Black in the Middle

Is intelligence genetic? Does hard work really pay? We all say “everything happen for a reason", but does it though?

It's time to demystify these terms and phrases a lot of us find ourselves saying and even living by on a daily basis.

But wait, there's more! The crew questions the Death Penalty, assisted suicide, churches and taxes and short detours from these mainstream, controversial concepts.

Enjoy!

Is it better to be honest about money or put up a facade? And why?

Is there a benefit to lying, being frugal, flat out stunting?  Were you ever stunting? What was it for? Have you ever been cautious about stunting? How honest are you about money with your kids? 

Get answers to these questions and more from the midwestern black middle class perspective by pressing play!

The crew tackles a lot in this months edition of the Update. From What is the Metaverse, Let’s Go Brandon aka F Joe Biden to discussing Killings on Set, Cancel Culture News, topics were plentiful in this "getting colder" month of October.

Chivalry is the combination of qualities expected of a knight: courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and readiness to help the weak. So, is it dead? Can it live on through Tinder?

Staying friends with your exes can be fine and healthy, right?

Is marriage is no longer necessary?

Are you a better husband or a better father? Can you be both at the same time?

The BITM crew answers these and other questions that challenge the status quo of what it is supposed to mean to be a man and a women in todays world.

Close your eyes and imagine 3 guys by the names of Tim, Travis and Herman who grew up in the burbs, played sports, got good grades, stayed out of trouble, drove boats, went to college, got jobs, tipped handsomely, had loving families and started a podcast...but Tim, Travis and Herman were 3 white dudes. Would anyone listen to their podcast? Would they be special? Would they feel special? Hmmm...you'll have to listen to find out.

The Midwest, and the Kansas City metro specifically, has recently fallen victim to more racist scandals than normal. 4 incidents in southern, northern and eastern suburbs have made local and even national news over the last 2 weeks, putting our covertly racist 2 state area on the map. When it comes to these things happening over social media, should we even be surprised at this point? The crew unpacks this and traverses both sides of the argument in this episode. 

This update is full of topics and news that popped off in September. Sitting in a room with Kanye for an hour vs Drake for an hour...what are your takeaways, Chiefs, Alabama for the first time reported more deaths than births, mRNA and a simple vaccine explanation by Herman, Haitian vs Afghan refugees, Nola wants to go to her first HS football game with friends, Donda vs. CLB, being from the Late 1900’s, Fugees going on tour and so much more happening this Fall.

When 50% of black population live in the south and you're not in a city like D.C., Chicago or Detroit, do you feel that because you are raised suburban versus urban that you need to justify your blackness?

The crew unpacks this question and many others in this episode.

How black is your home? Do you feel like your sexual/life partner selection makes you need to justify your blackness?

Tim says that once you mix and mingle cultures your blackness erodes. With that said, does that exude in your everyday life? What about if the roles are reversed?

We don’t want to get canceled for this episode, but it's been on the docket for a good minute. I mean, we’ve all dated outside our race but decided to take a step back and ask ourselves questions like:

When did you start dating outside your race & why? What race was she/he?

How much of an issue was it at home?

Were you accepted?

How much did you think about race?

Can you support diversity and be against mixed race relationships?

And many more questions!

These are the most burning, semi-racist, personally-invasive, but real questions that not-black...okay maybe some black...people have asked us or people who look like us. 

Take it away, Karen.