women as Ms. Ms. Mattie, Ms. Ellamenna and Ms. Flossie, which is how I grew up calling and referring to them, all spoke, as best they could, about friendship - their friendship with my grandmother.  At the time, Ms. Ellamenna was the oldest at 100 and Ms. Flossie was the youngest at age 91. Again, that was 10 years ago. All have past except, Ms. Flossie, whom I still go see whenever I'm in South Carolina. To see these beautiful, loving women on film and to hear them makes one want to have friendships that last 'til death.Support the show

People forget that Black Americans/African Americans make up less than 13 percent of the US population. But that population has impact far beyond the population of its size - culturally, spiritually, economically, socially, politically, and globally.  The reason, or one of the reasons, Black identity is so expansive, and so well known and so copied is because of the stories. Most of our stories, rather it be movies, music, television, books, etc., come out of some form of oppression. Present oppression, historic oppression, inherent oppression. Because those stories come from such dire places, they resonate with people who have empathy. And they resonate on a lower level with people who have sympathy. And because of those good qualities in other people who are not African American/Black American, our stories, as a people, get magnified, and it creates a level of sorrow that people can’t help but to feel our pain. If they didn’t our stories, their influences in particularly, would not matter. Support the show

In this clip from The Offshoot podcast, Dr. Okey Enyia talks of meeting Black men where they are. Catch the full episode on various podcast platforms.  Support the show

The Offshoot podcast has some exciting new episodes coming in 2025.  Please be sure to follow and like to catch every episode. Support the show

Despite the success of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as Obamacare, there are still a number of Black men not getting and/or taking advantage of the healthcare options available to them.  Grave and serious disparities remain.  Dr. Okey Enyia, an expert on healthcare and policy, particularly as the topic relates to Black men, comes to The Offshoot Podcast to explain the disparity. He comes with a plan to increase the rate of Black men taking advantage of healthcare programs like the ACA and he explains the dire need need for Black men to be more proactive when it comes to self health.Support the show

Talk to any Black man, of any generation, and he will tell you that he isn't being heard.  Throughout most of the 2024 political season, it seemed that everything was being talked about, everything was on the table, except for the issues and concerns of Black men. That changed about six weeks ago.  All of a sudden, corporate media and the leading pundits of the networks, started talking about Black men "abandoning" the Democratic party in support of the man atop the Republican party's presidential ticket. Young Black men were getting most of the attention. The pundits, almost giddy, were and still are eager to talk about a community that so often they portrayed in negative perspective.  They were gleeful to talk to young Black male, who clearly wasn't up to par on politics, about the 2024 presidential race.  They were happy to showcase a young Black man who was ready to give his thoughts on the Democratic nominee for president. But in practically every snippet, the media hawks missed some things.  They didn't have or put things in context.  They didn't try to learn what was behind a given opinion.  This completely missed who Black men are as a group - as a people who are as diverse in their opinions as they are in their looks.  Yes, there will be some Black men to support the Grand Old Party and its leader, but there are for more Black men who are supporting the Democratic nominee.  Corporate media likes to talk about how the support for the Republican party has grown.  If so, it's incremental.  On this episode of The Offshoot, I talk with three Black men, and I ask them what is the media missing?  What is the real rational that Black men, particularly young Black men, give for supporting and voting for a political party and it's leader despite facts that seems contrary to their lives.  What is driving their politics?  Those questions get answered, and the answers to those questions are not what mainstream media is publishing.Support the show

