r/ThoughtWarriors

The most viral story related to "higher learning" and not a word from our favorite podcasters... Perhaps they are friends with Cheyenne? any ideas?

Have Van and Rachel talked about the controversy yet and/ or do y’all think they will talk about it? I wasn’t sure if I missed it. I’ve listened to the podcast off and on for the past few years, so I wasn’t sure if she has been a guest. If she has been a guest, I could see how they might not want to talk about it. However, since it’s such a big discussion right now, I’d be interested to hear their thoughts on it.

The interrogation of Bernard was awkward, but then she made the DC comment and I thought damn, is she talking about me? Am I part of the problem?

She’s making some genuinely problematic assumptions, and it connects to this broader conversation about gatekeeping: the idea that Black people can only be Pro-Black if their partner is also Black. And as a parent, the way biracial children get discussed in these conversations really comes off like something said by people who don’t actually have kids. What does it mean when she sees an interracial couple in DC? It’s a global, diverse, and transient city and one with one of the largest Black populations in the country. In places with real diversity, you see all kinds of relationships. Not every Black man in an interracial relationship is RGIII, and not every white woman is some caricature of a “problematic white girl.” And if we’re judging children by the race of their mother does that logic make Candace Owens someone to look up to? Obviously not. As I’ve gotten older, there are real cultural differences I navigate with my partner, but that’s rooted in my specific lived experience as a Black man in America not some ideological failure. My parents are West African. I’m first gen. Realistically, unless I had married someone West African specifically, there were always going to be significant cultural differences to work through and even then, it’s not simple. What’s funny is that I have cousins who are exactly like Van grew up in the South, Memphis, Jackson, Dallas the only difference is that one of their parents is African.

This is one of The Ringer's premier pods!

Howdy all. Believe it or not, I had a phone conversation with Van this morning (can fill that puzzle piece in later).

It was a really solid conversation that not only gave me better insight into him and his thinking and the show itself, but resulted in an opportunity he wanted me to share here:

He’s proposing that every last Thursday of the month, he’ll platform a TW who has anything they’d like to get off their chest, specifically a critique about the show.

NO PERSONAL ATTACKS/CRITIQUES ALLOWED!
Meaning families and personal relationships are off limits!

The details are still being worked out but he asked me to put it out on here (because he doesn’t come on Reddit anymore) and once everything is figured out, I’ll come back with the information.

Stay tuned for more!

EDIT: Any criticism brought to the show will be curated in a way that’s doesn’t invite chaos or negativity for the sake of clout or bashing. The idea is to promote civil, healthy discourse because the show is still aiming to enlighten and empower us. Anything contrary to that will not be accepted. This can be a real opportunity to enhance the show if done well and intentionally. Thank you to those who gave feedback and called out the potential dangers; I’m listening and will share that during the next conversation.

I noticed Van keeps saying on the podcast that Hip Hop comes from Black and Latino culture. I wasn't around the nascent Hip Hop Scene in NYC in the 1970s so I take the words of pioneers of the culture like Grandmaster Caz and their opinions as gospel on the matter. Also, for the Black Caribbeans who like to take credit for Hip Hop, see what a fellow Hip Hop pioneer of Caribbean descent, Fab Five Freddy, said about that.

Blind loyalty to a party has never been a defining feature of Black political activism, award-winning journalist and best-selling author Michael Harriot writes.

I think this was higher learning at its best. Tiffany made a great points when she discussed the difference of real journalism versus what we mostly have these days. At times it felt like they were having two different conversations but rachel did a good job and trying to moderate the convo.

I just wanted to shout out the Gen Z corner cuz they have been awesome additions to the podcast. Hearing Bernard audibly gasp in the background of today’s podcast when Tiffany Cross said she’d have questions about a black man from a big black city marrying a white woman was genuinely funny to me.

I fell behind on Higher Learning episodes recently, but I'm curious -- have Van & Rach talked about the new film Is God Is? If so, can anyone point me to the episode? If not, hope they will watch and discuss soon!

Other than the trailer I saw once before The Drama last month and once on tv, I've not seen or heard anything organically without seeking it myself. Even with people in my circle -- so far, I'm only learning that they're familiar with it when I've brought it up myself.

I know there's some discourse online, but even a lot of the posts I've seen in the lead-up to release have been "anyone else going to see it?" and I was terribly disappointed (but not surprised) that it's not being shown in all theaters / has limited showtimes and hasn't had significant marketing.

I'm purposefully seeing it opening weekend because on my local theaters' sites, it's buried under listings for movies that have been out already for weeks to months to decades -- I can maybe understand being underneath Devil Wears Prada 2 and maybe the Billie Eilish doc, but below Project Hail Mary (came out two whole months ago) and anniversary showings of Shrek and Top Gun ... I thought the strong cast, the original play's critical success (Obie awards are highest honors for off-Broadway), and Sinners' success would give Is God Is its deserved marketing dollars, but seems not, so it's time to vote with my dollars!

He’s on that list of white people going viral on social media plea coppin for MTG. I still remember when he was on the pod plea coppin for Charlie Kirk

Van just soft women are saying men aren’t men anymore and that’s exactly why

Unless I missed it during the Stefon Diggs convo

The lawsuit from his fwb turned "personal chef" revealed that Stefon had a sexual relationship with the woman who accused him of assualt

PLUS another woman on his staff that she was informed of by one of Stefon's Baby mommas who he was paying a salary and rent to

The chef mentioned she was upset about not attending Art Basel because she had plans with Cardi B!

Meaning not only was the chef aware of the other staffer but she too was hanging out with the woman she was cheating on

I thought that was cold blooded on top of Stefon very clearly being a hoe.