Obligation

Obligation

Author: American Public Media February 24, 2022 Duration: 34:34

Black men have it hard in America. 

And by and large, Black women have felt an obligation to show up, love, and support them. Is it too much to ask that they show up for us?

That’s the topic we’re taking on this week with writer and cultural critic Jamilah Lemieux. She recently wrote a piece for Vanity Fair where she coined the term “the Black Ass Lie,” pointing out the harm that comes from the ongoing narrative that straight Black men have it the worst in our society. She believes this lie is to the detriment of Black women, queer and trans people.

In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Jamilah unpacks the layers of obligation Black women have to Black men with writer and professor Kiese Laymon. We explore the use of the b-word used to rhetorically destroy Black women — and what holding Black cishet men accountable actually looks like.
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Host Tonya Mosley returns to the archives with Truth Be Told: Time to Thrive, a curated collection from American Public Media that feels both timely and timeless. Instead of new interviews, this series revisits nine of her most impactful past conversations, each one carefully chosen for its enduring resonance. You’ll hear discussions that cut to the heart of modern life, questioning the relentless drive for productivity and examining what true rest really means. The episodes delve into deeply personal yet universally relevant territory, from navigating racial trauma and the human impact of deportation to unpacking complex relationships with our bodies. These aren’t abstract debates; they are intimate, profound dialogues with activists, thinkers, and experts who offer clarity and compassion. Listening to this podcast feels like sitting in on essential conversations that we need to keep having-ones that challenge societal norms and offer new frameworks for understanding ourselves and the world. The selection provides a unique opportunity to engage with these crucial topics through a refreshed lens, finding fresh meaning in stories that continue to shape our collective moment. It’s a series for anyone looking to reflect more deeply on the forces that influence our daily lives and our capacity for resilience.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 87

Truth Be Told: Time to Thrive
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