More Than Shades

12/08/2020

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW featuring 3 special guests!
"Presence Of a Black Man in America"
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This week the ladies of SHADES are joined by Marquise Johnson, Nathaniel Chambers Jr. and Chase Howard to discuss their walks with Blackness, and who they've chosen to arrive as. Together they dive deep into the stereotypes of Black men, responses to current civil unrest, and how they are active community members who are building their own businesses.
LISTEN NOW on Spotify, Anchor, or Apple Podcasts to hear how these beautiful men are honoring their Blackness!

SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4FgLBleq9nNbqWm8RMmpzM?si=Yirfbp6HQLOdFZFQEwgvFg

APPLE PODCASTS:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shades-episode-4-the-presence-of-a-black-man-in-america/id1521602470?i=1000487852218

ANCHOR:
https://anchor.fm/shades4/episodes/SHADES-Episode-4-The-Presence-of-A-Black-Man-In-America-ei14ij/a-a2u2to6

The ladies of SHADES are joined by special guests Marquise Johnson , Chase Howard and Nathaniel Chambers as they discuss what it is like to be a Black man in America, what they feel about the stereotypes assigned to Black men, who they really are and how they take care of themselves during times of....

06/08/2020

We are not what you think, we are so much more than what you have been taught to believe.
We are so excited to have our GUEST SPEAKERS Marquise Johnson, Nate Chambers, and Chase Howard on our upcoming episode, “Presence of a Black Man in America” RELEASING WEDNESDAY AUG. 12TH.
As read by our Guest Speakers, the poem (a true story) was written by a Black man to his mother who fell victim to Police Brutality. There is so much beauty, power, and strength in their voices... Let us protect it, honor it, and amplify it.
PLEASE SHARE to help us carry the message, and stay tuned for our full episode release!

23/07/2020

THIRD EPISODE "AAVE Is Not For You" OUT NOW!
*Available to listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Anchor*

"WOKE. BASIC. SIS. THAT'S THE TEA. NO CAP."
Why should you be careful using these words?

"WE BEEN READY. SHE WORKIN"
What bias do you have when someone speaks like this?
How do you feel when someone uses a double negative?
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LISTEN NOW on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7L4fYvMqR7MQMUpM2VI981?si=7vr9ZaP_QX6Q15bwkfCn6A

LISTEN NOW on Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shades-episode-3-aave-is-not-for-you/id1521602470?i=1000485688179

LISTEN NOW on Anchor
https://anchor.fm/shades4/episodes/SHADES-Episode-3-AAVE-Is-Not-For-You-eh2q2n/a-a2opqrb
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This episode we've chosen to discuss AAVE or 'African American Vernacular English'. Never heard of it? DEFINITELY give this session a listen as we dive deep into language, common phrases you may have heard, and the history behind them. This episode is incredibly relevant in today's world, we couldn't recommend it enough!

In this episode of Shades, Jasmine, Ayana and Tova discuss AAVE (African American Vernacular English). The ladies dive into what it is, it's history, examples, its importance and relevance in discussions around injustice and inequality towards Black people. Stay tuned until the end for some importan...

08/07/2020

SECOND EPISODE 'Colorism' AVAILABLE NOW!
*First & previous episode now available on Apple Podcasts*
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LISTEN NOW on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/6qjCQthNUe0FINhi9Du6IJ

LISTEN NOW on Anchor
https://anchor.fm/shades4/episodes/SHADES-Episode-1--Our-Walks-With-Blackness-and-What-We-Did-When-We-Arrived-eg5euh

LISTEN NOW on Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shades/id1521602470

This episode we have come together to speak on Colorism and how it is so deeply ingrained within our society. Colorism (in short) is discrimination within a race based on skin tone. If you're unfamiliar with this term, we HIGHLY recommend you give this episode a listen given how incredibly important it is to familiarize yourself with our current systems.
We have also created resources on our Instagram Page where you can educate yourself take action with Police Brutality cases!
THANK YOU ALL for your support thus far, we appreciate you!
- Shades

‎Education · 2020

01/07/2020

FIRST PODCAST EPISODE OUT TODAY & AVAILABLE NOW!
"Our Walks with Blackness and What We Did When We Arrived"
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Available to LISTEN NOW on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/6qjCQthNUe0FINhi9Du6IJ
and...
Availalbe to LISTEN NOW on Anchor
https://anchor.fm/shades4/episodes/SHADES-Episode-1--Our-Walks-With-Blackness-and-What-We-Did-When-We-Arrived-eg5euh
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*Coming ASAP to Apple Podcasts, update soon!*
In this first episode, we've chosen to dive deeper into our walks with Blackness and further explain our backgrounds as young Black women. We get real, raw, and beautifully honest. Get to know us, and where we come from! To set the tone, we're incredibly excited to open the floor to future conversations about Assimilation, Cultural Appropriation, Equal Representation, Police Brutality, White Privilege, and MUCH MUCH more!
Let us know what you think!
- Shades

The very first episode of SHADES where Jasmine, Tova and Ayana discuss Blackness and their personal journeys of self discovery and awareness as Black women in America. Diving into topics like assimilation, white / white passing privilege, representation and more, the women of SHADES give a taste of....

