41 Why Black lives matter with Kwavi Agbeyegbe

2020 is turning out to be a momentous year in more ways than half a dozen! The Black Lives Matter movement took off again in a huge way after the murder of George Floyd. I felt it was something I had to discuss on the podcast. So I turned to a magnificent midlife woman, Kwavi Agbeyegbe, who was an early guest in Season 1, to talk to and teach me about it. We need to discuss this and white people in particular need to get educated and learn. Kwavi has a unique perspective on the situation. My hope is that this episode will in some small way help that education process.  If you find it helpful please share this. We talk about: Hoping that major change is finally in the works Kwavi living in three different countries and how that has affected her perceptions of racism Experiencing racism in church in Boston The Jim Crow laws of racial segregation in the US Having to use separate water fountains and toilet facilities  The slave trade and the implications of that Learning about anti-Black racism in the US Kwavi embracing her cultural heritage by choosing to use her middle name Living in Atlanta, the birthplace of Martin Luther King and civil rights Police brutality day to day Coping with the situation as it is now Learning from Black women The need to speak up if you have a platform Speaking to others who know so as not to make things worse in your comments Not discounting color by saying you are color-blind It’s important to talk about this and cope with being uncomfortable. It’s too easy to say you are not racist White privilege and staying comfortable Using your whiteness for good Reading and educating yourself Not knowing your heritage when your ancestors were slaves Needing to teach your children information to keep them safe because they are Black The assumption that Black kids are always doing something wrong White flight when Blacks move into a neighborhood White people fearing they will lose out if Black people get more Knowing Kwavi’s boys are perceived differently Fearing being stopped by the police Amy Cooper and the Central Park incident Moving beyond just being seen as Black The need for protest to make voices heard The importance of educating yourself if you are White How Black people always tend to be at the bottom of the racism pile The need to focus now on Black lives not all lives The burden of dealing with these issues every day when you are Black Our obligation to speak up And lots more. Resources: Nicole Walters Video Rachel Rodgers Video The Hate U Give Book The Hate U Give Movie Me and White Supremacy Kwavi’s Website Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share it and maybe leave a review on iTunes or wherever you’re listening. Find out how to leave a review here: bit.ly/leavepodcastreview You can find out more information and get the show notes to every episode at magnificentmidlife.com. That’s also where you’ll find strategies, support and resources to help make your midlife magnificent. There’s a midlife wellness program, courses, midlife mentoring to help make the most of your next chapter and our online Members Club. If not now, when?