Blackbelt Voices

We're back in the saddle! In this episode, Adena and Kara discuss the relaunch of Blackbelt Voices as a platform for authentic storytelling. After completing a Social Impact Storytelling program at Georgetown University and a fellowship with Solutions Journalism Network, Adena has come back with fresh ideas of how Blackbelt Voices can emphasize the importance of authenticity, belonging, and connection in storytelling.

Adena and Kara talk to writer and self-proclaimed Wypipologist Michael Harriot. The South Carolina native is well known for his wit, cultural commentary, and gift of mixing humor and historical context. In this episode, Michael breaks down the discipline of Wypipology, Black humor, and the story behind his coining of the phrase "invited to the cookout." (Yes, he's the one who came up with it.) Michael is the host of the recently launched TheGrio Daily podcast, produced by theGrio Black Podcast Network. He has also authored a book, "Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America," which is available for pre-order now. Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

La'Twana Scott, the owner of Sweet Mama T's in El Dorado, Arkansas, developed a reputation as a great cook at an early age. The El Dorado native enjoys cooking for people and got her start from helping her mom as a child. Eventually, with the help of Southern Bancorp, Scott found the perfect location for her restaurant. Find out more about Sweet Mama T's by visiting her Facebook page. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices.

On episode 37 of Blackbelt Voices, we continue our conversation about Black food, this time focusing on barbecue. Guest Michael “Mike D” De Los Santos of North Carolina walks us through his journey of becoming an expert on the topic, which eventually led to him creating his own sauces and rubs and selling through his company, Mike D’s. Mike’s journey to becoming a small business owner has uplifting and heartbreaking turns, including the loss of his infant son Aaron, which he wrote about in a book he authored called “My Heart Warrior: Living With HLHS Through A Father’s Eyes.” Mike and his business was also featured on Discovery Channel’s “I Quit.” Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

In episode 36 of Blackbelt Voices, Adena and Kara continue the conversation about Black food culture – this time from an agricultural angle. Our guest, Gerald Harris, along with his partners Derek Beasley and Gabrielle E.W. Carter (who was featured in the Netflix series High on the Hog as well as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal)started Tall Grass Food Box, a community-supported agricultural model (CSA). Gerald told us about a Tuskegee professor named Booker T. Whatley who many call the godfather of CSA. He is best known for his regenerative farming system, in combination with the direct-marketing concept of a customer harvesting operation known as pick-your-own. Dr. Whatley has been said to be 30 years ahead of his time. Lots of experts in the field still refer to his 10 commandments for small farmers. Gerald also pointed to the 1920 Census, which shows the number of Black farmers in America Peaked at 949,889. In 2019 there were just over 45,000 Black farmers according to figures from the US Department of Agriculture. Tall Grass was born out of the pandemic. So Gerald says they’ve learned a lot about the CSA business space, who they could trust, and how to help. They have been expanding. Some other positive outcomes include they now have a refrigerated vehicle. Those funds were raised by their community and people who wanted to see them succeed. Thanks to Gerald for being a guest on our podcast. Check out Tall Grass on Facebook or Instagram or send them a note via email: hello@tallgrassnc.com. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

We’re starting a new series of episodes about Black Food Culture, which is a very broad topic to tackle. It can be fun, but it is also deep. Ashante Reese, Ph.D. is a writer, teacher, and anthropologist who works at the intersection of critical food studies and Black geographies. Her latest book, “Black Food Matters: Racial Justice in the Wake of Food Justice, enters two conversations at once: one that concerns the persistent threats to Black life and another that concerns problems produced by the increasingly global and corporatized food system.” Dr. Reese recommends some texts for our listeners who are interested in learning more about BlackFood studies. They include Building Houses out of Chicken Legs by Psyche A. Williams-Forson; and Dethroning the Deceitful Porkchop, a collection of essays that basically interrogate the concept of soul food. And for an even deeper dive, here are some of Reese's food-related recommended readings. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

