Broke-ish®

This payday, Amber and Erika wrap up their discussion of Michael Harriot's "Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America". We conclude our discussion of the book by highlighting the American pattern of claiming to eradicate racism and inequity, when in reality, it just makes it more insidious, entrenched, and harder to recognize. Harriot highlights Black America's relentless fight for jus...

Amber and Erika are kicking off Season 13 with the inaugural episode of the Broke-ish Book Club! Our first read is "Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America" by Michael Harriot. Harriot starts pre-America and methodically (and comedically) debunks all the foundational lies we are indoctrinated to believe about this country's origins - from Christopher Columbus to the Puritans and Pilg...

Amber and Erika are jumping headfirst into Season 13 by applying the lessons learned in our first book club selection, Michael Harriot's "Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America", to Nikole Hannah-Jones's New York Times article reflecting on her choice to place her daughter in a predominately Black but underperforming school. Hannah-Jones recalls her daughter's anger and disappointme...

Broke-ish is back, and she's officially a bratty teenager! Amber and Erika are back, and this season we're exploring all the "ish" that conspires to break Black people through the Broke-ish Book Club! We'll discuss a new book over two episodes, unpacking what we learned and how it connects to the brokenness we're fighting against. So tune in to this episode as we cut up and discuss our summer shen...

In this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika bid a fond farewell to Season 12! Of course, there's plenty of shenanigans and cutting up, but most importantly, we look back at the "legacy" of Season 12. This season's focus on Black legacy includes the Black family, the church, electoral politics, activism, and representation - just to name a few. We highlight our favorite parts and key takeaways fr...

In this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika sit down with activist and political educator, Renee Johnston, to unpack one of the most difficult tensions in Black political life: whether representation alone can ever deliver liberation. Using themes from Carter G. Woodson's "The Mis-Education of the Negro" and contemporary political debates, the conversation explores how Black politics has shifted...

On this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika are joined by political strategist and longtime friend of the show, Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, to discuss the Supreme Court's recent decision eroding the Voting Rights Act against the backdrop of Jesse Jackson's historical presidential runs in 1984 and 1988 and what those events reveal about the legacy of Black voting. We start with the history of the 13...

In this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika dive into one of the most influential—and complicated—institutions in Black life: the Black church. Joined by Rev. Mia McClain, Senior Pastor of Riverside Baptist Church, the conversation explores how the faith, politics, and culture of the Black church has created a legacy that is both powerful and problematic. Together, we unpack what the Black churc...

This payday, Amber and Erika explore the legacy of Black capitalism through a historical and political lens with longtime Broke-ish all-star, Dr. Jared Ball. The conversation centers on whether Black capitalism is a viable path to liberation or whether it ultimately reinforces the same systems of inequality it claims to solve. Using the examples of Pinky Cole of Slutty Vegan; Fawn Weaver of Uncle...

On this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika are joined by community organizer and lawyer, Kamau Franklin, to discuss the legacy of Black politics and what the past teaches us about leveraging our collective activism. Kamau highlights the systemic and interpersonal reasons that electoral politics and Black politicians have consistently failed to move beyond political theater to substantive, liber...

On this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika are joined by journalist and cultural worker, Musa Springer, to discuss the legacy of Black culture - the good, bad, and ugly. Musa illuminates the ways that Black cultural workers can serve as powerful forces of resistance, with art as a source of education and activism. But we also acknowledge the downside of Black culture: the appropriation, the com...

On this payday, Amber and Erika pause to reflect on the season opening conversation with their mothers. We discuss the wisdom we gleaned while also noting the parts of their legacy that felt unacknowledged or minimized. Our hope for this conversation is to speak the truth while illuminating how our own entrenchment in patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism often prevents us from fully recogni...

It's a special episode of Broke-ish! Amber and Erika are kicking off the season on Legacy with both their mothers as guests. Amber's mom, Eleanor Webb, and Erika's mom, Thelma Taylor, join their daughters to discuss what legacy means to them. We start with their joyful recollection of one of segregation's few benefits - thriving, loving Black communities - and then glean their insights on church,...

