Research Guides: Racism: Podcasts

Structural Racism

“Race is a little bit like gravity,” john powell says: experienced by all, understood by the few. He is an esteemed legal scholar and thinker who counsels all kinds of people and projects on the front lines of our present racial anguish and longings. Race is relational, he reminds us. It’s as much about whiteness as about color. And it largely plays out, as we’re learning through new science, in our unconscious minds.

- On Being with Krista Tippett

https://soundcloud.com/onbeing

Podcasts

Floodlines
An audio documentary about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Floodlines is told from the perspective of four New Orleanians still living with the consequences of governmental neglect. As COVID-19 disproportionately infects and kills Americans of color, the story feels especially relevant. "As a person of color, you always have it in the back of your mind that the government really doesn't care about you," said self-described Katrina overcomer Alice Craft-Kerney
1619
"In August of 1619, a ship carrying more than 20 enslaved Africans arrived in the English colony of Virginia. America was not yet America, but this was the moment it began." Hosted by recent Pulitzer Prize winner Nikole Hannah-Jones, the 1619 audio series chronicles how black people have been central to building American democracy, music, wealth and more.
Intersectionality Matters!
Hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, a leading critical race theorist who coined the term "intersectionality," this podcast brings the academic term to life. Each episode brings together lively political organizers, journalists and writers. This recent episode on COVID-19 in prisons and other areas of confinement is a must-listen.
Throughline
Every week at Throughline, our pals Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei "go back in time to understand the present." To understand the history of systemic racism in America, we recommend "American Police," "Mass Incarceration" and "Milliken v. Bradley."
Code Switch
What's CODE SWITCH? It's the fearless conversations about race that you've been waiting for! Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race head-on. We explore how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and everything in between. This podcast makes ALL OF US part of the conversation — because we're all part of the story.
All My Relations
This podcast isn’t about racism as it pertains to Black people. Rather, it examines race relations through the indigenous lens. Native peoples were hunted by white colonialists long before this country was founded, and knowing that part of history will help you better understand what happened after it.
Yo, Is This Racist?
Every Wednesday, listeners can get a dose of reality with a side of humor from this popular blog turned podcast. Hosted by writer Andrew Ti and actress Tawny Newsome, the show centers around listener-submitted questions about whether or not their statements or actions constitute being racist. Newsflash: If you have to ask, then it probably is. The unique series manages to answer these racially sensitive inquiries with bluntness and unmatched wit. Listen and learn.
Seeing White
This Duke University Center for Documentary Studies podcast—featuring activist and scholar Chenjerai Kumanyika and hosted by John Biewen—exposes the deeply embedded root causes of white supremacy and racism across the expansion of civilizations. Be sure to have a pen and pad handy because this podcast often references resources you’ll want to take note of.
Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
Hosts Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay jump headfirst into hard-hitting topics like police brutality on this new and timely podcast. In fact, its inaugural episode on May 28 discussed the death of George Floyd among other important issues facing the Black community.
Come Through with Rebecca Carroll
Hosted by esteemed writer, editor, and producer Rebecca Carroll, this eye-opening and informative podcast includes 15 essential conversations on race in America. The series features influential guests like Don Lemon, CNN anchor and activist, Walter Mosely, the famed prolific crime fiction novelist, Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility, and many more.
The Stoop
Steeped in authenticity, journalists Leila Day and Hana Baba share their experiences as Black women living in America. With featured guests such as Emmy-winning journalist Jemele Hill, this duo confronts tough topics like the challenges of navigating careers in white, male-dominated fields and other issues facing Black women that are rarely openly discussed.
Groundings
This podcast upholds and celebrates the concept of openly listening, talking, sharing and learning. Hosted by writer, editor, and artist Devyn Springer, topics like gentrification in Atlanta and how capitalism has compounded the COVID-19 pandemic, are just a couple examples of the show’s commitment to shedding light on important social justice issues.