Recently, a social media account shared a graphic with the most influential Black preachers of the last 50 years. The post caused a stir on social media, but it also got us thinking: Who are the most influential Black preachers of the last 50 years, and more importantly, how do we measure “influence”? In this […]
I dream of a day where we don’t have to speak the names of Black people who have been taken from us too soon. I dream of a future where news headlines tell of how Black people overcame and reflect on lives long and well lived. For now, I hold on to the beauty that resides in our melanated skin and the unique voice that our people possess.
Star actor and icon Jamie Foxx recently received backlash for a subliminal statement about “fake friends”. His statement went viral and caused fellow actors to accuse him of antisemitism and hate speech. Tyler and Jemar discuss the complexities of Black rhetoric, the ways we are often misinterpreted, and how crucial it is to protect our […]
Our resident wordsmith Ally Henny referred to the 45th president as “RICO Suave.” It’s a reference to the latest indictment of Trump (he’s facing 91 total counts if you’re keeping track)–this time in Georgia and for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) violations. Tyler and Jemar talk about how this case differs from previous indictments […]
Recently, retired NFL player Michael Oher has made public statements correcting the record of his adoption from the Tuohy family. The story was the basis for the 2009 Oscar winning film “The Blindside”. Little did he know that he was being blindsided himself. In this episode, Jemar and Tyler talk about the perils of the […]
On Saturday, August 26, a white supremacist committed an act of domestic terror at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida killing 3 precious Black lives: 52-year-old Angela Michelle Carr; 19-year-old Anolt Joseph “A.J.” Laguerre Jr.; and 29-year-old Jerrald De’Shaun Gallion. Tyler and Jemar are back for a bonus episode to talk about this vile […]
Building off of Jemar’s article “The Speech They Wouldn’t Let John Lewis Give during the March on Washington” (https://jemartisby.substack.com/p/the-speech-they-wouldnt-let-john) we discuss personal experiences with censorship as well as a call to action for The Active Witness Challenge (https://thewitnessfoundation.co/awc) Support this podcast at patreon.com/passthemic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Months ago, I was privileged to converse with some colleagues and a mental health researcher, Dr. Olajide. In this particular conversation, Dr. Olajide facilitated a conversation about Kanye West and other celebrities that seem to garner intense reactions within our communities, most acutely from Black men. Although our conversation primarily centered around Kanye, I couldn’t […]
Chairs at the ready? Jemar and Tyler discuss the Montgomery Riverboat Brawl, the historic connections, and challenge the perceptions on nonviolence as a resistance tactic both then and now.
“Modern capitalism needs men who co-operate smoothly, and in large numbers; who want to consume more and more; and whose tastes are standardized and can be easily influenced and anticipated. It needs men who feel free and independent, not subject to any authority or principle or conscience—yet willing to be commanded, to do what is […]
No amount of perfectionism can stop our bodies from being hated or feared, though.
I know that those in my immediate circle of influence are probably sick of hearing me rave about how much I enjoyed the book Patriarchy Blues: Reflections on Manhood by Frederick Joseph. (By the way, if you sign up to have any type of relationship with me, no matter how close or casual, you will […]
“Are you sure, sweetheart, that you want to be well? Just so’s you’re sure, sweetheart, and ready to be healed, cause wholeness is no trifling matter. A lot of weight when you’re well.” Toni Cade Bambara I try to stay out of social media mess. Truly, I do. Social media can be so beautiful, bringing […]
Holy Saturday is an often overlooked part of Holy Week, but it has become one of my favorite Holy Days. The invitation of Holy Saturday to learn how to remain with pain & uncertainty for longer than what is comfortable; to learn how to grieve well. Some of us need this invitation. Some of us […]
Creed III isn’t your average sequel; it feels like a superhero origin story. This was exactly what Director Michael B. Jordan was going for. “I wanted this film to feel like an origin story and a sequel in one,” says Jordan. Creed III marks Jordan’s directorial debut. The movie follows protagonist Adonis Creed as he contends with the […]
The Cost of Attention I go to Twitter before I watch the news. There, I catch a glimpse of what is on the minds of my fellow human beings–what has succeeded in grabbing our collective attention (at least until the next trend). Attention is powerful. It is a valuable and much sought-after commodity. Many of […]
“There was so much diverse black masculinity in the world of our childhood that it would have been impossible for any of us to have a one-dimensional understanding of black life. We knew from experience that some black males were kind and gentle, others cruel and indifferent, that some fathers were present, and some fathers […]
They won’t hunger or thirst; the burning heat and sun won’t strike them, because one who has compassion for them will lead them and will guide them by springs of water. Isaiah 49:10 Everyone should be able to clean their children with water after playtime with friends. Everyone should be able to savor a refreshing […]
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on the author’s Substack. On September 2, 2022, under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Serena Williams lost at the U.S. Open for what is likely the final time. At 40 years old, after only playing in six previous matches the whole year and beating the world No. […]
Days bleed together in a pandemic. We are still in the midst of one—aren’t we? Contrary to popular belief, and a world that seems to have just moved on with COVID, a pandemic grips us. Sickness has struck this globe in a way that will probably impact us for decades. As we come to grips […]