It's a new season! Amber and Erika are back for Season 12, and it feels surreal to be kicking off a new journey of Broke-ish. This season our theme is "Legacy,, and we're exploring key areas of Black life - such as media, the church, civic organizations, and financial literacy - and the things we appreciate and hope to preserve while also acknowledging the problem areas that we need to leave behin...

They say, "all good things must come to an end"! On this episode, Amber and Erika bid farewell to Season 11. We start by reflecting on the last seven years and Broke-ish's journey to 11 seasons, including Delina's departure and Amber's journey from guest to co-host. Next, we discuss the looming government shutdown and the Democratic Party's decision to strike a deal with Republicans to seemingly e...

On this episode of Broke-ish, Amber and Erika continue their discussion on the signs and implications of fascism and authoritarianism in the U.S., particularly its impact on Black people. Through current events such as Trump's unilateral decision to initiate renovations to the White House, the targeting and criminal prosecution of Black politicians, and the government shut down's disproportionate...

On this episode of Broke-ish, the discussion centers on the signs and implications of fascism and authoritarianism in the U.S., particularly its impact on Black people. Amber and Erika explore the cultural shifts towards nationalism, the politicization of institutions, and the removal of neutral bureaucrats. They highlight the recent death of Assata Shakur, the controversial speech by Secretary of...

This payday, Amber and Erika are joined by their guest, Pastor Kristian A. Smith, a pastor and public theologian, to discuss the rise of radical American religiopolitics and the insidious racism that fuels it. Malcolm X once said, "The greatest single reason for the Christian church's failure . . . is its failure to combat racism." This episode explores the racist roots of the most prominent Ameri...

This payday, Erika and her guest, Dr. Kehinde Andrews, discuss political violence and the political theory of Malcolm X. We use the death of Ch@rlie K1rk as a springboard to interrogate the role liberals and Black leaders play in stifling political organization and outrage to ultimately act as tools of counterinsurgency. We grapple with what it means to be political and who qualifies. Because Kehi...

This payday Amber and Erika are discussing Black capitalism and why money isn't enough to save us from the pitfalls of the system. Using two hot-button current events - the Uncle Nearest lawsuit and receivership and Target boycott - we breakdown why capitalism is inherently anti-black and an ineffective liberatory tool. Both examples point to the limitations of capitalism and why Black people's la...

On this episode, Amber and Erika are unpacking the details of the "One Big Beautiful Bill", the legislative centerpiece of President Trump's presidential agenda. We take a deep dive into who the tax cuts and who benefits from them, and we also explore the areas, such as military and immigration enforcement, where the bill has increased spending. But most importantly, we delve into the largest cuts...

On this episode—a Broke-ish first—Amber and Erika are diving into the comments and responding directly to what the Brokers have to say. Many of you had strong opinions about Episode 114, where we did a deep dive into the ADOS movement and Black unity across the diaspora. Community accountability is essential to liberation, and this episode was our attempt to pause and listen to our community's opi...

On this episode, Amber and Erika are joined by Dr. Calvin Schermerhorn, author of "The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made", to discuss the economic status of Black Americans. Despite the propaganda that Black people have less wealth due to poor choices, laziness, and missed opportunities, Dr. Schermerhorn points us to the historical data that clearly demonstrating that Bl...

On this episode, Amber and Erika are discussing Black politics and how the fight for liberation of descendants of enslaved people here in the United States is connected to the fight of other African people in the diaspora. We are joined by journalist and teacher, Salifu Mack, and Broke-ish all-star, Dr. Kehinde Andrews, to examine black liberation politics in America and the degree to which those...

On this payday, Amber and Erika are joined by Broke-ish all-star, Dr. Kehinde Andrews, to discuss his latest book, "Nobody Can Give You Freedom: The Real Mission of Malcolm X". Malcolm X, the foundational inspiration of Season 11, articulated a vision of Black radicalism and liberation that informs how we engage the global fight against anti-Blackness and systemic oppression. Dr. Andrews helps us...