It wasn't too much of from the message, but part of the audio was lost due to a technical difficulty. But, alas, that does not take away from the depth of this episode’s conversation. Episode six is part one of a two-part series in which I dive into the topics I covered in a recent conversation with a friend from high school. This friend had a very different childhood and upbringing than I did, and our paths since hitting adulthood have been even more disparate, but the defining common trait between us is our race. Even more so, over the recent years, we have both been involved in the cultural and social awakening that has taken place in America and globally. Our diverging lives have allowed us to experience similar phenomena from different viewpoints. Our combined exposure has given way to some overlapping insights and differences in internal perspective. I enjoyed the conversation we had. I hope we can bring the discussion to the forefront using this platform. In this episode, we look at how black people in America have been indoctrinated to fit a system of control that works from the inside out and the outside in, with equal effectiveness. A trendy phrase I've enjoyed using is "nasty work"; this psy op that has been run since we were brought across the Atlantic is- nasty work. The programming and conditioning that happens to and within the diaspora are the roots of issues like spacial fatigue and the need for code-switching. It’s what forces a black boy and a black girl going through different experiences to learn to shape-shift and adapt for the comfort of those around them at the expense of their own peace. It is also what gives way to the limitless creativity and capacity to dream that spurs so many of us toward our passion and purpose. They wanted us to feel inferior; instead, they gave us imagination. Part two of this conversation will continue where we left off and move deeper into the separation between “dark skin” and “light skin” black Americans and between African-Americans and Africans. Both are divisions with the power to destroy our communities from the inside the same way racism can from the outside. As always, we’re looking toward solutions by addressing the problems, not just focusing on the problems.

Links to connect with me:

Twitter: @m_hendricks27

Instagram: @marcus_hendricks

TikTok: @marcushendricks27

Intro & Outro Song:

Hennything Is Possible by Elijah

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