Race Matters

Content note: This talk describes instances of transphobia and a mention of black deaths in custody. These are told from the lived experience of our panelists and how this shapes their response to the questions as well as their creative practice. Whilst not described in detail, we ask that you go gently and decide when the time is right for you to listen in.  What role does art have in inciting social change? How can alternative ways of making and connecting be an antidote to oppression? Can creative decisions become viable ways to forge solidarities across differences in our communities? How can we understand creativity not just as expression, but as tools of survival and hope?  Recorded live at Darling Square Library, Race Matters was in conversation with artists, activists and community-builders thinking through these questions and beyond. Hosted by Darren Lesaguis, he was joined by artist, rapper and ballroom icon Jamaica Moana, artist and educator Nicole Barakat and some words shared by writer, activist and curator of Queer+Black+Pride Latoya Rule.  Artwork by generously donated by TextaQueen. Event Credits This event was made possibly by the City of Sydney with special thanks to Teik Kim Pok Event Producer Volunteer - Tiana Severino-Fidow Recorded by - Harvey O'Sullivan  Photographer - Jenna Parker   The event was produced by Shareeka Helaluddin, as well as the final episode edit.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fjorn Bastos is someone who speaks and moves with intention. As an artist, Fjorn works primarily in sound and a style of narrativised performance under the name Papaphilia. Her 2021 album - ‘Remembrance of Things to Come’ is a pulsing and abstract exploration of time and grief.  As a researcher and community organiser - she’s also long been an outspoken voice for anti-racism, anti-colonial resistance and isn’t one to just speak without action. Her work is committed to interrogating and resisting colonial powers and forging connections and infrastructure to dismantle how those power structures show up in our everyday lives. She’s also a director of creative sector consultancy Future Tense, and the co-producer of +Concepts - a subversive performance lecture series.  She joined Darren Lesaguis to delve into all this, and how all her pursuits interweave into creating the world and communities she wants to be in; and the importance of sound as a form of resistance and healing.  Watch her newly-released video for All Are Syllables of the Great Tongue. And look out for more details of her playing live across MELB and SYD in late April. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A very special guest host this week, Sezzo: kōtare/kingfisher turned proud Ngāpuhi DJ, writer, curator, and medical student. She stepped on to the mic bringing with her a profound and loving dialogue with her kin Grayson and Hāmiora visiting from Aotearoa for World Pride. Their conversation spanned questions like "what is World Pride on stolen land?" and delved into First Peoples solidarities, the unique challenges and gifts of Takatāpui experiences, decolonial connections and cosmologies and what it is to be visitors on stolen land, and queer Māori futures. So much richness, tears and laughter in this dialogue, we are deeply honored to have been able to share Race Matters with them.  Image: An artwork from Te Timatanga curated by Hāmiora for Auckland Pride. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What would it mean to consider the radical potential of love, empathy, and pleasure— as an antidote to oppression and disconnection? Mimi Zhu doesn't want to romanticise love. Their debut title "Be Not Afraid of Love" is devoted to answering this, sharing in a way that is intimate and heart-tugging. Our conversation with them maps the pain and violence that can stop us from knowing how to enact and receive love, intimacy, queer kinship, and how loving action can be a tool for social change.  Mimi references some works of radical Black feminist and First Nations thinkers including bell hooks and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to engage with the stories of the forcibly displaced? What happens when those people seek support in each other - and what does solidarity with that movement look like for queer people, leading into a time like World Pride?  