Season 6 | Episode 102: Persistence in Hope with Andre Henry

Upside Down Podcast

What does hope mean to you, and how do you practice it? Lindsy Wallace talks with award-winning musician, writer, and activist Andre Henry about sustaining hope, translating it into action, and how art can help dismantle empires.

In this episode, we:

• Talk about his newly released book, All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep, and who he wrote it for
• Go over Andre’s practice of always reading something about hope to remind himself of what’s possible
• Ask what the role of art is in the work of justice
• Talk about how artists can play so many roles in the movement: creative strategist, messenger, morale keeper, and so on
• Discuss what it means for Andre to be an artivist
• Consider the power of a committed minority working toward social progress
• Talk about relationships he’s lost and what he’s gained in community, hope for change, and space for himself to truly be
• Discuss the connection between hope and action, as well as the role has faith played in sustaining hope
• Go over Andre’s hope regimen to stay healthy and mitigate despair

Join us in this rich conversation as we dive into how hope is more than optimism: it’s about imagining and creating a better world and writing history. Let us know what you think and what hopeful action you can take in your own communities.

News, Notes, and Links:

• You can find Andre on the web, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and SoundCloud.
• Order your copy of Andre’s book, All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep, here.
• Check out the book Andre mentioned, Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit, here.
• Learn more about the work of Erica Chenoweth, Ph.D. on civil resistance.
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