I’d like to recommend The Michelle Obama Podcast to anyone who is wishing to learn more about injustices & inequalities in America told from the perspective of a respectable, accomplished African American woman.
The Michelle Obama podcast is a nine-episode series that covers a variety of general life topics and current situations. Obama keeps the conversations engaging and applicable to a variety of viewers while also providing insight from her experiences. Alongside Obama is her changing co-hosts; guests range from Barack Obama, her best friends, her brother, Conan O’Brien, and more.
I recommend the podcast series as a whole but today would like to discuss episode two: Protests and the Pandemic. Michelle is joined by award-winning Washington Post journalist Michele Norris. This episode was a candid conversation constructed around the current situation in America: a lockdown, violent protesting for BLM, and dealing with the unknowns and stresses from both.
There are several instances specifically during the conversation that explore injustices in the system. First, the sacrifices underprivileged workers must endure during the pandemic. Blue-collar workers don’t have the safety net to work from home that upper class, white-collar workers have. They are forced to risk their lives in order to make money. This was a topic heavily explored during the podcast and frankly, it opened my eyes to how this pandemic was truly affecting the rich and poor in drastically different ways.
Another injustice explored was the topic of what it is like to be African American during the BLM movement. It is one thing to be white in America and supporting BLM, but is an entirely different perspective, feeling, and position to be African American during the current situation. Both African American women, Obama and Norris respectfully and candidly share their personal experiences to viewers. Unsurprisingly, it’s an uncomfortable, stressful feeling. Wasn’t this race issue supposed to be dealt with already? They both expressed how tired their community was in dealing with “the race issue again”
I do recommend the podcast series as a way to learn more about the inherent inequalities in the American system as Michelle discusses many general topics that all connect back to what it means to be African American in our society. Another example I didn’t get to explore today was the episode with Michelle’s brother and their conversation reflecting on growing up in the Southside of Chicago during the white flight. This podcast series explores the topics of inequality and injustice told by someone who has experienced it. I found it inspirational to hear her perspective as she is so accomplished now and isn’t afraid to talk about the real, tough issues. The Michelle Obama podcast is a must listen for all who are hoping to gain a new perspective from their own.