Even as someone who is in full support of the movement and changes being called for, it's been hard for me to defend that my actions have been little more than performative in the last few months. Not entirely so, because I sincerely mean what I've said and done - petitions, emails, protests, listening, sharing - but how much more does doing this alone help? Especially when it's usually only to the witness of people who want to see or hear it anyway? We have to (I'm talking to all my honkies) not give up on those who are ignorant until they've proven to be arrogant and totally unwilling to learn. Just because you're offended, doesn't mean you can't address the nuance of ignorance. When no conversation is compared to having a long, uncomfortable conversation with someone I believe doesn't want to hear that information, but would listen better when not surrounded by what they perceive as a mob of keyboard warriors and a crowd of protesters, conversation wins every time. Yes, we should support the proper politicians, policies, and organizations, but unless we continue to change the public perception on these issues, we are only slowing an inevitable expansion of an already widespread inequality. We need real change in our institutions, and that starts by convincing anyone willing to have a conversation, in the best learning environments, that elitism is largely controlling the institutions. The votes will follow the more you speak truth. It's for all of these reasons I find it imperative that we spend more time talking with one another in a personal way. Form a connection. In this episode I've sat down with one of my very best friends, Montavio Avery, who I believe has balanced and constructive ideas about race and racism. Although we do agree on most everything here in our conversation, I felt it was important to speak with someone I truly believe in to open the discussion on this topic. You may not agree with everything we say, but you should listen. A lot of what we discuss here should pertain to anyone, from any background. We talk about our privilege, our experiences with racism (or the lack thereof), our complacency with an unjust system, systemic racism, identity politics, the "N-Word", language, poverty, classism, change, cancel culture and how we can move towards a world free of "othering" one another. Stay tuned for the end of the episode to hear "For the First Time" a song from Montavio and Kelo's debut EP "Worth It", streaming everywhere.

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