A call for African/Black podcasts

[Bakari]

I published today a post about this topic on my blog. I'm interested in getting feedback on what others think.

http://blackmacusers.blogspot.com/2005/08/call-for-africanblack-podcasts.html[/u]

[docsnavely]

i know i am going to get lambasted for asking this, but........ why?

why does there have to be any separation of sex, gender, race or color in podcasting? we're all (for the most part) open minded people.....

i just personally don't see the purpose, but hell, hope this works well for you :)

[Bakari]

Well, the nature of podcasts are to address niche audiences and topics. While there may be, for instance, political podcasts like for say the Al Franken show that addresses mainly issues about the war, legislative politics from a liberal perspective, his show doesn't have the space to address all issues related to sex, gender, race or color. Almost every podcasts in this directory addresses specific topics. And even in the area of Black or feminists, or gay podcasts each could or should have specific focuses.

Is there a podcast out there that you think appeals to listeners along race, color, and gender lines? Is there one or even two that are so inclusive that it's able to address all these wide range of issues. If it or they exist I would be interested in listening to them.

Lastly, you ask why? Well, do you not think there are issues related to Black folks or any group that matter that merit a voice? If I wanted a podcasts about how Blacks are doing in education, which one would you recommend? If I wanted to hear a show about Black male/female sexuality what show would you recommend? If I wanted to hear a show about the effects of racism on our society, where would I find it? Say if I just wanted hear a funny show about two young Black guys talking about their views on sports, women, and getting rich, where could I find that show? (If you don't know the answer to the is last question, you can find listed in this directory.) Do you get where I'm going with this?

I don't mean to sound condescending. I sincerely appreciate the question and feedback.

[docsnavely]

no, i fully understand, and thanks for your clairfication! i was just a little skeptical at first......

as for a podcast that relates along all lines, i would suggest the keith and the girl show..... or a number of other shows...... explore PCA, there are many shows that appeal to a wide audience...

[Bakari]

Oh, I am exploring PCA and iTunes but it's clear the range is still limited. I've heard one episode of Keith and the Girl show but it didn't hold my attention. Perhaps I need to try a few more.

But see, in my view, podcasts are almost revolutionary media. For they offer a way for a wider array of groups and communities to have a voice. As the number of podcasts and topics widen, it will open the door for many issues and points of view that largely get marginalized in mainstream media.

Sure I think there's room for podcasts and other media shows that cover issues that cross race, gender, and class lines, but I've never found one that does it well, for it's almost impossible. Can you image how many times a "general" podcasts about computers would do shows on Apple, especially if that show is trying to appeal wide audience of people? Maybe like every 20th show may say something the MacMini but in relationship to how it works with the iPod.

And finally, though there may be general shows with a wide audience appeal, how many of them feature a Black or minority commentator or interviewer? I guess sometime it's easy to overlook this because we perhaps want to be color blind or gender neutral, but unfortunately the world doesn't operate that way. It's too diverse and complex for that. What we can push for though is to make connections and build a common ground in our beautiful, complex, and important diversity.

[Will-Casel]

I read your blog and I agree that there is an extreme lack of black podcasters, especially those dealing in-depth with the topics you mentioned. May BET will start one up...yeah right. :roll:

Although I am black, I deal with poetry, poets, and their inspirations. So, while I may have guests of multiple races, there may be a guest who feels strongly in an area you mentioned and will speak about it then.

Here are the black podcasters that I listen to:

Larry Whitfield's Sundown Lounge: http://www.larrywhitfield.com/sundownlounge.htm Poetry/Music

http://www.UrbanSoulNation.com/urbanpodcast.htm Music/Interviews/Poetry

[georgiap]

I'm a black podcaster who happens to be from the Caribbean.

My podcast, Caribbean Free Radio, doesn't focus on any specific issues: I describe it as being about "how I/we live", which is to say that I hope that, through the things I talk about, the people I have on as guests, the music I play, I offer listeners some idea of what life is like for a person like me living in a region like mine.

Another podcast hosted a black person is goodCRIMETHINK, by the comedian Baratunde (http://www.baratunde.com/blog/).

Best,
Georgia
Caribbean Free Radio (http://www.caribbeanfreeradio.com/blog)

[Bakari]

Thanks Larry and Gerogia for responding. I was hoping that my post here and on my blog would help bring forth Black podcasters like yourself whom I or others may not know about. I will look into both of your shows.

