Ayana Explains It All

In this unscripted episode of Ayana Explains It All, host Ayana Fakhir shares her frustrations and insights on a range of pressing issues in America today. She discusses the controversy of funding professional sports stadiums, the intricacies of Supreme Court decisions regarding Donald Trump's executive orders, and the expanding scope of presidential powers. Ayana also delves into topics of racial injustice, specifically the historical and ongoing persecution of various minority groups in the United States, and the dangerous rhetoric around immigration and Islamophobia. She calls out the erasure of uncomfortable historical truths and the current climate of political and social delusion. This episode is a raw and enlightening take on the many challenges and contradictions that define contemporary America.

In this episode of 'Ayana Explains It All,' Ayana Fakhir delves into the concept of Black Fatigue, a term introduced by Mary Frances-Winters in her book, "Black Fatigue" which refers to the chronic physical and emotional exhaustion faced by Black Americans due to repeated exposure to racism. Ayana elaborates on how this fatigue is passed down through generations, exacerbated by systemic racism and daily microaggressions. She discusses the social media uproar about a burnt plantation home, using it as a case study to highlight ongoing racial injustices. Ayana emphasizes the need for systemic change, the importance of recognizing the true meaning of Black Fatigue, and the critical role of Black resilience and activism in fighting against white supremacy. Tune in to understand the profound impacts of racism on Black individuals and communities.

In this episode of "Ayana Explains It All," Ayana Fakhir delves into the reasons behind the Democratic Party's loss in the 2024 election and explores potential strategies for rebuilding. Reflecting on the party's historical trajectory from the era of Franklin Roosevelt to the present, Ayana discusses the long-standing connection the Democratic Party had with working-class struggles and civil rights, and how it has drifted from this core identity.

Works cited:

1. ​"Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point" by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt (2023).
2. ​"Stamped from The Beginning" by Ibrahim X. Kendi (2017).

Lies, lies, and more lies. When you believe everything your uncle shares on WhatsApp it can have disastrous consequences. In this episode, Ayana dives into the omnipresence of misinformation and disinformation, using her experiences and readings from the book 'The Defectors' by Paola Ramos as a backdrop. She humorously critiques people's tendencies to believe unverified stories and conspiracy theories found on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. Ayana also underscores the importance of fact-checking and criticalthinking to avoid being manipulated by false narratives. Finally, she discusses the societal impact of misinformation, particularly how it exacerbates racism, sexism, and political instability.

Sources used in the making of this episode:

1. "The Defectors" by Paola Ramos
2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/misinformation-and-disinformation
3. https://www.britannica.com/procon/Study-Finds-ADHD-Content-on-TikTok-Is-Less-Than-50-Percent-Accurate

In this candid and eye-opening episode (where she may cuss a lil) of 'Ayana Explains It All,' join Ayana Fakhir as she navigates through the labyrinth of the backlash against the federal government’s bureaucracy. From her firsthand experience as a federal employee to her personal musings on the current sociopolitical climate, Ayana dives deep into the challenges, misconceptions, and harsh realities faced by federal employees, alongside highlights about her life, and the ongoing struggle for equity and recognition in public service. Tune in for an engaging show that bridges the gap between current events and human behavior, all while Ayana attempts her first video podcast in the comfort of her personal workspace.

I said what I said...with love.

Spilling the tea on navigating life as a civil servant, particularly when your boss doesn't like you. Someone shook the federal government's snow globe, and now there's a blizzard. Let's get into it!

Ayana dives into the dumpster fire that is social media, waxing poetic about our life-long love-hate relationship with it. She shares how the TikTok ban has her scrambling to find dopamine on another app, and guess what? She's landed on China's version of Instagram, and it's a joy fest! Ayana hilariously contrasts America's doom-scrolling addicts with China's peppy social media users who make even their cats look happier. She takes comedic jabs at the U.S. government’s obsession with TikTok and how they think we’re all brainless bots. With rants ranging from American exceptionalism to her personal life as a Black Muslim woman, Ayana proves that, yes, you can be a serious thinker while laughing your head off. The episode is a delightful rollercoaster that reminds you - community and joy might just be the real keys to happiness.

Listen now at our website or wherever you get your podcasts.

www.ayanaexplainsitall.com

Resilience--it's the gift that keeps on giving. And, you don't have to drill for it, baby.

