Episode #304: Becoming a Master Storyteller, Founding “Black Austin Tours”, and Combating Transnational Basketball Trafficking with Javier Wallace

Episode Summary

In Part 2 of this interview, Javier talks about the impact of anti-Blackness and class inequality on sports, both in Panama and in the diaspora.  He explains the political economic dynamics that give rise to the transnational human trafficking of vulnerable youth, particularly through high school basketball networks in the U.S..  Javier shares his experience researching this topic for his PhD dissertation at the University of Texas at Austin, explains his key research findings, and makes policy recommendations for mitigating basketball trafficking.  He then talks about founding the award-winning Black Austin Tours and explains why it is so unique.  Finally, Javier breaks down the craft of narrative storytelling, explains why it is so important, and gives specific tips on how we can all become better storytellers in our own lives.

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Dr. Javier Wallace

Dr. Javier Wallace is known as the “Master Storyteller” and is the founder of the award-winning Black Austin Tours and the co-founder of AfroLatinx Travel.  He is a scholar, entrepreneur, world traveler and is currently the Race and Sport Postdoctoral Associate at Duke University. He was a Division 1 college football player at Florida A&M University, completed his Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Austin, and his research revolves around race, class, gender, labor migration, and transnationalism of athletes from the U.S., Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa.  He is of U.S. and Panamanian heritage and, in all of his work, Javier seeks to amplify the themes of his lived experiences, work, and academic research through narrative storytelling.

What You'll Learn
  • Why Black Austin Tours is so unique
  • How to mitigate transnational human trafficking in U.S. high school basketball networks
  • Why narrative storytelling is so important and how you can become a better storyteller
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Time Stamped Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

[1:48] The Impact of Anti-Blackness on Sports in Panama and the Diaspora

[8:10] The Political Economics of Human Trafficking Through High School Basketball Networks

[12:58] How Human Trafficking Works in High School Basketball Networks

[17:22] Doing a PhD at UT Austin and Researching Basketball Trafficking

[25:50] Dissertation Findings and His Forthcoming Book on Basketball Trafficking

[31:06] Potential Solutions and Policy Changes to Mitigate Basketball Trafficking

[32:59] Founding Black Austin Tours and Becoming “The Master Storyteller”

[38:25] The Unique Experience on Black Austin Tours

[44:14] How to Become a Better Storyteller

[51:28] How to Learn More About Black Austin Tours and Sign Up for One