Black in a Box

Season’s greetings. For our final pod of 2020 sadly Nate had to sit this one out but the rest of the gang get straight into some of the things that gave us surprise and delight in a year where simply surviving was a success. (0:56) But 2020 gonna keep on 2020ing and Alahna, Dan, Dom and Gelo pile up the talking points after Millwall fans booed players taking a knee in the first fixture fans were a...

This episode, Black in a Box give Lewis Hamilton his flowers and look into why the greatest racing driver in British history if not the history of F1 is still not quite beloved by his nation. When it comes to rappers and entertainers are we expecting too much in expecting them to be politically engaged? (24:15) Published after midnight, the findings of the UK government’s race report (50:59) into...

"Let's delay our US Election special. At least then we'll have some finality" said Dan our naive man on hosting duties. Alahna, Angelo and Dan caught up for a 2020 US Election wrap up where there was nothing to wrap up with recounts ongoing, baseless fraud claims continuing to light up the airwaves and an incumbent defeated president refusing to go silently. We open up with expectations v reality...

October may be over, but we’re still celebrating all things BLACK in this post-Black History Month episode, exploring Black Artistry. This time, the crew are joined by a very special guest and wordsmith extraordinaire, Aniefiok “Neef” Ekpoudom, prolific storyteller of British culture. Together we discuss the landscape of Black art and culture within Britain. Firstly, we consider how we even define...

For the second part of our Black Guys in a Box Black History Month education special, Angelo interviews a number of different women(including our own Alahna) on their experiences of education in the UK as well as their contributions to bettering it. Savannah is a University of Sheffield BME committee member and former head of the institution's African Caribbean Society. Bethany is research manager...

In the second episode of our Black History Month Special we explore the complicated subject of Black History within the Education System. The conversation warranted a two-part episode and in this Part One, Angelo leads us in a discussion of our own experiences growing up and learning while Black in British and American school systems. We start by acknowledging the lack of Black historical figures...

Black History Month is here and with it the first of our four specials talking about the best of the Black Britons. We begin with an ode to chief gooner "uncle Ian" Wright, a pioneer in moving from the estate, to the football pitch and to the top of the game before moving into the top of the media and the forefront of football culture all while remaining himself. We move on to talk about those ach...

What do riots, sit-ins, boycotts, kneeling, marching and now dancing have in common? They are all unacceptable ways to show displeasure at inequality, discrimination against and at worst elimination of the black existence. The Black Guys and Gals in a Box return to talk about reaction to Diversity’s BLM referencing performance on Britain’s Got Talent and the idea of moving past kneeling in sport....

Is it time to retire the term "black"? That is the weighty issue we open up with in the latest episode of Black Guys (and a gal) in a Box. All the regulars are in the house with Alahna, Dan, Dom, Gelo and Nate also discussing the J.Cole/Noname spat (26:23) in relation to policing women's tone and roles in social discourse, Breonna Taylor and the responsibility of men regarding black feminism, Beyo...

We all needed to talk. We all needed to listen. The recent police killing of George Floyd sparked global uproar. George was just the latest name. With the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Belly Mujinga also in the UK, it's been a tough time to be a black person. Out of the pain, can we heal? We cover the George Floyd killing, Killer Mike’s intervention (43:18), the changing mood (01:17:52)virtue signalli...

The Black Guys back from their own Boxes! In the second of our soundclash specials, we dissect the latest BGIAB Soundclash - this week it's the 2005-2009 hip-hop edition. The guys start by eulogising about J Dilla's classic "Donuts" (10:27), before they each step up to the. podium to defend more questionable picks. First up is Nate with Nas and Jay-Z's flop "Black Republican" (21:37), Dom's seemin...

The Black Guys live from their own Boxes! In the first of a series of lockdown specials, the guys revisit ESPN/Netflix's latest phenomenon, The Last Dance (02:10). We dive into the age old Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate, the legend of Dave Thompson and Scottie Pippen's contract woes. Then we dissect the latest BGIAB Soundclash - this week it's the 2000-2004 hip-hop edition (22:08). Dom (28...

Don’t call it a comeback. For the return of season 2 of Black Guys in a Box, the four horsemen of the blapocalypse Dan, Dom Nate and Angelo are back in residence. As is The Official Voice of Women™, Alahna, who survived the season 1 cliffhanger. Sadly one member did not. This episode we pour out some liquor for (and spray some corn at) our fallen brother Kofi; before delving into the importance of...

Black Guys (and Gals) in a Box Season 1 finale! Dan and Dom are joined by very special guests Alahna and Tunde (of Tales from the Plantation fame) to conclude the end of decade retrospective. Do our London cohort feel more hopeful at the end of the decade than the guys up North (04:14)? We talk about our own importance in our circles and broader representation (19:00), Alahna takes us Stateside on...

The end of decade retrospective! Angelo, Kofi and Nate reflect on the decade and consider the big questions: Do we feel more hopeful at the end of the decade than we did at the beginning? What our lives looked at in 2010 vs today Is society in a better place racially now then it was in 2010? How do we plan to "Slay in our Lane" (s/o Yomi Adegoke & Elizabeth Uviebinené) in the upcoming decade? And...

The Wakanda Social Club Presents — Black Guys in a Box The BAME *just kidding*...The Black History Month special! The one where Dom sends shots at a famous footballing family member... Topics: Our culture growing up (02:46) Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy (30:35) Naga Munchetty (44:03) John Barnes', the Racism Warrior (59:42) Amber Guyger and the murder of Botham Jean (1:06:38) The guys start by...

The Wakanda Social Club Presents — Black Guys in a Box. The one where Dom realised that he can't party like he used to - before realising he's got another trip to Ibiza to navigate We talk about the (at time of recording) current Prime Minister Boris Johnson - his proclamation that he is going to recruit 20,000 police officers. The guys talk about why language like "tough on crime" fits into previ...

The Wakanda Social Club Presents — Black Guys in a Box. The one where Angelo angered the Beyhive (RIP Angelo) We start with Dan and Dom reminiscing about Glastonbury and explain why the notorious south east corner is a place that angels fear to tread. From there the, the talk turns to Disney remakes - are they a problem and is there an issue with casting people that look different to the cartoon v...

The Wakanda Social Club Presents — Black Guys in a Box. Because you asked for more, in our second full meet up we gon' give you MOAR! We dance through topics like some Charleston/Crip Walk hybrid - they shouldn't go together but we make it work - starting with a look back at our most recent offering of essays (06:18). Kofi opens a Pokéball of issues as he recounts some troubling moments when watch...

The Wakanda Social Club presents — Black Guys in a Box. Episode 2 has slowly rolled round but at last, it's here and ready for your ears! *DISCLAIMER* We did this one over Skype and we have some audio issues in places but none the less, this one is still a riveting listen. Nate can't be with us this time but we still manage to digest the reaction to Dom's reality slapping and honest essay 'Grandma...

It’s finally here… The Wakanda Social Club presents — Black Guys in a Box. No more false promises. The maiden episode “If you can’t be a good example, serve as a terrible warning” is live. Everything you need to know about this episode lives in the title, as we tackle that poorly timed confession Liam Neeson felt he needed to share whilst promoting his new movie (34:40). We use that as a gateway t...