EP31: Brave Spaces and Solidarity with "Rad Women" Author Kate Schatz

I'm honored to share this Episode #31 of the Mother's Quest Podcast with Kate Schatz, and the second I'm bringing to you this fall 2017 as part of the Women Podcasters in Solidarity Initiative. Kate is an activist, educator, public speaker, and Bay Area-born-and-bred feminist mama. She's also a New York Times-bestselling author well known for Rad American Women A-Z and Rad Women Worldwide among others. And, she's the former Chair of the School of Literary Arts at Oakland School for the Arts, where she taught fiction, poetry, and journalism to 9th-12th graders for many years.

Kate's also a fierce advocate for social justice who isn't afraid to use her gift for communication to speak out against racism. In ninth grade, she wrote her first letter to the editor calling out coded racism she recognized in questions parents directed to her during a parent info night. In college, she learned about the intersections of race, class and gender in her Women's Studies Courses at UC Santa Cruz. And in 2016, she co-founded and now organizes Solidarity Sundays, an intersectional nationwide network of feminist activist groups.

She also wasn't afraid to say "yes" to me when I asked if she'd step into brave space on the podcast to honestly explore her personal journey to solidarity and to break down concepts like white privilege, white guilt vs. responsibility, white fragility and centering, and how being an "ally" is not something we proclaim we are but ongoing action we take. Because Kate is a mother, an author, and a teacher, she also gave me and those of you who say "yes" too, a challenge to read (with our children if they are older than 12) the young adult book "The Hate U Give," and to seek out podcasts, television shows, and other media with black voices for us to listen to and learn from. She shared her favorites which we link to in the show notes as a place to start.

Before we pressed record, Kate and I talked about the pros and cons of having conversations as white women about racism. We discussed that sometimes the labor and burden of explaining these concepts needs to rest on the shoulders of white women but that we also can't fall into the trap of having conversations only amongst ourselves.

The answer we came to is that there need to be more brave conversations, white women on our own, with women of color, and sometimes we as white women need not to talk at all, but to listen to women of color. I'm honored that other women podcasters have signed onto the Women Podcasters in Solidarity Initiative to create more conversations on this subject and I'll share links to the full collection of those episodes in December. Until then, I hope my previous conversation with Nicole Lee, and this one with Kate Schatz, will help us realize that fighting against racism is our responsibility, that with a growth mindset we can step into brave spaces to do this work, and that the time to take steps, wherever you are on the activism spectrum, is now.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Kate's Takeaways from Ep 27: Courageous Conversations about Race with Nicole Lee
• Stepping into a brave space vs. staying in a place of comfort to discuss race
• Kate's upbringing in a stable, loving home and how her parents provided a foundation for her early dive into activism
• Kate's quest to use her power, her voice, and her privilege to tell stories, like those in the Rad Women series, that the world needs to hear
• How smart children are and how interested they are in complex topics like politics
• Kate's exploration of feminism and intersectionality as a Women's Studies major at UC Santa Cruz
• An exploration of the E.P.I.C. Guideposts through the lens of Anti-Racism and Kate's personal journey into understanding and unpacking white privilege, white guilt, white centering and white fragility
• Solidarity Sundays, the reason why the group name was changed from Suffragette Sundays and how the story of that change stands as an example of how to listen to concerns of women of color without getting defensive
• If people do not know where you stand, in some level, it does not matter what you stand for and how you can use your gifts and profession to make impact and engage in culture shifts
• Activism is a spectrum and the importance of getting in where you can
• Diversifying our literature, podcasts, and television shows to better understand black perspectives and experiences

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ep 27: Courageous Conversations about Race with Nicole Lee
• Diversity is an Asset 101
• Solidarity Sundays
• Angels in America by Tony Kushner
• Jen Jenkins Dohner Resistance Art
• Radical Hope: Letters of Love and Dissent in Dangerous Times
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
• Bettina Aptheker, Akasha (Gloria T.) Hull, and Marge Franz

This Week's Challenge:

