Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month, is a time to recognize and honor the Black community’s incredible contributions, culture, and impact on America. There are plenty of ways people can celebrate Black history. From supporting Black-Owned Businesses to organizing diversity and inclusion events, here are 10 podcasts to learn more about African American history, culture, social justice and news told from various personal accounts.
1. 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 with empathy and humor. We explore how race affects every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, food and everything in between. This podcast makes all of us part of the conversation — because we’re all part of the story.
2. Historically Black
Objects hold history. They’re evocative of stories stamped in time. As part of The Washington Post’s coverage of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture, people submitted dozens of objects that make up their own lived experiences of black history, creating a “people’s museum” of personal objects, family photos and more. The Historically Black podcast brings those objects and their stories to life through interviews, archival sound and music.
3. Dear Culture
TheGrio’s Dear Culture podcast highlights the issues affecting millennial Black America. From talking about uplifting the Black community with businessman and comedian Byron Allen (who’s company Entertainment Studios owns theGrio) to covering social equality issues with activist Tamika Mallory or the importance of positive friendships with Yvonne Orji, this audio series tackles important subjects with insightful guests.
4. Black on the Bluff
Hosts Annastacia Martin, Karl Kahambwe, and Sharif Morton recount their own personal experiences of what it is like to be Black with topics surrounding the moment they became aware of their race, using the term Black versus African-American, Black Femininity, and on their latest episode, international education.
5. Pod Save the People
Organizer and activist DeRay Mckesson explores news, culture, social justice, and politics with analysis from Kaya Henderson, De’Ara Balenger, and others. Then he sits down for deep conversations with experts, influencers, and diverse local and national leaders.
6. Dropping Gems with Devi Brown
Hosted by Devi Brown, The Black Effect and iHeartPodcast Dropping Gems is a soft place to land where higher consciousness meets your everyday life. Nourish your spirit, grab new tools for the journey and fall deeply in love with the highest version of who you are. Devi is devoted to spiritual connection meant to aid in the healing of intergenerational trauma and internal liberation. Her work is rooted in weaving ancient and modern practices into tangible healing tools that are in support of emotional growth and radical self-love.
7. The Stoop
The Stoop podcast digs into stories that are not always shared out in the open. Hosts Leila Day and Hana Baba start conversations and provide professionally-reported stories about what it means to be black and how we talk about blackness. Come hang out on The Stoop as we dialog about the diaspora.
8. Black History Year
Learning your history makes you – and your people – stronger. As Black people, we know we’re left out of the history books. That the media images are skewed. That we need access to experts, information and ideas so we can advance our people. Black History Year connects you to the history, thinkers, and activists that are left out of the mainstream conversations.
9. As It Should Be with Thamarrah Jones
Here we refuse to accept inequity. This is a weekly podcast interview series for people who are actively learning and unlearning their role in upholding systems that hurt people. People who wish we’d care about each other’s experiences more often. Hear stories from folks who are challenged by injustice everyday. Hear stories from folks using their skills to recreate the world as it should be.
10. The Nod
The Nod tells the stories of Black life that don’t get told anywhere else, from an explanation of how purple drink became associated with Black culture to the story of how an interracial drag troupe traveled the nation in the 1940s. We celebrate the genius, the innovation, and the resilience that is so particular to being Black — in America, and around the world.
Looking for additional podcast shows to tune in to? Check out some of our other podcast recommendations.
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