Pat O’Brien speaks to Dr. Stacey Patton, Dr. Jacqueline Battalora and Professor Dorothy Roberts.

Many people fear broaching the subject of race and even avoid having this difficult conversation. Oftentimes, people are scared of making matters worse, feeling attacked or criticized, coming across as ignorant or uneducated, or even just being made uncomfortable. At the Coalition,  we believe that engaging in difficult conversations is unavoidable if we wish to see real, needed changes in our communities. If we want a different future, we must listen to one another, learn from our country’s past, and discuss these topics, openly and honestly. 

When we are open to participating in difficult conversations, we can learn from one another and gain respect for other people and their unique experiences. None of this growth is possible without first having a conversation. In other words, we need to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

We hope you’ll take the time and listen to these three conversations with these three esteemed scholars and professionals. We are so appreciative of the time they have spent with us!

Dr. Stacey Patton | Spare the Kids: Why Whupping Children Won’t Save Black America

Dr. Stacey Patton,  is our guest this evening. Dr. Patton is unequivocal that hitting children is never acceptable. Dr. Patton challenges the myth that corporal punishment is something that is acceptable in raising black children. Dr. Patton’s extensive research suggests that corporal punishment is a crucial factor in explaining why black folks as subject to disproportionately higher rates of school suspensions and expulsions, criminal prosecutions, child abuse cases, and foster care placements.

Dr. Jacqueline Battalora  | Birth of a White Nation

This hour long broadcast discusses the legal creation of the white race with the author of “Birth of a White Nation.” In our first half hour Dr. Battalora goes over the history of legal creation of “white” people and, in our second half hour, Dr. Battalora goes over the relevance of this information in regard to parenting all children today.

Professor Dorothy Roberts | Abolition of the “Child Welfare” or “Family Policing” System

Renowned scholar Professor Dorothy Roberts is our guest this evening. Professor Roberts explains in no uncertain terms that the child welfare system as it exists today must be abolished. That is the premise of her book Torn Apart. Professor Roberts speaks on a variety of topics this evening including what the child welfare system should be replaced with, how do we deal with severe physical and sexual abuse of children, and what is the meaning of non-reformist reform, mutual aid, and transformative justice.

Tune in every week for another conversation with another amazing guest or check out the achieves!

Join us in the AFFCNY.Network on Thursday November 10th as the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York hosts Dr. Patton in honor of National Adoption Awareness Month for this very important discussion: Challenging Myths About Race and Corporal Punishment Thursday, November 10th from 6 to 9 PM