Season 2, Episode 6 | Raising an Ancestor

Black queer parents Kristianna and Rose share lessons and blessings from the frontlines of caregiving, discussing parenting as freedom work, unlearning unfreedom, letting their children teach them about liberation, and finding space to seek pleasure. Kweku Abimbola “fabrics the music” in his debut poetry collection Saltwater Demands a Psalm and shares about the beauty of grief. Laquesha Sanders returns to reflect on her mental health journey in part two of our three-part series of her very personal story about student debt. And, as always we leave you with questions. This episode asks: How do we allow children to remain free? What do our children teach us about freedom? How do we as adults heal from the harm we have experienced as children? Send us your thoughts to [email protected] or slide into our DMs on IG @dancingondesks.

Transcript (Finalized Friday, June 2, 2023)

INTELLECTUAL INHERITANCE 

A is for Activist, Innosanto Nagara

Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land, SoulFire Farm, Leah Penniman

Emergent Strategy, adrienne maree brown

From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea, Kai Cheng Thom

“History Is A Weapon: They Can't Turn Back,” Mademoiselle (February 1, 1960), James Baldwin

The Memory Librarian, Janelle Monáe

Raising Free People: Unschooling as Liberation and Healing Work, Akilah S. Richards

Saltwater Demands a Psalm, Kweku Abimbola

Sulwe, Lupita Nyong'o

The Wedding Portrait, Innosanto Nagara

MUSIC

Yogic Beats: “IDK”; “Memories”; “Sentiment”;  “The Decision”; “Twin Flame”

“Machala” Beatz Vampire

Dancing on Desks Theme Song composed and arranged by Mara Johnson and Elliott Wilkes