Hyphenated Lives

For this week’s episode, Kari, Chuks, and special guest Ubong kick off the episode with a happy birthday shoutout to Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X, a quick discussion of Macklemore’s anti-Semitic costume, and a longer discussion about ABC’s new shows for the fall. The main discussion this week centers on being Black in Asia. Both Chuks and Ubong share their experiences in Taiwan and mainland China, respectively, and upack the causes and ramifications of their experiences. We answer three asks this week: the first comes from makingofamelody, who asks about People of Color being racist against other People of Color; an anonymous asker, who asks about multisexual privilege (Kari’s piece here); an anonymous asker, who asks about sex positivity (Kari’s piece here).

This week’s episode, Kari and Chuks open with a shoutout to Conchita Wurst and a discussion of that fight between Jay Z and Solange. Not only is a toxic and painful situation being reduced to memes and jokes, but Solange is now being reduced to the stereotype of Angry Black Woman. We then move onto a discussion about the good and bad of #BringBackOurGirls (x, x, x, x, x, x, x). Listener asks come from solar-powered-biscuit-dunker, who sent in a question about monosexual privilege; an anonymous asker, who asked about reclaiming sex positivity; turtpurff, who juxtaposed our Rihanna episode and sex positivity is for white women episode to ask about Women of Color embracing their sexuality.

H*21 starts off with Chuks and Kari discussing V. Stiviano’s interview with Barbara Walters before moving into how sex positivity is for white women. From slut walks to finding sex empowering, feminism’s latest thing is sex positivity. But is sex positivity something all women can practice? For this week’s listener asks, we answer an anonymous ask regarding Lupita’s PEOPLE cover and another anonymous ask about what to do when you can’t find a good therapist who is willing to help you through the issues of race, gender, and sexuality.

For H*20, Chuks and Kari kick the episode off with a quick bit on the Donald Sterling race row before discussing the American media’s coverage of the South Korean ferry tragedy. Not content with reporting the tragedy as is, “Western” media has indulged in some major racism and whitewashing of history. We also answer asks from palidosauria about high school exchange programs, acrylic-afternoons about Laverne Cox and Lupita Nyong’o’s omission from TIME’s 100 Most Influential list despite their high approval ratings on Time’s online poll, and an anonymous asked about LGBTQ* spaces in Africa.

On this week’s episode of Hyphenated*, Kari and Chuks momentarily squeal about Lupita’s PEOPLE Most Beautiful Cover before moving onto Rihanna. Rihanna, Rihanna, Rihanna: where do we begin? Not only does the Queen of Cool set international trends of fashion, music, and culture, people’s reactions to her reveal a lot about society’s expectations for proper womanhood and Black womanhood. For this week’s asks, we answer an ask from noir97 about the Peace Corps, an anonymous ask about racism in K-pop, an ask from valentine about Green Peace, and hamselves’ two cents about Eleanor & Park.

Kari and Chuks, with special guest Cynthia, discuss anti-blackness in K-pop. From racism early on to the now-ubiquitous appropriation of Black culture while disparaging Black people, from what the artists do to the fans’ reactions, we trace the history and analyze anti-blackness in K-Pop. We also answer an anonymous ask about Nicki Minaj’s sexuality, an ask from ithinkimgettingthefear about racial politics on a university campus, and an anonymous ask about dealing with a friend who’s coping with trauma.

This week, Kari and Chuks share anecdotes and discuss issues facing the LGBTQ* community. Anecdotes fom aikuroumikisugi, toonzle, thebisweptbisexual, and several anonymous submitters shed light on experiences they’ve had in being marginalized in the LGBTQ* community. For this week’s weekly topics, we discuss how the Queen’s world tour has come to an end; Jennifer Lopez’s bad boyfriend situation; Michelle Rodriguez and Cara Delevingne’s public romance; Jezebel’s bad reaction to #CancelColbert, and a thoughtful reaction to #CancelColbert; a Black student who’s killing it with college acceptances. We have an update from jeriorlizorart, chimatsuri’s two cents on the JET program, and an anonymous ask about Kim Kardashian’s racial identity. Follow us on: Facebook | Soundcloud | iTunes | Tumblr | Twitter

This week, BlackinAsia and unapologetically-yellow discuss mental illness in POC communities. From the high rates amoungst Women of Color to toxic stress, from the importance of self-diagnosis to how mental illness and mental health issues are not talked about because they are normalized, mental illness in POC communities is not an oft-discussed topic. (x, x, x, x, x, x) For this week’s weekly topics, we have Kim Kardashian’s Vogue cover, Michelle Obama’s trip to China, the Taiwanese student protests, and Divergent’s strong opening weekend. We also answer two anonymous listener asks about supporting LGBTQ activism in Africa and mentioning the neo-imperialism of English-abroad programs to a Vietnamese-American friend who plans on doing JET.

