James E. Francis is a distinguished entrepreneur and diversity advocate, celebrated for his role as the founder and CEO of Paradigm Asset Management, a top-tier, data-driven asset management firm on Wall Street. In addition, he is the visionary behind BlackChatai.ai, a pioneering platform committed to dismantling barriers in awareness, access, and understanding of AI technologies for underrepresented communities.

A Morehouse College alumnus, James is based in New York City, where he is committed to influence both the technological and financial landscapes with his innovative and inclusive approaches.

In this episode, Shereen and James Francis discuss the implications of generative AI, particularly focusing on its impact on the Black community, James emphasises the following:

• the historical contributions of Black innovators to AI development
• the evolutionary nature of AI and its current significance in various sectors
• potential discriminatory outcomes and privacy concerns arising from biased data and the lack of community involvement in AI development.
• strategies to mitigate against AI threats
• opportunities for AI concerning economic empowerment, accessibility and personal development

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Joel Edward Goza is a writer, speaker, and community advocate. He is professor of ethics at the HBCU Simmons College and teaches in Kentucky prisons. Before focusing on writing and teaching, Joel worked in urban redevelopment and community activism for over a decade in Houston’s Fifth Ward. He is also the author of America’s Unholy Ghosts: The Racist Roots of Our Faith and Politics, and contributes to The Hill, Salon, and Religion News Service.

Joel and I discuss the following during this reflective conversation on race, class, religion and reparations.

- How historical figures like Thomas Jefferson and Ronald Reagan perpetuated racial myths that still justify systemic oppression today.

- The harmful narratives around Blackness in America, such as the myth of Black laziness and criminality, and their continued influence on society and policy.

- His views on reparations evolved, moving from scepticism to support, as he recognised the need for both financial and moral reparations for Black Americans.

- The interconnectedness of race and class and the rationale for why they should be addressed differently. We also touch on the modern narrative that focuses on class over race, noting how some people believe solving class issues will solve racial inequality, a perspective we both find problematic.

- And finally our views on why reparations is needed for both the US and the UK

About Joels latest book

Joel Edward Goza dismantles the deep-seated myths that perpetuate white supremacy—and makes the case that reparations are necessary to heal America’s racial wounds and live up to our democratic ideals.

Like many well-intentioned white people, Goza once believed that he could support Black America’s struggle for equality without supporting reparations. Reparations, he thought, were altogether irrelevant to the real work of racial justice.

This is a book about why he was wrong. In fact, any effort to heal our nation’s wounds will fail without reparations.

In Rebirth of a Nation, Goza exposes lesser-known aspects of racism in American history and how Black people have consistently been depicted as responsible for their own oppression to justify slavery, Jim Crow, mass incarceration and gross inequality. Goza’s iconoclastic and incisive account exposes how revered figures like Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln embedded white supremacy deep into our nation’s consciousness—and how Ronald Reagan manipulated this ideology so that society cheered as he advanced a set of policies that wounded our nation and intensified Black America’s suffering.

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Keir is a leading silk who represents clients facing heavyweight criminal allegations. Keir also sits as a Recorder [part-time Crown Court judge] and is a training tutor for the Judicial College. He has been instructed in numerous murders, industrial scale Class A drug importations and conspiracies, escape from custody cases and appeals against conviction and sentence. Keir is ranked for criminal law in Chambers UK and the Legal 500. He is ranked in Tier 1 for Fraud in the Legal 500 2024.

Keir co-authored the report ‘Racial Bias and the Bench’ (University of Manchester, 2022) and is now an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Manchester. He is a founding member of Art Not Evidence. He currently represents a total of 4 defendants who are appealing convictions for murder or conspiracy to commit GBH. In each case the prosecution relied on rap or drill music to help prove gang membership.

Renowned defence barrister and part-time Crown Court judge, Keir Monteith, shares insights from his extensive career spanning over 30 years. He discusses his involvement in, ‘Racial Bias and the Bench’, a comprehensive report on institutional racism within the justice system, co-authored with academics at the University of Manchester.

Together, Shereen & Keir discuss the following issues:

Evidence of Institutional Racism in the Justice System

Keir highlights the findings of the report, revealing shocking statistics from surveys sent to lawyers and judges. He emphasizes the prevalence of racial bias in court decisions, citing examples where judges trivialized the experiences of Black individuals and perpetuated harmful stereotypes.

Challenges to Addressing Racial Bias

Keir challenges the notion that increased representation alone can mitigate racial bias, advocating instead for structural reforms and accountability measures for prosecutors and judges.

Campaign Against Music Evidence in Court

Keir shares his involvement in the campaign against the use of music evidence in criminal trials, urging legal professionals to actively combat racial bias and dismantle systemic inequalities within the justice system.

In conclusion, Keir emphasises the importance of calling out racism in court proceedings and advocating for anti-racist approaches to effect positive change. Despite the challenges, he remains hopeful that with continued efforts, the legal profession can work towards a more equitable and just society.

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Michelle has 30 years’ experience in the NHS and 26 years as a registered nurse and has a particular interest in health inequalities. As a Black nurse she has shone a light on issues affecting not just Black and other racially marginalised communities, in her hometown of Liverpool, but has led on a number of national programs to elevate understandings around equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring that challenges are addressed and learning embedded throughout NHS organisations.

Michelle is more than passionate about challenging discrimination and injustices and has often used her platform as a nurse.

Until recently she was the chair of Steve Biko Housing Association ensuring that the elderly and vulnerable in the local community have access to quality affordable homes free from race discrimination. She has recently returned from her second medical mission in Ghana. Her first was in 2022 to Sierra Leone which Michelle describes as an enriching experience

With 30 years of service, Michelle shares her journey from childhood dreams of nursing to confronting the harsh realities of institutional racism within the healthcare system. Michelle's experiences, highlight the persistent challenges faced by Black professionals in healthcare. Despite her dedication and achievements, Michelle recounts instances of professional exclusion, criticism, and gaslighting, reflecting broader systemic issues of discrimination and inequity.

The conversation delves into the deeper complexities of racism within the NHS, including the underrepresentation of Black individuals in leadership positions and the barriers encountered in addressing systemic issues. Michelle's candid accounts shed light on the emotional toll of navigating these challenges and the importance of self-care and support networks in resilience-building.

However, amidst adversity, Michelle remains a staunch advocate for change, emphasising the need for courageous conversations and concerted efforts to dismantle entrenched biases and create a more inclusive healthcare environment. She encourages individuals to speak up, seek support, and champion equity and justice within their organisations.

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Dr. Kim McLear is a liberation activist and organiser. She is a former whistleblower and State of the Union guest of honour who exposed one of the largest cover-ups of racism in U.S. military history.

Join Shereen Daniels as she introduces Dr. Kim McLear, a remarkable individual, who has courageous story. Dr. McLear reflects on her upbringing and the unexpected path that led her to a career in the Coast Guard. She opens up about the challenges she faced within the Coast Guard Academy and her efforts to address these issues, which ultimately led to her testifying against them in 2019, in Capitol Hill

In this episode, we discover how Dr. McLear's unwavering determination propelled her forward in the face of adversity. Through a series of obstacles and setbacks, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of systemic change, and has become a source of inspiration to individuals both in and outside of the military.

Dr. McLear shares valuable insights gained from her journey, offering guidance for those navigating similar challenges. Her story serves as a testament to the transformative power of resilience and collective action, that will leave listeners with a newfound sense of hope and determination.

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Nicholas Marcus Thompson is a human rights advocate and influential figure in the fight against systemic discrimination in Canada. He has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of Black Canadians, most notably through organising the landmark $2.5 billion class action lawsuit against the federal Government of Canada, which led to profound changes in Canada’s employment legislation. He is the Chief Executive Officer of the Black Class Action Secretariat. 

Nicholas shares his journey of taking bold legal action against the Canadian government, challenging the status quo and demanding accountability for institutional racism. Together with Shereen, they delve into the pressing issue of systemic anti-black racism within Canada's federal public service, such as:

• The harsh realities faced by Black Employees in Canada’s Public Service
• The need for accountability, beyond simply acknowledging harm
• The significance of disrupting systemic injustices; and
• The power of grassroots activism in driving meaningful change.

Throughout this conversation, Nicholas and Shereen emphasise the ongoing struggle against systemic racism and urge listeners to join the fight for a more equitable future. Tune in to learn more about this necessary class action lawsuit and gain inspiration to make a change in your corner of the world.

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Dr. Gillian Marcelle leads Resilience Capital Ventures LLC, (RCV), a boutique capital advisory practice specialising in blended finance. She has a proven track record in attracting investment and focuses on telecoms, fintech, renewable energy and regenerative agriculture. Dr Marcelle developed the Triple B Framework to improve flows and allocation of capital in its multiple forms; this provides a platform for engaging in the finance and investment world, where her contributions and perspectives on diversity, inclusion, accountability, and alignment with the SDGs are becoming influential.

Drawing from her background in economics and social justice, Dr Marcelle:

• challenges the fundamental assumptions of capitalism, highlighting its role in perpetuating systemic racism and inequality. She advocates for a holistic approach to addressing these issues, emphasizing the importance of diverse alliances, activism, and narrative change.
• discusses the need for a collective movement to dismantle entrenched power structures within the financial sector.
• outlines why grassroots organising, community engagement, and education is vital for fostering inclusive economic growth.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Marcelle also shares her experiences navigating the complexities of finance and investment, offering practical strategies for challenging ignorance, and unlocking capital for marginalised communities.

If you wish to engage with Dr Marcelle's work, do check out The Levers of Change (LOC) Project. It aims to address racial and economic inequality in America by undertaking fundamental analysis of root causes, providing strategic advice to stakeholders and pursuing direct action to change systems.

The Action Agenda arising from this research study includes:

Movement building

● Bring together multiple, diverse stakeholder groups including women, people of color, workers, and other marginalized groups to address the current epoch of multiple crises, to action restructuring the economy and advancing racial and economic equity.

Engagement

● Engage the business world based on original and challenging conceptual frameworks including the Curb-Cut Effect, the Triple B Framework, and Centering Blackness. Use these approaches to systems change and new world making, to advance the agenda of restructuring and transforming business and society.

Embodied justice praxis

● Involve white-bodied leaders in transformative embodied justice practices that expose and challenge “blindspots”, change norms, and establish values that lead to social justice and freedom for all. Until mental models, values, and understandings of business in relation to other parts of society are transformed, there will be little meaningful change.

● Value all stakeholders, not only shareholders; this is a necessary shift to bring about equitable societies in which all can flourish.

Subscribe/follow on all major podcast platforms including Apple, Spotify and Audible, for more bi-weekly insightful conversations and if you feel compelled, leave us a comment as I appreciate all feedback!