233: Hearts Recognize Hearts, with Ryan Alexander Holmes

If you heard our last episode on the myths surrounding Black-on-Asian crime, you heard that narratives pitting one historically marginalized community against another is a tactic sometimes used to distract us from the real enemy that we all should be focused on (hint: it’s white supremacy). It helps when we deconstruct the facts and look at real studies to dispel those myths – and helps, even more, when we get the opportunity to listen to stories of people who live the Black and Asian experience as a multiracial American, when we hear their heart-centered experiences from start to end.

 

That’s why we are so excited to share our conversation with Ryan Alexander Holmes, who’s not only an amazing actor (and king of hilarious reels on Instagram), but also someone who has thought deeply about race, identity, trauma, healing, and so much more. We believe that there’s something in this conversation for EVERYONE, regardless of how you identify, as it focuses on humanity first above all else.

 

What to listen for:

• Our “secret superhero” names - and what our names mean to us

• The impact of growing up in a conservative wealthy area, as one of the only African American families, and how Ryan claimed community and belonging anyway

• How to find humor in (your own) culture, reorient your sense of validation, and speak your truth