You Had Me At Black

Growing up, Juliet turned to A Different World as an escape from the academic and social pressures of her Nigerian parents. She desperately wanted to be Denise Huxtable and thought she knew what it'd take to get to college, until her high school advisor gave her some honest feedback and a tough pill to swallow. Produced by: Britney Abrahams Photo by: @properperspective Music & scoring by: @phdiracJoin The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

In 2005 Pen was a first year college student unsure of his calling and not doing much with his time. Then, an invitation to attend and report on the 10th Anniversary of the Million Man March in Washington DC changed everything, igniting a fire in him for reasons he never expected. Produced by: Britney Abrahams Photo by: @micholiano Music & scoring by: @topshelfcuzoJoin The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

Welcome to Season 2 of You Had Me at Black! Over the last 8 weeks we've recorded stories from over 2 dozen people from all around the country. Despite their different backgrounds, they all share two things in common: love for their Blackness and belief in the power of storytelling. Starting today, you can look forward to 2 stories each week, and a video story each month. Make sure you get all of our content right when it drops. Head to youhadmeatblack.com/bside to sign up for our newsletter.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

16 years after NWA’s ‘Fuck tha Police’ rocked the nation, Sinclair is pulled over by LAPD. It’s Halloween, and he’s dressed as none other than Eazy-E. In this ironic set of events, you’ll never guess what saved him. Produced by: Britney Abrahams Scored By: Makeda Kaya Photo by: @micholianoJoin The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

Growing up queer femme and black in Alabama, Ian learned very quickly what it means to love, but not be loved back. That is, until one day they became the center of their own love story. Produced by: Britney Abrahams Photo by: @properperspective Music & scoring by: @topshelfcuzoJoin The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

For our final episode of Season 1, tune in to hear the stories shared at our live storytelling event in Oakland, CA! First up is Dani, who you may remember from "Wanderlost." This time, she shares a story about not taking any sh*t from her racist South African landlord. The second story you'll hear is by Dara from the season 1 hit, "No Thank You;" who at the tender age of three experienced her first "trip." We close out the episode with Cory, from "BLM is Real," as he brings us through his 15 minutes of Black Twitter hashtag fame.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

Alex and her friends started off what should've been an ordinary Saturday night out at a popular bar in Oakland, CA. Singled out by a bartender for their attire, the situation escalated and ended up with Alex in the back of a cop car. With a growing spotlight on and record of police brutality, Alex's emotional story brings us right to the delicate line between self defense and self preservation.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

Depression does not discriminate. But like many of us, Bie grew up hearing and believing that it’s something only white people experience. So, she pushed the idea of depression out of her mind as she struggled to heal from death and heartbreak as an adult, until an episode of Real Housewives opened her eyes and motivated her to take action.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

We all have that one friend who falls in love every time he walks down the street. The type to spend days talking about the future he's about to have with some random woman he saw on the subway. Who every week swears he found wifey, and vows to let all his previous imaginary wifeys go. Tennyson is that friend. He fell in love for the first time in 2nd grade. To profess his love, he made his crush a gift for Valentine's Day. Listen as Tennyson brings us back to that momentous day.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

Corey woke up one Saturday expecting to grab a burrito and bum around all day... until he ran into some Black Lives Matter activists and followed them to a rally in San Francisco.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

While studying abroad in South Africa, Dani set out on a trip across the border to neighboring Mozambique and the esteemed Tofo Beach. Expecting a smooth journey, she experienced hiccup after hiccup, only to have an epiphany on what it really means to be an adventurer.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

Dissuaded by a college advisor, Keyaira drops her dream of becoming a professional writer for a marketing career in NY that can bring in the big bucks. But after a series of failed jobs don't deliver the satisfaction or financial security she’d hoped, Keyaira quickly learns what happens to a dream deferred.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

Welcome to You Had Me at Black, the podcast where Black Millennials tell true-life stories. Our co-founder Martina explains our inspiration for the podcast.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

A new anchor in a rural North Carolina newsroom, Averi overhears troubling comments about the effect her Blackness has on the station.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

What’s your favorite memory from college? For Spencer, his was a party at 12 Bryant St at Howard University. He recounts the most memorable party ever, Bacardi Gras.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

What happens when new tenants and businesses appropriate the cultures of the displaced? Nnenna knows firsthand. What started off as a fun way to celebrate a friend’s birthday turned into an isolating and humiliating experience in a San Francisco dance studio.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

An unexpected Myspace message leads Adha to his first house party in high school. It ends up being his best night ever, but in the most bittersweet way.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

After waking up in paralyzing pain one morning, Dara refuses to accept an unlikely diagnosis from her doctor.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

Amidst mental illness breaking her family apart, Sharell's Grandmother's love and resilience provided a safe haven.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com

A self-dubbed pyro, 10 year old Jazz loved playing with fire and would do so at any chance she could get. Then one day a game of ‘light as a feather, stiff as a board’ became way.too.lit.Join The KinshipOur digital community for folks inspired to use storytelling to connect, heal, and liberate. youhadmeatblack.com/kinship This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youhadmeatblack.substack.com