Shareeka Helaluddin spoke with Renee Dixson, co-founder of the Forcibly Displaced People's Network (FDPN) ahead of their 2023 Queer Displacements Conference. Through Renee's own journey, and the work the FDPN does for LGBTQI+ people who have been forcibly displaced; their conversation spans queery-ing refugee advocacy, unpacking pinkwashing and corporate agendas in PRIDE, story-telling as a tool for social change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An emotional one ... Sara's last show. Join us as we revel, celebrate, cry, remember the four formidable and inimitable years that Sara Khan has offered us. It’s hard to say what Race Matters would be without her, and the depths of knowledge, power, care, laughter she has given to this show and FBi radio more broadly. There aren’t enough words to describe how much Sara has changed the landscape of radio and what it is to have content led by and for First Nations and people of colour. Listen in for iconic artists we've loved on the show, delving deep on the history of Race matters, reflections and some surprises! <3 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Content note: this story revolves around racial trauma and has mention of trauma, anti-Asian racism, colourism and references to statistics on suicide and self harm. Whilst not discussed in detail, we ask that you go gently, surround yourself with some comforts, or come back to this at a time that feels okay for you.  What are the impacts of racism when it comes to our minds, bodies and spiritual wellbeing? In today's story, we hear from FBi presenter Maleeka Gazula (Up For It!) as she maps her ongoing journey and reckonings with how the racism and colourism she has long-experienced has had a profound impact on her mental and physical health. Alongside discussing her own increased awareness and resilience; she spoke to music therapist, founder of Shapes and Sounds and Asian-Australian mental health advocate Asami Koike. They bring together how broader systems of injustice play out in interpersonal relationships, trauma and healing - and the ways we can move towards a type of care that recognises the intricacies of being a racialised person, and how we find our own versions of resilience and regulation.  If this conversation brought up some heavy, uncomfortable or distressing topics, some resources can be found below:  Qlife 1800 184 527  BeyondBlue 1300 22 4636 Lifeline 13 11 14 Safe Haven 02 9113 2981 Our Directory - Connecting Mob, Māori & BIPOC with mental health and wellbeing support Asian Australian Mental Health Directory Shakti South Asian Practitioner List  This episode was produced and hosted by Maleeka Gazula. Additional production, editing and sound design by Shareeka Helaluddin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Too many incredible writers of colour, not enough time to read and do them justice! We are excited to be airing the first episode of BOOK CLUB with our friends at Amplify Bookstore - a site dedicated to Black, First Nations and writers of colour. Hear co-founders Xuan and Marina on how they started Amplify, what makes an Amplify book (it's not just about race and racism!), and the curation they wanted to introduce to us. The books discussed in this episode were~ The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution. by R.F. Kuang.​  Australia Day by Stan Grant  Another Day in the Colony by Dr Chelsea Watego All This Come Back Now edited by Mykaela Saunders The Upwelling by Lystra Rose  If you’re in Naarm, you can catch Amplify at some pop up location from December 3,10 and 17 at 11 Hope Street, Brunswick from 10-3pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A treat to be in conversation with Kombumerri man, sound artist and performer Rowan Savage aka salllvage; who has long-worked at the intersection of queer club music, performance and connection with Country, helming a truly unique creative output. Hear him chat on the power and politics of deep listening amid the current exhibition NURA: Deep Listening, currently on Cement Fondu alongside Barkindji artist. We also chat about the textures and techniques that explore Indigenous Futurisms in his album Deep Gecko Energy, and the considerations in bringing this to life at Soft Centre this week Learn more about NURA: Deep Listening, which is on at Cement Fondu from now until November 26  Experience salllvage live at Soft Centre's Late Night Program (II) alongside Abadir, e3p Anuraag, /amalg on November 26 get tickets here Image Credit: Kayru Creative. The track heard throughout this episode is salllvage - Autochthonic Sensory MeridianSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A special announcement on today's show ... Plus, producer Shareeka Helaluddin held a personal conversation with creative S. Shakthtidharan. Shakthi is a Western Sydney storyteller with Sri Lankan heritage and Tamil ancestry; and a writer, director and composer of original music. His first play, Counting and Cracking, galvanised audiences across the globe, as it traced the story of Sri Lanka’s descent into civil war. This week the debut of his next work the Jungle and the Sea unfolds into another chapter, travelling back in time to follow the story of a family during the war.  Hear him talking through telling difficult stories as an act of healing, how the current crisis in Sri Lanka impacted the production and the power of creating community-based art - that is interested in collaboration, access and transformation.  Music woven throughout the show is ELSZ - Holy Water Meditation with Ganavya காடும் கடலும் / ගණ වන මුහුද / The Jungle and the Sea is showiong at Belvoir Street Theatre from Nov 12 - Dec 18. Don't miss out! Get your tickets hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.