S10 E199: “Will The Report Change Anything?”: Dr. Angela Byers-Winston and Ray Allen Discuss Systemic Change For The Black Experience On A University Campus
Release Date: 01/14/2025
S11 E218: Season 11 Mic Drop with Producer Jeremy Holiday
Black Like Me
Dr. Gee ends Season 11 with his deep and thoughtful reflections on the season and the times we are living in, as a Black man. His mic drop episodes don't hold back but speak from an honest place, making sense of our world. This episode is a special conversation as Jeremy Holiday reflects on being a part of the show from the beginning as a producer and engineer. He discusses the evolution of the show alongside his own ongoing racial justice journey. Dr. Gee talks to Jeremy about the lessons he has learned from being involved in the show and who were the guests that stuck out to him...
info_outline
S11 E217: Finding Inspiration In Africa's Vibrant Cultures: Rev. Lilada Gee Leads Women With Profound Experiences
Black Like Me
Rev. Lilada Gee shares from a deep place of self-reflection about how to best spend her life as she faced cancer. She details the importance of travel and cultures in the last year. Lilada shares about her recent trip to South Africa in order to mentor other Black women, including Kay Hawkins, who also joins the show talk about her experience as a young woman. It was Kay’s first international trip and also her 21st birthday. Lilada is surely passing along a passion for travel, learning from African culture, and building a community of empowered women. Learn more about opportunities with Rev....
info_outline
S11 E216: “We Didn’t Sing To Get Freedom But Because We Believed In Freedom”: Dr. Charles Taylor Explains How Black History Will Always Be Inside Us
Black Like Me
Dr. Gee and Dr. Charles Taylor discuss the richness of African American history and understanding the wisdom of African heritage. Dr. Taylor considers how people around the country are still figuring out how to celebrate Juneteenth. It must be about history. One of Dr. Taylor’s recent endeavors is a documentary on The South Madison Renaissance, including Dr. Gee’s development of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture. Documentary Dr. Charles A. Taylor is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and consultant whose work has profoundly shaped the understanding and...
info_outline
S11 E215: "Your Connection To Your Culture Can Be What Propels You Forward...Or Holds You Back": Joy Bailey-Bryant Holds Space With Dr. Gee
Black Like Me
Joy Bailey-Bryant, Lord Cultural Resources President, returns to the show as The Center for Black Excellence and Culture building comes to completion. As an expert in cultural spaces and innovative museums, Baily-Bryant is involved in supporting the development of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture in Madison, WI. They connect over shared Black culture and tell stories of the power of preserving culture, demonstrating the resilient power of culture that has space to speak into itself. As leader of cultural planning at the largest cultural consultancy in the world, Joy works with city...
info_outline
S11 E214: Education That Breaks Down Walls: Dr. Emily Auerbach Talks Metaphors That Can Change Your Life
Black Like Me
Dr. Emily Auerbach is a great storyteller and cares deeply about helping make other people’s stories great. Hear the story of her work of leading the Odyssey Project and mentoring non-traditional students through literature and the humanities. Dr. Auerbach talks about their whole family approach that brings all generations into the learning opportunities. The hope is that the program is a launching pad into further education at UW-Madison. Dr. Gee and Dr. Auerbach share so many connections to graduates who have completed degrees and are active in the community. They also share the...
info_outline
S11 E214: Education That Breaks Down Walls: Dr. Emily Auerbach Talks Metaphors Can Change Your Life
Black Like Me
Dr. Emily Auerbach is a great storyteller and cares deeply about helping make other people’s stories great. Hear the story of her work of leading the Odyssey Project and mentoring non-traditional students through literature and the humanities. Dr. Auerbach talks about their whole family approach that brings all generations into the learning opportunities. The hope is that the program is a launching pad into further education at UW-Madison. Dr. Gee and Dr. Auerbach share so many connections to graduates who have completed degrees and are active in the community. They also share the...
info_outline
S11 E213: “We Are In A Moment Of Backlash:” Dr. Christy Clark-Pujara Explains How Black History Exposes The Shortcomings Of The Nation
Black Like Me
Dr. Christy Clark-Pujara brings some clarity to the recent political attacks on history that are attempting to erase multicultural aspects of our American past. Not just history but education and knowledge itself. This moment is similar to the time after Reconstruction with the response to Black people engaged in the political process and having power. Points to cultural backlash historically like Birth of the Nation and Gone with the Wind portraying a negative propaganda of African American contributions to the US. Also, hear about a program that Dr. Clark-Pujara has been a part of that...
