Claiming The Mic: This Podcast Has Sumum To Say
Subject matter from the Black perspective – yeah, we heard it before. Commentary from the Black female gaze – nothing new, right? So, what in the world of blackity blackness makes The Black Boardroom (podcast) so different when everybody and their mama has one? Glad you asked.
The Black Boardroom podcast is brought to you by The Black Boardroom Collective. The group started as three Black women and two Black men who brought their own unique experiences and opinions to the (virtual) table. After a few iterations of getting the podcast off the ground, it is now the three ladies who occupy the space – in person. Meet Brittney Ross, Nakita Long, and Ebone Turner-Cox, and new to the group, producer/creative partner, A.C. the MaYoR, as the official Collective of The Black Boardroom podcast.
“The Black Boardroom was birthed out of the frustration and anxiety I felt from being in predominantly white spaces that attempted to address inclusion and belonging but kept getting it wrong and ultimately causing deep harm”, says Brittney, the creator of The Black Boardroom podcast and founder of the Collective. “Last year, I went to the homies and explained the concept of the podcast, and they all said yes. All four of those instant yeses not only warmed my spirit but confirmed to me that we were all experiencing the same thing, and this was indeed a necessity. So here we are.”
Make no mistake about it, this group is truly unique: Ebone’s background as a business owner, fashion brand creator, spoken word artist, and as a health, government, and nonprofit professional; Nakita’s background as a health and wellness expert, fitness competitor, and experience in criminal justice, government, and domestic violence advocacy; Brittney’s background as a racial and social justice leader, aspiring author, afro liberation advocate, and experience in nonprofit executive leadership; and A.C.’s background as a creative and visual director, professional and creative writer, and passionate storyteller carries the potential to elevate conversations of the culture to new dimensions.
The tagline of the Collective is, “The Black Boardroom is a set collective of Black folks who ‘got sumum to say’, record it, and post it!” This was loosely taken from Andre 3000’s famous statement at the 1995 Source Awards, “The South got something to say…”. Just as much as our prolific poet of a brother meant that proclamation as a battle cry in response to the hostility in the room while acknowledging the rising impact of his beloved city, The Collective is declaring the same thing for themselves. What you will get from the podcast is raw and purposeful conversation with an air of levity that exemplifies the nuance of Blackness with respect to the culture and its people.
Now, make room because it is only up from here for The Black Boardroom. The Collective and the podcast are going to levels that you may not be ready for – but they are. Don’t believe them, just watch!