Kate and I landed on three challenges related to our conversation 1) Make your opinions and beliefs visible in some way. Even a social media post, simple sign, or wearing buttons will ripple in a powerful way. 2) Read developmentally appropriate newspaper articles with your children and, if he/she is 12 or older, the book The Hate U Give about police brutality 3) Expand your understanding of black perspectives and experiences through podcasts and shows. You can get started with a few of Kate's favorites:

Podcasts:

• Another Round
• The Read
• Two Dope Queens

Television:

• Atlanta
• Master of None
• Insecure

Announcements

Kate Schatz in the Mother's Quest Facebook Group

Join us for a check-in on the challenges from this episode and a Q & A with Kate during a live conversation in the Mother's Quest Facebook Group on Giving Tuesday, November 28th at 11 am PST. Women Podcasters in Solidarity

I'm honored to share this second episode in a series of conversations for the Women Podcasters in Solidarity Initiative. I created the Initiative to build awareness and raise dollars for Anti-Racism and the Movement for Black Lives. My plans for the Initiative culminate the last week of November, with a final episode and a personal contribution and invitation to you to support this cause financially on Giving Tuesday. If you want to make sure you stay informed, take a moment now to get connected, whether that's through subscribing to the podcast, joining the Mother's Quest Facebook Group or signing up for the email list at mothersquest.com. I look forward to sharing more.

Virtual Mother's Quest Circle Pilot

You're a mindful mother. And being present for your children in these years when you're raising them is your highest priority. You're also committed to making a positive impact in the world, something that feels even more important with all the challenges we currently face.

If the description above sounds like you, the Virtual Mother's Quest Circle Pilot, may be right for you. This signature offering provides inspiration, coaching and community to spark your E.P.I.C. life with intimate virtual reflective sessions over 3-4 months.

Click http://mothersquest.com/virtualcircle/ to learn and apply. The group will start as soon as I have a committed number of participants so don't delay if you're interested. Questions? Email me at julie@mothersquest.com

Visit the Website

If you haven't yet visited the website, head over to www.mothersquest.com to explore some of the ways you can get more connected. At the site, you can sign up for our email list (to get show notes delivered to your inbox and our new "Mothers on a Quest" features), click the link to join the Facebook group and press record to leave a voice message for me. You can also download the FREE Live Your E.P.I.C. Life Planning and Reflection Sheets.

Sign up! – Free 30 minute Discovery Session

I'm rolling out my new coaching offerings and having great conversations with women who are ready to live a more E.P.I.C. life and interested in coaching. If you've had a spark moment setting you on a new path or are at a crossroads but feel unsure, guilty or overwhelmed, I'd love to talk with you about how working with me could help light the way, get you clear about what you want, shift your mindset from fear to faith, and get you moving into action.

I've been there, I'm still on the journey myself, and I'd love to bring all I've learned from a decade of coaching, 13 years of motherhood and all the lessons from my podcast guests to support you. Send me an email at julie@mothersquest.com if you're interested in learning more.

Acknowledgements

A big THANK YOU to our "patrons" for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial and/or in-kind support:

• Carly Magnus Hurt
• Lizzy Russinko, of This (Un)Scripted Life
• Suzanne Brown, author of Mompowerment
• Mara Berns Langer
• Mallory Schlabach of Marketing Magic for Entrepreneurs
• Katharine Earhart of Alesco Advisors
• Jessica Kupferman of She Podcasts
• Resistance Artist Jen Jenkins Dohner
• Genese Harris
• Tonya Rineer, founder of The Profit Party
• Liane Louie-Badua
• Cristin Downs of the Notable Woman Podcast
• Erin Kendall of Fit Mom Go
• Niko Osoteo of Bear Beat Productions
• Erik Newton of The Together Show
• Claire Fry
• Divya Silbermann
• Rachel Winter
• Caren and Debbie Lieberman
• Cameron Miranda
• Fran and David Lieberman
• Debbie and Alan Goore
• Jenise and Marianne of the Sustainable Living Podcast