The war between Israel and Hamas has a lot of people talking and it has an equal, if not greater, amount of people not talking ... at least not publicly.  In the Black/African American community, there has been a lot of the later. Why? That's a question no one individual or groups of individuals can answer as if there is a homogeneous Black community in which one persona or consortium can speak for. But, however, there is a deeper issue within the conflict that some Black Americans are speaking to, and on this episode of The Offshoot, Rev. Graylan Hagler of the historic Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, DC is talking. The war between Israel and Hamas is one that needs the attention of Black/African Americans purely for the fact that there is a humanitarian crisis at hand, said Rev. Hagler.  Palestinian children, women, civilians of non-Jewish and non-Muslin faiths, along side people in the Jewish community and Palestinian community, are becoming casualties of the war.  Though the war is taking place thousands of miles from any city within the U.S.A., any city with a large Black population, Rev. Hagler, said what is happening in Israel could happen in the States, hence the need to be aware and pay attention to what the war is all about.Land, said Rev. Hagler, is what the war is all about, and land is a topic most Black Americans can identify with. Additionally, he points to extremism.  Even in 2023, there are new stories, particularly coming out of the southern part of the States, in which the land of Black people was taken.  Hagler speaks to this and much more on this episode of The Offshoot.  He provides a bit of history and he draws a correlation to activities in this country ... particularly the Insurrection of January 6.Support the show

With seven children, Bridget Desmukes and her husband, Jeffrey, wanted to give all their offsprings the best education.  They wanted to ensure that their children learned about the world, business, the economy, languages and other cultures. Additionally, they wanted their children to have positive social experiences with other children and educators while at school.  They had their children in the District of Columbia Public School system, which for a while seemed to support their children's needs. The support was not quite there. Some of the children were being bullied, and they were not getting the medical support they needed to manage their sickle cell anemia. On top of that, the educators were not recognizing and challenging their kids intellectually.  Those things, and much more, prompted  Bridget and her husband to remove their children from public schools and to educate them at home.  Bridget is an advocate for homeschooling, nurse life, a wellness coach and a mental health counseling student, and for a few year now, all seven children, have been getting a unique home education that includes learning foreign languages, advanced math and reading, critical thinking, and economics.  The children are very bright, and Bridget comes on The Offshoot podcast to share what it is like to homeschool her children.  She is an advocate for homeschooling who has been able to advance her children's education beyond that of children in public schools.  Should more parents home school their children? Hear what Bridget has to say on this episode on The Offshoot.  With a passion for helping young women overcome the stereotypes, she speaks to the pros and cons, the joys and challenges of homeschooling. She wants her children and all children, especially young Black girls, to embrace their strengths and individuality. That's part of her homeschooling curriculum.  Homeschooling is growing in popularity, and if you're unsure about public school versus home school, listen to this episode of The Offshoot.Support the show

In some major U.S. cities, there appears to be a reduction in crime, but in the nation's capitol, Washington, DC, crime continues to rise.  From gun violence to robberies, carjackings and blatant theft, DC seems to be plagued with a surge in crime that one could argue is reminiscent of the city's crime wave in the 1990s.  Washington, DC 5C07 Commissioner VJ Kapur has been trying to address and combat crime in his part of the city, and he answers the question, why elected officials can't reduce crime?Kapur is a first-term commissioner serving in a part of northeast DC that is experiencing rapid residential growth, business development, and an increase in crime. On this episode of The Offshoot, Kapur not only answers the question about politicians not reducing crime but he also offers solutions. He has put forth a proposal that he states will reduce crime, improve traffic flow, and make streets safer for families.  The cliche is all politics is local. There's also the adage no man is an island.  Kapur acknowledges that solving/reducing crime is not a one-man job, which is why he explains reducing crime in DC is going to require elected officials to change some priorities.Support the show

