Black & Brainy Podcast Laura Essel and Myriam Kadeba

In this final episode of Season 1, Dr. Myriam and Dr. Laura seek to ask whether we are using the right frameworks to tackle issues of Black empowerment and Black liberation. What do those terms mean to Black people today anyway, and do we have to agree on issues of identity and strategy in order to play our part?

Resources mentioned in this episode:


Kevin Cokley and Ramya Garba (2018). Speaking Truth to Power: How Black/African Psychology Changed the Discipline of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0095798418810592
Amos Wilson (1998). Blueprint for Black Power: A Moral, Political, and Economic Imperative for the Twenty-First Century. https://afrikanconsciousnessbookstore.net/product/amos-n-wilson-blueprint-for-black-power-a-moral-political-and-economic-imperative-for-the-twenty-first-century-paperback/

Thanks for joining us this season. We will be back in Fall 2022!

Black cultures are such fountains of creativity, so why does it seem like there's a serious LACK of imagination when it comes to the stories we tell ourselves about being Black in this world? Just in time for the season of rebirth and new awakenings, join Dr. Laura in this creative visualization exercise designed to help us all focus our attention on the best possible outcomes and re-imagine what it means to be Black and thriving now and into the future. 

Not familiar with creative visualization as a therapeutic technique? Check this out:

https://positivepsychology.com/visualization-techniques/

Amos Wilson, the Pan-African psychologist, said "cultural continuity is achieved by educating children in the ways of their culture." He also said that "the way to conquer a people is to destroy the love they have for one another."

So in honor of Black History Month and Valentine's Day, Dr. Laura and Dr. Myriam discuss how we can balance our needs for mental health and the passing down of real Black history through the love of the Black FAMILY. 

Dr. Myriam and Dr. Laura continue their conversation about grief by delving into the idea of ancestor veneration, which is really not as uncommon as Americans like to pretend. Finally, some tips for rebirth and renewal in our daily lives. 

Dr. Laura and Dr. Myriam explore existential psychology, stages of grief, and an African concept that reminds us of the continuity of life. 

Ideas mentioned in this episode:


Existential psychology/existentialism: https://dictionary.apa.org/existential-psychology
Critique of the Kubler-Ross Stages of Grief model: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-history/its-time-let-five-stages-grief-die
Dikenga dia Kongo cosmogram: https://isikuro.tumblr.com/post/25587587862/the-congo-cosmogram-called-the-dikenga-or-yowa-is
Dikenga dia Kongo in archaeological research: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290562014_The_Kongo_Cosmogram_in_Historical_Archaeology_and_the_Moral_Compass_of_Dave_the_Potter

A quick message from Dr. Laura as we transition from 2021 to 2022, and appreciate the wisdom of this season. 

Learn more about the Dikenga Dia Kongo here: http://www.diaspora.illinois.edu/news1207/news1207-2.html