Learn about Indian-American identity, the value of critical pedagogy, and making meaningful connections in West Africa. Dr. Anu Taranath joins Matt from Seattle and they reflect on their time together in NYC at the WITS Travel Creator Summit, including Anu’s keynote panel that centered the genocide in Palestine and got a standing ovation from 600 people. Anu then talks about her experience navigating racism while growing up in an Indian immigrant home in Houston. She reflects on her trips back to India, her study abroad year in Delhi, her academic journey, and how she eventually found the language to process racism, power inequality, and turn her immigrant diaspora identity into a superpower. Anu also reflects on her experience teaching in Seattle in the period after the September 11th attacks, and the importance of critical pedagogy for both teaching and learning. Finally, she reflects on the role of travel in her life and her teaching. Anu shares stories from her time in Ghana building connections with locals, and also reflects on her connections with the Indian diaspora communities around the world.
354: Navigating Racism, Power Inequality and Turning Immigrant Diaspora Identity into a Superpower with Dr. Anu Taranath
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Dr. Anu Taranath
Dr. Anu Taranath is a racial equity consultant, speaker, author, world traveler, and professor at the University of Washington in Seattle where she teaches on topics of race, identity, power, and belonging. Her scholarship and courses explore multi-ethnic literature, diaspora studies, global ethics, transnational feminism, postcolonial and queer studies, and pedagogy—all through a global lens. She won the University’s Distinguished Teaching Award and has received multiple US Fulbright Fellowships to work abroad. As a consultant she works to deepen conversations on history, harm and healing and has partnered with over 300 clients from National Geographic Society to the Raging Grannies. She is also the author of the award-winning book “Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World” which was Newsweek’s “Future of Travel” Winner in Storytelling and was included in Oprah Magazine’s “Best 26 Travel Books of All Time.”
What You'll Learn
- Language and frameworks to process racism, power inequality, and ‘otherness’
- How to turn immigrant diaspora identity into a superpower
- The value of critical pedagogy and travel for both teaching and learning
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- Matt: Asheville, North Carolina
- Anu: Seattle, Washington
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Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[1:00] Introducing Dr. Anu Taranath
[2:55] Spending time at the WITS Travel Creator Summit in New York City
[5:38] Reflecting on Anu’s WITS panel: The Role of the Travel Creator in a World on Fire
[10:24] Growing up in Houston in an Indian Immigrant Home and Navigating Racism
[22:18] Traveling Back to India as a Kid with Her Family
[26:18] Finding Language to Process Racism, Identity and Power Inequality
[34:18] Studying Abroad in Delhi, India
[40:02] How Her Immigrant Diaspora Identity Became a Super Power
[43:55] Reflecting on Teaching in the Post-911 Environment in Seattle
[50:16] Anu’s Critical Pedagogy
[55:22] The role of Travel in Anu’s Life and Teaching
[59:30] Anu’s Experience in Accra, Ghana
[1:03:55] Connecting with the Indian Diaspora Community Around the World
