The Stoop

U.S. media companies are producing new glitzy reality TV shows in Africa. It’s a different kind of portrayal of Africa - something Hana has always wanted: a change in the narrative of poverty, war and famine. But something doesn’t feel quite right. She’s trying to just get her popcorn and enjoy the drama and messiness, but she’s conflicted and she’s wondering why. She talks it out with Nigerian writer Damilola Oyedele - someone else who is watching, and thinking at the same time. Plus, we go to Lagos, Nigeria- to hear how people there are reacting there. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

You see each other from across the room. You lock eyes, slowly walk towards each other and the dance begins. We're reminiscing about slow dancing - the rhythm, the beat, the Blackness of it all- and we’re wondering- is it still alive? We talk to Chicago Steppers who break down the power of the slow jam. Let’s slow it down and snap to the beat.. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

You walk into a restaurant all ready for a lovely evening, and you get this feeling - an expectation - that you’ll be treated a certain way. Whether it’s being seated near the bathroom, getting asked for another glass of water, or being totally ignored- sometimes we react, sometimes not, but are we reading too much into this? Why do we sometimes go into restaurants with our guard up? From Europe to the U.S., we talk to three people about their experiences dining out. This is definitely something we need to chew on.. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jameela means beautiful in Arabic- a description Black girls seldom would hear about themselves growing up in Arab countries. Beauty standards in the Middle East have been based on white Arabness- light skin, and long silky hair. So what is it like to navigate industries where what you look like matters? We meet three Black Arab women - models and influencers - who are part of a movement to push back on racist beauty standards, and redefine what it means to be beautiful. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

It’s Season 7! And it’s the annual fundraising time for Radiotopia, they’ve asked artists across the platform to weigh in on the theme “Making Trouble” and here’s our take!  We’re wondering, is it fair to charge kinkier textures more when it comes to hair braiding? We asks stylists and each other, what’s the deal with the tax on our naps? We talk with natural hair stylist Marilyn Burks in Mississippi, as well as other stylists and get their take on some of the strict requirements for 4C hair.  And we talk with writer Kovie Biakolo who has been asking many women why they’re going back to relaxers? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Welcome to the Stoop Comedy Club! It's our last episode of the season and we are laughin’ it up with three African comedians - Nigerian-American Beverly Adaeze, Kenyan-American Dubai Denis, and Sudanese-American Ahmed Abdelrahman. Each has their unique style, and each has to deal with a complicating question that has to do with their Blackness in America. Plus, Leila tries to break into the comedy scene! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

We explore what it’s like to be a Black autistic adult with the story of artist, author, and illustrator Ayanna Davis, AKA ‘Phenomenally Autistic.’ We also hear from advocate and autism media consultant Diane Wright, plus special education professor Dr. Jamie Pearson breaks down why Black autistic people are diagnosed so late in life. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Black women have lower success rates when it comes to IVF (in-vitro fertilization) But why? We hear from Charissa Jackson who shares her journey about going through IVF. We also look into some of the reasons why Black women tend to have higher infertility rates, something that's explained by Dr. Michael Thomas, a reproductive endocrinologist who says one of the reasons why this is happening, is a reason many of us have heard before.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

As reparations for African Americans come closer to being a reality, the conversation has led to a question - who should get paid? We’ll explore that question of eligibility and hear different perspectives from people pondering it, and people who have clear ideas of what the answer should be. Plus- Hana, Leila and producer Natalie have an honest chat about what this all means for them. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

It’s back! Sounds of Blackness. What is a sound that embodies Blackness to you? We’ve been asking high and low and the answers have us reflecting, laughing, tearing up and feeling absolute joy. Today we take a sonic dip into sounds that embody Blackness. We also sit down with poet Nikki Giovanni, and hear from many more about the sounds that move them. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices