“The main goal of this project is two-fold,” Courtney Parker West writes, describing her latest podcast project, “In light of the recent regime change and the waterfall of policy changes happening that will continue to adversely affect people of color broadly and specifically Black people, this is a space where stories of resistance and dreaming are elevated. The harm of political grief and the personal, communal, and structural consequences for seasons such as this can deter people from learning and taking action around the issues most important to and critical for our survival and wellness; by grounding in these narratives, I hope to promote hope, well-being, and unapologetic critique of white supremacy and other intersecting oppressions intended to wear down and distract us from our creative ideas, healing stories, and critical learning. Additionally, the efforts of the featured guests should be elevated to promote their impact; providing a platform for people to share not only their insights, but opportunities for listeners to support their is a critical act of resistance.”
Listen to Parker West’s first episode of “A Soulful Sojourn: Conversations of Antiblackness, Spirituality, and the Quest for Liberation” here.
Courtney Parker West (she/her) is a third-year PhD student in Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis who has spent the past 15 years working in public education, education non-profit, community and institutional organizing, and intersectional anti-racist DEI consulting in rural eastern North Carolina. She is interested in the intersection of race, gender & sexuality, religious affiliation, and the impact of colonization and white supremacy on how educators of color heal from trauma and sustain themselves in their work as educators, advocates, and leaders in their communities, particularly in light of anti-CRT, anti-LGBTQ legislation. Additionally, Courtney is interested in exploring lessons learned, cautionary tales, and a sense of yearning in Star Trek as it pertains to racial realism, speculative fiction, and the Black radical imagination.
