Let’s Get Uncomfortable

I was looking for another podcast today, when I happened upon an audio version of a Google interview with Emmanuel Acho, who I was unfamiliar with. I almost moved past it, because it was between two black men, and although I have listened to interviews between black folks before, in fact recently between Leah Johnson and her black podcast host, I sometimes find their experiences and challenges difficult to listen to.

Anyway I decided to listen to the interview with Acho, who is a sports commentator, retired football player, very educated, and privileged. He has a mission, and dramatically explains, that in response to the George Floyd incident, he started a podcast called “Uncomfortable conversations with a Black man,” and a book by the same name. Since I had listened to Barach Obama’s book and just finished reading “Becoming” I was now even more aware of the black educated and informed voice. I have a lot of respect for what they have accomplished despite their obstacles and struggles. Mr. Acho is taking the conversation of the black dilemma into an uncomfortable space, hence the name of the podcast and book. I went ahead and listened to another episode of his podcast with four police men and then another with Matthew McConaughey. Acho is working the dream, introduced by Martin Luther King Jr,  by attempting to dismantle the nightmare of the black legacy. I imagine the nature of his conversations will gradually become more comfortable, and bravely expanded upon by a cadre of competent young black communicators.