This week for episode 15, BlackinAsia and unapologetically-yellow discuss the rise of anti-LGBTQ movements in Africa. Recently, BlackinAsia participated in a rally protesting draconian anti-LGBTQ legislation in Nigeria. There is growing recognition that the anti-LGBTQ movements aren’t as clear cut as Western media like to portray them as, but there are still gaps in understanding. For our weekly news topics, we discuss #whitemanmarchprotestsigns, a history teacher’s question of would you rather be a slave or a factory worker during the Industrial Revolution, the white-washing of Tiger Lily, and Lupita’s potential upcoming role. We also answer a question from hamselves about special needs education around the world and an anonymous question about donating to KUMFA. Limit(less) Website: http://limitlessafricans.com Limit(less) Facebook: http://facebook.com/limitlessafricans

For episode 14, BlackinAsia, unapologetically-yellow, and special guest peaceshannon discuss the state of international adoption and the recent murder of Hyunsu. peaceshannon provides important framing of the international adoption industrial complex as well as the specifics of Hyunsu’s murder. News topics this week include the Oscars and the falling out between 18 Million Rising and Suey Park, and we answer a listener ask from canadiaplease about comparisons between the Civil Rights’ Movement and the marriage equality movement and an anonymous listener’s question about the “eat the cake Annie Mae” line in Drunk in Love.

This week, in episode 13, unapologetically-yellow and BlackinAsia discuss women versus women competition. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in her now-famous TEDTalk, speaks of competition between women for jobs as a potentially good thing. But is it? From Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” to the pitting of female pop stars against one another to allotting space for only one female black rapper to be considered a great in the history of hip-hop, is it a good thing? For news stories, we cover Michael B Jordan’s casting as Johnny Storm; Garcelle Beauvais’s unsolicited advice to Beyonce; Piers Morgan losing his gig; Yuna Kim’s shocking finish at the Sochi Olympics. We give an update on unobservables ask from last episode, and we answer asks from jazzy-jay115 (discussions about anti-blackness in Kpop being skewed to an American context), uroppahatesu (our thoughts on Nicki Minaj’s latest song, “Lookin-ass n****), and a couple anonymous listeners.

This week on Hyphenated*, unapologetically-yellow and BlackinAsia invite special guest Oscar discusses the little-reported students protests in Venezuela. What is going on? What is the background of the protests? What has happened so far? Why isn’t the media, mainstream or alternative, covering this? For a few resources on what is going on, here are three (x, x, x,) links [available on our tumblr page]. For other news stories, we cover the Dunn trial; Kansas’s anti-gay segregation bill; Mohammad Assaf being banned from performing at the World Cup; Nicki Minaj’s apology with regards to using Malcolm X’s image. We also answer questions from viewblackmirage, unobservables, and notafanofstripedcardigans. Oscar: http://twitter.com/americo_oscar

For this special addendum episode, unapologetically-yellow and BlackinAsia answer questions submitted by theultraintrovert (about Neal Brennan’s horrible comments), givingyoutheflick (about The Hollywood Reporter’s roundtable and Oprah’s answer) and a couple anonymous asked (about ankhs and visa concerns for immigrants).

In episode 11 (it’s finally out!), BlackinAsia and unapologetically-yellow discuss a topic submitted by friedapples centered on BlackinAsia’s post about identity politics in the black community, the “splintering of Black America,” and overcoming these divides and building community. This week, in news stories, we have Mario Balotelli breaking down at the pitch after having racist taunts hurled his way; Michael Sam coming out; the problems with The Biggest Loser’s most recent season; the French media going into a tizzy about rumors of an affair between President Obama and Beyonce. Other reader questions and submissions concern “Asian privilege” and a couple articles that have recently come out about “Asian privilege,” and solar-powered-biscuit-dunker’s concern with calling people out in class.

