Episodios

  • What the Black Family Survived — And Why It Still Stands

    What the Black Family Survived — And Why It Still Stands
    Mar 16 2026
    The conversation about the Black family always starts in the middle. On this episode of Blacktivities, Shannon, KK, and Mona Lisa go all the way back to the beginning — and what they find rewrites everything.The Black family's structure wasn't random. It was shaped by centuries of slavery, post-emancipation terror, discriminatory policy, mass incarceration, and a welfare system designed to penalize two-parent households. Shannon delivers the Big Facts, the hosts unpack the history, and then they talk about where we go from here.📚 BIG FACTS This Episode:Enslaved marriages had no legal recognition — children could be sold from their parents at any time with no recourseAfter emancipation, freed Black people immediately began placing newspaper ads to find children who had been sold away — family always matteredThe 1965 Moynihan Report labeled Black family structure 'pathological,' shifting public narrative away from systemic causes and onto the community itselfWar on Drugs mandatory minimums systematically removed Black men from householdsSome welfare policies penalized the presence of adult men in the home, deepening economic instabilityExtended kin networks, fictive family, multi-generational households, and the Black church all became survival structures — not dysfunctionThe nuclear suburban family ideal was post-WWII — and it was never universally accessible or the only valid family structure💬 The Conversation Goes Deep:Did forced breeding during slavery leave an epigenetic mark on how Black men show up in families today?Why does the 'broken family' label stick to us when every culture has family challenges?Diaspora wars, gender wars, and the strategy of keeping us dividedThe village is gone — and what we lose when communal accountability disappearsVetting partners with intention and building legacy on purposeHealing your own baggage before building something newBring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.Follow us on social media.Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.Hear more episodes - Blacktivities websiteAbout the HostsBlacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.Continue the Conversation on Social Media:Instagram - @blacktivitiespodFollow Shannon - @justshanofficialFollow Lisa - @monalisathepoetFollow Karen - @theekkrobertsThreads - @blacktivitiespodFacebook - BlacktivitiesResources:Slavery & Family SeparationEqual Justice Initiative — Black Families Severed by Slavery https://eji.org/news/history-racial-injustice-black-families-severed-by-slavery/Smithsonian / NMAAHC — The Historical Legacy of Black Family Reunions https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-black-family-reunionsPew Research Center — For Many Black Americans, Family Extends Beyond Birth and Legal Ties (2026) https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2026/02/25/for-many-black-americans-family-extends-beyond-birth-and-legal-ties/Sharecropping & Economic ExclusionPBS American Experience — Sharecropping: Slavery Rerouted https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/harvest-sharecropping-slavery-rerouted/The Great MigrationNational Archives — The Great Migration (1910–1970) https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/migrations/great-migrationHISTORY.com — The Great Migration https://www.history.com/articles/great-migrationThe Moynihan Report (1965)BlackPast.org — The Moynihan Report: The Negro Family, the Case for National Action https://blackpast.org/african-american-history/moynihan-report-1965/Open Society Foundations — The Moynihan Report Revisited https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/publications/moynihan-report-revisitedPBS American Masters — Explaining the Moynihan Report https://www.pbs.org/video/explaining-the-moynihan-report-43oqki/The War on Drugs & Mass IncarcerationBrennan Center for Justice — Race, Mass Incarceration, and the Disastrous War on Drugs
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    47 m
  • Black Books & Literature: Identity, Access, and Book Bans

    Black Books & Literature: Identity, Access, and Book Bans
    Mar 2 2026
    There was a time in the U.S. when Black people could be punished for learning to read. Today, books by Black authors are among the most challenged in schools. In this episode, we talk about Black literature, how it shapes identity, and why access to our stories has always mattered.In this episode we discuss:Anti-literacy laws during slavery and why literacy was seen as “dangerous”Frederick Douglass (1845) and Harriet Jacobs (1861) as examples of early Black narrative documentationThe Harlem Renaissance (Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston)Why representation in books matters for identity developmentModern book bans and what it means when access to stories is restrictedKeisha’s recommendations across genres, plus why “listening is still reading”Listener question: What’s the first Black book that made you feel seen?Guest: Keisha GreenInstagram: @plantedbookedrooted📚 Keisha’s Recommendations:- Fast by Millie Belizaire https://a.co/d/032SKqAK- Gravity by AshleyNicole https://a.co/d/00tISPDN- Dominion by Addie E Citchens https://a.co/d/02W15LfX- Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward https://a.co/d/0h2K27c8- Last Stop From Innocence by Takerra Allen https://a.co/d/05MYnhi9- Secret World of Maggie Grey by Granger https://a.co/d/0d1tjGKG- Losin' Control by Ladii Nesha https://a.co/d/0b6w8vlP- Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby https://a.co/d/084XkbG4- Savvy Summers by Sandra Jackson-Opaoku https://a.co/d/0iXHNezxBanned Book List: https://pen.org/book-bans/Bring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.Follow us on social media.Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.Hear more episodes - Blacktivities websiteAbout the HostsBlacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.Continue the Conversation on Social Media:Instagram - @blacktivitiespodFollow Shannon - @justshanofficialFollow Lisa - @monalisathepoetFollow Karen - @theekkrobertsThreads - @blacktivitiespodFacebook - BlacktivitiesSources mentioned in this episode:Zinn Education Project – “April 7, 1831: Virginia Literacy Ban Enacted” (on Virginia’s anti‑literacy law for enslaved and free Black people after Nat Turner’s rebellion, and why white lawmakers feared Black literacy).​https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/virginia-literacy-ban-enacted/National Humanities Center – “Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs: American Slave Narrators” (overview of slave narratives written by Douglass and Jacobs, and how first‑person accounts by enslaved people documented slavery from the inside).​https://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/education-material/frederick-douglass-and-harriet-jacobs-american-slave-narrators/Margo Anderson & Robert A. Margo – “Race and Schooling in the South: A Review of the Evidence” (National Bureau of Economic Research; documents rapid gains in Black literacy after emancipation and majority literacy by around 1900).​https://www.nber.org/system/files/chapters/c8792/c8792.pdfEncyclopaedia‑style overview of the Harlem Renaissance and Black literature (for context on Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Beloved, and Morrison’s 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature as the first Black woman laureate).​https://www.britannica.com/summary/Harlem-Renaissance-Causes-and-EffectsPEN America – “The 10 Most Banned Books of the 2021–2022 School Year” (on thousands of school book bans since 2021 and frequently banned titles including The Bluest Eye and The Hate U Give).​https://pen.org/banned-books-list-2022/Smith College – “The Role of Fictional Narratives in Adolescent Identity Formation” (research on how stories and representation in books shape identity, belonging, and self‑concept in young readers).​https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/653/Copyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC
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    52 m
  • Black Joy Is Resistance

    Black Joy Is Resistance
    Feb 23 2026

    When Black stories get told, the spotlight usually lands on struggle, trauma, and survival. This week on Blacktivities, Shannon and Mona Lisa (with KK joining mid-episode) center what often gets left out: Black joy. The cookout laughter. The line dancing. The group chat jokes. The deep exhale that reminds us we are still here.

    In “Big Facts,” Shannon traces Black joy from slavery to the Jim Crow era and beyond, showing how music, movement, community, and recreation weren’t “extras.” They were survival. Then the hosts unpack why Black joy can make people uncomfortable, the difference between happiness and joy, and how protecting your joy is part of protecting your humanity.In This Episode

    Join the Conversation

    How do you define Black joy?

    What are your favorite Black joy memories (funny ones included)?

    Drop a comment. We read them and respond, and we may feature your responses in a future bonus episode.

    Support the Show

    If you enjoyed this episode, follow/subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.

    Share this episode with a friend who needs a reminder to breathe and laugh.]

    Bring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!

    Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:
    1. Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.
    2. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
    3. Follow us on social media.
    4. Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.

    Hear more episodes - Blacktivities website

    About the Hosts


    Blacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.


    Continue the Conversation on Social Media:

    Instagram - @blacktivitiespod

    Follow Shannon - @justshanofficial

    Follow Lisa - @monalisathepoet

    Follow Karen - @theekkroberts


    Threads - @blacktivitiespod

    Facebook -

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    44 m
  • What Was the Education System Really Built For? | Black Kids, Big Facts, & Hard Truths

    What Was the Education System Really Built For? | Black Kids, Big Facts, & Hard Truths
    Feb 9 2026

    Right now in this country, black students are more likely to be suspended, mislabeled, and denied access to advanced opportunities. But the question isn’t whether black kids can learn. The real question is what the education system was actually designed to do.

