Hey, fam, it's me, Amara Jones.

Welcome to the TransLash podcast, a show where we tell trans stories to save trans lives.

Well, we certainly entered into Black History Month with a bang.

This podcast, thanks to all of your support, received a glad nomination for Best Podcast.

The awards will be held this spring.

But either way, we feel so gratified at all of your support and listening.

That's made it possible for us to be in contention for

this top award. Thank you so much. Well, as I mentioned, we're fully into Black History Month,

and what that means is that we have to look into the issues that are extremely relevant for black trans people in this moment.

And there is none other that is nearly as high as that of the issue of mass incarceration

and what we call the criminal justice system. As we know in recent years, there's been a growing focus on the fact that there

cannot be liberation for black trans people without substantial reform of the criminal justice

system. As a matter of fact, one out of three black people, according to the National Center

for Trans Equality, has been jailed or incarcerated at some point in their life.

And we know that that type of incarceration or jailing has massive impacts on the life chances, mental health,

and long-term stability and prosperity in individuals who have contact with it. That's why I'm thrilled

to be talking to two people today who are working on the front lines of substantial change

advocating for abolition or criminal justice reform, de-incarceration, or the end of mass incarceration,

whatever you call it to people who are devoting their lives,

to bringing about the change and reimagination that we need.

Now, incidentally, we know that the criminal justice system is in many ways tied to the system of enslavement

and ongoing persecution of black people.

...