The Stoop

The pen, the mic, the camera are all powerful tools that people in media have used to get our attention, but, for Black women journalists, getting a hold of that power and keeping it, has been a tough path to navigate. In this episode of The Stoop, we explore the profession with journalist Jemele Hill, and hear about the past from veteran journalist Belva Davis.

Should we support Black no matter what? In this episode of The Stoop, we discuss the pressure to conform with liking all things Black, even when you don’t really feel that way, whether it’s Black art, the Black politician, or a hashtag.

COVID-19 has hit black communities hard — in many places, harder than the general population. Here in California, as of April 17, black residents were dying at twice the rate of white residents. In New York City, black people are dying more than any other racial group. In this episode of The Stoop, we explore the reasons behind this higher mortality rate, we go back to dig into some history, and dispel some myths about black people and the coronavirus. 

Being Muslim, black and a woman; that’s something that deserves some stoopin’ out. Anti-blackness in Muslim America is real, and in this episode of The Stoop, we look at how it often seems to fall on BMW’s (Black Muslim Women) What happens when the shade or discrimination comes from your own people?

It's that silent acknowledgment. That "I see you," moment. But not everyone is a nodder. In this episode of The Stoop, we send producers on the streets to see if the nod is still going strong and hear from one hesitant nodder who breaks down why it's not always been her thing.

Whether it's the music we hear, the clothes we wear, or the way we talk, a lot of us at some point were made to feel 'not black enough.' In this episode of The Stoop, we go deep with comedian W. Kamau Bell who's felt awkward in black circles and before black audiences, and we'll meet Black Benatar, a drag queen who struggles with performing blackness.

Thin nose, high cheekbones, kinky hair, what you got in your blood? Your blood won’t lie, but does it determine your identity? In a special presentation, an excerpt from The Stoop podcast, we follow the story of a woman on a quest to find out more about her ancestors. Co-hosts Leila and Hana also take the test, and things take an unexpected turn. 

What does love look like when your partner might not ‘get it’? We’ll hear from three interracial couples on how they talk about race and racism, and how sometimes, with kids in the mix, those conversations can be even harder. 

The world of classical ballet is extremely difficult to break into, and for those who have darker skin, there's a lot that comes with it, especially when you're "the only." In this episode of The Stoop, we look at breaking the line.

Who gets to choose which African stories get told? In this special episode from The Stoop, we meet three writers, each of them pushing against a mostly white U.S. and UK-based publishing industry in their own way. 

The Stoop podcast is hosted by KALW's Hana Baba and Leila Day. 

In this episode we explore colorism — discrimination based on skin tone, which has happened for decades in Black communities.

For decades, Black women have been stereotyped as being "loud" and "dramatic" and often asked to quote "tone it down" — especially in the workplace.

The Stoop podcast is hosted by KALW's Hana Baba and Leila Day. 

The Stoop is launching soon! Hosted by KALW journalists Hana Baba and Leila Day, the podcast features stories and conversations about blackness that aren’t always shared in the open.

Why is it hard for some black folks to say I love you? The Stoop, a new podcast about black identity, explores this question in a sneak preview of the podcast.

KALW's Hana Baba is African. KALW's Leila Day is African American. In between making radio stories and interviews for Crosscurrents, they've had MANY casual conversations on the side ... many of them about black identity.