Posted on April 30, 2007 - by Administrator
Submit an audio commentary to Addicted to Race
by Carmen Van Kerckhove
Those of you who are subscribers to Addicted to Race may have noticed that I’ve fallen off my game a bit in the last couple weeks.
Last Monday’s episode didn’t happen because my computer basically chewed it up, and neither Jenn nor I were able to reschedule later in the week. And this past week I didn’t have any time to do a new episode.
Unfortunately the next few weeks are going to be a bit hellish for me: a combination of final exams and outside commitments (weddings, family stuff). But I don’t want to leave you hanging podcast-less for a month.
So here’s what I’m suggesting. For the rest of May, ATR episodes are going to be made up almost entirely of content submitted by listeners. This week I’m going to put out an episode of all the audio comments I’ve received since last episode.
And I’ll keep doing that for the next few weeks.
But in order to do this, I need your help! So will you please do me a favor and call our voicemail comment line at 206-203-3983 and leave an audio comment (or two or three)?
It can either be in reaction to past episodes, or to any of the things going on in the news lately. Not limited to these topics of course, but here are some to make you think:
- Virginia Tech shooting and the media’s treatment of Cho’s ethnicity and immigration status, also the treatment of his name: Cho Seung-Hui or Seung-Hui Cho?
- The recent discussions about misogyny in hip hop. What did you think of Oprah’s town hall meetings? How did we get from Don Imus saying some ignorant shit to blaming hip hop?
- The “Stop Snitchin’” movement. Did any of you catch Anderson Cooper’s interview with Cam’ron on 60 Minutes? How has the media handled or mishandled this topic?
- Racism on the radio. What are your thoughts on Rush Limbaugh’s “Barack the Magic Negro” song? What do you think of JV & Elvis’s racist Chinese restaurant prank? Is racism ever going to stop being a way to boost ratings?
- The squandering of Katrina funds. Did you see this Washington Post article? “Allies offered $854 million in cash and in oil that was to be sold for cash. But only $40 million has been used so far for disaster victims or reconstruction, according to U.S. officials and contractors. Most of the aid went uncollected, including $400 million worth of oil. Some offers were withdrawn or redirected to private groups such as the Red Cross. The rest has been delayed by red tape and bureaucratic limits on how it can be spent.”
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About the Host
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of New Demographic, a diversity education firm. Her perspectives on race and diversity have been featured on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, USA Today, and The New York Times.
She hosts the podcast Addicted to Race and blogs at Racialicious and Anti-Racist Parent.
You can reach her at 646.400.5270 or team@newdemographic.com.-
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May 3, 2007
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MarbleFudge said:
This is weak, using reader comments as the podcast for weeks? people are not going to be into that! but I see there was plenty of time to put up the advertisement for the pay per download speech and cutsey graphic, but no time for the cause out of the goodness of your heart, whats up with that? the other chick would never allow this kind of flakiness!
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May 3, 2007
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Administrator said:
Wow. That was really harsh. I’ve developed a thick skin over the years for comments but I have to say that this really, really hurt my feelings.
You may not realize this, but in addition to doing this podcast, I work a full-time job and am getting my MBA. I work at the job 40+ hours a week, am in classes 10 hours a week, and spend about an additional 10 hours a week on homework.
On top of all that, I run New Demographic, the anti-racism training company and write three different blogs: Racialicious, Anti-Racist Parent, and Race in the Workplace. All of those combined take another 40 hours or so a week.
So basically, I work 100+ hours a week and yes it is “for the cause out of the goodness of my heart.”
I could have just disappeared from the podcast for a month and not said anything. Instead, I’m trying to offer a solution so that listeners have *something* for the next few weeks instead of nothing.
I hope that sooner rather than later I’ll be able to do New Demographic full-time. Selling audio seminars and e-books are one way for me to get closer to that goal. So yes, I made it a priority to put up that post. Doing that took about 10 minutes. Putting together a single podcast episode takes about 4 hours. I’m sorry that you find that so distasteful.
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May 3, 2007
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Latoya Peterson said:
Ahem.
I think this calls for a quote:
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
- Theodore Roosevelt
“Citizenship in a Republic”
Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910
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May 3, 2007
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BrooklynDude said:
Carmen, you are doing an amazing job here. I hope you know that so many people get a lot out of all your efforts, and frankly, I am shocked that you can pull it all off while holding down a full-time job AND going for an MBA! Keep up the good work.
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May 4, 2007
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daisy said:
Carmen, you are fabulous. Your podcasts are incredible, and I’ve learned so much from you. Thanks for all that.
