

Know Better Do Better
Marie Beecham
A better kind of antiracism. Brought to you by Marie Beecham — a writer and speaker who shares her practical knowledge, applicable insights, and fresh perspective on race.For access to exclusive new episodes every week, beome a member today.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 6, 2024 • 35min
107. The Forgotten Period of Unbelievable Racial Progress: Reconstruction
Many people don't know that the civil rights being fought for in the 1960s were actually a reality a century earlier, in the 1860s, for a few short years. Immediately after slavery, Black Americans saw integrated schooling, Black officials elected to office, and social and economic advancement. However, all of this progress was met with such fury, we forget it was ever made at all. Too many history lessons skip over this eventful period of time. The cultural war that followed the Civil War; surprising gains made; secret, off-the-books political deals... There's a whole lot more to the story than "40 acres and a mule."Your listen next list:Juneteenth— All the Stuff No One Ever Taught You on Apple & SpotifyThe History of Racism in the Criminal Justice System on Apple & SpotifySources: TIME, How the 1876 Election Tested the Constitution and Effectively Ended Reconstruction; TIME, How Reconstruction Still Shapes American Racism; Vox, How Hillary Clinton got on the wrong side of liberals' changing theory of American history; History, The Perils and Promise of America’s Third Reconstruction; History, Reconstruction; History, The Great Migration.

Feb 1, 2024 • 30min
106. The Escaped Slave Who Ended Slavery: Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass, the former slave who escaped, bought his freedom, and went on to change the course of history. Douglass played a pivotal role in making the Emancipation Proclamation a reality, bringing about the Union victory in the civil war, and bringing down the institution of slavery for good.This is the second episode of the Black History Month series. Enjoy!Your listen next list: Should We Celebrate Fourth of July When So Much Needs to Change? on Apple & SpotifyThe War Within Antiracism: Why the Movement is Divided on Apple & SpotifyTo support Marie and get exclusive resources, head to patreon.com/mariebeech. To learn more about Marie's DEI services, head to mariebeecham.com.Sources: Smithsonian, Frederick Douglass (Our American Story); Britannica, Biography of Frederick Douglass; National Parks Service, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site; Freedom Center, Agitation and Activism: The Life and Legacy of Frederick Douglass; Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Frederick Douglass.

Jan 30, 2024 • 28min
105. Slavery — All the Stuff No One Ever Taught You, for Black History Month
Exploring myths and misconceptions about slavery in the US, debunking common misconceptions and revealing its true significance. Discussing the impact of cotton on slavery, key moments in Black history, and the journey of Frederick Douglass from slavery to prominence.

Jan 25, 2024 • 27min
104. It's Not Rude to Say Black, And Other Essential Learning for Black History Month
We've all heard the awkward, "He's Bl- umm... African American." But it is it actually rude to say Black? In this episode, I explain the surprising reasons why it may actually be more rude to avoid saying Black. Your listen next list:Is It Racially Insensitive or Racist? Apathy or Hate? on Apple & SpotifyA Teachable Moment for White Allies: Learn the Felt Impact of Your Words on Apple & SpotifyReferenced: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum; Gallup, No Preferred Racial Term Among Most Black, Hispanic AdultsTo support Marie and get exclusive resources, head to patreon.com/mariebeech. To learn more about Marie's DEI services, head to mariebeecham.com.

Jan 23, 2024 • 22min
103. How Each Kind of Antiracism Fails— Unpacking The Major Flaws
What's wrong with how we view race? Well, on both sides of the partisan divide, how we view race can perpetuate racism. Totally embracing race ("Race is an important part of who you are") comes with serious consequences for people of color, and so does totally rejecting race ("Let's just not see color").Full-transparency: no matter which side you're on, my hope is that you'll gain a better understanding of its potential weaknesses. If you think your approach to antiracism is flawless, I want you to think again. Your listen next list:Intersectionality in 30 Min on Apple & SpotifyIntro to Stereotype Threat, How It's a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy on Apple & SpotifyIndividual Vs. Group Identity on Apple & SpotifyTo support Marie and get exclusive resources, head to patreon.com/mariebeech. To learn more about Marie's DEI services, head to mariebeecham.com.