info_outline
S11 E212:The Work Is About Empowering, Not Doing: Innovative Leadership With Harry Hawkins
Black Like Me
Dr. Gee welcomes Harry Hawkins back to the show again to discuss what it means to lead a cross-cultural organization that is focused on empowering the Black community. Harry Hawkins has moved into the President and CEO role of the non-profit , as Dr. Gee transitions into new endeavors. The two innovative leaders discuss what it is like serving the Black community in a predominantly white community. They have both had to navigate cross-cultural environments in their work. The discussion covers drawing out underserved groups, like Black women and young Black men. Hear Harry Hawkin's background...
info_outline
S11 E211: The Erasure Of History: "It's A Shell Game Of The Most Grotesque Kind" With Professor of History, Stephen Kantrowitz
Black Like Me
Dr. Gee and Professor Stephen Kantrowitz discuss the erasure of history that has happened in other nations in order to understand the current US government attempts to control historical information and ideology. You will be shocked to hear the ways that historical and scientific research are being attacked through elimination of funding and discrediting of academic knowledge. One of the current realities is that current students will be discouraged from seeking out new perspectives and the truth of historical perspectives because of perceived connections to DEI. Hear how government...
info_outline
S11 E210: “You Can Determine Your Future By How Much You Invest In Your Children”: Kaleem Caire Is Building For Our Children
Black Like Me
Kaleem Caire shares how his family, their audacity, and legacy have inspired him to create change in Madison. They discuss how Kaleem challenged Dr. Gee to build something new - his church, social justice non-profits, The Center for Black Excellence and Culture. The inspiration came from each other to see something new built. Listen to how education is a major factor for the health of the community by investing in the next generation who will be running the community. Kaleem explains what is behind One City Schools and what they are doing different to shift the educational...
info_outlineDr. Gee returns to the discussion of his involvement in a university report on the Black Community Experience at the University of
Wisconsin–Madison. In episode 188 he discussed the upcoming report with UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and now that the report is public, he is joined by fellow board members on the ad hoc committee. Dr. Angela Byers-Winston and Ray Allen discuss the difference between good intentions and intentionality, when it comes to identifying and creating real change?
The ad hoc study group worked to present their critical findings and strategic recommendations aimed at addressing the long-standing challenges faced by Black students, faculty, and staff on university campus. They discuss the question, “What is the systemic inertia to follow through on the recommendations?” Hear the unfiltered conversation about the report conducted by the UW by those that served on the board.
All three speak honestly about the process, offering what made them angry or frustrated, and the hopes they have for change. They talk about how creating programs only can’t change the DEI issues, but it takes institutional and organizational change. Also, be sure to catch a double portion of the Black Ice Breakers segment.
Dr. Angela Byars-Winston is a tenured faculty member in the Division of General Internal Medicine within the Department of Medicine. She is also the inaugural Chair of the University of Wisconsin Institute for Diversity Science, associate director in the Collaborative Center for Health Equity, and faculty lead in the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research.
Dr. Byars-Winston has received numerous awards for her research on advancing diversity goals and mentorship in STEM fields. In 2011, Dr. Byars-Winston was selected as a Champion of Change by the White House through President Obama's Winning the Future initiative for her research efforts to diversify science fields. In 2022, she was the recipient of the Innovation in Mentorship Research award from the Association of Clinical and Translational Research. Dr. Byars-Winston chaired the National Academies of Sciences’ 2019 consensus study report, The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM. She is an elected Fellow in the American Psychological Association and is currently an appointed member of the NIH National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council.
Over a career spanning nearly 50 years, Ray Allen has worked at the John Deere Company and served in a number of leadership roles in state government, including Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. He was elected to three terms on the Madison School Board from 1995 to 2004, has served as chair of the Madison Area Technical College Board, and is the former publisher and owner of weekly newspaper The Madison Times.
In 2016 Allen was honored with the Outstanding Alumni of Color Award from the UW–Madison Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement. He currently serves on more than 10 corporate and community boards, including 100 Black Men, the Overture Center, UMOJA Magazine’s board of directors, United Way of Dane County, American Red Cross, Downtown Madison Inc., and Madison College.
Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme