Stirring the Melting Pot

Today I'm talking (well sort of ranting) about the importance of individuality as a first gen young adult in America and on the common issue that children of immigrants tend to have with immigrant parents expecting us to be the exact replicas of their younger selves.  Let's stay connected! Please follow the podcast on IG and Twitter: @stmpot STMPot Facebook Page (Search for Stirring the Melting Pot on Facebook if viewing this from a mobile device) Have any questions or suggestions on what I should cover for future episodes? Make sure to email me at: stmpot.pod@gmail.com 💙 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stirringthemeltingpot/support

Today I'm talking about how the idea of "working hard" and "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" (aka the Myth of Meritocracy) to get what you want within Western societies, typically is not a phenomenon that is offered to black and brown people, immigrants, or anyone without a comfortable financial safety net/ generational wealth. I'll be analyzing how Tik Tok stars / influencers, Charli D'Amelio and Addison Rae are both able to benefit from not having to follow these standards within the Myth of Meritocracy through using their likeness and social media presence in landing major brand deals and endorsements. I also discuss how harmful this ideal can be towards first-generation students, who may at times struggle in school despite coming from immigrant families where high academic achievement is integral for them to move upward within the socio-economic ladder.    Let's stay connected! Please follow the podcast on IG and Twitter: @stmpot STMPot Facebook Page (Search for Stirring the Melting Pot on Facebook if viewing this from a mobile device) Have any questions or suggestions on what I should cover for future episodes? Make sure to email me at: stmpot.pod@gmail.com 💙 Sources:  https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/01/the-myth-of-meritocracy-according-to-michael-sandel/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths/five-myths-about-meritocracy/2019/09/13/4d90d244-d4cd-11e9-9610-fb56c5522e1c_story.html https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2017/07/internalizing-the-myth-of-meritocracy/535035/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11290905/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm#overview  https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/charli-d-amelio.html --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stirringthemeltingpot/support

For today's episode I'll be discussing the significance and similarities of the Brown Berets and The Black Panthers, two social justice/ civil rights and militant organizations which sought for better living conditions and socio-economic welfare for black and brown people during the 60's and 70's. Both organizations were founded by college students in Los Angeles, California and created an everlasting impact on establishing and protecting the rights of marginalized groups and co-opted similar political ideologies. I am also super excited to be interviewing my best friend and older sister Isoken, she's a nurse by profession and passionate scholar of black-led social justice political movements, founded in the 1960's! We also discuss how these two social justice organizations led the way for universities and colleges to establish educational departments centered on Chicano Studies and Afro/African-American Studies, as well as their relation to the ongoing political debacle of critical race theory being taught in US schools.  Let's stay connected! Please follow the podcast on IG and Twitter: @stmpot STMPot Facebook Page (Search for Stirring the Melting Pot on Facebook if viewing this from a mobile device) Have any questions or suggestions on what I should cover for future episodes? Make sure to email me at: stmpot.pod@gmail.com 💙 Sources: https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/black-panther-party-challenging-police-and-promoting-social-change https://www.history.com/topics/civil-rights-movement/black-panthers https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/brown-beret-headquarters https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/el-barrio-free-clinic http://inside.sfuhs.org/dept/history/US_History_reader/Chapter14/brownberets.htm https://youtu.be/Gp8576rfKJw?t=1017  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stirringthemeltingpot/support

Today I'll be talking about everything that has inspired me to be an Immigrant Rights activist and my passion for this cause. I'll also be discussing the current events going down in Haiti and Afghanistan.  **Just as a disclaimer, if topics on violence, death, or civil unrest within these countries are not your cup of tea / are uncomfortable for you then make sure to skip parts: 22:51-36:00  Sources used in this episode:  Open Democracy Article about the history of Civil Unrest / Political Issues in Haiti URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/democraciaabierta/whats-happening-in-haiti/ Al Jazeera Article on Haiti's Political Crisis URL: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/28/what-is-happening-in-haiti-political-crisis-persists *(Was not mentioned in the episode, but I thought it was interesting)- Al Jazeera Article on Gangs in Haiti assisting with Earthquake Recovery Efforts (URL for those viewing on a phone: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/22/haiti-earthquake-death-toll-passes-2200-gangs-offer-aid) USA Today Article about the 2021 Earthquake in Haiti- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/08/22/haiti-earthquake-2021-death-toll-rises-over-2-200/8235246002/ Interview with Biden and George Stephanopoulos on US troops being pulled from Afghanistan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nwusq_WcM Calvin Michaels on YT speaking on the Taliban in Afghanistan (he's one of the best black Youtubers I've seen talk about current events happening throughout the world, I highly recommend subscribing to his channel!) - https://youtu.be/vsrLOuZH5Xw?t=1356 Ways to help out our brothers and sisters in Haiti as well as Afghanistan:  UN World Food Program to Benefit Haitian Earthquake victims NPR Article on Resources and Organizations that directly benefit Afghan refugees and journalists (For more in-depth articles see: USA Today's Article on Helping Haiti and NPR Article on how to help Afghan Refugees)                       Let's stay connected! Please follow the podcast on IG and Twitter: @stmpot STMPot Facebook Page (Search for Stirring the Melting Pot on Facebook if viewing this from a mobile device) Have any questions or suggestions on what I should cover for future episodes? Make sure to email me at: stmpot.pod@gmail.com 💙 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stirringthemeltingpot/support

