E2: Decolonizing the Mind with Alexs Pate

Decolonize Yourself

In this episode, Alexs Pate, writer, author of Amistad, founder of the Innocent Classroom, and CEO of Innocent Technologies, joins SooJin to share his journey of removing the "guilts" - the negative stereotypes and expectations that white supremacist society forces upon people of color, specifically Black men - from his psyche and way of life. He talks about how unburdening himself of these "guilts" has helped him reclaim his own internal freedom. And he discusses the various ways he marks his progress on the decolonization journey.
They also discuss their mutual love of Frantz Fanon and how Fanon's book Black Skin, White Masks jumpstarted their commitment to decolonization. These gems from Fanon reflect the main themes of this episode: "I recognize that I have..one duty alone: that of not renouncing my freedom through my choices"; "I am endlessly creating myself"; "No attempt must be made to encase man for it is his destiny to be free"; "I am my own foundation."