    In the season eight premiere of Blacktivities, we break down the history and present-day realities of American education and how its original design still impacts black students today. From slavery-era laws banning literacy, to segregation, to modern book bans, the end of affirmative action, and the rise of school vouchers, we connect the dots between past and present.

    This episode’s Big Facts unpack how public education was built to train workers, maintain social order, and protect power, not to develop everyone equally. We also discuss discipline gaps, special education labeling, curriculum control, and why “choice” policies often leave black kids behind.

    Then we get into the real conversation:

    1. Is school failing black kids, or are we expecting it to do something it was never built to do?
    2. What responsibility do parents and communities have outside the classroom?
    3. Should traditional schooling still be the primary path to success?
    4. What are the alternatives, and how do we prepare our kids for a system that wasn’t designed for them?

    If you care about black children, education, and telling the truth without sugarcoating it, this conversation is for you.

    🎧 Listen, share, and join the conversation.

    📣 Drop a comment and tell us: What’s something school never taught you that you had to learn later?

    Bring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!


    Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:
    1. Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.
    2. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
    3. Follow us on social media.
    4. Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.


    Hear more episodes - Blacktivities website

    About the Hosts


    Blacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.


    Continue...
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    1 h y 3 m
  • Unmasked: Safe Spaces, DEI, and Being Our Authentic Selves

    Unmasked: Safe Spaces, DEI, and Being Our Authentic Selves
    Aug 4 2025

    In Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem “We Wear the Mask,” he wrote of a smile that “grins and lies” referring to our inability to show our authentic selves and feelings. This week on Blacktivities, we talk about what it means to take off the mask—especially while moving through workplaces and the world. Shannon, Lisa, and KK talk finding safe spaces, what diversity and inclusion was supposed to look like, and how culture and food can bring people together.

    We also share our own “unmasking” moments, from podcasting to showing up more authentically at work, plus a hilarious conversation about why Carnival Cruise thinks y’all are doing too much.

    Bring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!

    Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:
    1. Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.
    2. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
    3. Follow us on social media.
    4. Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.

    Hear more episodes - Blacktivities website

    About the Hosts


    Blacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.


    Continue the Conversation on Social Media:

    Instagram - @blacktivitiespod

    Follow Shannon - @justshanofficial

    Follow Lisa - @monalisathepoet

    Follow Karen - @theekkroberts


    Threads - @blacktivitiespod

    Facebook - Blacktivities



    Copyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC

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    44 m
  • I’m Not One of Your Little Friends: Why So Many of Us Need Therapy Now

    I’m Not One of Your Little Friends: Why So Many of Us Need Therapy Now
    Jul 28 2025
    In this episode of Blacktivities, Shannon, Lisa, and KK unpack the parenting phrases we grew up hearing—and how many of them still echo in our adult lives and therapy sessions. From “Because I said so” to “I brought you in this world, I can take you out,” we’re talking about how generational trauma gets passed down, sometimes biologically, and how we’re working to break the cycle for the next generation.We dive into:Common phrases Black parents said—and what they really meantThe mental health gap in the Black community and why so few seek therapyEpigenetics: how trauma gets passed through generationsShifting from survival-based parenting to emotionally healthy communicationWhy Black folks need therapy, support, and permission to growPlus, Mona Lisa delivers a beautiful off-the-cuff poetic moment about Black motherhood and resilience. And of course, we leave you with powerful calls to action for the culture.CALL TO ACTION:Let’s talk—what’s something your parents used to say that stuck with you (for better or worse)? Drop a comment, DM us, or leave a review.Bring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache! Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.Follow us on social media.Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.Hear more episodes - Blacktivities website About the HostsBlacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.Continue the Conversation on Social Media:Instagram - @blacktivitiespodFollow Shannon - @justshanofficialFollow Lisa - @monalisathepoetFollow Karen - @theekkrobertsThreads - @blacktivitiespodFacebook - BlacktivitiesThe Struggle of Growing Up With Black ParentsHow Parents' Trauma Leaves Biological Traces in Children | Scientific AmericanCan trauma Be Inherited Through Genes?Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms - PMCUnderstanding Mental Health in Black CommunitiesCopyright 2022-2026 Black Panache, LLC
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    37 m
  • Black Card Confessions

    Black Card Confessions
    Jul 14 2025

    We all got 'em—those moments where our Black card might get snatched! In this lighter episode of Blacktivities, Shannon and KK trade Black Card Confessions—from not knowing how to play Spades to secret love for Wilson Phillips and white folks' footwear. But as always, we keep it rooted with a Big Facts segment on the history of the "Black card" and how it connects to the One-Drop Rule.