August 2023 marks 50 years of Hip-Hop/Rap music, and over the corse of those 50 years, the genre of Black/African American music has grown to become a global powerhouse.  Across the planet, Hip-Hop/Rap music is the dominate sound on various radio and streaming music platforms. Travel to practically any country, and you'll hear Hip-Hop/Rap being performed in various languages by various cultures, but in every iteration, there still remains the essence of Black/African-American people ... The Culture. On this episode of The Offshoot podcast and aggregate, Hip-Hop/Rap recording artist Devin The Ripper provides his  perspective on the history of the genre, and his talks about his career in the world of Hip-Hop and Rap.  Additionally, he expels on the future of Hip-Hop/Rap music - siting its decline due to corporate oversight and unauthentic performers.  But there is optimism.  Devin The Ripper explains that storytelling, the root of Hip-Hop/Rap music, will be the thing to keep the genre thriving for another 50 years.  About Devin The Ripper:Devin Denzel Davidson, known professionally as DEVIN THE RIPPER, is a Maryland native, born into a world of music. His father Quentin ‘Footz’ Davidson was a founder and the drummer for the well renowned Go-Go band Rare Essence. Devin turned to music as a means to creatively and emotionally express himself after the tragic murder of his father in 1994 and later the murder of his brother in 1999.Devin always had a love for music and Hip-Hop in particular. While living in Los Angeles to pursue his acting career, he naturally transitioned into music; recording his first song, "Lee Mack Freestyle." Once he decided to pursue music, he wanted his sound to reflect the culture of the DMV area, making it fitting for him to move back and reside in Southeast, DC, the same place his father rose to musical prominence.In August of 2020, Devin would release his highly anticipated debut album 'One Day It'll Make Cents' with lead singles '10 Toes Down' and 'Hustle SZN'. In July 2021, he released his second album 'No Fllights to Waldorf' which featured Jadakiss on the lead single 'What A Day'. Devin has a way of using his hard hitting delivery and vivid storytelling to charm listeners, which has led to him being recognized as one of the DMV's most lyrically-inclined. His musical influences include Rare Essence, NaS, Backyard Band, Nipsey Hussle and 2Pac.https://artistecard.com/DevinTheRipper#!/videos/110353https://artistecard.com/DevinTheRipper#!/musics/143788https://artistecard.com/DevinTheRipper#!/videos/110354Support the show

"If we can't protect the little ones then we as humans are failing God by not allowing plans to come to fruition," says Robert Thompson, the father of 5-month-old Jeremiah Eli Thompson whose death was ruled a homicide due to blunt-force trauma to the head.  Baby Jeremiah, as Robert and his wife Melissa still like to call him, was a healthy, vibrant infant, when, along with his twin, Zachariah, was taken to the daycare facility approximately 7am on February 17, 2019. Less than two hours later, his mother, Melissa, would receive the phone call no parent wants to get .... her Baby Jeremiah was being taken to the hospital. In this episode of The Offshoot podcast and aggregate, parents Robert and Melissa Thompson tell their story.  They talk of their great loss, their Baby Jeremiah, and they talk of the trauma that still exists.  There has been no accountability ... no one has yet to serve any prison time, despite a trail of the perpetrator who faces no repercussions.  To Robert's heartbreak, he had to come to accept that systemic racism was also on trail in this small, rural South Carolina town of Dillon.  It was an older Caucasian woman who was to face the consequences of her actions ... telling Robert and Melissa unvaried statements as to what happened; telling them of Jeremiah's alleged cough; shaking Jeremiah; the delay in calling Melissa; and the delay in taking Baby Jeremiah to the hospital. Robert and Melissa are only now able to tell their story, to tell of the life and love of Baby Jeremiah because the gag order put on them by the government no longer has standing.  They want no parent to experience their kind of loss. "Our focus is to get the story out and have laws changed on the federal level for daycares," says Robert. "Such as ... fines for not following protocols, cameras in all daycares, better pay."  A deeply spiritual family, Robert and Melissa say they only want justice for Jeremiah. What Robert and Melissa reveal in this episode of The Offshoot, what they reveal about missing evidence and not having an advocate, brings to the forefront disturbing accounts of systemic and racial disparities in rural South Carolina. Though neither Robert or Melissa wanted their story, the homicide of Baby Jeremiah, to be about race, they reveal a number of missteps by the law enforcement investigators, the confusing gap in the timeline for sequence of events, and the lack of work to hold anyone accountable as results of systemic racism. Their conclusion is that there were concerted efforts to keep a Caucasian woman out of prison ... she was and is still being protected.  Despite that, Robert finds solace in this Biblical quote from Jeremiah 29:11 ... "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Support the show

After more than five years working the streets of Washington, DC as a police office for the Metropolitan Police Department, Adonis Savage says crime is much worse than what people believe and what they are told to be believe about crime by the politicians and the police leadership.  In the second part conversation with Savage, he gives a full accounting of how crime is and is not reported, specifically when it comes to juveniles. All across the United States of America, in big cities and small towns, with governments under GOP and democratic control, crime seems to be more prevalent than in recent years past.  People in communities across the country talk of excessive car theft, car break-ins, stolen packages, shootings, mass killings, etc. The list is long. Crime has people on edge, and they are turning to their local politicians for actions, and the politicians talk of more police officers. Former officer Savage, talks about what's really going on, and he explains why communities are not being told the detailed truth about crime in their communities.  He offers solutions, and he believes there is reason for optimism.  There are some good police officers out there who really want to serve the community, Savage says.  Hear what he has to say this second part edition of his appearance of The Offshoot.Support the show

Adonis Savage was a police officer with the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department for more than five years ... he left the police force in April 2023.  In this two-part conversation of The Offshoot, Savage explains that the apathy prevalent within police departments stems from the leadership within the police force.  Additionally, he talks about the lacks behavior of some officers, and he talks of some officers who sought professions in law enforcement only to be able to exert power over people in the communities they serve.  In part two of our conversation, he gets very granular explaining the toxic culture that existed with the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department. Does the toxic culture still exist? Additionally, in part two, Savage speaks on the rise of juvenile crime, and he discusses what it was like being on the front line at the U.S. Capitol building holding back insurrectionist in January 2021.Support the show

It’s happening all across the United States, in big cities and small towns, in liberal and conservative places of government … people’s cars and homes are being broken into, and in many occurrences, the perpetrators of those crimes are young children as young as age 10. The outcry from people, victims and non-victims, is growing. Most recently, in Washington, DC, a 13-year-old, Karon Blake, was shot and killed by a resident who alleged that Blake was breaking into cars between 3am and 4am. There was a community meeting where people called for the shooter to be named, arrested, and prosecuted, and there were loud voices shouting “justice for Karon.” Then came the voices asking, where was Karon’s parents? Why was a 13-year-old out at 3am and 4am? There were calls to hold the parents accountable. Sarita Curtis is a parent who had a 13-year-old son that was out at 3am and 4am breaking into and stealing cars – going on joy rides. In one incident, Sarita recognized her son in a stolen vehicle, and when he noticed that she saw him, he led her on a car chase. In this episode of The Offshoot, Curtis, in a very open and vulnerable conversation, tells us where she was when her son was breaking into and stealing cars during his teenage years – between the ages of 12 and 18. Curtis, in great detail, tells us what she was doing when her son was getting influenced by others. And Curtis tells us if parents should be held accountable for the criminal misconducts of their children. It’s a conversation about real people in real, everyday life situations.Support the show

The pre-dawn January 7th shooting of Karon Blake, a 13-year-old African American middle school student in Washington, DC, has people asking questions that no one seems to be able to answer or want to answer. Who was the shooter? Why was a 13-year-old out at 3am-4am? Was the shooter white? Was the shooter Black? Where were Karon’s parents? Was Karon breaking into cars? Why hasn’t the police made an arrest? Why haven’t police identified the shooter?The shooting of Karon is still under investigation by the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department, and there continues to be a call for justice in the community. There are also calls for accountability. But the community in which Karon’s shooting took place isn’t completely in agreement when it comes to accountability … there are some who sympathize more with the shooter, and there are some who sympathize more with Karon and his family. There does appear be collective agreement that a 13-year-old should not have had his life taken away.There will be more shootings of young Black boys, and the same questions will come up. I wanted to ask different questions. I wanted to know what led to Karon being out at 3am versus being at home in bed. I wanted to know what it’s like to be a 13-year-old in the likeness of Karon, so I asked those questions of Deontay Curtis, who was that 13-year-old kid. Deontay was that kid breaking into and stealing cars for joy rides. He was that kid that despite the efforts of his strong mother, he continued down a path of criminal activity as a juvenile until age caught up with him and he ended up serving 13 years behind bars.In this episode of The Offshoot podcast and aggregate, Deontay Curtis talks with me and answers the questions. He has a lot to say about the circumstances that led him, and leads young Black boys, to criminal activities like breaking into cars. Now, at age 35, a wiser and more mature man, Deontay is out in his community sharing what he has learned. He is trying to give back. He speaks with confidence, and he is compelling to listen to. He admits he doesn’t have all the answers but he does strongly and articulately talks about the circumstances, his circumstances in the likeness of Karon, that was behind his behavior as a 13-year-old who could have not seen age 14.Support the show

International performance artist Jose Torres-Tama speaks about how the United States of America has purposely forgotten its history when it comes to Black and Brown people.  "It's the United States of Amnesia," he says, which is also the title of his latest show to be performed September 23-24 at the Ashe Powerhouse Theater in New Orleans.  You learn more about Torres-Tama and his work at https://torrestama.com/index.html. In this discussion of The Offshoot podcast and aggregate, Torres-Tama begins by talking about how upon his arrival to the USA there was an to take away his name - his identity.  He goes on to provide the brief history lesson that links to today's social discords.  At the end of the discussion he entertains with a snippet from his show.  But in-between all that is a lively talk about what is  "American" and who has "Amnesia."Support the show

Before the stay-at-home dad was in the lexicon of Black American society, community leader and activist, Randall Chandler and his wife Paula decided that he should be the one to stay at home, take care of the house, and tend to the children's school activities and household chores.  As a couple, Randall and his wife decided that he should give up his career - noting that because of the cost of childcare and other circumstances it was logical for his wife to work outside the home.  She was the partner with the career that had a more mutually beneficial trajectory.The decision Randall and his wife made was unprecedented for a Black family raising two children in the 1990s.  Now, Randall wants the Black community, particularly Black men, to know that when it comes to building and protecting your family, the family has to create a narrative unique to their needs.  Don't buy into the stereotypes, he says, of what it mens to be a Black father.  "Create your own narrative," he says.  In this episode of The Offshoot, Randall talks about how he and his wife came to the decision that he should be a stay-at-home dad.  He also talks about Black father responsibility, making better decisions, and dispelling the myth of uber-masculine and/or alpha male Black fatherhood.Support the show

You've probably noticed that there seems to be a plethora of angry people crossing the path of your daily life.  Maybe you're one of the many people who walks around with a lot of unacknowledged angry - ready to snap at the first person who crosses your path.  What gives?  Why are you so angry? On this episode of The Offshoot podcast and aggregate, I ask Tifarah Thomas to provide her perspective on what is behind some of the irrational behavior some people are exhibiting and projecting on to other people.Support the show

Black farmers have been fading from the American countryside for decades, but there are a few Black farmers who are successfully keeping the Black farm active.  Michael Carter Jr. of Carter Farms in Orange County, VA is running his family's 110-year-old farm, and he talks about the value of land and farming - especially when it comes to building sustainability for the Black community.  But his family farm is doing more than the traditional growing of produce and rearing livestock.  Carter talks about the modern way to farm and the proper way to build generational wealth from the purchase of land.  Additionally, he gives a history lesson, and he talks about the inequalities that have kept and continue to keep Black farmers and other farmers of color from being fully integrated into the market place.Support the show

Panel guests go all in and very hard on the power of Black people and the diaspora ... particularly the global influence of Black Americans. Returning to The Offshoot is owner of Alltecs, Dawnta Million, and entrepreneur Justin Mathewson, who give their vivid thoughts on protecting Black communities from mass shootings by the hands of white men; the need for reparations; the dispelling of a narrative invented by White America; and the need for Black people and other people of color to utilize their collective powers.Support the show

