BLACC Voices presents: ’W'hat African culinary traditions can teach us about freedom’
'Your food is supposed to be your medicine and your medicine is supposed to be your food' is a commonly-referenced African proverb. Fortunately, we have many of the answers to modern day obstacles to health and wellness have been passed down from traditional African foods, herbs, and practices. As a part of our Juneteenth celebration, certified Health and Wellness Coach, Erin Walker, will share nutrition and wellness tips rooted in African cultural traditions that we can easily incorporate into our daily lives for optimal health.
BLACC Voices presents: ‘Wellness as Resistance: Applying the Principles of Kwanzaa for Well-being in Troubled Times’
Created forty-five years ago as a cultural celebration to foster community and recovery for African Americans, the principles and purpose of Kwanzaa are as relevant today as they were in 1966. Those seeking healing, restoration, and recovery can often find a path forward by exploring the past. The final BLACC Voices session of 2021 featured licensed mental health therapist, Brock Grace, MS, LCMHC, who shared research-based mental wellness advice aligned to each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa to help mitigate the myriad of stressors we often experience, particularly during the holiday season.
BLACC Voices Presents: Dr. Mario Chandler ‘Roots, Routes, & Frontiers: An Exploration of Afro-Hispanic Heritage’
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the extraordinary and varied contributions of Hispanics. This special BLACC Voices session delivered by renowned scholar of Afro-Hispanic culture, Dr. Mario Chandler, explored the deep roots of Africa and African influences that form a vital trunk of Hispanic culture and identity, stretching back far beyond recent times to the Madre Patria: Spain. Dr. Chandler traversed the Atlantic Ocean and elaborated on both well-known and oft-ignored manifestations of Afro-Hispanic culture throughout the width and breadth of the Americas.
BLACC Voices featuring Jon Goode: ‘Poetry as Protest’
Jon Goode is an Emmy-nominated writer raised in Richmond, VA and currently residing in Atlanta, GA. Jon’s work has been featured in CNN’s Black in America, HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, BET’s Lyric Café and TVOne’s Verses and Flow. Hehas also written radio commercials for McDonalds, print ads for Nike, and appeared in commercials, vignettes and interstitials for VH-1 and TVLand/ Nick@Nite. Jon’s work earned him the 2006 Promax Gold for the best copyright in North America. His collection of poems and short stories, Conduit, was #1 on Amazon for 16 weeks. Jon's debut novel, Mydas, was released on Sept 14th 2020. It debuted as a #1 new title on Amazon.com. Jon is a Fellow of AIR Serenbe and the current host of The Moth, Atlanta.
BLACC Voices Presents: Patrice Lumumba Jones
Freedom often comes at great costs. One of the most vital ways that we invest in freedom for all Americans is acknowledging the long history of anti-Black racism, including the vestiges of slavery, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow; as well as their impact on on our present-day realities. In recognition of Juneteenth, Patrice Jones conducted a BLACC Voices session, ‘How We Got Here: Reflecting on the Origins and Progression of White Supremacy in the U.S.’ that outlined the origins of American racism; examined its progression and impact on modern systems; and identified anti-racism work to which we can all contribute.
In conjunction with watching the recording, Patrice recommends reading Ta-Nehisi' Coates’ The Case for Reparations, or listen to the SoundCloud audio recording of the article .
BLACC Voices Presents: Brittney Cooper
Check out the recording of author, theorist, and professor, Dr. Brittney Cooper’s captivating session during BLACC Voices series opener on February 26, 2021.
