Black Stories. Black Truths.

NPR
Black Stories. Black Truths.

Welcome to a collection of some of NPR's best podcast episodes and features from across the Black experience. Some might make you laugh. Some might make you feel inspired. Others might make you uncomfortable. And some might make you feel all of that in the same five-minute span. This is NPR, noir.Check out the exclusive Black Stories, Black Truths merch line, and be sure to follow all of these shows for more great content, wherever you get your podcasts.

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  1. In the world of medicine, race-based diagnoses are more than skin deep

    EPISODE 1

    In the world of medicine, race-based diagnoses are more than skin deep

    We've probably said it a hundred times on Code Switch — biological race is not a real thing. So why is race still used to help diagnose certain conditions, like keloids or cystic fibrosis? On this episode, Dr. Andrea Deyrup breaks it down for us, and unpacks the problems she sees with practicing race-based medicine. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    34 min
  2. Doctor Who is enlivened by its new Black, openly queer star

    EPISODE 2

    Doctor Who is enlivened by its new Black, openly queer star

    The venerable British science fiction series Doctor Who is back with a new season. Ncuti Gatwa — who is Black and openly queer — brings a vibrant energy to the story of an alien who travels through space and time in a blue box. The series, now streaming on Disney+, also features the return of showrunner Russell T. Davies, who birthed the modern era of Doctor Who. But what does this mix of new and old mean for the sci-fi institution? Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    27 min
  3. Fouling Caitlin Clark; plus, a shoplifting panic!

    EPISODE 3

    Fouling Caitlin Clark; plus, a shoplifting panic!

    First up, there has been a media frenzy around the fouls made against rising basketball star and Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. Commentators and fans have called her fellow WNBA players bullies, jealous, and catty. But Code Switch co-host Gene Demby and Defector's Maitreyi Anantharaman say a lot of the people commenting misunderstand the WNBA. Host Brittany Luse learns what the new fans might be missing and how racism, sexism and homophobia could be fanning the flames of the latest hot takes. Brittany also leads Gene and Maitreyi through a game of "But Did You Know." Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    40 min
  4. The history of trans misogyny is the history of segregation

    EPISODE 4

    The history of trans misogyny is the history of segregation

    Trans women have become culturally associated with the violence they face, both in sympathy and stigma. The historian Jules Gill-Peterson looks to how that came to be in her book, A Short History of Trans Misogyny. This week, we talk about how panics around trans femininity are shaped by wider forces of colonialism, segregation, and class interests. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    36 min
  5. Bumble & the trap of modern dating; plus, living ethically in COVID's aftermath

    EPISODE 5

    Bumble & the trap of modern dating; plus, living ethically in COVID's aftermath

    The dating app Bumble can not stay out of the news. First, the company launched an anti-celibacy advertising campaign mocking abstinence and suggesting women shouldn't give up on dating apps. Then, at a tech summit, Bumble's founder suggested artificial intelligence might be the future of dating. Both efforts were met with backlash, and during a time when everyone seems irritated with dating - where can people turn? Shani Silver, author of the Cheaper Than Therapy substack, and KCRW's Myisha Battle, dating coach and host of How's Your Sex Life? join the show to make sense of the mess. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    32 min
  6. Fifteen years after his death, Michael Jackson's legacy remains complicated

    EPISODE 6

    Fifteen years after his death, Michael Jackson's legacy remains complicated

    Michael Jackson is reaching a new generation of fans through a popular Broadway musical featuring his legendary music and choreography — and a big screen biopic is scheduled to premiere next year.It remains to be seen how the film will address Jackson's tumultuous career, but the estate has been involved with the movie's development. Fifteen years on, Michael Jackson's legacy remains fraught. Is it possible to separate the artist and the person? And should we? NPR's Adrian Florido speaks with media critics Eric Deggans and Ann Powers. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    15 min
  7. The Sunday Story: Roy Wood Jr. on the Road to Rickwood

    EPISODE 7

    The Sunday Story: Roy Wood Jr. on the Road to Rickwood

    What does a comedian know about baseball? And what can America's oldest baseball field tell us about the civil rights movement? Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama is America's oldest ballpark. It's older than Wrigley Field and Fenway park. But its history is full of contradictions. In its heyday, Rickwood was home to both the Birmingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons, one of the most talented teams in the Negro Leagues. The field hosted a women's suffrage event, but the stadium's owner also allowed a KKK rally to take place there. Comedian Roy Wood Jr. hosts a new podcast called Road to Rickwood from WWNO & WRKF, which takes a closer look at the field's history as a microcosm of the civil rights movement itself. Wood Jr. grew up in Birmingham playing baseball at Rickwood. In the podcast, he speaks to historians, civic leaders, major league baseball executives, former Negro Leaguers, and members of Alabama's first integrated sports team. For himself and those he interviewed, baseball was an oasis. It was also still a space where racism shaped the lives of some of the nation's best baseball players. In this episode of The Sunday Story, Wood Jr. sits down with host Ayesha Rascoe to talk baseball, Birmingham, and race in America. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    28 min
  8. Reflecting on the legacy of O.J. Simpson

    EPISODE 8

    Reflecting on the legacy of O.J. Simpson

    With the news of O.J. Simpson's death on Thursday, we're revisiting our reporting from 2016, where we took a look into how Simpson went from being "too famous to be Black," to becoming a stand-in for the way Black people writ-large were mistreated by the U.S. carceral system. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    17 min
  9. Transitioning to natural hair doesn't have to be complicated. 5 steps to make it easy

    EPISODE 9

    Transitioning to natural hair doesn't have to be complicated. 5 steps to make it easy

    For many Black people, transitioning to natural hair can feel frustrating, especially if you're doing it for the first time. Experts share what you need to know about growing out natural hair, from washing it and styling it – to learning to love it. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    21 min
  10. In 'A Quiet Place: Day One', Lupita Nyong'o makes silence golden

    EPISODE 10

    In 'A Quiet Place: Day One', Lupita Nyong'o makes silence golden

    In the post-apocalyptic world of A Quiet Place, aliens kill anyone who makes a sound, forcing humans into a near-silent existence. The new movie A Quiet Place: Day One takes us back to the beginning, but this time through the eyes of a terminally ill cancer patient played by the excellent Lupita Nyong'o. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    17 min
  11. How well did the Civil Rights Act live up to its promise?

    EPISODE 11

    How well did the Civil Rights Act live up to its promise?

    The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on July 2, 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson called it a way for America to honor its promise of liberty. But 60 years on, how well has it lived up to that promise? Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    11 min
See All Season 2 (11)

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4.4
out of 5
102 Ratings

About

Welcome to a collection of some of NPR's best podcast episodes and features from across the Black experience. Some might make you laugh. Some might make you feel inspired. Others might make you uncomfortable. And some might make you feel all of that in the same five-minute span. This is NPR, noir.Check out the exclusive Black Stories, Black Truths merch line, and be sure to follow all of these shows for more great content, wherever you get your podcasts.

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