Both/And: Belonging, Identity, and the Bridge-Building Superpower with Annemarie Shrouder

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In this rich and candid episode of Our True Colors, Shawna is joined by Rachel, returning co-host and fellow deep thinker and wonderful guest Annemarie Shrouder, international speaker, facilitator, and bestselling author of Being Brown in a Black and White World.

Together, they explore what it means to hold a “both/and” identity—especially as mixed-race or multiracial individuals navigating a world obsessed with binaries. Annemarie shares the powerful story behind her personal “aha” moment, the birth of the both/and framework, and the bridge-building superpower that comes with embracing complexity. They also talk about parenting multiracial children, code-switching across cultures, internalized shame, and the liberating work of self-acceptance.

We laugh, reflect, and get real about everything from childhood perms to generational healing, from the politics of hair to the power of poetry—and yes, even resting as resistance.

Topics include:

• The emotional journey of embracing multiracial identity
• Both/and as a tool for belonging and bridge-building
• Raising confident, culturally rooted children
• What happens when whiteness is the assumed default
• Why identity is a lifelong journey, not a one-time decision

Mentioned in this episode:

• Imagined Communities:
  Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism
• SPECIAL EPISODE: The Little Mermaid of Color
• When Black Girls Watch “Wicked,” It Hits Differently
• Wicked’s Elphaba Has Always Been Black. Cynthia Erivo’s Stunning Performance Cements It
• JK Rowling tells of anger at attacks on casting of black Hermione
• Who is Black?
• ‘One-drop rule’ persists
• The Hummingbird Parable: What We Can Do For Earth

If this is your first time with OTC, check out EPISODE 1: START HERE for more background on the show. Continue the conversation on Instagram and find Season 5 episodes on YouTube.

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