I was directed to this podcast after the protests that began in response to the murder of George Floyd earlier this year. I was looking for resources to educate myself on race and systematic racism, and Come Through came highly recommended. It was billed as “15 essential conversations about race in a pivotal year for America.” Subscribe. As I began listening, it was extraordinary to me that this show was produced prior to the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in May and the global reckoning over racial injustice. In fact, the first several episodes were recorded prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus. An outbreak that has so far disproportionately impacted people of colour in the US. It’s almost as if the host, Rebecca Carroll, could see into the future.
I highly recommend listening to all 15 episodes of Come Through, but my personal favourites were the conversations with Bishop T.D. Jakes, Walter Mosley, and Bassey Ikpi. All three were intense, heated, and at times uncomfortable, but in a good way. They were nuanced, complex, and intelligent. And they allowed someone like me, a white person, a chance to deepen my understanding of important issues and topics. I am well aware that I still have so much to learn when it comes to race. At times, the depth of my ignorance can feel overwhelming. That’s why I’m so grateful for conversations like these. I can’t imagine that all of them were easy. In fact, Carroll outright states that many of them were hard to have. But I’m glad she did.
I firmly believe that we as humans are not innately prone to hatred and prejudice. These are learned. And if they’re learned, they can be unlearned. Come Through is just one of countless resources available to help with that process. We just need to be willing to listen.
Suggestions for artists I should check out? Please contact me with your ideas. I hope you enjoyed your daily helping of art!