Jan 18, 2024 • 31min
102. Should We Embrace Race or Move Past It? It's Complicated.
If racial categories were created for purposes of oppression, then why keep it? Shouldn’t we get rid of this thing? That's what a lot of people are asking. You're going to need to know where you stand: embrace race or reject race?I'll be honest - there are strengths and weaknesses on both sides of this debate. In this episode, I break it all down and unpack the key points.Related episodes:91. Debunking The Implicit Racial Bias Test on Apple and Spotify6. The first episode I released on this subject on Apple & Spotify (and its follow-up, ep. 13)46. The Racism the Least-Prejudiced People Are Most Guilty Of on Apple & Spotify (and its follow-up, ep 48)77. How Do We Actually Close “Achievement Gaps?” on Apple & Spotify (and its follow-up, ep 78)Mentioned: TED, A Case for Color BlindnessWhy Is TED Afraid of Color Blindness? by Coleman HughesOn melting pots and salad bowls: A meta-analysis of the effects of identity-blind and identity-conscious diversity ideologiesTo support Marie and get exclusive resources, head to patreon.com/mariebeech. To learn more about Marie's DEI services, head to mariebeecham.com.

Jan 16, 2024 • 22min
101. Is Race Real or Not? According to the Experts, It's Complicated.
To understand the concept of race, there are 3 essential facts (unanimously agreed upon by experts) that you need to know, and in this episode, you'll learn them all. We unpack what race is, what race isn't, and whether race is real or not. Because before we can form opinions about antiracism, we need to get our facts straight about race. Your listen next list:Microaggressions in 15 Minutes on Apple and SpotifySystemic Racism 101 on Apple and SpotifyTo support Marie and get exclusive resources, head to patreon.com/mariebeech. To learn more about Marie's DEI services, head to mariebeecham.com.

Jan 11, 2024 • 26min
100. 7 Things You Need to Know About Dr. King, In Honor of MLK Day
Did you know MLK was mentored by Ghandi? Did you know that he was very controversial within the Black community? Or that he turned people away from his demonstrations if they weren't committed enough to nonviolence? What about his denunciation of the Black Power movement and personal thoughts on Malcolm X? There's a lot to learn about MLK that they didn’t teach you in school. It's time we set things straight on this leader who is so often misunderstood. We're learning from Dr. King in his own words - and even his personal diary entries.Your listen next list:Why the Antiracism Movement is Divided on Apple & SpotifyWhite Allies, You Need to Change How You Think About Whiteness on Apple & SpotifyThe Racism the Least-Prejudiced People Are Most Guilty Of on Apple & SpotifyWorks by Dr. KingThe Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr., Edited by Clayborne CarsonThe Drum Major InstinctLetter From Birmingham JailWhere Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?Also, a short read on Vox: How Martin Luther King Jr.'s faith drove his activismTo support Marie and get exclusive resources, head to patreon.com/mariebeech. To learn more about Marie's DEI services, head to mariebeecham.com.

Jan 9, 2024 • 11min
99. 5 Common Terms You're Using Incorrectly, Explained in Just 10 Min
A clear, concise run-through of the dos and don'ts of common terms related to race. We're focusing on terms (like minority, BIPOC, microaggression, and more) that are misused, controversial, and/ or misunderstood.Your listen next list:Microaggressions in 15 Minutes on Apple and SpotifySystemic Racism 101 on Apple and Spotify(The Original, Extended Episode) Important Terms You Should Know on Apple & SpotifyTo support Marie and get exclusive resources, head to patreon.com/mariebeech. To learn more about Marie's DEI services, head to mariebeecham.com.

Jan 4, 2024 • 19min
98. A Final Word on Tokenism: Personal & Practical Guidance
In this episode, I share about my experience in predominantly-white environments and navigate the murky waters of tokenism, this time, from a very different angle. Your listen next list:How Antiracists Unintentionally Amplify the Impacts of Racism on Apple & SpotifyCRT's Most Loved & Hated Teaching on Apple & SpotifyHow to Cure Racism's Psychological Effects, 30 Min Deep Dive on Apple and SpotifySources Mentioned:Why Are All of The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Dr. Beverly-Daniel-TatumHow Far to the Promised Land by Esau McCaulleyTo support Marie and get exclusive resources, head to patreon.com/mariebeech. To learn more about Marie's DEI services, head to mariebeecham.com.