    The episode dives into:

    • The cultural remix of the "Black card" and its historical roots
    • Spades, oxtails, Birkenstocks, and other so-called violations
    • The Wire, The Chi, BMF, and why TV taste is not a revocable offense
    • Music confessions, 90s love, and why Kendrick’s anthem might’ve been a little overplayed
    • The fine line between levity and trauma, and a heartfelt call to keep spreading Black joy

    Call to Action:

    Got a Black Card Confession? Leave us a 5-star review and drop your “violations” in the comments or tag us on socials @blacktivitiespod. We might read yours on the next show!

    #blacktivities #blackcardconfessions #spadesrules #blackjoy #blackpodcasts #onedroprule #blackculture

    Bring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!


    Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:
    1. Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.
    2. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
    3. Follow us on social media.
    4. Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.

    Hear more episodes - Blacktivities website

    About the Hosts

    Blacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.


    Continue the Conversation on Social Media:

    Instagram - @blacktivitiespod

    Follow Shannon - @justshanofficial

    Follow Lisa - @monalisathepoet

    Follow Karen - @theekkroberts


    Threads - @blacktivitiespod

    Facebook - Blacktivities


    • "Crossing the Color Line: Racial...
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    43 m
  • The Fetishization of Black Men

    The Fetishization of Black Men
    Jul 7 2025

    In this episode of Blacktivities, Shannon, Mona Lisa, and KK dive into a conversation that’s long overdue — the fetishization of Black men. From historical roots to what it looks like in dating, porn, and pop culture today, the hosts unpack the ways Black men are turned into objects instead of being seen as full, complex people. They share personal stories, research-backed facts, and a few laughs along the way. Spoiler: it’s not a compliment. It’s a call for respect.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Fetishization has deep roots in slavery and colonialism.
    • It still shows up in media, dating apps, and everyday conversations.
    • Black men often get objectified based on myths about their bodies or masculinity.
    • Some men might be into it, but many aren’t — and it’s not the same as genuine attraction.
    • Even we, as Black folks, sometimes repeat harmful stereotypes without realizing it.
    • It’s time to see Black men as more than just a “look” or a “vibe.” They’re thinkers, builders, creators — full human beings.

    Call to Action:

    Black men — have you experienced fetishization? How did it make you feel? Drop a comment, DM, or email us your story. This convo ain’t over.

    Sound Bites:

    • “Why are people searching Mandingo porn and finding us?”
    • “Live your truth, know your worth, King.”
    • “You want a Black baby, but can you protect a Black child?”

    Chapters:

    • 00:00 – Welcome Back, Blacktivities!
    • 02:12 – The Big Facts: Fetishization of Black Men
    • 08:47 – Real Talk & Personal Stories
    • 14:13 – Do Some Men Like It?
    • 22:42 – Do We Reinforce These Stereotypes?
    • 26:30 – Private Conversations with Black Men
    • 33:00 – Celebs, Media, and Jamie Foxx?!
    • 36:26 – Lisa’s Pieces: “Dear Black Man” (Poem)
    • 41:53 – Call 2 Action 4 The Culture

    Tags: #BlackMen #Fetishization #BlackLove #RespectBlackMen #Blacktivities

    Bring Blacktivities to your inbox - stay posted on what's happening with the pod... more black culture, black history, black perspectives, and black panache!

    Other Ways to Join in the Blacktivities:
    1. Share this episode with a friend. Word of mouth is the best tool for growth.
    2. Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts.
    3. Follow us on social media.
    4. Donate to the cause and help amplify more black voices.


    Hear more episodes - Blacktivities website

    About the Hosts


    Blacktivities is a Black Panache original production - a podcast network with a lineup of black-hosted shows sharing black stories and tackling black issues. For more information on shows like our newest production, Fat Lies Matter, visit blackpanache.com.


    Continue the Conversation on Social Media:

    Instagram -

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    40 m