Today's History Story: Ring Shout

Black communities have long leveraged language as a tool of resistance and connection. And often, our survival hinged on mastering a secret language—a coded communication hidden in plain sight. Today, in a time where digital platforms have emerged as vital arenas for Black expression, where a hilarious meme can start a revolution or a TikTok dance can unify generations, understanding the legacy of and possibilities within Black communication is more crucial than ever.

Andre Brock, Jr., a leading scholar and author of “Distributed Blackness: African American Cybercultures,” will join us to shed light on this and more. In his work, Andre explores the evolution of digital vernacular and how Black users navigate and subvert digital spaces. So get ready: Andre is offering us a roadmap to understand the transformative power of Black language.

Find "Distributed Blackness: African American Cybercultures" wherever you get books online.

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Black History Year (BHY) is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school and explore pathways to liberation with people who are leading the way. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work.

Hosting BHY is Darren Wallace. The BHY production team includes Jareyah Bradley and Brooke Brown. Our producers are Cydney Smith and Len Webb for PushBlack, and Lance John with Gifted Sounds edits and engineers the show. BHY’s executive producers are Julian Walker and Lilly Workneh.

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