Sources used in the making of this episode:

1. https://www.teneo.com/insights/articles/why-2024-is-the-year-for-resilience/
2. "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown

Host Ayana Fakhir drags her friend by the ear to the hot seat to discuss what the general elections means for the everyday citizen and what we can going forward to ensure we have a country that represents all of us, not just some of us.

In this episode of 'Ayana Explains It All,' host Ayana Fakhir delves into the metaphor of empathy as democracy's oxygen and critiques the current state of the United States post-2024 election. Ayana talks about the broader implications of Vice President Kamala Harris's election loss, touching on issues like political polarization, economic instability, and the importance of public service. She highlights the setbacks and misguided optimism of voters while advocating for empathy, ongoing struggle, and hope for a more inclusive future. Ayana calls for unity and continued activism, urging people to understand the complex tides of democracy and to fight for the rights and well-being of all Americans.

It's nearing the time to pack away our political signs, wagging fingers, and presidential rally sneakers, and move on to turkey, fixings, and pie. In this episode, Ayana tackles those numb above the neck on the functions of government, and covers the middle-class squeeze, and the myth of scarce resources. She exposes power dynamics and criticizes blind political loyalty while dissecting the 'bandwidth tax' of poverty-induced stress and questions why economic equality feels like a fantasy. From overpriced groceries to student loan woes, she challenges listeners to see the truth, make smarter decisions, and shift focus from irrelevant scapegoats to the real culprits: manipulative corporations and politicians.

Ayana discusses comedian Lil Duval's viral tweet questioning the lack of political pandering to black men in the presidential election, and the broader issue of Black male voter apathy. Highlighting the varied responses to Lil Duval's query, she underscores the importance of civic engagement, the systemic challenges faced by Black Men (such as incarceration and disenfranchisement), and the misalignment of priorities like child support over critical issues like health and voting rights. Ayana passionately emphasizes the need for Black Men to participate in local and state elections and to understand how policy impacts daily life. She critiques the lack of understanding of political structures and stresses the importance of fighting back through voting, lobbying, and other civic actions.

Sources used in the making of this episode:

1. ​https://newblackmasculinities.wordpress.com/2020/09/24/the-black-male-political-agenda-by-t-hasan-johnson-ph-d/
2. ​https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr73/nvsr73-04.pdf
3. ​https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/voting-and-voter-registration-as-a-share-of-the-voter-population-by-raceethnicity/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D
4. ​https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-may-2024

Standing against criticism, unraveling harmful myths, living my truth--it must be a day that ends in "y."

*explicit content cause I cuss a lil bit

An "in your face" discussion of the subtle influences that shape our political landscapes and cloud our decision-making as voters. Turn your thinking cap from back to front and XYB--examine your biases.

Sources used in the making of this episode:

1. https://niemanreports.org/articles/how-implicit-bias-works-in-journalism/#:~:text=Journalism%20has%20not%20been%20immune,they%20treat%20every%20group%20fairly.
2. https://outsmartingimplicitbias.org/#:~:text=
3. https://outsmartingimplicitbias.org/guided-learning/what-is-implicit-bias/
4. https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/video/implicit-bias
5. https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2021/05/disrupting-the-impacts-of-implicit-bias#:~:text=URL%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalacademies.org%2Fnews%2F2021%2F05%2Fdisrupting,100




Follow the host on Twitter/X @lawgurrl

It's that time again! Time to dissect another of the US Supreme Court's strict constitutionalist rants, aka a court opinion, Grant's Pass, Oregon v Johnson, a decision that allows municipalities to criminalize homelessness. Or does it? What are the implications for the US homeless population? What are the solutions? And what shoes will your mayor wear to kick people off the streets? As the song goes, "this is ourselves under pressure."

