Brown & Black

Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another got the casting right, but did it get Latinos and Blacks right? People are still talking about the film One Battle After Another. We breakdown how Paul Thomas Anderson's new movie handles Black and Latino characters in Hollywood. With Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and Chase Infinity starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, we ask: do these characters finally get the depth they deserve, or are they still written for white audiences? We also ask whether this three-hour film merits a rewatch. Episode Summary Are Black & Latino roles evolving? Revolutionaries and redemption DiCaprio, Taylor & Del Toro on screen together Benicio's "Sensei" and immigrant storyline Black female portrayals under the microscope Representation vs. white gaze in Hollywood Why Lindelof's Watchmen and Coco got it right Teyana Taylor's rise from VH1 to PTA prestige Latino and Black artists entering prestige cinema The future of inclusive filmmaking Verdict: Entertaining but imperfect Subscribe and listen to Brown & Black: 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kXU3nCQQK6Udf7DzzD7x8 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brown-black/id1524696879 Follow us: 📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/brownblackpodcast Jack Rico: https://twitter.com/jackricotv Mike Sargent: https://twitter.com/mikesargent

This week on Brown & Black, we drop an Off the Cuff episode on the breaking news that Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl halftime show. This marks the first-ever Spanish-language halftime show on America's biggest stage. We break down why this moment matters for Latino and Black culture, how it exposes the NFL's contradictions on race and protest, and what it reveals about the league's global ambitions. We also ask: Will this be the most-watched halftime ever? Can Bad Bunny top Kendrick Lamar's historic performance? What does the spotlight on Spanish language in America mean for culture and business? And what might Bad Bunny choose to say—or not say—before an audience of 100 million?

Many white Americans face a contradiction: they love Black and Latino culture, but don't like Black and Latino people. Dr. Barnor Hesse of Northwestern University calls this "White Voyeurism." It's part of his Eight White Identities framework that explains Jennifer Welch's viral rant against MAGA hypocrisy. We revisit Hesse's revolutionary framework to show how whiteness has consumed Black and Latino culture for 500 years without any accountability. Episode Summary – Jennifer Welch's viral rant – White voyeurism explained – White hypocrisy and cultural hypocrisy – Consuming culture without humanity – Why studying whiteness is radical – Why Welch's rant went viral – Only white people can end racism – Dr. Hesse explains Eight White Identities – White people calling out whiteness 🎧 Subscribe and listen to Brown & Black:  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brown-black/id1524696879 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kXU3nCQQK6Udf7DzzD7x8 📱 Follow us:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/brownblackpodcast Jack Rico: https://www.instagram.com/jackrico/ Mike Sargent: https://www.instagram.com/mikeonscreen/

Did you know The Underground Railroad went South and America spent 200 years hiding it? In this episode, we talk to Nygel Robinson and Brian Quijada, creators of the Off-Broadway musical MEXODUS, which reveals how 10,000 enslaved people escaped to Mexico between 1829-1865. This history of Black and Latino solidarity has never been brought to the stage, until now. We discuss why this musical is an act of resistance today, how they got white allies to fund a brown and black story, and what would happen if schools taught this truth? Plus, they address the inevitable comparisons to 'Hamilton' and how the two differ. Episode Summary (03:54) – 10,000 slaves escaped to Mexico (11:04) – How Bug's Life explains American racism (12:37) – Writing protest songs from inside (14:18) – People changed from John to Juan (23:23) – How white allies funded MEXODUS (24:18) – We don't say "white" at all (29:19) – What if schools taught this story? (37:26) – 'Hamilton' vs MEXODUS: The differences  Previews begin Tuesday, September 9th at Audible's Minneta Lane Theater in New York City.

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington, two of Hollywood's biggest stars, reunite for A24's Highest 2 Lowest (in theaters August 15). But you wouldn't know it from the marketing. Its low-profile rollout has people asking: is this racism or just business? And will the burden of promoting the film fall once again on Black moviegoers? Episode Summary: • Is undermarketing Black films racism or just business? • Did Spike and Denzel agreed to this deal? • The long history of under-promoted Black films • Black films that did get a marketing push • The problem with "we support our own" • Denzel's big payday vs. the film's performance • Why Brad Pitt and George Clooney chose streaming • Black audiences carrying films to box office success 🎧 Listen to 'Brown & Black' Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47JgORF Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/32hShVT 📢 Follow us on Substack: https://www.brownblackpodcast.com 📱 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brownblackpodcast https://www.instagram.com/jackrico https://www.instagram.com/iammikeonscreen