In Episode 10, unapologetically-yellow and BlackinAsia discuss the amazingness of Queen Lupita. Lupita has been slaying the awards circuit for 12 Years a Slave, from the fashion to her acceptance speeches where she directly calls out white supremacy. Unfortunately, white supremacy has been fetishsizing her and her career trajectory is yet to be seen. We also discuss SNL’s inclusion of a Black female cast member, Nigeria’s anti-gay law, Justin Bieber's arrest; and a K-pop group wanting to be known as “Black Kids” and “Black Freedom.” We answer asks from jaddasroots about body positivity and the negative effects of obesity and notkingkong about a white friend who insists on proving her point.

In Episode 9, we discuss the continual erasure of Black people from Black culture, especially in music. No Black artists were in the top ten for Billboard’s top hits of 2013, and the Rock Hall of Fame failed to induct any Black artists this year (the second in the Hall’s twenty eight year history). We also discuss the Golden Globes and racism in Hollywood; Idris Elba and the BAFTAs; Mindy Kaling’s Elle cover; birthday shoutouts to Tina Knowles and Blue Ivy; figure skating’s latest race mess. We answer an anonymous question about responsibility in the face of ignorance and givingyoutheflick’s question with regards to Lorde’s ignorance.

Episode 8: Jennifer Lawrence’s “body positivity” comes under fire In this week’s discussion, we discuss a recent piece in the Huffington Post re: Jennifer Larence’s body shaming that is disguised as “body positivity.” (Kari has received an ask about this before, and this has been a point of contention in the Tumblr community as well.) At the end of the day, our policing of women’s body center on patriarchal constructs. For the news this week, we discuss Beyonce’s “Self Titled” series; an American football player who was let go for his support of gay rights; Jay Z’s Barneys collection’s net profit; Idris Elba’s hilarious tweet. We also answer a couple listener questions about our previous review of Catching Fire and how to deal with problematic media (and situations) in our lives.

1. Episode 7, Part 1: Weekly Discussion (#BlackPowerYellowPeril) In this week’s discussion, we discuss #BlackPowerYellowPeril, from the history of Black-East Asian solidarity (and the hiccups in it as well), the problems with #BlackPowerLiberAsian as a negative response to #BlackPowerYellowPeril, and some of our favorite tweets from the hashtag. 2. Episode 7, Part 2: News Stories In this week’s news stories, Beyonce courts controversy with an Instagram photo and the use of audio from the Challenger diaster in XO; Keanu Reeve’s 47 Ronin is set to be 2013’s biggest box office bomb; Nicholas Anelka, a French footballer, lands in hot water after performing a reverse Nazi-salute on the pitch; an update on Idris Elba. We also answer asks from ithinkhernamewaskaylyn about a horrendous tumblr and kamikazelove about coming out as queer POC.

1. Episode 6, Part 1: Weekly Discussion (Teaching English abroad) In this week’s discussion, we discuss the imperialistic machine that is teaching English abroad. What do we mean by cultural imperialism? Is there a way to teach English abroad in a socially conscious manner? What are some of the common things that Chuks and Kari have seen, given that they both have or currently are teaching English abroad? We have input from kenyabenyagurl, salviprince, thenaughtyscholar, and feministdonut. 2. Episode 6, Part 2: News Stories In this week’s news stories, Rihanna fronts Balmain’s SS2014 campaign and converts the bedrooms of her New York apartment into a giant walk-in closet; Michelle Howard is nominated to become admiral and vice chief of naval operations; the Renisha McBride story gets dirtier; Yayaoi Kusama’s I Who Have Arrived in Heaven is so popular to the point that people are waiting hours to see it; Amazon and Target have gone to war against Beyonce. We also discuss asks from ithinkhernamewaskaylyn wit

Episode 5, Part 2: News Stories In this week’s news stories, Oprah fending off more questions about her choice to not have children; Erykah Badu as the latest campaign model for Givenchy; Golden Globe nominations; a plastic surgeon who has operated on his two adopted daughters. We also answer listener questions and submissions from notkingkong about a willfully clueless white friend and waitwhatwhywhenhow about an Ethiopian-American woman’s opinion of Black American women.