Sources used in the making of this episode:

1. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-175_19m2.pdf
2. https://developmentalpolitics.org/platform-of-policy-recommendations/homelessness-in-the-u-s/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwkJm0BhBxEiwAwT1AXHF4TrYg0J8XwOwRutykfSyv0M2ndGwBz8eUs7N7vIo3ZNL0OFMwexoC5KUQAvD_BwE
3. https://abcnews.go.com/US/minneapolis-hennepin-county-ending-chronic-homelessness/story?id=108307472
4. https://www.shakerheightsoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/656/New-Garage-PDF#:~:text=Two%20parking%20spaces%20are%20required,a%20parking%20pad%20are%20required.
5. https://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-to-scrap-parking-requirements-near-frequent-public-transit-stops/
6. https://www.neoch.org/cleveland-homeless-blog/2024/5/24/taking-urgent-action-to-support-ohio-housing-trust-fund-budget-cuts-in-sb-94
7. https://www.clevelandohio.gov/sites/clevelandohio/files/rfp/2024/rehousing/A%20Home%20for%20Every%20Neighbor%20RFP_FINAL.pdf
8. https://avivomn.org/avivovillage/avivo-village-faq/
9. https://www.myavista.com/connect/articles/2022/04/housing-the-homeless-in-grants-pass-oregon
10. https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2024/02/23/cleveland-homeless-initiative-bibb

In this riveting episode, we delve into the resurgence of racial injustices in the U.S. through legal channels, opinions and public policy, critiquing the belief in a post-racial society and emphasizing White Supremacy's lingering influence. We highlight significant legal and historical contexts, and also address recent lawsuits targeting programs designed to support racial minorities, arguing against the so-called colorblind policies and advocating for race-conscious measures to achieve true equality. Sources used in the making of this episode:

1. "The New Jim Crow." Michelle Alexander.
2. "Stamped From The Beginning." Ibram X. Kendi.
3. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/13/magazine/civil-rights-affirmative-action-colorblind.html
4. https://19thnews.org/2023/11/affirmative-action-backlash-maternal-health-program-black-women/
5. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/06/affirmative-action-killer-ed-blum-supreme-court-strategy.html
6. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/conservative-activist-uses-civil-war-era-law-challenge-us-corporate-diversity-2023-09-25/
7. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/08/29/john-hopkins-legacy-racial-diversity/
8. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/american-medical-association-body-mass-index-racially-biased/

ADHD is like holding a galaxy in your mind where every star is a thought fighting for attention. 🌌 In this episode, I take you on my personal journey with ADHD and present stories from those navigating this same universe--my friends Victoria Rashid and Jerritt Terrill. Join us in this conversation as we embrace the whirlwind inside and explore "Living Vividly: The ADHD Experience Through Voices."

Sources used in the making of this episode:

1. https://www.additudemag.com/childhood-trauma-adhd-behavior-problems/?src=embed_link

2. https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/boost-executive-function/

3. https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-executive-function-disorder/?src=embed_link

4. https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-and-trauma-overview-signs-symptoms/

The big man on campus is a group of good trouble making students who shall not be moved. The kids are alright.

Sources:

1. "Freedom is a Constant Struggle" by Angela Y. Davis.
2. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2024/04/15/punishments-rise-student-protests-escalate
3. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/diversity/2024/03/08/report-most-jewish-muslim-students-fearful-amid-conflict
4. https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/limits-free-speech
5. https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/04/18/columbia-students-arrests-palestine-israel-encampment-nypd/

Ramadan is the month Muslims burn away our sins and I've been known to keep some of that fire for the unwashed and "rent payment is late" opinions on the animal farm that is social media. It's the Holy Month, not the "Holier than Thou month," see you at sundown.

Or, how conservative Whites are are having a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day" and want us all to suffer because of it. But when it comes to the US, they don't know her.

Black Excellence is a sign on a t-shirt and I'm buying two of them but not before I school you on why excellence is a double-edged sword in the Black community.

Until dating apps come with a coupon for a free therapy session, you'll settle for this podcast episode that'll help you find the greatest love of your life--YOU!

Works used in the making of this episode: just one!

"The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown.

We all know Dr. King had a dream, but he had fears, fears that in the years since his death have been realized and embody the ugly parts of ourselves, infecting our communities and all facets of our society; injustices that he and thousands of others labored hard during the US Civil Rights Era to eradicate. These ghosts of the past haunt our present and make me question if we understand Dr. King at all. Get on the train, people, we're going to fight the good fight!

Works used in the making of this episode:

1. Freedom Is A Constant Struggle. By Angela Y. Davis.
2. Stamped from The Beginning. By Ibram X. Kendi.
3. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/11/martin-luther-king-jr-mlk-israel-palestine-1967-video/
4. https://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/50-voices-for-50-years/posts/reclaiming-king2
5. https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/01/16/ibram-kendi-race-relations-martin-luther-king

Just left Pound Town, turns out it's a place where you get beat with a sock full of coins by your unfulfilled hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow. *Sigh*

And it's their Diamond Anniversary! What do you give the couple that's been together for 75 years? Taxpayer-funded genocide, apparently.

