Invisible Blackness with Adrian Younge

Adrian Younge | Amazon Music

The Amazon Original podcast “Invisible Blackness with Adrian Younge” documents the development and evolution of racism in America. This miniseries analyzes the Black consciousness with new historical parallels to the future and the past. Join Adrian Younge weekly for reflection, accompanied by interviews of Black Filmmakers, Actors, Musicians, and Scholars.

Listen to the songs that inspired Adrian Younge during the creation of the podcast, only on Amazon Music.

read less

Our Editor's Take

Invisible Blackness with Adrian Younge is a podcast focused on black cultural history. Listeners learn more about civil rights, prejudice, and racial issues in America. Younge details concise aspects of the Black American experience since the nation's founding.

This series is insightful, rebellious, and necessary in fighting for racial equality. The format is straightforward. Episodes begin with several questions to get listeners thinking, then discussion takes off. Younge deftly analyzes the larger theme of race as a social construct. He uses rhetorical criticism well, dissecting racism's effect on the African diaspora.

Invisible Blackness with Adrian Younge taps into the experiences of each unique guest. Appearances include actor Mahershala Ali, comedian Russell Peters, and British singer Estelle. Guests offer novel perspectives on challenging questions, leveraging their backgrounds and expertise.

Younge guides discussions on everything from segregation to white privilege. Episodes delve into civil rights issues, eugenics, secularization in Black communities, and more. Listening is easy on Amazon Music.

read less

Society & CultureSociety & Culture

MusicMusic

Personal JournalsPersonal Journals

Music InterviewsMusic Interviews

Play Trailer

Invisible Blackness with Adrian Younge: Now on Amazon Music

Invisible Blackness with Adrian Younge: Now on Amazon Music

"Invisible Blackness" delves into the etiology of our voyage, with rhetorical criticism and commentary on how to understand racism. The primary objective is to discover, illustrate, and make visible the dominant ideologies embedded in America’s culture; in addition, the ideologies that are being muted within. Join us weekly for reflection with Adrian Younge, accompanied by interviews of Black Filmmakers, Actors, Musicians, and Scholars.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episodes

Perspective and Longevity in the Music Business, an Interview with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

Perspective and Longevity in the Music Business, an Interview with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

Five time Grammy Award winning production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis dominated the music industry in the late 80’s through the early 90's working with various artists such as Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Usher, and many more. With a career spanning four decades they have moved into a mainstream market freeing them from the limits imposed on many Black producers in the music industry. On this episode, Adrian, Jimmy, and Terry discuss the duo's journey to success and how the cultural zeitgeist made way for them to crossover from urban to pop charts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Understanding Cultural Comedy, an Interview with Russell Peters

Understanding Cultural Comedy, an Interview with Russell Peters

Russell Peters knows the power of using comedy to challenge the status quo and how to make light of unconscious bias. In this episode Adrian and Russell discuss the expression of cultural intelligence through comedy, the power of hiphop to inspire identity and the subtitles of understanding intention when applied to humor. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, an Interview with Brian Jackson

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, an Interview with Brian Jackson

Brooklyn raised composer, singer-songwriter, and producer, Brian Jackson, is a true luminary for Black American music. Brian is the long time writing partner of the late Gil Scott Heron. Throughout the 70s, Brian and Gil created music that elevated black consciousness and continues to inspire younger generations. In this episode, Adrian and Brian discuss Music as a tool for education, the nuances of segregation and how the struggle for civil rights informed revolutionary music in America. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

My Great Great Grandfather was not an American Hero, an Interview with Caroline Randall Williams

My Great Great Grandfather was not an American Hero, an Interview with Caroline Randall Williams

Caroline Randall Williams is an esteemed activist, author, poet, and professor at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. Caroline has been a featured guest on MSNBC and has penned a myriad of captivating articles on racial bias. Her New York Times essay "You Want a Confederate Monument? My Body Is a Confederate Monument" tells her story as the great-great granddaughter of the nefarious confederate hero, and KKK leader Edmund Pettus, that fathered a child with a formerly enslaved woman. On this episode Adrian and Caroline discuss the romanticism of the South, American patriotism, and how she uses her "white" or ancestral privilege to denounce the evils of America's past.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Follow the Money, an Interview with Estelle

Follow the Money, an Interview with Estelle

British singer/songwriter Estelle began as a rapper in London. She rose to international fame, keeping her African and West Indian roots intact. In this episode, Adrian and Estelle discuss the African diaspora, Britain's National Front and Parallels between the racial justice movements in the UK and the United states. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Highlight: Mahershala Ali

Highlight: Mahershala Ali

A highlight from Adrian Younge and Mahershala Ali's conversation on the importance of nuanced representation in film, finding oneself through faith and the transformation of ideas into ideology.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Ideology of Finding Yourself, an Interview with Mahershala Ali

The Ideology of Finding Yourself, an Interview with Mahershala Ali

Mahershala Ali is one of the most celebrated and accomplished theatrical performers of our time. Winning an Oscar for each of his roles in Moonlight and Greenbook, he became the first Muslim to win an Academy Award. In this episode Adrian and Mahershala speak about the importance of nuanced representation in film, finding oneself through faith and the transformation of ideas into ideology.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Art Becomes Ethnicity, an Interview with Jeff Chang