Jennifer Williams of Cleveland, Mississippi, always knew she wanted to be a teacher. When she was a girl, her favorite game was playing school. Williams is teaching future teachers at the Cleveland Career Development and Technology Center. Once a week, her students get to serve as teacher's assistants, giving them a realistic feel of what it could be like to run a classroom. The center offers a practical learning environment designed to prepare students for employment or future study in various skill areas ranging from auto mechanics and welding to health and public safety. As an adult, Williams continues to learn and pass along those lessons to her students. Several years ago, she went through some financial hardship and needed extra funds to get her through to the next month. A friend suggested she try a payday lender. Nine loans later and drowning in debt, Williams found help with Southern Bancorp. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices.

On episode 33 of the Blackbelt Voices podcast, we are continuing our discussion on the Cost of Racism. This week we’re focused on building community wealth with Tim Lampkin, the CEO and founder of Higher Purpose Co., a 501(c)(3) economic justice nonprofit that supports and encourages ownership of financial, cultural, and political power in Black communities. Tim Lampkin, for about as long as he could remember, always had a passion for helping others and being a part of something bigger than himself. His life journey and mentor helped shaped him into the entrepreneur he is today. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

Cheryl Hampton grew up on a farm in Marianna on the same property where her great-great-grandfather lived. He grew lots of vegetables in his garden including sweet potatoes, greens, and okra. Cheryl still lives and gardens on the property today. When her nieces and nephews come to visit she shows them everything she knows, and they’re always excited to learn. https://blackbeltvoices.com/2021/12/28/turn-to-your-neighbor-cheryl-hampton Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices.

Episode 31 of the Blackbelt Voices podcast begins a new series of episodes called the Cost of Racism. During the next month, we’ll dive into the ideas of economic equity and building wealth for Black communities. Today’s guest is Darrin Williams, CEO of Southern Bancorp. Williams, who studied law and practiced as a lawyer for many years, wanted to help people understand money, climb out of poverty and bridge the racial wealth gap. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

This Turn to Your Neighbor segment features Amanda Hunter, a registered nurse who lives in Central Arkansas. Amanda is very interested in exploring her family tree. She wanted to see how far she could go back into her family’s history and found through her journey a valuable perspective she applies directly to her own life. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices.

Happy Thanksgiving, Blackbelt Voices fam. In this week’s episode we’re talking about genealogy. It is part of the “Preserving our History” series. For Nicka Sewell-Smith, learning about her family history is much more than a hobby. Nicka has more than 20 years of experience as a genealogist and has learned so much about not only her own family, but also American History. We think you’ll enjoy listening to our conversation with Nicka, and when you’re done check out her web series, BlackProGen LIVE. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

The Ozark Foothills African-American History Museum would not have been possible without the work of Albessie Thompson, the subject of this Turn to Your Neighbor segment. Born and raised in Twin Groves, Arkansas, Thompson has worked tirelessly for the past 30 years to preserve the history of her hometown. We continue the "Preserving Our History" series with a closer look at this museum in Twin Groves, Arkansas. Find out more by visiting the Ozark Foothills African-American History Museum’s Facebook page. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

Blackbelt Voices continues its focus on “Preserving our History” with a closer look at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, a 35,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art museum on 9th Street in Little Rock. The museum, which is a part of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, became accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in April 2020. Quantia Fletcher was recently named director of the museum. She told us how she found her passion for telling stories of our ancestors and her role in creating the museum into what it is today. Check out the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center website and plan your trip to the museum. Admission is free! Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