A Bonus Episode! The one where I read Congress and the US down to the ashy white paint on The Lincoln's Memorial's knuckles.

You'll have to do it yourselves, misters. Take responsibility, take stock, take a chance, take a drive to your dad's house and slap him in the face for not raising you right.

Works used in the making of this episode:

1. https://loneconservative.com/2023/08/05/the-barbie-movies-lesson-on-masculinity/
2. https://www.happiness.com/magazine/health-body/male-loneliness-time-bomb-killing-men/
3. https://www.thecollector.com/idealized-man-male-beauty-standards-through-history/
4. https://medium.com/illumination/jordan-peterson-king-of-incels-quite-the-opposite-371a6bc965eb
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2919794/#:~:text=The%20term%20folie%20%C3%A0%20deux,share%20the%20same%20delusional%20ideas.
6. https://www.orri-uk.com/archetypes-and-toxic-masculinity/
7. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-avoid-apophenia-bias
8. https://medium.com/illumination/toxic-masculinity-d14ffafb5d30
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id%C3%A9e_fixe_(psychology)

We are all gravitationally blessed, unfortunately, the floor wants to know why it can't catch a break from us walking to the kitchen for snacks.

*I'm not a doctor, I'm a lawyer, that's not close enough to substitute anything in this episode for genuine medical advice. Consult a doctor for any and all things health-related.

Is that time again! That time of year when children are out of school, beaches are full and Black Women have to defend our choices.

Works used in the making of this episode:

1. "Beyoncé and the End of Respectability Politics." By Myles E. Johnson. The New York Times. April 16, 2018. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/opinion/beyonce-coachella-blackness.html.
2. "Respectability Politics Won't Save Black Americans." By Zach Stafford. The Guardian. October 12, 2015. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/12/respectability-politics-wont-save-black-americans.
3. "Keke Palmer Is The Internet's Sweetheart, but the Multi-Hyphenate is More Than Just the Queen of Meme." By Danya Issawi. The Cut. July 10, 2023. Available at: https://www.thecut.com/2023/07/cut-cover-keke-palmer-internet-meme-discourse.html.

This one is heavy, like the weight of all the Black Women society subjugates.

On this very special episode of Ayana Explains It All, we hear from my favorite former high school freshman, my daughter. She regales us with stories of life in the 9th grade spot, feeling sometimes confident, and other times freshie. The transformative years of high school are not wasted on this one.

Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-sum of the time you should skip traveling to places where your race is an indignity to the state. I'm talking about Florida, a usual suspect in the denial of basic human rights, but the entire United States is guilty of denying that there's a "race problem" in the country of Washington and Lincoln, and then with a stubborn attitude, refusing to ameliorate the societal ills created by our "race problem." If there's one thing we're gonna do, it's get in our own way.

The sources used in this episode:

1. "NAACP Issues Travel Advisory for Florida." May 20, 2023. Available at: https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-issues-travel-advisory-florida.
2. Wikipedia entries on Sundown Towns, The Green Book, Rosewood Massacre, and Ocoee Massacre.
3. "Driving Scared: Is your town a Sundown Town?" By Sheila Lettsome, The Center for Community Solutions. July 25, 2022. Available at: https://www.communitysolutions.com/driving-scared-is-your-town-a-sundown-town/.
4. Historical Database of Sundown Towns by James W. Loewen available at https://justice.tougaloo.edu/sundown-towns/using-the-sundown-towns-database/state-map/.
5. "Southern Pinellas 'Sundown Towns.'" By James Schnur, The Gabber. March 23, 2023. Available at: https://thegabber.com/southern-pinellas-sundown-towns/.
6. Soul of Athens. "Sundown Towns: East Jackson." Nate Smallwood, story producer. Available at: https://2016.soulofathens.com/sundowntowns.html.
7. "They Look White but Say They're Black: A Tiny Town in Ohio Wrestles with Race." By Khushbuh Shah, The Guardian.com. July 25, 2019. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/25/race-east-jackson-ohio-appalachia-white-black.
8. "Were There Sundown Towns in Central Ohio?" By Michael De Bonis, WOSU, NPR News. April 3, 2023. Available at: https://news.wosu.org/2023-04-03/were-there-sundown-towns-in-central-ohio.
9. "Sundown Towns: A Look at South Florida's Legacy of Segregation." By Phil Prazan, NBCMiami.com. February 18, 2021. Available at: https://www.nbcmiami.com/investigations/sundown-towns-a-look-at-south-floridas-legacy-of-segregation/2386799/.
10. "Racial Tensions in America's Sundown Towns." By Tim Sullivan and Noreen Nasir, Associated Press. October 14, 2020. Available at: https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/state/2020/10/14/racial-tensions-americas-sundown-towns/3656681001/.
11. "Sundown Town." By Adam Poulisse, et. al., WFTV.com. Available at: https://www.wftv.com/ocoee/sundown-town/.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers sang "everybody's had to fight to be free, you see. You don't have to live like a refugee," that is, unless, you landed at the Southern US border and you had to use an smartphone/computer app to apply for asylum, and unless you schedule an appointment provided you found some free WiFi, then you don't even get to be a refugee.