As Black podcasters I think we can create any shows we like. As we discover what each of us are doing, we encourage more people to give this type of media a try.

Oh, and feel free to comment about your blogs/podcasts on my blog site. It doesn't have much traffic right now, but I'm working to help it grow.

[georgiap]

And BTW, folks, if you're looking for Caribbean Free Radio on iTunes and can't find it, you're not doing anything wrong: for some reason it hasn't been accepted into their directory. Go figure.

Georgia
Caribbean Free Radio (http://www.caribbeanfreeradio.com/blog)

[Bakari]

Yeah, I just looked for all three shows there and they are not coming up. That's why it's important that these and other shows get exposure in many different places.

[jimk]

I think Bakari makes good points about enthno-centric podcasts...I can see how a lot of people could benefit from different kinds of shows that focused on unique issues for that ethnicity.

The question is, how to get people interested in doing those kinds of shows. There must be communities for just about every kind of grouping you can imagine, right? Message boards for black people, Irish, Scottish, various Carribean islands, maybe really specific ones like people born in Africa but who have emigrated elsewhere...Asian women living in America...I imagine there's a message board or Usenet newsgroup for every possible combination out there.

Maybe the answer is to get these communities interested in the idea of podcasting and see what develops. To my mind, one of the benefits would be that people who are NOT of that specific ethnicity could learn a ****ed thing or two and stop being so afraid of differences in culture.

[addictedtorace]

Hey Bakari,

I'm really glad you brought this up because I too have definitely noticed that most of the podcasts I've come across definitely have a white and male focus.

Please have a listen to my podcast, Addicted to Race. Neither me nor my co-host is black, but we are both women of mixed heritage, and our entire show is focused on issues related to mixed race people and interracial couples/families. Obviously, because of this focus we talk a lot about issues that involve or affect African-Americans.

I have to warn you that the sound quality of our first 2 episodes is really quite bad, but our third episode is coming out on Monday, and we've significantly upgraded our sound starting with that one.

I'd love to get your feedback. :)

Take care,

Carmen

[jeffoest]

I also have noticed the surprisingly low number of black podcasters and wondered why that would be.... It's clearly an underserved demographic just waiting for the right podcaster....

[Bakari]

Thanks Jeff, Carmen, and Jim for your feedback. One of the reason I posted here on PCA was to find a place to begin the discussion and call. I'm still relatively new to blogging, internet forum exchanges, and podcasting itself. But I'm a dedicated Mac user and think media needs to be in the hands of the people. So I started a new blog around those latter two convictions.

What surprises me though is how surprised White readers are about this question of a lack of diversity in podcasting or why there's even a need to bring up color, race, or gender into the whole computer, digital cyberspace arena. I've been met with similar responses in other forums. I guess it's because far too often Whites just assume that whatever they're talking about appeals to everybody in the same way. It's like why do we need a black this or female that, why can't we just get passed all that. But then you look around they're the only ones talking.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not angry. I'm more or less feel that if issues of race, class, and gender don't get brought up by the people who are most affected by these issues, then we deserve what's happening to us.

I dearly hope that in all the conferences and other forums that are coming about concerning digital and portable communication that these wholes will be discussed and addressed. I'm beginning to look into communities on the net that I might also raise these questions. Sometimes it's difficult to do so when you're new to a community, even if that community exist in cyberspace. So I'm hoping the discussion begins here and keeps growing. I'm looking also for a place to post an extended article on this issue. If anyone has a suggestion please let me know.

Carmen, I discovered your podcasts today as I was again surfing this directory and I plan to check it out. Thanks.

I really appreciate all the feedback, and I hope no one feels offended by what I had to say because I really don't want to come off that way.

[Will-Casel]

Yeah, I just looked for all three shows there and they are not coming up. That's why it's important that these and other shows get exposure in many different places.

Yeah, Larry mentioned he had trouble getting into iTunes a couple of shows back. I'll see if I can help him out. My show, "Cloudy Day Art" is available though.

The question is, how to get people interested in doing those kinds of shows. There must be communities for just about every kind of grouping you can imagine, right?
Excellent point. I've discovered this idea with my own show. Most people, let alone poets, haven't heard of podcasting yet. So, I started getting active on poetry related message boards and plug my podcast in my signature or mention it as an aside (not spamming) and that draws some interest in.

So, another way to generate interest among blacks is to go to sites/forums such as BlackPlanet and Black Enterprise and BET's forum.

Will