SpeakUP! International Inc.

Somebody is making money off Black suffering, and that truth changes how we understand everything from politics to philanthropy to the stories we tell about ourselves. We sit down with Dennis Maurice Dumpson, author and founder of Invest Black, to name what he calls the black pain economy and how racial capitalism turns harm into a revenue model that rewards extraction while demanding endless durability from Black bodies. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs it, ...

A pair of Pinksocks, a kilt, and a simple greeting turned into a global cue for human connection. We sit down with Nick Adkins—author of Pinksocks: How a Pair of Socks Became a Symbol of Love and Connection—to explore how micro-moments, empathy, and everyday courage can reshape hospitals, classrooms, and the way we show up for one another. From a life in startups to a TEDx stage, Nick maps how joyful guerrilla tactics became a movement rooted in love more, fear less. We hear the ...

Rita and I sit down with author and chess teacher Marcus Braxton to hear how a wrongful charge led to a five-star urban novel, a growing sports podcast, and a mission to teach strategy and ownership to DC youth. Writing, chess, and entrepreneurship come together as tools to think ahead, build wealth, and give back. • live reading from Sun Roof Hitters and how the book began behind bars • turning a commissary store into legal fees and a lifeline • validation from fellow inmates and the moment...

A chemist slips into dark alleys after midnight (Dr. Zafra Lerman), climbs to an attic, and teaches a seminar that could cost her freedom. By morning, she is back on the university circuit, lecturing in plain sight. That contrast frames our conversation with Dr. Zafra Lerman—scientist, educator, and peace builder—whose work proves that knowledge can be both shield and bridge. We start with her clandestine support for Soviet refuseniks: smuggling journals, collecting CVs, and hosting secret c...

We sit with Donna Jones- Simmons —the co‑founder and architect of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women—to trace how a simple idea became a movement that documents excellence, accelerates careers, and reframes what leadership looks like across Canada. From five published books (with a sixth on the way) to fireside chats and biennial galas, Donna shows how visibility plus documentation turns into promotions, board seats, and public recognition. We dig into her work at ACCES Employment, where ...