When Art Becomes Ethnicity, an Interview with Jeff Chang

Jeff Chang is a renowned historian, journalist, Stanford University Professor and critic on the music, culture and politics of hip hop. His books, Can't Stop Won't Stop, Who We Be, and We Gon' Be Alright have become acclaimed assets to the analysis and understanding of the culture. In this episode, Adrian and Jeff discuss hip hop's evolution from its community roots to its worldwide phenomena. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Becoming Culturally Competent, an Interview with Dr Melina Abdullah

Becoming Culturally Competent, an Interview with Dr Melina Abdullah

As Professor and Chair of Pan-African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, Dr. Melina Abdullah is an expert on race, gender, class, and social movements. As a Co-founder and organizer of the Black Lives Matter movement she continues to inspire the Los Angeles chapter with her poignant intellect, passion and leadership. In this episode Adrian speaks with Dr. Abdullah about womanism, the work of dismantling White supremacy, and the role white allies must play in designing a healed America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Language of My Story, an Interview with Meshell Ndegeocello

The Language of My Story, an Interview with Meshell Ndegeocello

As a prolific multi instrumentalist and poetic intellectual, Meshell Ndegeocello’s music weaves together sensual sentiments, spinning storytelling and activism into its own (sub)genre of soul. In this episode Adrian speaks with Meshell about the concept of feminism, language and her role in the evolution of Black music. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Smiling while Black, an Interview with Raphael Saadiq

Smiling while Black, an Interview with Raphael Saadiq

Raphael Saadiq's extraordinary talent has made him one of the most distinguished voices in American music. From his very humble beginnings in Oakland, he’s become an internationally renowned superstar. In this episode, Adrian speaks with Raphael about growing up in a drug riddled community and processing death through art.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Equality Begins with Food, an Interview with Roy Choi

Equality Begins with Food, an Interview with Roy Choi

Roy Choi is the son of Korean immigrants. His culinary food truck empire built a bridge between race and socio-economic classes by normalizing eating in the streets of LA. In this episode, Roy and Adrian discuss the power of food justice and the meaningful dance between food and identity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How to Survive in South Central, an Interview with Terrace Martin

How to Survive in South Central, an Interview with Terrace Martin

One of Hip Hop's favorite Sax Gods, Terrace Martin is a multi instrumentalist, producer and composer. He is the sound of modern Crenshaw. This week Terrace and Adrian discuss growing up in south central LA during the crack epidemic and how environment shapes perspective, art and culture.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How Black is Black Enough? An Interview with Wayne Brady

How Black is Black Enough? An Interview with Wayne Brady

Multidisciplinary performer, producer and host Wayne Brady is the comedic force you may know as the black guy on "Whose line is it anyway”. As a renaissance talent with a brand that seduces mainstream America, he is our generation's Nat King Cole. In this week's episode Wayne and Adrian discuss the power of code switching, defining success and exploring the idea of blackness in America. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Notorious PhD: A Level Playing Field, an Interview with Todd Boyd

The Notorious PhD: A Level Playing Field, an Interview with Todd Boyd

Todd Boyd, aka "Notorious Ph.D." is a Professor of Cinema and Media Studies at USC. His critiques of Hip Hop and pop culture have guided a generation into a deeper understanding of the anatomy of the black experience. In this episode Adrian Younge and Todd Boyd discuss Defining American, Racial Politics and the revolution of revisionist history occurring.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discovering the Black Family, an Interview with Malcolm Jamal Warner

Discovering the Black Family, an Interview with Malcolm Jamal Warner

Malcolm-Jamal Warner is an American actor, director, producer, musician, and writer. He is best known for his role as Theodore Huxtable on the NBC show The Cosby Show. In this episode Adrian Younge and Malcolm have a vulnerable discussion about how the Huxtables redefined the public perception of the black family in America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Rise of the Black Superstar, an Interview with Nelson George

The Rise of the Black Superstar, an Interview with Nelson George

Nelso George is Hip Hops’ historian, a New York native, author, and intellectual. Nelson has been documenting the culture with a legendary clarity since its inception. No-one has articulated the nuances of Hip Hops' emergence like Nelson George. In this episode Adrian Younge and Nelson discuss black popular culture and the consciousness of the African Diaspora in America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Writer's Room: Commercial Conformity for the Hip Hop Culture, an Interview with Cheo Hodari Coker

The Writer's Room: Commercial Conformity for the Hip Hop Culture, an Interview with Cheo Hodari Coker

As a revered writer and Hip Hop journalist, he helped to set the tone of how this burgeoning culture would be consumed and analyzed by the world. Moreover, Cheo Hodari Coker made a career out of explaining black culture to white people. In this episode, Adrian Younge and Cheo discuss black culture, and our responsibility to ensure the perseveration of our story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Black Dynamite on Black Hollywood, an Interview with Michael Jai White

Black Dynamite on Black Hollywood, an Interview with Michael Jai White

A hero in the eyes of many, he began his journey as a special needs teacher. Michael Jai White then became an international icon, a black super hero, with roles including Spawn and Black Dynamite. In this episode Adrian Younge and Michael discuss institutionalized racism, the challenges of being a black actor, and the benefits of the Blaxploitation Era.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

White Privilege, an Interview with Keyon Harrold

White Privilege, an Interview with Keyon Harrold

Born and raised in Ferguson Missouri, Keyon Harrold has always used his music to shed light on the social injustices against Black people. In this episode Adrian Younge and Keyon discuss the triple pandemic that Black Americans faced in 2020, SOHO Karen, and the evolution of the social justice movement in America. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.