Stephen and Ron speak to prolific author Dr. Tara Green about self-love, putting community first, and telling stories.

Dr. Tara Green came from rural Louisiana and explains the calling of a writer to put other people first in their stories in order to give them a voice. Writers don’t have to be in the spotlight; they put others in the spotlight through their stories.

One of Dr. Green’s latest works, “Love, Activism, and the Respectable Life of Alice Dunbar-Nelson“ celebrates a bisexual Black woman’s life as a writer and an activist for women’s and African American’s rights. Dr. Green’s journey of writing about Alice Dumbar Nelson spanned ten years, and she connected with her subject in ways she never thought possible.  Alice Dunbar-Nelson leaned in and on her community, using education and the media available to her to “Lift as We Climb;” meaning lifting others up as we, ourselves, also progress. As an activist, Alice Dunbar-Nelson understood the United States of America stands for equality, and can always work to change for the better. She used the legal and media system to demand rights for women and African Americans.

Black women activists like Alice Dunbar-Nelson had complicated lives that they enjoyed. Finding joy in relationships, speaking to crowds, nature. 

Her second book, “See Me Naked: Black Women Defining Pleasure During the Interwar Era” came out just recently about finding joy and pleasure in relationships through the eyes of powerful Black women during the Interwar Era. 

For Black women today, there are still systemic challenges in America when trying to achieve the American Dream. However, by studying the past lives of powerful Black women, Dr. Tara Green points out Black women today and other women of color can use their gifts and perseverance to push past the challenges within the system. While achieving greatness, now is the time to take action to advocate for ourselves and others; “Lift as We Climb.”

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"Positive Identity: It's another week where we tell you inspiring and positive stories of people of different races doing good things for each other and the world. Then from there, we become better people and learn more how to make the world better for everyone."