Marla Taviano talks about her journey from a deeply religious, conservative evangelical Christian background to a more socially aware and activist stance, emphasizing themes of racial justice, deconstruction of faith, and personal growth. Marla, originally living in a predominantly white environment and then in Cambodia for missionary work, recounts her awakening to racial issues following the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012, leading her to critically reassess her beliefs and the role of white supremacy.
Marla’s books:
- unbelieve: poems on the journey to becoming a heretic
- jaded: a poetic reckoning with white evangelical christian indoctrination
- whole: poems on reclaiming the pieces of ourselves and creating something new
- please cut up my poems
Books mentioned in this episode:
- The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham
- Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper
- The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
- Malcolm X: Selected Speeches
- Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
Other bookstores:
Where to find Marla:
marlataviano.com
@whitegirllearning and @marlataviano on Instagram