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May 4, 2007
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LM said:
MarbleFudge, you need to step back.
It’s a major strength of ATR and the multiple blogs Carmen administers that the conversation is open to numerous voices.
Period.
LaToya, great quote… it’s one of my favorites, and definitely apropos.
Carmen, you needn’t explain yourself in this case. Your generosity already shows through, as does your committment to your mission, whatever shape it takes.
a major strength of Carmen’s work is her willingness to create the forum for other’s voices to be heard.
one of the strengths of Carmen’s efforts is her incorporation of listener feedback and the creation of numerous forums (not just the podcast but multiple blogs) that encourage thoughtful discussion
This is weak, using reader comments as the podcast for weeks? people are not going to be into that! but I see there was plenty of time to put up the advertisement for the pay per download speech and cutsey graphic, but no time for the cause out of the goodness of your heart, whats up with that? the other chick would never allow this kind of flakiness!
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May 4, 2007
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LM said:
Nice editing on my part, eh?
Ignore everything after the first six sentences in my previous posts. Doh!
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May 4, 2007
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paul said:
Thanks for you hard work. I have learned a lot from you in the past year or so. All of your work is appreciated and this is one of my favorite podcasts!! As a white male that grew up in a small town in the Midwest that still had the sunset laws on the books (blacks out before sunset) but now lives in one of the few diverse neighborhoods in Milwaukee I have learned more they you can imagine from your cast. Keep up the great work!!!!!
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May 4, 2007
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lillian said:
Carmen, don’t let idiots like MarbleFudge get you down. As someone whose been listening to ATR from the very beginning I can’t even begin to describe how much I love your podcast and how much I’ve learned from it. It’s given me alot of insight into society’s perception of race related issues, and as a mixed race individual myself, its influenced me to become more active in doing my part to change how our society looks at race.
I, along with the majority of your faithful listeners I’m sure, completely understand how hectic your schedule must be and I, for one, greatly appreciate your efforts to broadcast something instead of nothing during your hiatus (I also happen to really enjoy listener feedback, so it’s not even a disappointment for me at all).
Just wanted to leave my two cents and tell you I think you’re doing an amazing job.
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May 4, 2007
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Yvette said:
Girrrrllll, pleasee. Don’t like MarbleFudge get to you. While I too wait for your shows each week, I realize that I receive them for free and that you are not responsible for my education and entertainment. Everyone is allowed breaks – regardless of the reasons. That’s what reruns are for. No need to make any excuses.
Furthermore, we are all human. The wrong comment can hit us particularly hard at the wrong time. When you feel stressed out, always take for yourself to regroup. Put you first. In the long run, it will serve you listeners better.
Much appreciation and support for all you do. Good luck with your studies.
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May 5, 2007
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Yemisi Blake said:
Hey Carmen,
You’re doing excellent work. Inspirational, encouraging and progressive (not a common package)
Thank you for all your hard work!
Nuf said >>>
Yem
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May 6, 2007
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Ekachai said:
Hi Carmen,
for the record, you have done so much for all the listeners- so you don’t owe us anything. In fact, it is the other way around- we all learned a lot from your discussions. Even if you only do one show you are already sticking your neck out; but what amazes me is that you are doing it on a regular basis admist your hectic schedule. That’s a lot more initiative than a lot of people I know, including myself. So don’t let Marblefudge (“marblefudge” ???!!!) bring you down. As you can see with all the other responses here, he is in the abolute minority. I think he/she is pissed because the current season of American Idol is over and desparately in need of entertainment…f-k’n troll.
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May 7, 2007
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Aisha B. said:
Carmen,
Self-care is most important. You are truly amazing and what you do is valuable to our society; however, you need to take care of you.
The fact that Marblefudge’s comments got to you shows that you are human and you have feelings that should be RESPECTED.
Thank you for offering us FREE education about race in America.
Now go and take care of yourself. We’ll be okay.
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May 7, 2007
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Lis Stadler said:
Carmen,
Most times I agree your podcast and every so often I disagree with your podcast. However, I like many others too, do not in any way take for granted all the extra hours you put into the research and production of the podcast. You have done an incredible job and I want to thank you for not only the quantity of programs, but also the outstanding quality of all the subjects you have tackled. Muchas Gracias for serving not only many people in the US, but people all around the glove.
Lis
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May 8, 2007
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Administrator said:
Hey everyone, thank you SO much for your kind words. I really didn’t need to react as strongly as I did, but like Yvette said, I’m human and this comment just really hit below the belt. Anyway, I wanted to thank all of you for the outpour of support.
I promise to get back to the regular schedule as soon as I can!