"i don't want to get political, i just want to play music"

what does responsibility look like for white musicians? (with ben isaacs)

my friend ben isaacs has been playing west african drumming in oakland for years. in this first conversation we get into the systemic reality hiding beneath the bay area's multicultural image, what it means that so much american music traces back to black culture, and what responsibility actually looks like for white musicians who love and benefit from that music. white people, black music, and liberation is an independent podcast exploring race, music, and what it means to move from *programming* into liberation.  . have a thought, a question, or a story of your own? reach out at whitepeopleblackmusic@gmail.com  . follow the journey at whitepeopleblackmusic.com ✶

is reverse racism real?

the term "reverse racism" often gets used as a weapon to shut down conversation, but the feeling underneath it is real and worth naming honestly. this is an attempt to offer a better frame for that feeling, one that points toward liberation rather than division, and one i don't hear enough people talking about. resources:  Why I Can't Make Up My Mind About Race Policies & Reparations | Know Better, Do Better [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/why-i-can-t-make-up-my-mind-about-race-policies-reparations--69101378] white people, black music, and liberation is an independent podcast exploring race, music, and what it means to move from *programming* into liberation.  . have a thought, a question, or a story of your own? reach out at whitepeopleblackmusic@gmail.com  . follow the journey at whitepeopleblackmusic.com ✶

"i don't want to get political, i just want to play music"

i used to believe i could love Black music and stay out of politics. a relationship forced me to confront how much harm was hiding inside that belief. this episode is a personal story about music, privilege, accountability, and what it actually means to be in right relationship with the culture you love. if you've ever said "i just want to play music," this one is for you. white people, black music, and liberation is an independent podcast exploring race, music, and what it means to move from *programming* into liberation.  . have a thought, a question, or a story of your own? reach out at whitepeopleblackmusic@gmail.com  . follow the journey at whitepeopleblackmusic.com ✶

harm, tension, and a story about "racial confusion" (with aaron kierbel)

what happens inside you when someone is hurt by watching you play music rooted in a culture that isn't your own? drummer and educator aaron kierbel gets honest about the tension many white musicians carry, and shares a remarkable story from his adolescence about identity, belonging, and what he calls a moment of "racial confusion."  white people, black music, and liberation is an independent podcast exploring race, music, and what it means to move from *programming* into liberation.  . have a thought, a question, or a story of your own? reach out at whitepeopleblackmusic@gmail.com  . follow the journey at whitepeopleblackmusic.com ✶

are we just coddling white folks? (with aaron kierbel)

(00:00:00) are we just coddling white folks? (with aaron kierbel) (00:00:01) Welcome to White People, Black Music, and Liberation (00:00:29) Introducing Aaron Kerbel: Drummer, Educator, and Friend (00:01:17) The Tension Between White Space and Racial Justice (00:03:46) The Importance of White Spaces for Racial Reflection (00:10:56) Creating Spaces for Cross-Racial Dialogue (00:12:03) Wrapping Up and Next Episode Preview (00:12:28) Support the Podcast Community white people doing racial justice work often face a hard question from their own communities: is focusing on white folks actually helping or just letting them off the hook? in this conversation with drummer and educator aaron kierbel, we explore the healing power of honest conversation, why white people need spaces to talk about race with one another, and how that work can open the door to deeper cross-racial dialogue rather than replace it. white people, black music, and liberation is an independent podcast exploring race, music, and what it means to move from *programming* into liberation.  . have a thought, a question, or a story of your own? reach out at whitepeopleblackmusic@gmail.com  . follow the journey at whitepeopleblackmusic.com ✶