How can the Latino star of Disney's Andor, the best-reviewed show in the Star Wars franchise, be snubbed by the Emmys?  In this episode, we pull back the curtain on how the voting process really works from the inside. We're also asking some hard questions: Why are Latinos showing up in record numbers, yet the nomination process doesn't reward them? What does the Diego Luna snub say to Latinos when reaching the peak is still not enough? We also shoutout the Latino showrunners, writers, composers, editors, and hairstylists quietly winning and shaping mainstream culture. And finally, why does the media keep erasing the "Afro" when describing stars like Colman Domingo and Lisa Colón-Zayas? Episode Summary (0:33) – How Jack became an Emmy voter (5:00) – The voting process and challenges (6:00) – Why multicultural judges matter (7:10) – Why was Diego Luna snubbed? (7:39) – The Latino impact of winning an Emmy (15:19) – Drama vs. Comedy: The prestige gap (19:01) – All the Latino Emmy snubs (24:41) – Latino hairstylists and editors are the golden standard (30:02) – How Hollywood sees Latinos and Blacks (32:48) – Media erasing the 'Afro' in Afro-Latino Subscribe and listen to 'Brown & Black': 🎧   Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47JgORF  Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/32hShVT Follow us now on SUBSTACK! 👨🏾‍💻👨🏿‍💻 https://www.brownblackpodcast.com Socials:📱 https://www.instagram.com/brownblackpodcast https://www.instagram.com/jackrico https://www.instagram.com/iammikeonscreen

This July weekend, we review two of the biggest summer movies of 2025: Jurassic World: Rebirth and The Materialists.  Mike breaks down why Jurassic World is stuck in a loop of reboots and clichés, even with big stars like Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali. And what would it take to save this franchise? Then Jack reviews The Materialists, a romantic drama exploring love, class, and status in modern dating culture starrign Pedro Pascal, Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans. We also officially launched the Brown & Black Social Club on Substack, a space for Black and Latino creatives, packed with curated industry insights that goes way beyond the podcast. Episode Summary – Launching the Brown and Black Substack – Mikes review: Jurassic World: Rebirth – Latino family subplot analysis – How to save the Jurassic Franchise – Jack's review: The Materialists – Love and class in a transactional culture – Height, value, and self-worth in dating – Shoutout to Keith David's Walk of Fame honor 👉 Listen now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kXU3nCQQK6Udf7DzzD7x8 👉 Join the Brown & Black Social Club: https://brownblackpodcast.com 📱 Follow us: @brownblackpodcast on Instagram & YouTube

In this episode, we welcome Nyasha Hatendi, the creator, writer, director, and producer of Audible's new audio horror drama, Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi. He opens up about his motivations for creating Sacrilege, the influences behind its horror, his collaboration with actor Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things, and how truth and story have the power to bring people together. Episode Summary – Truth-telling in an age of lies – BBC to QCode: audio evolution – America, Zimbabwe, UK roots – Writing horror by accident, not intent – Dysfunctional family truth becomes horror – Creating the myth of the Mbirwi – Cultural duality and Black identity – Lessons learned from Sacrilege – Casting Caleb McLaughlin – How storytelling brings us together Subscribe and listen to "Brown and Black": 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kXU3nCQQK6Udf7DzzD7x8 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brown-black/id1524696879 Follow us: 📱 https://instagram.com/brownblackpodcast https://twitter.com/mikesargent https://twitter.com/jackricotv #BrownBlackPodcast #NyashaHatendi #SacrilegeAudioDrama #BlackHorrorStorytelling #CulturalDuality

In this special sponsored episode, we're partnering with Audible for our first-ever audio drama analysis, breaking down the groundbreaking supernatural thriller "Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi" starring Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things. Created by Zimbabwean-American filmmaker Nyasha Hatendi, this six-episode supernatural horror audio drama follows an African-American family from Detroit whose luxury heritage tourism trip to Zimbabwe unleashes an ancient shapeshifting spirit - part man, part beast, part spirit - that feeds on weakness and pain. We explore in-depth: - What does it mean to be Black globally? - African horror vs. Black-American horror - Caleb McLaughlin's star-making vocal performance - Heritage tourism and American privilege - Colonial trauma in modern storytelling - The rise of Black audio drama Listen to "Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi" in Dolby Atmos exclusively on Audible at audible.com/sacrilege. Thank you to Audible for sponsoring this episode.

