Drawing on her expertise in social work and education policy and her lived experience as a Black biracial woman, Dr. Anissa L. Eddie shares how intentional racial socialization in the earliest years can disrupt anti-Blackness, foster radical self-love in Black children, counter the formation of harmful biases, and promote racial equity.

Dr. Eddie also shares her personal “Sankofa Bird” journey: reclaiming what was missing in her own racial identity formation to empower future generations.

Her storytelling reminds us why it’s never too early to engage children in racial equity work in developmentally relevant ways.

00:00 – Introduction: Dr. Anissa L. Eddie’s background in social work and education 05:27 – Why early childhood matters for racial identity development 12:32 – Dr. Eddie’s personal story as a catalyst for her work 15:14 – The science of how children absorb messages about race and difference 19:13 – Interventions to disrupt bias and socialize children for equity 23:14 – Representation in toys and media: personal anecdotes and research 26:13 – Turning points: Pre-college program, college advocacy, and identity healing 32:27 – Dr. Eddie’s research: Beliefs & practices that matter for justice-centered socialization 35:44 – Practical steps: color-conscious exposure, discussion of features, empathy, and affirming Blackness 49:00 – Children’s media as a vehicle for social justice: Lemmy’s World & PBS 57:12 – Influences and resources: Marita Golden, bell hooks, Audre Lorde, self-care and values 01:00:52 – Social Justice Origin Stories prompts: What justice means, liberation, and the power of storytelling 01:04:36 – Message to future generations: Collective power, kindness, and connection 01:06:28 – “Sankofa Bird”—title and philosophy of Dr. Eddie’s journey

Visit Dr. Eddie's Website: https://liminalityconsulting.com Follow Dr. Eddie on Instagram @LiminalityConsulting Follow Liminality Consulting on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liminalityconsulting Connect with Dr. Eddie on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anissa-eddie/

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com Subscribe to Social Justice Origin Stories on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991 Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

This is Volume 3 of “Take This With You“, a special series from Social Justice Origin Stories. Storytelling is a gift, and in this series, storytellers reflect on what they hope stays with you after their episode ends. As you listen to their sharing, consider this moment as an invitation to reflect on your own journey.

00:00 Introduction to 'Take This with You'

00:17 Shoutout to the Generalists

01:10 Understanding Racism, Sexism, and Cross-Training

03:46 Personal Stories and Struggles

08:27 The Importance of Authenticity and Making Hard Choices

13:16 Dialogue and Power Dynamics

14:17 Finding Joy and Purpose in Life

19:28 The Role of Art and Activism

21:11 Empowering Leadership and Resistance

26:08 Reflecting on Stories and Taking Action

27:19 Conclusion and Call to Action

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com Subscribe to Social Justice Origin Stories on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991 Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/ Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social Like Social Justice Origin Stories on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653 LinkTree for more: https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

Marquita D. Gooch, MLIS, reflects on the pitfalls and power dynamics of representing a library system publicly, while being limited in her ability to speak freely without fear of retaliation. She talks about the freedom she’s found to be more vocal since leaving traditional library work, and shares how her experiences became catalysts for creating Life After Libraries, her podcast and web series chronicling her journey beyond traditional libraries, and Black in the Stacks, her podcast highlighting the inspiring stories of librarians, authors, advocates, and others from the African American and African Diaspora.

Black in the Stacks is more than a project; it's a way to build narrative power. Marquita believes everyone has a story to tell, and encourages anyone who can to share theirs.

00:00 Introduction: The Spirit of Service in Libraries

01:34 Challenges and Changes in the Library System

02:26 Finding Your Calling in Librarianship

03:25 Going Viral: Highlighting Diversity in Libraries

05:30 The Power of Storytelling and Oral Histories

06:38 Introduction to Social Justice Origin Stories

07:49 Guest Introduction: Marquita Gooch

08:23 Personal Reflections on Education and Libraries

11:19 The Journey to Becoming a Librarian

14:27 Facing Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles

26:13 Navigating Library Politics and Advocacy

38:53 Coping with Loss and Grief

39:46 Making Meaning from Experiences

42:22 Life After Libraries

44:30 Challenges in Librarianship

52:00 Starting Black in the Stacks

57:31 Advice for Creatives

01:03:18 Reflections and Inspirations

01:18:33 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude

Connect with Marquita by searching for ⁨@marquitatheelibrarian⁩ on most platforms. You can also visit the Black in the Stacks Website: https://blackinthestacks.com/

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: https://www.patreon.com/SocialJusticeOriginStories

Visit the Social Justice Origin Stories Project Website: https://socialjusticeoriginstories.com Subscribe to Social Justice Origin Stories on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SocialJusticeOriginStories

Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-justice-origin-stories/id1771268991 Listen to Social Justice Origin Stories on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iBn70HzO4lFxk7sN3gwAf

Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialjusticeoriginstories/ Follow Social Justice Origin Stories on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sjoriginstories.bsky.social Like Social Justice Origin Stories on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567841874653 LinkTree for more: https://linktr.ee/SocialJusticeOriginStories?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZzPfl3gCm5NY9C_Y-glRzwDu-8BvHfkCJaQlDihfrQxbYWC1dnxgRL2kU_aem_kmgEcokBmDt8WaAtlWQMQQ

Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.