In this vital episode of the Inclusive Minds Podcast, Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross welcomes three leading Black academics and co-editors from the book, Anti-Blackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies. They dive deep into their chapter, "Systems Failure. Black Children Left Behind," providing an unflinching look at how deeply embedded racial bias creates and sustains the devastating School-to-Prison Pipeline.

Our experts expose the institutional policies, like Zero Tolerance, and the subtle but destructive psychological bias—known as Adultification—that targets Black girls and boys, sometimes as early as preschool. They discuss the shocking statistics behind suspensions, the impact of implicit bias on teacher expectations, and the role of HBCUs and community solutions in breaking this perpetual cycle.

About our guests

Dr. Felicia Dix Richardson

Dr. Dix-Richardson is an Associate Professor of Criminology at Florida A&M University (FAMU). Holding a Ph.D. in Criminology from Florida State University, her extensive research focuses on corrections, racial disparities in the justice system, the educational system's failures (specifically the School-to-Prison Pipeline), and the resultant effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). She is deeply involved in community engagement, serving as the liaison for FAMU's Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice with Bond Elementary School.

Dr. Kideste Yusef

Dr. Yusef is a tenured Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Associate Dean for Research at Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU), where she also directs the Center for Law and Social Justice. With 20 years of collegiate teaching experience, her expertise includes community-police engagement, race and social justice, and performance management. Dr. Yusef has been featured in national outlets, works with law enforcement agencies, and is a recipient of numerous honors, including the White House Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Award and the NBA Orlando Magic Social Justice Game Changer Award.

Dr. Randy Nelson

Dr. Nelson is the former Director of the Criminal Justice Administration Graduate Program and Center for Law and Social Justice at Bethune-Cookman University. He holds a Ph.D. in Criminology and is a nationally recognized consultant in community policing and engagement strategies. He is the founder of the Situational Environmental Circumstances (SEC) Mentoring Model, which was specifically designed to support the educational, social, and emotional needs of high-risk Black males and has been implemented across several Florida universities, securing millions in funding for equity initiatives.

Connect with Dr Carolyn

www.CarolynRossMD.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-coker-ross-md-mph-ceds-c-7b81176/

TEDxPleasantGrove talk: https://youtu.be/ljdFLCc3RtM

To buy "Antiblackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies" - bit.ly/3ZuSp1T

In this powerful episode, Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross speaks with pioneer in addiction and trauma recovery, Dr. Claudia Black. The discussion centers on the deep, interconnected issues of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), toxic shame, and the urgent need for a complex approach to healing addiction and mental illness. They explore how early life trauma fuels destructive adult behaviors, the necessity of treating trauma alongside addiction, and the escalating crisis facing youth due to the pervasive negative impacts of social media and overprotective parenting. Dr. Black shares insights from her latest book, Undaunted Hope, offering a roadmap for true transformation.

Guest Links:

https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaBlackPhD

Dr Carolyn's Links

www.CarolynRossMD.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-coker-ross-md-mph-ceds-c-7b81176/

TEDxPleasantGrove talk: https://youtu.be/ljdFLCc3RtM

To buy "Antiblackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies" - bit.ly/3ZuSp1T

In this powerful episode of the Inclusive Minds Podcast, Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross speaks with liberation psychotherapist Liana Maneese about her personal and professional journey. Liana, a transracially adopted Afro-Brazilian and Black American woman, shares her "origin story" and the deeply personal impact of anti-Blackness within her own family and most intimate relationships.

The conversation explores how racism doesn't disappear in the presence of love and family. It instead manifests as an "unseen hurt," with microaggressions, unexamined biases, and a defensive lack of awareness from those we are closest to. Liana introduces the concept of undoing, a lifelong process of decolonizing our minds and rejecting the white supremacist ideas that are so deeply ingrained in society—and ourselves.

She emphasizes that true healing requires more than just calling out racism in public; it demands we confront it in private, and a liberation-focused therapy offers the tools to do this. Liana's lived experience highlights the critical responsibility of therapists to create a space where these difficult, painful truths can finally be seen, heard, and healed.

Guest Bio: Liana Maneese is a liberation psychotherapist and identity navigation specialist. She is the founder of Transitional Characters, a Pittsburgh-based liberation-focused practice, and is a member of the #NotWhite Collective. Her chapter in the book Anti-Blackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies is titled "Interracial Relationships: How Anti-Blackness Informs Kinship and Therapist Responsibility."

Guest Links:

@transitionalcharacters (instagram)

Dr Carolyn's Links

www.CarolynRossMD.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-coker-ross-md-mph-ceds-c-7b81176/

TEDxPleasantGrove talk: https://youtu.be/ljdFLCc3RtM

To buy "Antiblackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies" - bit.ly/3ZuSp1T