© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Up To Date

Be A Better White Ally | Local Black Comedian

A protester holds up a cardboard sign that reads, "Justice For Black Lives," and lists the names Ahmaud, George, Breonna, Terrence, Renisha, Philando, Trayvon and Eric.
Logan Weaver
/
Unsplash
These are intense times and many white people don’t know what to do and how to help. We heard tips for being a good white ally, without overstepping.

Segment 1, beginning at 4:20: Two local activists talk about white allyship.

As Kansas City deals with nightly protests over the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died last week at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, many white folks are wondering what they can do to help. Today, two activists gave advice on how interested white people can be better allies.

Segment 2, beginning at 41:50: The difficulty of comedy in the midst of serious times
Ameerah Sanders is a young black female comic in Kansas City. Her jokes are based on things that happen to her in real life, which includes racism, even though she doesn’t explicitly try and make jokes about it.

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
Michelle is a reporter covering race, identity and culture and is an assistant talk show producer.
Mackenzie Martin is a senior podcast producer at KCUR Studios and host of the podcast, A People's History of Kansas City. Contact her at mackenzie@kcur.org.