This week we deconstruct Ryan Coogler's SINNERS from a Latino and Black perspective. It's a film that is creating deep cultural conversations about Black originality and the business of Black culture globally. We explore its cultural symbolism, audience reactions, Variety's media bias, and the troubling Asian release rollout that may hint at anti-Black bias in Asian markets. Episode Summary (2:00) – White audiences, Black movies: The paradox (4:00) – Ryan Coogler enters director-auteur status (7:00) – Layers of Black culture, not just horror (10:45) – The Sammy blues scene decoded (13:00) – Genre as a Trojan horse for truth (20:00) – Variety's bias box office framing (26:00) – Why Asia skipped Sinners release (30:00) – Coogler vs. Peele: next-level Black storytelling (33:00) – What 'Sinners' means for Brown and Black filmmakers Subscribe and listen to 'Brown & Black': 🎧  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47JgORF Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/32hShVT

If AI can make human-like art, do we still need the artist? In this episode we unpack the OpenAI's 'Image Editor' and the Studio Ghibli AI trend, and discuss the cultural, economic, and existential implications AI poses to Black and Latino artists. Episode Summary: AI Art: Speed & Quality Enjoying vs. Fearing AI Art Copyright Crisis Is the Artist's Career in Peril? Audience Over Artists?  Art vs. Commerce Struggle Inflection Point The Japanese Copyright Law Loophole Prompt Engineers Replacing Artists? Redefining "Artist" Cultural Gatekeepers Adapt or Resist? Defining the Artist The Capitalist Framework Protecting Brown & Black Artists Devaluation Through Imitation Valuing Artists, Protecting IP, Reforming Laws Subscribe and listen to 'Brown & Black': 🎧  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47JgORF Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/32hShVT

In Opus, Ayo Edebiri plays a journalist invited into a world of celebrity power, but is she there to observe, or be consumed by it? This week on Brown & Black, journalist and filmmaker Mark Anthony Green joins us to unpack his A24 directorial debut, Opus. We dissect the film's underlying themes, including the seductive power of validation, the blurred lines between journalism and celebrity, and how Black horror and comedy can expose the darker truths of our human condition. Episode Summary  Mark Anthony Green reveals journey from GQ journalist to filmmaker The reality of being "in the room" vs. having creative control Behind-the-scenes stories of working with Nile Rodgers, and George Clinton Crafting intelligent, complex Black characters Are we in an entertainment journalism crisis? How "Get Out" changed horror filmmaking for Black directors Why Opus connects differently with Black viewers The six-year journey of bringing "Opus" to the screen. Why Mark Anthony Green considers audience discussions "the sequel" to his film. #MarkAnthonyGreen #Opus #A24 #AyoAdebiri #BlackFilmmakers #BrownBlackPodcast 

Is Donald Trump's Kennedy Center takeover the start of a cultural whitewash? This week on 'Brown & Black,' we examine what happens when the most powerful man in America seizes control of the nation's most prestigious cultural institution. The President's takeover of the Kennedy Center has sparked fears of a whitewashing of African-American and Latino culture. From shrinking opportunities for artists of color to the threat against Spanish-language media, are we witnessing the beginning of state-run art in America? Episode Summary: Discussing the definition of "white culture" and its relationship to power Discussion of Trump's unprecedented control of the Kennedy Center Analysis of the dismissal of 18 board members and the cultural implications Debate on American culture as fundamentally rooted in Black culture Exploration of the potential future of Spanish language in mainstream media Examination of the potential impact on BET, Univision and Telemundo Discussion of how artists today might respond to cultural oppression A plea to listeners to resist cultural erasure Subscribe and listen to 'Brown & Black': 🎧  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47JgORF Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/41HIIxy

How do you make a America whiter without saying you're making it whiter? In this first episode of 2025, during Black History Month, we dissect what does Trump's dismatling of DEI and the self-sabotaging deportation crusade, mean or businesses and media?And how much damage will be done to Blacks and Latinos before they get their way? Then we discuss why the backlash to the 13-time Oscar-nominated Netflix musical "Emilia Perez" isn't about "foreigners stealing Latino stories." It's about the power to define, represent, and shape how a culture is perceived. Whoever controls the story, controls the power. We break down why "Emilia Perez" has ignited a battle for the soul of cultural storytelling. Episode Summary The Trump administration's full-scale attack on DEI Why companies like Target & McDonald's are retreating from diversity  Can capitalism survive without Latino and Black labor? The history of Mexican deportation: Why 1929 is repeating itself today The dystopian reality of race in America The impact of anti-DEI laws on education, media, and business The Supreme Court's role in dismantling civil rights Is DEI really gone, or is it evolving? What's the future of racial progress in America? FOLLOW US 📸 Instagram: @BrownBlackPodcast 📺 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE to amplify Latino and Black voices in media! #MakeAmericaWhiteAgain #DEI #Trump2025 #Project2025 #RacialJustice #CulturalRepresentation #LatinoVoices #BlackVoices #BrownBlackUnity

