Broke-ish®

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 Pilgrims - Harriot corrects the lies of "discovery". Harriot details the brutality, exploitation, and scope of American enslavement and human trafficking. He highlights the horrors of chatteling humans and stealing their labor and intellectual property. But most importantly, Harriot brilliantly captures the often overlooked reality that the dehumanizing and exploiting of Black people didn't end with the Civil War. Rather, it has just resurfaced time and time again in different iterations. Press play to join the Book Club!

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 disappointment at learning that Hannah-Jones and her husband knowingly decided to enroll the daughter at a school that lacked the academic rigor to prepare her for selective high schools. But the choice between high performing schools and predominately Black schools that were culturally enriching is the systemic catch 22 many Black families experience: wanting a stellar education without sacrificing diversity and belonging. The article exemplifies America's intentional, race-based, schooling - one that nefariously ties funding, support, and resources to racially manufactured meters like property value. Nikole Hannah-Jones's quagmire illuminates the central point of Black AF History: there isn't a single component of American life that is unblemished by its birth as an anti-Black, racist, and fundamentally unjust nation.

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 shenanigans. Then prepare your nook and grab your book!! See you on payday!

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 from each episode as well as our hopes for the legacy of this season. And finally, we preview what you can expect from Season 12. Press play and listen in!

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 from collective uplift and political education toward symbolic representation, celebrity influence, and "Black excellence" narratives. Renee reminds us that liberation requires political alignment and accountability, not racial symbolism alone. We conclude that "rooting for everybody Black" when some Black political figures uphold policies or ideologies that work against collective freedom is not a legacy worth preserving. Listen in and tell us what you think!

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 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments and lay the foundation for why the Voting Rights Act was still necessary almost a century later. Then, we look at the impact of the VRA in both affirming the right of Black people to vote and in increasing the number of elected Black representatives. Through Jesse Jackson's presidential runs in 1984 and 1988, Dedrick connects the dots between Black enfranchisement and Black political power. But alas, we also acknowledge the limitations of Black voting power and Black representatives to work within a system intentionally designed to keep us subjugated. Press play to join the conversation!

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 church has historically given to the community—collective care, activism, spiritual grounding—and what parts of that legacy may need to be challenged or left behind. We explore what a decolonized, liberation-centered, Black Christian praxis looks like and what can be done to achieve it. Press play to hear the conversation!

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 Nearest; and Jay-Z's recent interview with GQ, we highlight how capitalism consistently fails most Black people and only benefits a select few. These stories remind us that entrepreneurship and business ownership alone cannot the close racial wealth gap, and we must critically examine capitalism as a structure and its prolific failures. Tune in to join the conversation!

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, liberatory change. And most importantly, we discuss how to combine electoral engagement with community activism and self-determination to forge a new political path that results in true liberty and justice for all. Press play to get in on the conversation!

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 commercialization, and the insidious separation of the artist from their labor. Musa reminds us to critically interrogate the pursuit of "mainstream" validation and profit and work towards a culture that centers liberation, artistic expression, and community. Tune in and get the scoop!