Join Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross on the Inclusive Minds Podcast as she welcomes special guest Dr. Matthew Oware, a leading expert on race and culture. In this insightful episode, we delve into the complex topic of "reverse passing," exploring cases of white individuals who identify and pass as Black. Drawing from his chapter "How Not to Be an Ally: Critical Race Theory, Afro-Pessimism, and White Who Pass as Black" from the book Antiblackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies, Dr. Oware unpacks how these phenomena relate to Critical Race Theory and the notion of race as a social construct.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Unnpacking "Reverse Passing": Dr. Matthew Oware defines and discusses "reverse passing," where white individuals identify and perform as Black, examining how this phenomenon, exemplified by Rachel Dolezal, relates to Critical Race Theory and the social construction of race.
• Allyship vs. Appropriation: The episode explores why such acts are considered cultural appropriation and racist, highlighting how individuals gain financial and personal benefits by performing Blackness, contrasting this with authentic allyship in the fight against institutionalized racism.
• Rap as a Cultural Lens: Dr. Oware also delves into his work on millennial rap music, showcasing how artists like Kendrick Lamar address themes of vulnerability and intergenerational trauma, providing a powerful window into contemporary American society and facilitating deeper conversations about race, gender, and social consciousness.

Black birthing people in the U.S. are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts. In New York City, that number is a staggering 9.4 times higher. Why is this happening in modern American medicine, and what can be done to protect Black mothers?

In this powerful and essential episode, Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross is joined by Dr. Ashanda Saint Jean, a board-certified OB/GYN with over 25 years of experience on the frontlines of the Black maternal health crisis. Dr. St. Jean breaks down how medical racism, historical trauma, and systemic blind spots have created a deadly "two-tiered system" of care.

Drawing from her professional expertise, her lived experience as a Black woman in medicine, and the stories of her patients, Dr. St. Jean provides a searing look at the problem and a powerful toolkit for advocacy, empowerment, and reclaiming the joy in motherhood.

Welcome to the Inclusive Minds Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross is joined by Tiffany Benford, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a co-author of "Antiblackness and the Stories of Authentic Allies: Lived Experiences in the Fight Against Institutionalized Racism."

Tiffany, an expert in trauma-informed care with 20 years of personal experience in self-healing from Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), dedicates her 15-year clinical career to understanding resilience and the lasting impact of trauma on the body and mind. Her work deeply explores how identity, intersectionality, and social factors shape our human experiences.

In this episode, you'll gain powerful insights as we discuss:

• A Mother's Journey and Trauma: Dive into Tiffany's mother's harrowing experience during the Cuban Revolution, including separation from family, time in detention camps, and the challenges of forced resettlement, revealing the roots of their intergenerational trauma.
• The Weight of Mixed Messages: Explore the implicit and explicit messages passed down through generations—from the pressure to assimilate and conform to specific beauty standards (like hair and skin color in Latinx and other communities of color) to the suppression of emotions and the impact of parental emotional dysregulation.
• Breaking the Cycle: Discover practical strategies and Tiffany's unique approach to helping clients break the cycle of intergenerational trauma. Learn about her "three grounding questions" to reconnect with the body, the power of somatic therapy in addressing trauma in the body, and the importance of challenging negative narratives through an abundance mindset.