For today's episode I'll be interviewing self-proclaimed MEDIA GHEL, fellow blogger and content creator, Lebene Mawutor on her experience with dating and relationships as a young Ghanaian woman living in Canada. Lebene is a Content Creator & Editorial Strategist at Everygirl (IG: theeverygirl, Twitter: @theeverygirl_) and a contributor for Amaka Studio (a black-owned magazine celebrating the diversity of African women all over the world, IG: amaka.studio, Twitter: amakastudio). We also discuss how certain influences from our immigrant parents, childhood experiences with other ethnic groups, and even where we live can effect us in the process of finding potential mates.  Follow Lebene on her socials! IG: lebenemawutor Twitter: lebenemawutor    Navigation guide:   Interview w/ Lebene- (starts at 2:33) The problems we've faced w/ dating apps- 9:35 -11:18  The issues w/ interracial dating in the US and Canada- 10:25 -13:58 Experiences w/ dating West African men 16:35 - 20:23  Problematic romance/ comedy skits by black "IG Comedians"- 39:53 - 42:50  Pressures from family to date and marry West African men- 44:40 - 55:09  Being the oldest daughter in a West African household 55:10 - 58:47  What's Lebene up to / everything content creation and starting a career in journalism- 59:00 - end  For Naija folks interested in content creation, journalism, and other overlooked careers check out NaijaComm on IG: @naijacomm  Let's stay connected! Please follow the podcast on IG and Twitter: @stmpot  STMPot Facebook Page (Search for Stirring the Melting Pot on Facebook if viewing this from a mobile device)  Have any questions or suggestions on what I should cover for future episodes? Make sure to email me at: askme.stmp@gmail.com 💙 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stirringthemeltingpot/support

For this episode I'm interviewing, Miami-born and raised, immigrant rights activist Yareliz Mendez-Zamora (@yari.elena) on her passion for and experience in advocating for immigrant rights. Yareliz is a current TPS Coordinator at the Florida Immigrant Coalition, a part of Latina Rebels (@latinarebels on IG) and CEO of The Brazen Collective! She is also the proud daughter of Nicaraguan immigrants 🇳🇮 and my fellow sorority sister of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. 💜 Navigation Guide: Whats been going on w/ me and the pod, starts at- 1:39   Interview w/ Yari, starts at- 5:02 "What is TPS?" starts at- 28:37 "Call to Action/ What to do to help TPS holders/ other immigrants" starts at- 57:15 Immigrant Rights Organizations to know/follow on social media: - Florida Immigrant Coalition - based in Miami, FL (@flimmigrant on IG & Twitter) - American Immigration Council (@immcouncil on IG & Twitter) - New American Pathways (NewAP) - based in Atlanta, GA (@newamericanpathways on IG, @newampaths on Twitter) - Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) - based in Atlanta, GA (@GLAHR on Twitter, @glahr.ga on IG) - Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ) (@AAAJ_AAJC on Twitter, AAAJ Facebook Page) - American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) - (@aclu on Twitter, @aclu_nationwide @acluofga on IG) *International Based orgs: - International Rescue Committee (IRC) (@Rescueorg on Twitter) - Amnesty International (@amnesty / @amnestyusa on IG & Twitter) Let's stay connected! Please follow the podcast on IG and Twitter: @stmpot STMPot Facebook Page Have any questions or suggestions on what I should cover for future episodes? Make sure to email me at: oaogbonmwan@gmail.com 💙 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stirringthemeltingpot/support

For this episode I talk about my favorite positive stories on immigrants/ asylum seekers from the past couple of weeks. I also briefly discuss the Biden Administration's plans on increasing the cap on refugees allowed into the US. All articles referenced in this episode can be found below: 1st Story on Immigrants living in Minnesota 2nd Story on Onovu Otitigbe-Dangerfield (the First Black Valedictorian of her High School) 3rd Story on Edith Espinal (sought Sanctuary in a Columbus church for 3 years) -Edith Espinal allowed to leave church sanctuary, must check in with ICE periodically -Support Edith Espinal Facebook Page -ICE fines lifted for Edith Espinal, other sanctuary leaders Article from the Guardian about Biden raising the US refugee admissions cap to 62,500 Article from the Washington Post about the increase of refugee admissions to the US (along with critiques from Refugee/ Immigrant Rights activists) Let's stay connected! Please follow the podcast on IG and Twitter: @stmpot STMPot Facebook Page Have any questions or suggestions on what I should cover on future episodes? Make sure to email me at: askme.stmp@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stirringthemeltingpot/support

In this episode I talk with Deep Tripurana, a young Indian-American activist and scholar located in Chicago, about the recent Meghan Markle/ Prince Harry interview with Oprah. We discuss how the racist tropes and situations that Meghan and Harry found themselves in as working members of the Royal Family, relates to respectability politics and study the racist nature of the Royal institution within the United Kingdom. We delve deeper into just how colonialism has negatively effected African and Asian countries, which were former colonies of Great Britain; as well as how it continues to effect young black and brown people within the US.  Let's stay connected! Please follow the podcast on IG and Twitter: @stmpot STMPot Facebook Page  Have any questions or suggestions on what I should cover on future episodes? Make sure to email me at: askme.stmp@gmail.com Check out Deep’s Food IG: @deepvtrip Subtle Asian Activists Facebook Group Black and Asian Solidarity Series Facebook Group --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stirringthemeltingpot/support

Stirring the Melting Pot (STMP), is a new podcast series which addresses the: issues, misconceptions, and tales of triumph concerning the significant immigrant population within the US. The podcast will also delve into situations of feeling pressured to assimilate to American culture as well as immigrants who choose not to assimilate at all. Nothing is off limits! Although we will be mainly discussing the realities of US immigrants, we will also discuss how it may effect citizens in other countries and similar immigration issues abroad. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts; New episodes air on Fridays (bi-weekly)! Follow STMPot on Social Media! Twitter & Instagram: @stmpot  Website & Facebook Pages (currently under construction)  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stirringthemeltingpot/support