ABOUT US
Black to the Beginning is a multi-platform initiative that powers The Black Adoption Podcast, an unapologetic and culturally-relevant platform for diverse stories to be told. It is important to have collective conversations with adoptees, their families, biological family, spouses, friends, and experts to understand what it means to be #BlackandAdopted.
With each conversation, more healing happens for generations of Black families and #ForTheCulture!
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
Most conversations about adoption are from the perspective of parents, typically White adoptive parents.
With Black to the Beginning podcast, we center the voices and experiences of Black families and Black adult adoptees.
AS SEEN ON:
Our Vision
We envision a world where centering and amplifying Black Adoption Experiences transforms Black families for generations.
Our Mission
Black to the Beginning exists to disrupt the legacy of secrecy, stigma, shame and silence about Black Adoption.
What We Do
We amplify and change the narrative of Black Adoption through education, media, and storytelling.
MEET THE HOSTS
Dr. Samantha Coleman and Sandria Washington
Friends Dr. Samantha Coleman and Sandria Washington both found out as adults in their late 20s (Samantha) and 30s (Sandria) that they were adopted as infants. They individually experienced shame, anger, grief, and a host of other emotions from their families’ secrets.
They did not find a community for Black people adopted by Black families or public conversations about Black Adoption. They wanted to create what was missing and desperately needed, and ultimately help Black families heal.
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So, in 2019, Dr. Sam and Sandria partnered to create Black to the Beginning to disrupt the legacy of secrecy, stigma, shame, and silence about Black Adoption.
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
AVAILABLE ON:
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Apple Podcasts
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Google Podcasts
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Spotify
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iHeart Radio
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Pandora
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Amazon Music & Audible
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Stitcher
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(Others)
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45
EPISODES
4
SEASONS
12K
DOWNLOADS
(ALL-TIME)
254+
SPOTIFY
FOLLOWERS
You have to listen to the podcast because it really encapsulates not only the Black adoption experience, but the Black Chicago experience, the Black life experience...
Dr. Zada Johnson
Anthropologist & Professor at Northeastern Illinois University
I was just really compelled by what Sam and Sandria have been able to do and really wanted to support the oral history work that they're doing, because what they're doing is research and they're helping people to explore their family stories.
Marcia Walker-McWilliams, PhD
Executive Director, Black Metropolis Research Consortium
Thank you so much for joining us at Pact Camp West. We have gotten so many responses from the participants who were thrilled with the provocative curriculum and we know that your insights and presentation was a big part of that. I so appreciate your commitment and support of BIPOC adoptees, foster youth and their parents. We are so lucky to have collaborators like you.
Dr. Zada Johnson
Executive Director, Pact, An Adoption Alliance
“I tell my story because I decided that the secrecy, stigma, shame and silence - especially in my own family - ends with ME.”
- Sandria Washington