Let’s Listen, Stories of Color
Earlier this week I listened to a new episode of Code Switch, an NPR podcast where the hosts talk about race, ethnicity and culture in the US.
This episode, Why Now, White People, looked at the reasons behind the sudden surge of white support for black lives, at protests, online in dialogue, and in consumption of books and audio content on the topic of race and anti-racism.
The hosts, Gene Demby who asked the question on his Instagram, and Shereen Marisol Meraji, discussed three themes that emerged.
Peer Permission – leading to open support of BLM from people and companies
Reactions against an openly racist president and racist policies – Muslim ban, family separation and unsafe detention centers
COVID – people are now feeling vulnerable and have more time to research issues
Shereen and Gene wonder if this energy will continue and if people will still want to fight racism after COVID.
I heard the question from friends, too.
THE CHANGING NARRATIVE
While I’m not a cultural studies researcher or even much of a television content consumer, as a media maker I’ve noticed some broad trends.
If you look back to the 1980s and before, mainstream television programs portrayed most humans in a one-dimensional, stereotypical, caricatured way.
Sometime in the early 2000s, television programming became more nuanced.
Humans became more human, including the black, Asian and Latinx characters.
Then in the 2010s, Netflix started their original programming and they hired people of color to write their programs - Dear White People by Justin Simien, Master of None by Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang.
Films like Selma, 13th and When They See Us by director Ava DuVernay, Moonlight by director Berry Jenkins, Get Out by director Jordan Peele, Black Panther by director Ryan Coogler, Black Klansman by writer/director Spike Lee tell stories of black people and the black experience that goes beyond the narrative of black = criminal.
There is RuPaul’s Drag Race reaching mainstream audiences, including an intersection of race and LGBQ identities.
Then we have the phenomena of Hamilton.
All this to say, people of color have been in stories and telling stories that go beyond that of being a criminal or being poor and uneducated or being othered in some other way that is steeped in a ‘less than’ narrative.
There are many voices and many stories.
I know there are currently many lists of books to read, YouTube videos to watch, and podcasts to listen to in order to help us understand the forms of structural inequality that exists today.
I want to share a list of work that has inspired me.
My list of made up of smaller stories, stories of daily life experiences and conversations between peers.
The following recommendations are mostly for podcasts, as I think podcasts offer the time and space for more nuanced storytelling and a more intimate way of experiencing a story.
The podcasts by people of color are told for an audience of color, not to explain one’s experience to a white audience.
Take a listen. I encourage you to give time to these voices and these stories.
STORIES FROM PEOPLE OF COLOR
SNAP JUDGEMENT
A podcast that mixes real stories with killer beats told. Hosted by Glynn Washington based in Oakland, CA.
Suggested episode: Thick Blue Line, this particular episode includes stories from a district attorney in New Mexico who was bullied by the police; and the story of a former Boy Scout in Detroit and what being wrongly arrested taught him about the importance of perception.
TRUTH BE TOLD
A podcast from KQED in San Francisco hosted by Tonya Mosley who answers questions about what it means to survive and thrive as a person of color in the US today.
Suggested episode: You’re OK, I’m Not: Black Men and Therapy, this episode is about the mental health impact of growing up black in the US and navigating the trap of self-directed rage and that comes from living in a racist world – talking about the mental health burdens of black men and the importance of getting help.
EAR HUSTLE
A podcast about stories from inside and outside the San Quentin State Prinson hosted by artist Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods, formerly incarcerated.
Suggested episode: Nobody Comes Back, about getting out of prison and facing unwelcome surprises including COVID and ICE
RACIST SANDWICH
A podcast about food, race, class and gender hosted by Stephanie Kuo and Juan Diego Ramirez
Suggested episode: We Will Rise about structural inequalities in the food hospitality business in Detroit and stories of over 2,800 households surviving COVID-19 without running water, featuring Zaher Janmohamed, Serena Maria Daniels, Martina Guzmán, and Devita Davison.
CODE SWITCH
A podcast about race and culture hosted by Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby.
Suggested episode: A Decade of Watching Black People Die, with Jamil Smith, senior writer at Rolling Stone, reading from his article written for the New Republic called “What Does Seeing Black Men Die Do For You?“ in 2015.
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
A podcast covering topics impacting American Muslims hosted by Ahmed Ali Akbar and co-produced by Shirin Barghi.
If you are new to their podcast, they created an essential listening list, See Something, Say Something Essential Listening.
PODCASTS THAT REGULARLY FEATURE PEOPLE OF COLOR
ON BEING
A podcast about what it means to be human, how we want to live and who we will be for each other, created and hosted by Krista Tippet.
Recommendation: Library of episodes about Race and Healing
TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE
A podcast of diving into the deep end of issues on cultural themes big and small, hosted by Anne Strainchamps.
Suggested episode: Check Your Privilege, looking at the benefits and drawbacks of checking privilege.
THE OVERSTORY
A podcast by The Sierra Club named after the world that ecologists use to describe the canopy of the forest. The podcast is asking listeners to look up and I guess that means looking at the achievements that are being made in the fight for nature and wildlife.
Suggested episode: Birding for Change and that features an interview with Atlanta, Georgia based black birder, Jason Ward. The piece is uplifting and heart warming but also shares the daily impact black people experience because of racial profiling.
HYPERALLERGIC
A podcast focusing on contemporary perspectives on art and culture, hosted by Hrag Vartanian.
Suggested episode: Connecting Museums, Modern Art, Colonialism and Violence. “This conversation is essential for anyone interested in the future of arts institutions and their role in social change.”
THE MOTH
A podcast based on live, real-life stories told by storytellers, celebrating diversity.
In June their new series, All Together Now: Friday’s with the Moth, shared voices from the black community. This episode is a story from the musician and director Boots Riley.
GOING THROUGH IT
A podcast by Mailchimp presenting stories of 14 female entrepreneurs talk about pivotal moments where they had to decide to go forward or stop, Season 1 hosted by Ann Friedman.
Suggested episode: S1E4 Soledad O’Brien, an award-winning reporter who shares the point when she realized the importance of having more diversity at the table to tell their story.
OTHER MEDIA TO EXPLORE
1619
The five-part audio series, 1619, by the New York Times Magazine, started in August 2019 which marked the 400th year anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. The series looks at the systemic impact of slavery and how it is playing out until today in terms of health care, banking, music and more. The series was created by Nikole Hannah-Jones. I feel it is a must listen.
FOLLOWING HARRIET
A six-part series about the life of Harriet Tubman, Following Harriet, shares her story and examines the 19th Century experience of African Americans hosted by Celeste Headlee.
WETRANSFER STORIES
WeTransfer Stories, stories about creative thinking making the world a better place.
I’ve been exposed to many interesting artists, artists of color, artists looking at climate change, artists talking about gender – this is a site worth digging into.