Sources used in this episode:

1. "US unveils rule that rights groups say stifles access to asylum." Al Jazeera. May 10, 2023. Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/10/us-unveils-rule-rights-groups-say-stifles-right-to-seek-asylum.
2. "Asylum Seekers Told to Use a Mobile App to Enter US as Title 42 Expires. Here's How the CBP App Works." Gerardo Pons, NBCMiami.com. May 10, 2023. Available at: https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/national-international/asylum-seekers-told-to-use-a-mobile-app-to-enter-us-as-title-42-expires-heres-how-the-cbp-app-works/3032118/#:~:text=What%20is%20CBP%20One%20App,available%20in%20English%20and%20Spanish.
3. "Migrant Crossing Surges Aren’t New. Why Is the Border Overwhelmed?" Eileen Sullivan, The New York Times. May 10, 2023. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/us/politics/title-42-border-history-immigration.html.
4. "Hoover on Immigration." Spencer Howard. August 14, 2016. Available at: https://hoover.blogs.archives.gov/2016/08/04/hoover-on-immigration/.
5. "Covid-Era Border Policy Expires." Miriam Jordan, Eileen Sullivan, Michael D. Shear and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, The New York Times. May 11, 2023. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/05/11/us/title-42-immigration.

It's that time of year, the kids are back from college and looking at the world through an adult lens, but their cerebral prefrontal cortex is still forming so maybe they're kids after all. Join me as I query my own son about being a college freshman, the challenges and rewards, and what it means to be a student athlete going from the "big man on campus" in high school, to a "little fish in a big pond" in college.

Ramadan Mubarak! Sit back, stand up, run, walk to this re-examined, re-explained, reuploaded episode from Season 1 all about Ramadan. It is the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, and when the new moon drops on the 9th month, every bodily desire and distraction decreases but the spiritual duties increase. Don't mind the audio, this episode pre-dated my fine tuned era.

Gather round for this here read of US public education, from the States to the governors to the Speaker of the House. The governmental bodies are gutting public education with no condom and leaving narrow views for children to peer out of--I'm looking at you Sarah Huckabee DeSantis. 

Works Cited:

1. "Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the dividing line in America is between normal and crazy. Full text of Republican response to Biden’s State of the Union."  Marketwatch.com.  02/08/2023.  Available at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/sarah-huckabee-sanders-gives-republican-response-to-biden-full-text-11675829909.
2. "Kevin McCarthy’s Troubling Focus On Our Public Schools."  Raymond Pierce, Forbes Magazine.  01/23/2023.  Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/raymondpierce/2023/01/31/kevin-mccarthys-troubling-focus-on-our-public-schools/?sh=4f5923755b53. 
3. "DeSantis’ attack on AP, SAT and College Board creates an uncertain future for FL high schoolers. Civil rights activists, religious leaders, students, parents to rally Wednesday over AP African American studies course."  Danielle Brown, Florida Phoenix.  02/14/2023.  Available at: https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/02/14/desantis-attack-on-ap-sat-and-college-board-creates-an-uncertain-future-for-fl-high-schoolers/.  
4. "George M. Johnson: America Banned My Book, But I Refuse to Stay Silent."  George M. Johnson, Refinery29.com. 02/01/2023. Available at: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2023/02/11253589/george-m-johnson-all-boys-arent-blue-banned.