Nurah Speaks

Although racism is a terrible and cruel thing, it is not the most pressing of our present challenges. Our greatest and gravest issues since Emancipation and Jim Crow have been a destructive and self deprecating mindset that inhibits our desire to meets the needs of our people. Our tee-shirts and caps claim “Black and Proud,” however a great measure of our political and social activism does not demonstrate pride and confidence in our own abilities which makes the sting of racism that more painful.  Racism would be much less a factor in our lives if we capitalized on our skills and know-how and the trillions of dollars passing through our hands annually. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a

I am joined this week by Sister Aquila Ali.  Aquila is a member of the Coalition for Remembrance of Elijah Muhammad (CROE) and is an integral part of their media production team.  Unfortunately for black women in media, the bar has been set very low in terms of image and content.  However Aquila continues to endure as an example of character and integrity In this conversation, Aquila chronicles her journey in becoming a member of CROE and a student of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, her role within the media production team and she shares what she believes black women must understand about the root of our confidence. You are going to enjoy this conversation and it will surely enlighten listeners to the unexplored prominence that women have in the Nation of Islam. To learn more about CROE and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad visit CROE.org.  Make sure you watch and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC--UCt5LqFF3IW5fLn5lH2g and follow on facebook @CROETV.   Email

On this MLK Day of Service be reminded of the fullness of Dr. King’s movement.  We cannot let him be another figure we memorialize in distortion.  He was more than his passive resistance.  He was a fierce opponent of injustice, standing in full defiance to racism, poverty and unjust war. On this 26th MLK Day of Service, 53 years after his tragic assassination, be reminded that the justice he sought then, we still seek today.  The work must continue and it must continue with us. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

In an era popular with youth task forces and social programs serving ‘at risk’ youth, we must ask what we can do to head off delinquent behaviors in our young people. In this episode, I suggest that ‘Family Is The Best Social Program’ and I have research that I share to support this assertion.  The research indicates that, “Children born to unmarried mothers generally receive lower human capital investments because the contractual partnership between the parents is less stable, and sometimes nonexistent (**Becker, 1981).” In other words, we increase the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes for our children when we do not anchor them in families to provide them the needed moral, social and economic supports.  Frankly, we cannot reasonably expect to make a healthy community when a large segment of our children are conceived by people who dislike their child's other parent or with whom they do not want to create a family. Families are the beginning of life lessons that cultivate us to interact within

In this week’s episode we hear from Dr. Sandra West.  Dr. West is an optometrist having over 27 years of practice. She also happens to be my own personal physician. I met Dr. West several years ago when I scheduled a routine vision exam and to my surprise and pure delight the doctor was a Black woman.  Interestingly enough, when I attended a business conference in New Orleans several months later, we found ourselves meeting again as attendees of the same conference. I invited Dr. West to the show not because she is my personal physician but because of what I knew she could offer Nurah Speaks listeners.  Not only does Dr. West explain when we should begin vision checks, but also what our doctors are checking for and some of the latest technology aiding optometrists today.  Additionally she shares insights into her own childhood, how she was raised by dynamic parents and what parents can do today to prepare children for future success.   Dr. West is an advocate for STEM and vocationa

Some may wonder why I close each show with the words ‘Stay in peace!’   As peace is literally my religion and my way of life, it is also my message. And in such a trying time as this-it is more important than ever that we focus on efforts to increase or maintain our peace by focusing on self care. So - as we close out 2020 with Episode 146, I share ways in which we can attend to our own self care needs. Manage Your Stress-Take on COVID stress with activities that can give you relief and enjoyment. Be sure to avoid increased alcohol consumption and never use it to manage stress. If you need to, seek professional counseling. You are not alone. Do Not Overtax Ourselves or Our Children with Remote Learning-Remote learning certainly has its challenges for parents who are either working outside the home or inside the home. If there are concerns or limitations, be sure to communicate with your child’s teacher or school administrators, if necessary. In cases where you see your or your child’s stress r

When the world settles into its new normal, Nurah Speaks will still be here!   Therefore, I am actively preparing for the 2021 season of the podcast.    I have several goals for the upcoming year including:  featuring 13 insightful guests, refining the podcast, increasing listener engagement, and more. If you have ideas, show topics, or guests you'd like featured, please feel free to email me info@NurahSpeaks.com.   If you have questions, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.   Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

We cannot be on the fence forever being neither this nor that, never having made a commitment or obligating ourselves to one direction or another.  Indecisiveness is obstructive to our personal development. It is time now to make a choice. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Real ‘Juvenile Justice’ is having a culture that promotes stability and wellness for our most vulnerable population, our children.  The injustice is that the modern norms of our culture promote dysfunction that we expect social workers, clinicians, judges and juvenile justice staff to repair. Studies show that most children within the juvenile justice systems have experienced adversity in their childhood as evidenced by ACEs (Adverse Childhood experiences) surveys. Adverse Childhood experiences are preventable. But unless we promote stability and safety to the families in our communities we will keep relinquishing our children to the care of the state to fix what could have been prevented by advocating for strong families. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSp

