Legacy

I really enjoy this podcast and the hosts’ chemistry. While they admit they have to take some creative liberties to enhance storytelling, it’s clear they’re grounded in solid historical research. They do a great job showing the humanity—both good and bad—of cultural icons. Some may be uncomfortable with critiques of Western figures they grew up admiring, but the podcast challenges those narratives thoughtfully. At the same time, it offers deeper insight into often-misunderstood historical figures, many of whom are people of color, helping to correct long-standing gaps in our education system. Overall, it’s an engaging and thought-provoking way to learn history.

The stories in this podcast are well structured and easily digestible for the general population, and up until today I have been able to roll with the punches of hearing Afuas political opinions against my will. That being said, the Cleopatra podcast is where I draw the line. As a Greek man myself the cleopatra documentary on Netflix that was referenced here was not only pseudoscientific, it was harmful erasure of Greek history. I’m glad she recognizes that cleopatra had Greek heritage, but it’s clear that she is subscribing to the same line of thought that Jada Pinkett Smith (and many American racists) held. Why on earth are we entertaining the idea that cleopatra was black? I’ll even concede that it’s possible she had Egyptian heritage from her mother… but Egyptians aren’t BLACK. Insisting that she is “African so she was black” is anti-scientific and erases the identity of North Africans, who are almost exclusively not black. I use your view on Egyptian history as a litmus test for whether or not you care about TRUTH in history, or whether you want to politicize it for your own delusional fantasies and you FAILED Afua.

Not only informative but entertaining. History and people are so nuanced and both hosts do a great job of adding the layers of what makes history, history. People often forget (or don’t want to accept there are many sides to history and the people create it. Too many people are often triggered by people of color, women, and ideas that challenge their own ideas or sensibilities vs wanting a dynamic sharing of the layers that make up iconic and historic events and people. I highly recommend this podcast!

BABY FACE FLOYD‽‽‽‽😩