American Reckoning is a component of PBS FRONTLINE's Un(re)solved multi-platform initiative investigating unsolved murders that happened in the Civil Rights Era. We sat down with filmmakers Yoruba Richen and Brad Lichtenstein who are working on a documentary about the events surrounding the 1967 murder of Wharlest Jackson Sr. in Natchez, Mississippi. Jackson is one of 150 cold case killings brought to light because of Congressman John Lewis’ Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act. The film is expected to be released in February 2022. Season 3 of Blackbelt Voices is brought to you by Southern Bancorp. Southern Bancorp is one of America’s oldest and largest community development financial institutions, founded to provide underserved communities with access to capital and the wealth-building tools needed to grow. On the web at BankSouthern.com and SouthernPartners.org. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

Blackbelt Voices is coming back for our third season in mid-October. We can’t wait for you to hear from our fantastic guests. They’re telling stories from and about Black folks down South that honor our history; celebrate our culture; and shape our future. Look for new episodes beginning next week. If you haven’t already, be sure to follow or subscribe to the Blackbelt Voices podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. You can also connect with us online at blackbeltvoices.com or by following @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

In this episode, Adena and Kara talk to Kristy Carter, author and principal investigator of a newly released study about women of color business owners and entrepreneurs in Arkansas. The research was conducted by the University of Central Arkansas and the report commissioned by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas. Women of color open businesses at extraordinary rates. The qualitative study explores why. This episode’s Turn to Your Neighbor feature is Shunqetta Cunningham, the CEO and Lead Grant Strategist of KHARIS Grants and Services. She also leads a group for Black women entrepreneurs called Over A Cup. Shunqetta is one of the featured women in the study. Patricia Ashanti is the Founder and CEO of Delta Circles, Inc. As a native of Helena, Arkansas, she has always recognized the need for community service and had a desire to help families thrive. Delta Circles is a nonprofit organization providing programs and opportunities to challenge the way Black women think about themselves, their finances, and their businesses. Her WIN program is modeled after an African practice called susu. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. Support other indie Black podcasts! Listen to You Had Me at Black wherever you get your podcasts. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

On Episode 22 of Blackbelt Voices, Adena and Kara have a conversation with Candice Barnes. Ed.D., an associate professor and distinguished equity fellow at the University of Central Arkansas College of Education. They talked about moving closer to diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion in education and what steps educational systems, teachers, and future teachers can take to move toward that goal. They discussed the importance of having Black teachers in classrooms and a group of Black men elementary teachers in Oregon who are so rare they call themselves unicorns. This episode's turn to your neighbor segment features Kwadjo Boaitey, a middle school teacher in the Pulaski County Special School District in Little Rock, Arkansas. Interested in checking out Dr. Barnes' jewelry? Click here. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. Support other indie Black podcasts! Listen to You Had Me at Black wherever you get your podcasts. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

Three people, from three backgrounds and generations, take a road trip using The Negro Motorist Green Book as their guide. Adena and Kara have a conversation with Alvin Hall and Janée Woods Weber about their living history podcast called Driving the Green Book. They talk about their podcast, their journey, life lessons, and behind-the-scenes adventures. In this episode's Turn to Your Neighbor segment, WellBrewed Coffee Co. founders plan to serve coffee with consciousness by driving resources and investments to the community. Jeremy Hill and Shantell Hinton Hill will dedicate a portion of their sales to Black leaders and entrepreneurs committed to social change. Follow their progress on Instagram. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.

Happy Black History Month. February 1 marks the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln signing a resolution that would later become the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On this episode, Adena and Kara address some eyebrow-raising legislation aimed at restricting teaching on social justice and diversity. We ask Stacey McAdoo, longtime educator and 2019 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, to weigh in. You can find out more about Stacey by visiting her website or following her on Twitter. CONNECT WITH BLACKBELT VOICES Follow @BlackbeltVoices on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share your thoughts about this episode and all things Black + Southern on social media using the hashtag #BlackbeltVoices. CREDITS AND SPECIAL THANKS Edited and produced by: Katrina Dupins and Prentice Dupins Jr. Music: Prentice Dupins Jr. Logo Design: Kara Darling Creative The Blackbelt Voices podcast is a production of Blackbelt Media LLC.