Do not let your guard down with COVID-19. Although we are nearing a year with this pandemic, it is no less severe an illness. We should continue employing the preventative measures to maintain our protection from the virus. •Wear a mask •Maintain physical distancing •Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water •Avoid crowds and confined spaces. To learn more about COVID 19 visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.htmlPrevention If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Today marks the third anniversary of Nurah Speaks!  I am extremely humbled and grateful to have been blessed with such a special opportunity for the last three years. Although my studio has had some changes, my equipment has changed, the goal of this production has not. Love is still the foundation and the goal remains to tug on the soul and consciousness of the Black Community. In these quick three years, I have learned so much and I hope that you, my listeners, have been learning along the way with me. “Thank you” for all of your support and encouragement. It has been an honor to serve you in this way and I am eager for what the next three years will bring. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as

What a clever, clever trick it was to convince the dominant that the dominant is recessive and that the recessive is dominant!  And as a result, we witness the dominant having with a recessive mindset and functioning with recessive behaviors. What is the evidence of our recessive mindset?  Low Self Esteem.   Insecurity.   Dependency.   Apathy.   Self Hatred. If we do not unlock our latent genius for the purpose of self love and self service, our progress will forever be limited.  It is through education and learning the knowledge of self that we will recognize our own excellence and begin functioning with the distinction that is rightfully ours. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitt

Now that we have decided who is going to Washington D.C., let’s get to the business of solving problems closer to home.   What is our agenda?  What plans are we making for our own communities?   Have we given this any thought? In whatever plans we make, I believe we should begin with these four steps: Love One Another: We need to discharge of ego and self hatred and return to Black Love. Clean Up: We should throw away the garbage that distorts our reality, physically and mentally. Create Institutions that serve our Common Good: We need healthcare providers who care, listen and treat us with dignity.  We need schools wherein we are not concerned that our children are learning to be inferior. Support One Another Economically: We should be conservative in our spending and do business with each other.  We shouldn't look for others to do for us what we can do for ourselves. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahS

Gossip is toxic and impacts the growth potential of your organization and its members.  If you want your organization, company or group to flourish, you must root out gossip.  In this episode, I share four reasons why people gossip.  Understanding a gossip's motivation can help leaders target the character building a member needs to become an essential agent rather than a source of disruption.  However, since character is an inside job, a leader can only have so much impact.   At some point, a gossip must be isolated from doing irreversible damage to the group's overall success.   If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.co

Some say, “I am not my ancestors!”  Often this suggests weakness or complicity in our ancestors in their own suffering.   However, I say, you are right -  you are not your ancestors because in fact some of us are our ancestors’ worst fears come true. In projecting their thoughts to the future, surely they’d never have imagined the complacency some of us have in our condition, our willful assassination of our own, our disunity, our selfishness or our manifest self hatred. I imagine they'd expect the pain of our existence to eventually end but who could have predicted we would be the greatest source of our own harm? If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, e

It obstructive thinking to assume that someone whose success you admire could not relate to your own struggles.  Do not let the polish that someone has, likely from years of refinement and training, put you off from opportunities to learn and grow into who you wish to become. Do seek help from those who are where you want to be. Their talent and their polish is the testament that qualifies you to seek their wisdom and their guidance.  Don't let your own fears and insecurity get in the way of your personal and professional growth. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Megan Thee Stallion and other Black entertainers give mixed messages when pushing for social justice and protection of Black women while singing lyrics and showcasing behaviors that promote the exact opposite.  These are conversations we must have.  We must call out these dichotomies because them saying one thing but promoting and profiting from the other is disingenuous and misleading. Choose a lane. We cannot be for Black women’s empowerment and protection yet degrade Black women at the same time and say that we want what’s best for Black women.  Our actions are telling a different story. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com. Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Rem

Gentrification is a frequent topic of social justice conversations among academics, urban planners and social activists.  In short, gentrification is the upgrading of dilapidated property and deteriorated neighborhoods which often results in the displacement of lower income residents. Often, it is white and affluent suburbanites returning to cities after the white flight of the 60’s and 70’s when whites moved out of cities to outlying suburbs.  When whites left, there was also a major depletion of industry, jobs, property values and in general local investment.  This resulted in unemployment, poverty and spikes in crime rates. In this episode, I question if there was anything that Blacks could have done differently in urban centers to prevent the deterioration of our communities.  As we are now facing the reclamation of cities by middle class, affluent and mostly white investors, are we now being confronted with our own lack of action resulting in this current vulnerability? If you wou

None more than black folk use the phrase, “I’m just doing me.” However there are limits to individualism.   Individualism restricts growth and minimizes progress.   While group activity is a necessary part of life, it is essential for the function of society.  Group activity and associations can enhance our communication skills, broaden our perspectives, improve character and so much more. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Is urban media representing a culture that values the worth of black women?   Is it time yet in our 'cancel culture' that we pull the plug on the degradation of our women?  Or will we continue to go along to get along supporting entertainers who imprint degenerate standards in the minds of our youth? If we do not put in the work to counter the barbaric narratives targeting our young people, we really should be more concerned than we already are  for our future. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!