Black Diplomats
News & Politics Podcasts
The world is full of black people But when the mainstream media talks about the world, we hardly ever hear from them. Black Diplomats—a podcast dedicated to international politics and culture from the perspective of people of color—is going to change that. The 45-minute weekly show will take on domestic issues like immigration, policing, and protest movements through a globalized lens. The podcast is called Black Diplomats because I believe every black person is a diplomat at heart. It’s crucial that we claim space in the global conversation because much of that conversation directly impacts us—yet we so rarely lead it. The show will have a conversational style similar to VICE, with a twist of Desus and Mero humor to add an urban flavor, making it accessible to people who aren’t used to being centered in foreign policy conversations. It will resist the impulse of network television to pander to an “all sides” mindset. I believe there is a right and there is a wrong: Imperialism is bad. Racism is bad. White supremacy is a motivating philosophy for many powerful people. Black Diplomats will be something new. American media outlets aren't interested in people of color’s thoughts on global affairs—especially those outside of the mainstream. Although I'm a Russian speaker and travel to Ukraine every few months, I struggle to find opportunities to speak on foreign affairs. We need a new venue, and it should grow with our audience, tackling new subjects, highlighting new perspectives, and giving the black perspective on world affairs the respect it is due.
The world is full of black people But when the mainstream media talks about the world, we hardly ever hear from them. Black Diplomats—a podcast dedicated to international politics and culture from the perspective of people of color—is going to change that. The 45-minute weekly show will take on domestic issues like immigration, policing, and protest movements through a globalized lens. The podcast is called Black Diplomats because I believe every black person is a diplomat at heart. It’s crucial that we claim space in the global conversation because much of that conversation directly impacts us—yet we so rarely lead it. The show will have a conversational style similar to VICE, with a twist of Desus and Mero humor to add an urban flavor, making it accessible to people who aren’t used to being centered in foreign policy conversations. It will resist the impulse of network television to pander to an “all sides” mindset. I believe there is a right and there is a wrong: Imperialism is bad. Racism is bad. White supremacy is a motivating philosophy for many powerful people. Black Diplomats will be something new. American media outlets aren't interested in people of color’s thoughts on global affairs—especially those outside of the mainstream. Although I'm a Russian speaker and travel to Ukraine every few months, I struggle to find opportunities to speak on foreign affairs. We need a new venue, and it should grow with our audience, tackling new subjects, highlighting new perspectives, and giving the black perspective on world affairs the respect it is due.
Episodes