Podcast Summary: "Unruly with Shelah Marie" Episode 9: "Speak Up, Shake the World! ft. Ebony Janice"

Host: Shelah Marie
Guest: Ebony Janice
Release Date: December 3, 2024
Duration: Approximately 66 minutes
Podcast Description: UNRULY is a weekly culture and wellness podcast hosted by Shelah Marie, focusing on transformative conversations around self-love, acceptance, and holistic wellness. This episode features Ebony Janice, a scholar, activist, and spiritual leader, discussing the intersection of activism, self-empowerment, and the unique experiences of Black women.

1. Introduction and Icebreaker (01:41 - 04:25)

Shelah Marie opens the episode by introducing Ebony Janice, highlighting her roles as a scholar, activist, and spiritual leader who is redefining Black women's voices for change. To set a light-hearted tone, Shelah engages Ebony in an icebreaker question about recent moments of pure joy.

• Notable Quote:
  • Ebony Janice [03:08]: "I just popped up and went to France a couple weeks ago just because... I want to be dramatic in Paris, and that was a good choice."

2. Exploring "All the Black Girls Are Activists" (04:25 - 06:56)

Shelah delves into Ebony's book, All the Black Girls Are Activists, focusing on the concept that Black women's mere existence is a form of resistance. Ebony shares the revelation that led her to this understanding, emphasizing how Black women continuously create and innovate out of necessity and resistance.

• Notable Quote:
  • Ebony Janice [04:51]: "Our entire existence is creating from resistance... I feel like, for the sake of my wellness, I have to create these additional things to just breathe a little bit."

3. Defining "Womanism" (06:56 - 09:48)

The conversation shifts to the term "womanist," coined by Alice Walker. Ebony breaks down Walker's four-part definition, distinguishing womanism from mainstream feminism by highlighting its roots in Black women's experiences and its deeper connection to culture, spirit, and tradition.

• Notable Quotes:
  • Ebony Janice [07:22]: "Womanism is to feminism as purple is to lavender... it's black women's deeper feminist work."
  • Shelah Marie [09:15]: "She says, 'I always knew that my feminism would be different from white women...' and I love her."

4. Integrating Spiritual Practices into Activism (09:48 - 13:17)

Shelah explores how Ebony merges spirituality with activism, viewing Blackness as a form of technology that encodes generational and eternal wisdom. Ebony explains that her spiritual practices are inherently activist, asserting her authentic Black identity as a means of resistance and empowerment.

• Notable Quotes:
  • Ebony Janice [13:27]: "Blackness is a technology... my blackness isn't just the color of my skin... it is historical."
  • Ebony Janice [13:29]: "Being my actual self, Blackity Black in the fullness of my womanhood... that is my activism."

5. The Power of Dreaming and Daydreaming (30:08 - 40:24)

Ebony emphasizes the importance of dreaming as a transformative tool for Black women, contrasting it with life built solely on resistance. She shares personal anecdotes illustrating how dreams guide her actions and lead to tangible successes, such as her million-dollar project inspired by a dream.

• Notable Quotes:
  • Ebony Janice [31:53]: "Dreaming is the thing that we should be doing... there's actual deep information in dreaming that we never have access to."
  • Ebony Janice [38:12]: "Dreaming has allowed me to attract a million dollars into my life because I followed the guidance from my dreams."

6. Becoming Your Authentic Self (51:32 - 55:28)

The discussion focuses on the challenging yet essential process of becoming one's authentic self. Ebony articulates that true self-actualization requires significant inner work and the courage to defy societal norms. She underscores that embracing one's true identity is both a personal and collective act of resistance.

• Notable Quotes:
  • Ebony Janice [49:58]: "The only hard work I want you to do for the rest of your life is the hard work of becoming yourself."
  • Ebony Janice [54:56]: "Becoming actual yourself is the labor you will do. You will wake up every morning and ask, 'Is this true for me?'"

7. Community and Tools for Empowerment (55:28 - 59:37)

Shelah introduces the "toolkit" segment, where Ebony shares practical steps for listeners to begin their journey towards activism and self-empowerment. Ebony recommends starting small with mindfulness practices, such as setting short meditation intervals to build inner strength and self-awareness.

• Notable Quotes:
  • Ebony Janice [56:45]: "Start by sitting down somewhere with yourself for 60 seconds and give yourself that permission."
  • Ebony Janice [59:37]: "Building your muscle through small, consistent practices can lead to profound personal transformation."

8. Conclusion and Resources (60:10 - End)

As the episode concludes, Shelah and Ebony reiterate the importance of self-empowerment and authenticity. Ebony provides her contact information for listeners to connect and engage further with her work.

• Notable Quotes:
  • Ebony Janice [60:10]: "I am Ebony Janice everywhere. Visit Ebonyjanice.com, I'm Ebonyjanice."
  • Shelah Marie [60:37]: "Keep up with Ebony Janice and continue learning from her transformative work."

Key Takeaways:

• Existential Resistance: Black women's existence and daily actions serve as forms of resistance against systemic oppression.
• Womanism vs. Feminism: Womanism offers a more nuanced and culturally grounded framework tailored to Black women's experiences.
• Spiritual Activism: Integrating spirituality with activism empowers individuals to enact change from within.
• Dreaming as Strategy: Dreaming and daydreaming are powerful tools for envisioning and manifesting personal and collective liberation.
• Authenticity Requires Effort: Embracing one's true self is a deliberate and challenging process that demands self-awareness and resilience.
• Practical Empowerment: Small, consistent practices like mindfulness can build the foundation for deeper personal transformation and activism.

Resources:

• Ebony Janice:

  • Website: Ebonyjanice.com
  • Social Media: Search for "@EbonyJanice" across platforms.

• Shelah Marie:

  • Website: ShelahMarie.com
  • Books: All the Black Girls Are Activists and Positive You.

Note: This summary omits advertisement segments and focuses solely on the substantive content of the conversation between Shelah Marie and Ebony Janice. Notable quotes are attributed with approximate timestamps for reference.