28/06/2020

Meet Ayana🌊
Our artist and one of the 3 ‘Shades’ members!
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For me, this Podcast is about listening and learning. I am excited to listen to the stories of my friends and other folks outside of shades to learn from them and with them as we discuss some really important things. My story starts with my parents, I have a white dad and a Black mom and I am the only biracial child in our family. I grew up in a really diverse city and neighborhood which exposed me to many types of people but one common theme of my life was that I wasn’t white enough for other white folks and I wasn’t Black enough for other Black folks. Creating a weird identity crisis within myself. My parents worked really hard to make sure I knew about other biracial people to feel less alone.

I am still coming into my Blackness. Out of my immediate family my father is the only person with the same skin as me, everyone else is darker to varying degrees so I recognized my whiteness much quicker than I recognized my Blackness and I am working to find ways to honor my Blackness while remembering the white passing privilege that I also carry.

I enjoy gardening, surfing and making art. I even made our profile picture! I studied Animation and Motion Media at Lesley University where I met Tova!

I look forward to our first episode and getting to listen to the stories of my fellow shades members and to share the rest of mine!

-Ayana
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28/06/2020

Meet Jasmine✨ one of the three ‘Shades’ members!
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This podcast is my freedom to speak freely about my journey to further educating myself, and learning to love my blackness. I hope to inspire other beautiful brown people to realize their worth in this world that continuously tries to knock us down. One day, one step, one moment at a time; we will fight together for the justice, the freedom, the love, and respect that we deserve.
I am Black and Portuguese, I come from a beautiful strong line of strong independent BLACK women. My father is hardworking, caring, and oh so generous. My brother is half white and half Black. My parents wanted to give my brother and I a better opportunity than what they had, so they decided to raise us in Lenox Massachusetts. A small town where everyone knows everyone and the population tends to not grow much. Which means you’re kindergarten class of 66 kids is almost exactly the same as the graduating class senior year. Which had it’s perks until I realized I was the ONLY black person. Of course I had Tova and my brother but because they are biracial I felt so alone and embarrassed.
It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school that I truly understood that I was Black. I distanced myself from friends who made inappropriate jokes about my complexion that I once laughed at and ignored. I became very independent and introverted, because I finally knew my worth. I knew I didn’t relate to the people I called my friends since kindergarten. I knew they didn’t see me for me. I decided to go to College in an inner city where I knew I would endure diversity. I am who I am today because of the tough decisions I made for myself. I am blessed for the opportunity to grow up in Lenox because it gave me perspective and strength. And I now know how I deserve to be treated and I’ll never settle for less.
I am currently a Social Work Major at the College of Saint Rose with a minor in family studies. I am a nanny to the sweetest little humans. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, and loved one to so many. I owe it to them, to myself, and to all of you to continue to grow and to give all that I have to my community. SO, join me and my girls! Lets get real! Let’s go through all of these wild emotions together, and feel through every single one of them! Cheers to getting raw with SHADES, the podcast that swallows everything!
-Jasmine

28/06/2020

Meet Tova✨
Our lil Rasta & one of the 3 ‘Shades’ members!
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"For me, this Podcast is about better understanding. It is about aiming to create a space where we can openly converse about racism, injustice, and our varying experiences. My story begins as a young mixed child from this corner of the world called Berkshire County. I can’t even imagine where I’d be at if being Black wasn’t being the odd one out. People really thought I wasn’t my mom’s child. “Where did you get her?” Yes, a real quote. Y’all know how kids can be, having their hands up in my hair like I was some exhibit."
"I unfortunately came into my Blackness late as hell, considering I came from a predominately white neighborhood where Black folks weren’t common. I’m sure other mixed kids from my area can relate. My father, a proud Rasta, was the first the show me what it meant to be Black, and to be PROUD of that - Not the history textbooks or skimmed history lessons. He taught me to acknowledge that side of my heritage, and I hadn’t known how much I needed that. Between the music, the laughter, the LOVE, I cried after time spent with him. It’s something magical within Black culture, something so incredibly beautiful that needs to be preserved, and honored."
"I’m currently a Holistic Psychology Major at Lesley University in Cambridge, and also in the midst of my Yoga Teacher Certification. I’m all about giving back, and am beyond stoked to have these conversations with ma ladies within this Podcast."
- Tova

19/06/2020

✨HAPPY JUNETEENTH & Happy Freedom Day! Today we celebrate Black culture and all of its beauty. We recognize the end of slavery, and new beginnings✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 May we continue this momentum, this recognition, and perseverance for a future of true equality & justice.
We are ‘Shades’, the Podcast that swallows it all. Catch us soon in our upcoming episodes where we converse about racism, injustice, and equality.