On this episode of The Offshoot I talk with realtor Troy Patterson - the owner of The Spera Group at TTR Sotheby's International Realty.  Serving the metropolitan Washington, DC area for decades, Troy is on The Offshoot to talk about home ownership and building family home ownership legacy via selling the family or keeping the family.  Sometimes selling grandma's home might be the best way to build wealth and extend the family legacy.Support the show

Having close relationships to white people, whether it be in the educational system, on the job, or marriage, seems to have benefited a select group of Black Americans and other people of color.  I personally benefited early in my career as a journalist by being close to white people.  In fact, there was a time, early in my journalism career, when I was the only Black person working in the entire news room.  (That didn't always go well.)  And in my early 30s, it was a white college professor, my advisor, who secured me the award of Alumni of the Year at The University of South Carolina.  But most Black Americans don't have and/or can't get to the kind of closeness to whiteness that benefits them career, financially, etc., the way it benefited, and continues to benefit, those few Black Americans and other people of color who sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, work in the White House, work in the top ranks of corporate America, or play a professional sport.  Why is that?  Is a closeness to white culture the only way to garner success?  Rev. Hagler says we have to abandon the narrative.  As a collective, there is great wealth within the Black community, he says.  "We just have to use it to our benefit."Support the show

Alex Muir discusses human Resources technology and using technology to increase diversity, improve the hiring of Black Americans and people of color, and the opportunities for HR entrepreneurship.  In this conversation of The Offshoot, we discuss how technology with legal can be a method for protecting Black Americans in the hiring process at institutions that historically kept Black Americans out.Support the show

On this edition of The Offshoot podcast and aggregate, we talk about protecting Black communities and other communities of color in rural America.  Toni Nelson-Graves, a local community leader, activist, social worker, and talkshow host discusses what it is needed and missing in small town America.Support the show

Do you know your own body? In the latest installment of The Offshoot podcast and aggregate, Imani McMichaels tells how she took control of her own health and started a holistic business centered on alkaline, plant-based foods.  She can be found at www.alkalove.com.Support the show

Redlining, in it's original form, is illegal but it still exists today - Black people and other people of color are being pushed out of the neighborhoods they grew up in and/or being forced to buy outside the city.Support the show

Entrepreneur/business owner and father of three young boys, Dawnta Million discusses protecting the sanctity of fatherhood on this episode of The Offshoot.Support the show

Ms. Flossie was one of my grandmother's (Irene Nelson) closest friends.  Most all of them died before I was able to record some of their stories.Support the show

The Offshoot podcast and aggregate is a channel all about advocating for and making Black/African Americans and Native Americans a protected class of people.  In this conversation of The Offshoot we discuss Will Smith repeated use of the word protecting.Support the show

A veteran in DC Politics and a prolific social work activist, Jeffrey Richardson speaks about the important role of political activism to ensure protections for Black/African Americans and Native Americans.Support the show

Shaka Berry says that he "is an unapologetic radical progressive.  He's a blogger for the Angry Black Rant, co-host of the 4 Shitz & Giggles podcast and an all around social media firebrand.  Strong in his opinions and a self proclaimed champion of truth.  This son of the 1960's movements is a committed Pan-Africanist that is equally committed to keeping the fascist take over of this fledgling America from coming to fruition."Support the show

Justin Matherson is a veteran entrepreneur with multiple business operations covering cyber security, IT, contracting and warehouse logistics.Support the show

The Offshoot Podcast and Aggregate is a platform for independent journalism hosted by Lee Shawn Nelson where we ask the questions "How do we make Black/African Americans and Native Americans a protected class of people?"  "What does it mean to be a protected class of people?"  "What does it look in terms of culture, society, politics, economics?" "Do we have enough protections already?"  and "Whom and/or what should Black/African Americans and Native Americans be protected from?"Support the show