In this special Thanksgiving episode, we're sharing some of our favorite movies and TV shows we're currently watching or bingeing. Hopefully, you'll find something to add to your Thanksgiving watchlist.   From Black documentaries on 70s cinema and military-style action TV shows to a surreal film tackling female ageism, we've included a mix of Latino, Black, and mainstream selections that we enjoyed. We think that after watching these, you'll have a lot to talk about over the holidays.   Episode Summary: (00:00) - The power of movie escapism (05:15) - Lioness: Military-style action with Zoe Saldana (09:30) - The Piano Lesson: Black legacy meets supernatural themes (14:00) - Pedro Páramo: Family and redemption through a Mexican lens (16:45) - Is That Black Enough for You?: 70s Black cinema documentary (20:00) - Blitz: WWII drama spotlighting resilience and untold stories (23:30) - The Substance: A surreal exploration of female ageism (30:00) - Captain America: Brave New World: Diversity in the Marvel universe (30:30) - Emilia Pérez: A transformative Latino musical (34:00) - Gladiator 2: Representation in historical epics   Subscribe and listen to 'Brown & Black': 🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47JgORF Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2uwVWk2   Follow us: 📱 https://www.instagram.com/brownblackpodcast https://www.instagram.com/jackrico https://www.instagram.com/iammikeonscreen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's November 7, 2024. Latinos are clearly becoming the next 'whites' and represent what the Republican Party may look like in the future. This episode promises to challenge everything you thought you knew about Latino identity in the U.S.   Back in April 2024, we spoke to Political Psychologist Efren Perez, a UCLA Professor of Political Science and Psychology, who holds a PhD from Duke University, about his research on what are the true psychological and political factors that are driving many Latinos to "whiteness." Is it a survival mechanism or is it status-seeking? What are the long-term implications of this negotiation of identity and the Census?   Episode Summary: • Perez on his recent Newsweek article and the concept of "ideological whiteness." • Exploring Latino identity and the political landscape. • Impact of personality traits on political ideology among Latinos. • Latino Republicans and their alignment with conservative ideologies. • Discussion on how historical shifts have redefined racial categories. • Potential future of Latino identity and politics in the U.S.   Key Quotes: ❞ "We've been talking about Latinos and African Americans and other groups as if they sort of naturally belong together. They don't." - Efren Perez   "The main point is that the category of white has expanded and narrowed across the centuries. And we are living in a moment, awash in data where we can show you that it's going through expansion right now." - Efren Perez   "Quit focusing on the outliers and focus your energy on organizing, mobilizing the two-thirds that are already convinced, but don't have the time to vote, don't have the time or resources to make their perspective felt." - Efren Perez   Subscribe and listen to 'Brown & Black': 🎧  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47JgORF Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2uwVWk2   Follow us: 📱 https://www.instagram.com/brownblackpodcast https://www.instagram.com/jackrico https://www.instagram.com/iammikeonscreen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does responsible AI use look like in the music world?    This week, we sit down with Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., the man at the helm of one of music's most revered institutions, to discuss AI's current and future impact on the music industry - especially for creators of color - and how the Recording Academy is confronting this challenge head-on. Harvey reveals what's at stake: artist rights, the moral challenges AI presents, and how the Grammys are preparing for the inevitable surge of AI-generated music.   If you're in the music industry, a fan of pop culture, or following the AI disruption drama, this eye-opening conversation will make you rethink the future of music and creativity in the digital age.   Episode Summary: 0:00 - The growing impact of AI on the music industry explained 1:40 - Exploring whether AI is a creative tool or disruptor in music 3:30 - Discussing AI's role in the process of music creation 6:20 - The ethical use of AI is needed to protect human creativity 9:15 - How AI increases corporate profits but can harm artists 12:00 - Examining AI's potential benefits for music industry revenue 14:45 - Questioning whether AI will ever have its own Grammy category 17:30 - The Grammys' stance: no awards for AI-generated music 20:40 - Expanding access to music education for creators of color 24:15 - The Grammys use AI detection to protect artist rights 26:50 - Redefining what defines talent in an AI-driven music world 30:10 - Balancing AI innovation with human connection in music 32:45 - A preview of the 2025 Grammy nominations: diversity and creativity   Sources: Recording Academy: https://www.recordingacademy.com/press-room/executives Will. I. Am. FYI app: https://will.i.am/   Harvey Mason Jr. Quotes: "The AI songs right now are generating a hundred songs per second. ... No one can tell me that AI is going to make Songs in the Key of Life or Nevermind, or Illmatic."   "But as it relates to the academy right now, we don't reward or award AI in our process. So if you're AI vocal, you're not eligible for performance."   "AI is happening. There's no going back. ... Let's make sure that it's done responsibly, ethically, maybe even morally."   "If you're Bad Bunny ... but if you're the purist who wants to have complete control over their voice ... then they should be able to do that as well."   "I do believe in the power of human creativity...but without some real advocating and without legislation... we would have the danger in my mind that we could slip into a place where we're just listening to generated AI music." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Land, land, land. What if your ancestors kept the land they were promised? How would your life be different?    In this episode, we speak with Mother Jones Editorial Director, Jamilah King, about a story meant to be hidden in the annals of history. She and her investigative team used AI to unearth evidence that could force the nation into a reckoning with reparations and finally confront its buried truths.    Episode Summary: 3:15 - Explosive findings from '40 Acres and a Lie' impacting African American descendants  12:45 - Jamila King on AI's role in revealing hidden Freedman's Bureau documents 18:20 - How this story reshapes reparations and America's broken promises 25:30 - Black and Mexican land losses post-Civil War and unjust government land grabs 37:00 - Storytelling, media literacy, and empowering the next generation for justice 45:15 - Reparations and the legal challenges ahead   Source: Mother Jones article https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/06/40-acres-and-a-lie/   Subscribe and listen to 'Brown and Black': 🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/3BrownBlackSpotify Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3BrownBlackApple   Follow us: 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brownblackpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/brownblackpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brownblackpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a pandemic exposes the realities that wealth and privilege usually hide?   Author Regina Porter stops by our show to discuss her provocative new novel, "The Rich People Have Gone Away," a title that says it all. It's a book with sharp social commentary where characters are forced to confront their own moral complexities about privilege, race, and class, set against the backdrop of COVID-19 in New York City in 2020.   Porter also reveals how she builds complex characters, as well her curiousity to examine themes of personal value versus wealth. Hopefully, this episode can give you a deeper understanding of how literature, in particular this book, can help us process collective trauma and find our place in a time of crisis.       Episode Summary: (2:15) - From Southern roots to New York stories: Porter's unique writing journey (7:30) - Exploring race and privilege through white-presenting character Theo Harper (14:45) - How Regina Porter brings time periods and characters to life (20:30) - Cardi B's t-shirt: Pop culture's role in Porter's character development (23:45) - Diversity in publishing: Porter shares industry trends for writers of color (27:15) - WPorter's advice for aspiring diverse writers   Regina Porter Quotes: "It's heartbreaking these stories. There's a reason why... we see these stories and people are not able to coexist with their wealth and their worthiness."   "Maybe my job is to pave the road for the next great writer and then my work might be rediscovered, you know, later."   Subscribe and listen to "Brown & Black": 🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47JgORF Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2uwVWk2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the recent announcement of WB's "La Bamba" remake, we ask: Did Hollywood whitewash Luis Valdez's 1987 film classic, and will the remake do better? And how much of your identity would you sacrifice to be seen by mainstream media?   In this raw and unfiltered episode of Brown & Black, we use the announcement of the "La Bamba" remake to discuss identity, assimilation, and the paradox of Latino representation in mainstream media.   Episode Summary: 📝 Revisiting La Bamba in 2024 Ritchie Valens' Latino identity: Authenticity vs. Acceptance The upcoming La Bamba remake: Challenges and opportunities The paradox of Latino representation in mainstream media Mainstream media's history and role in Latino erasure Time for a cultural reckoning   Notable Quotes: ❞ "How white do you have to be to become mainstream?" — Mike Sargent "You want to make a million people disappear? Here's how you do it. Don't cover them. Don't nominate them. Don't talk about them." – Jack Rico   Subscribe and listen to Brown & Black: 🎧 Spotify: https://bit.ly/BrownBlackSpotify iTunes: https://bit.ly/BrownBlackiTunes   Follow us: 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brownblackpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrownBlackPod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBrownBlackPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices