Stop Believing In Things That Don’t Believe In You: On Asymmetrical Vulnerability with Kwesi A. Robertson

Kwesi A. Robertson shares about his journey through corporate America, pop culture, and the experiences that shaped his awareness of social justice. He describes the patterns that led him to recognize why access to vulnerability isn't a level playing field, noting how popular self-help and success narratives often hide an "underbelly" that ignores systemic barriers while blaming individuals for the negative outcomes they experience.

Kwesi defines social justice as a form of love and a foundational lens for understanding reality, urging listeners to seek connection, shared language that actually acknowledges the complexity of our experiences, and shared responsibility to build spaces where everyone can fully show up.

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Social Justice Origin Stories is produced, edited, and hosted by Relando Thompkins-Jones.

Timestamps:

00:00 Packing Up the Persona

00:53 Rage at Vulnerability

01:26 Who Gets to Be Seen

02:28 Not Written for Me

03:28 Questioning the Boundaries

04:22 Self Help Underbelly

05:51 Justice Beneath Anger

07:00 Show Intro and Mission

08:11 Meet the Guest Kwesi

15:31 Activated by the Book

21:41 Body Cost of Success

25:55 Family Roots and Unlearning

31:27 Weighted Vest at Work

37:45 Writing Finds Community

42:30 Pop Culture as Justice Lens

48:27 Learning Black History Playbook

52:08 Choosing Justice Forward

53:56 Advice With Conditions

55:51 Pop Culture Empowerment

58:05...