As we approach Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, I’ve been journaling on the limits of goodwill, the Golden Rule, and deontological ethics. The reflections below are consistent conversations I have with myself as I decolonize my own ethics, because, just like you, I am a product of a culture and a society where these limiting frameworks are prevalent. Some of the biggest obstacles in our quest toward achieving social justice are ideologies and people (which includes innumerable progressive folx) that only equate “real” harm (harm that should be taken seriously and acted upon to find a remedy to reduce the harm) with harm caused by malicious intent. These frameworks and ethical systems directly invalidate, devalue, and gaslight the concerns of those who’ve been harmed, which contribute to and perpetuate oppressive status quos. […]

With our BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL music playlist, we strive to center, elevate, and amplify the voices and musical talents of Black storytellers and creators. Curated by The Nasiona team, this introduction is more than a simple opportunity for you to learn and be entertained. No. Not just that. That’s a bonus. What we really hope you’ll do is commit to taking action to support these artists, purchase their music, share their work, use your influence and power to create access to opportunity, and become long-term patrons. We hope the playlist animates your body, inspires your soul, and moves your wallet. As we try to impact equity, one critical thing we can all do is buy and experience the works created and produced by Black artists. […]

Natalia Obando, current national president of the Women’s National Book Association and first Latina to take the helm, stops by the show to speak with Julián Esteban Torres López about her goal to promote diversity in publishing via grassroots efforts. She discusses her own experience in the literary world as a Latina, along with the origin story and breakdown of the Authentic Voices Fellowship Program she founded. They then transition into a discussion on the White Gaze in publishing and how she uses her influence to transition us out of it so we can become more authentic and reflect a more realistic representation. They end part one of the conversation dissecting the pros and cons of code-switching and how through us coming together in solidarity we can gain more power and lift each other up. […]