Who am I? and other ruminations

Well, loyal readers, I have a confession to make:  I have done very little reading of late.  And, quite frankly, I am not sure I am going to finish a book very quickly in the near future.  I just feel so restless at times when I'd normally be reading.  I will pick up a book and then put it down, turn on a TV show and then lose interest, feel a little lonely at home but not want to go out, go out and then not be sure what exactly I want to do... I don't know what it is, but hopefully I shake it soon!

BUT, what I am still doing is listening to podcasts, mostly because they require much less of a time commitment than reading does.  So I thought I'd bring you another entry in my occasional series on podcasts.  Do you guys like when I do this?  Does anyone actually listen to the podcasts, or do I at least pique your interest?  I'd be interested to know - please give me some feedback :-)  To be fair, I'll probably continue the series whether you guys like it or not.  I think the reading posts will be slower for the next several months but I want to keep in the habit of writing on the blog.  AND - well, these podcasts are seriously fascinating and I think you should give them a try.

This episode has a theme!  IDENTITY.  Maybe I'm just becoming more aware of it now because it's of personal interest to me, but I feel like recently, Americans have been doing a lot of soul-searching to define who they are as individuals and how they fit into a larger group.  And, due to America's very complex history with race, this can be a very difficult experience.  Here are three podcasts that all relate to identity, fitting in, and being true to yourself.

State of the Re:union - Black as We Wish to Be
I had never even heard of this show before, but this episode was absolutely amazing.  It blew my mind.  I highly recommend a listen, whether you are American or not.  The pain of feeling on the outskirts and attempting to fit in is something everyone can relate to, if not in exactly the same way.
  
State of the Re:union "has set out to explore how a particular American city or town creates community, the ways people transcend challenging circumstances and the vital cultural narratives that give an area its uniqueness."  The show highlights one town or city each week.  The most recent episode was about East Jackson, OH, a tiny town in the Appalachian foothills that started as a Sundown Town and now has a population of people who look very, very white but identify as black.  Why is that important?  And why does it really matter to anyone else?  A few quotes from the episode:

"We were always told we were Black.  We didn't look black.  So, for a lot of people in East Jackson, they have a choice now... The choice means a lot.  It's something that we weren't allowed to choose before.  And now that we have that choice, I think it gives us a little bit of liberation."

"When you first told me about East Jackson, I thought it was crazy for people who looked white to claim to be black.  I mean, why not just be who you are?  But then I realized they are being who they are, every single one of them.  Each person has taken a lifetime of experiences and crafted an identity that feels true to them.  And who am I, who is anyone, to judge that?"

Radiolab - Adoptive Couple vs. Baby Girl

You may remember how much I love the show Radiolab.  This episode is a bit different than the norm, but it's fascinating.  For those of you who enjoyed Louise Erdrich's The Round House and found it eye-opening regarding crimes committed on Native American reservations, I think you'll find this episode really, really important.

This is the story of a three-year-old girl and the highest court in the land. The Supreme Court case Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl is a legal battle that has entangled a biological father, a heart-broken couple, and the tragic history of Native American children taken from their families.

When producer Tim Howard first read about this case, it struck him as a sad but seemingly straightforward custody dispute. But, as he started talking to lawyers and historians and the families involved in the case, it became clear that it was much more than that. Because Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl challenges parts of the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, this case puts one little girl at the center of a storm of legal intricacies, Native American tribal culture, and heart-wrenching personal stakes.

This American Life - Tribes
Another one of my favorite podcasts, this time Ira & Co. spent a whole hour on identifying with a group, and the repercussions that come with those decisions.  A Native American tribe that is kicking members out, a man with an Asian fetish, a woman who really, really like whispering.  As Ira Glass would say, stay with us and you'll hear some truly fascinating stories. 

And that's all for this podcast roundup!