This week kicks off Women’s History Month with a discussion about trailblazing Black women, and we're making sure to include the Black women shaping U.S. history in real time.

Republican governors in Texas and Mississippi recently announced they are ending face mask requirements in their states and allowing businesses to open at 100% capacity — even as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage throughout the country.

Black communities have been among the hardest-hit by COVID-19. Many of them have been ignored in states’ haste to reopen, and very often, it has been Black women performing the essential work ― both professional and nonprofessional ― to keep these communities going.

Similarly, Black women have been key in responding to recent infrastructure failures across the South, including a weeks-long water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, after bitterly cold temperatures destroyed dozens of water mains and left thousands without access.

On this episode, hosts Taryn Finley, Shaquille Romblay and Ja’han Jones talk about Black women leading the charge during times of crisis and how best to celebrate women without burdening them with expectations that they are simply here to serve others.

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It’s the last week of Black History month, fam! And on this episode, drawing from the lens of Black history, the hosts imagine a future where all Black people have access to proper medicine and technological advancements, and imagine a moment in time where Black trans women are protected, loved and respected by all members of the community.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 27 transgender and gender non-conforming people were violently killed in 2020 — more than any other year since HRC began tracking this data in 2013. Asanni Armon, a transgender activist and founder of the organization For the Gworls sat down with Shaquille Romblay to explain why we have to continue to emphasize that “Black Trans Lives Matter.”

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Black history needs to be celebrated all year long, but Black History Month is an apt time to give flowers to our giants whose talents and contributions often go overlooked. This week on the podcast we're uplifting some of the unsung living legends of today. We sing singer-songwriter extraordinaire Jazmine Sullivan’s praises, shine a light on Black artist and scholar David Driskell and give props to Hollywood veteran Vivica A. Fox.

Later in the episode, Producer Felicia D. Henderson sits down with HuffPost senior enterprise editor Erin E. Evans to talk about her career journey. Henderson has worked on “Moesha,” “Soul Food,” “Sister, Sister,” “Family Matters” and other TV shows. While Henderson has helped break the mold of how Black stories are told on television, she tells Evans that her work breaking down boundaries wasn’t planned, but a result of her following her “creative curiosity.”

And That's That!

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Without question, “Judas and the Black Messiah” is one of this year’s most highly anticipated films. The project, co-written and directed by Shaka King, is a star-studded story of betrayal ― here, the killing of Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton as told by Bill O’Neal, the police informant who did him in.

Hampton’s killing by Chicago police is a story familiar to many, but in “Judas,” depictions of Hampton’s surroundings during that period ― aswirl with friends, family and foes ― add color to an iconic figure we often experience through black-and-white photos and video. That’s why we were so hyped to welcome this week’s guest, Dominique Fishback. In “Judas,” Dominique stars as Deborah Johnson (who now goes by the name Akua Njeri), Fred Hampton’s fiancee, political partner and the mother of Fred Hampton Jr. In her scenes, Fishback makes clear that Johnson was not a role-player in anyone’s story ― she was an activist in her own right whose teachings guided Hampton and the Black Panther Party spiritually.

Also on this episode, we talk about what Black love means to us, then give our take on Netflix's new film Malcolm and Marie, and offer some suggestions for how to love on yourself and others this Valentine's Day.

Shaquille: Haus of Hoodoo

Taryn: Lit Brooklyn | Addie Rawr | McBride Sisters Wine | FORIA Wellness

Ja'han: Chicago South Side Film Festival

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Happy Black History Month, fam!

It’s the time of the year, when we get to be unapologetically us and pay homage to our legends, angels and heroes. On this episode we focus on the legacy of Hollywood icon Cicely Tyson, who recently died at age 96. We also discuss the Nobel Peace Prize nominations for both Stacey Abrams and the Black Lives Matter movement, notable snubs from the Golden Globe Awards nominations, and why you should probably watch the NAACP Image Awards instead.

Later on Taryn sits down with a very special guest: TV producer Mara Brock Akil, who is responsible for legendary Black TV classics such as “Girlfriends” and “The Game.” In the interview, Brock Akil talks about her legacy, the shows she created, her new Netflix deal and the future of storytelling.

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Colorism is centuries old, yet some folks wanna act brand new.

Singer DaniLeigh dropped a Triller video of her bopping to her latest single “Yellow Bone” on Sunday. In the song, she expresses her man’s love for “yellow bones,” a very problematic way to describe light-skinned women. Not only was the song terrible, but it was drenched in colorist language.

After people on social media called her out, the Dominican singer issued an apology that made it clear that she didn’t understand why her song was offensive and feeding into a colorist and misogynistic system.

On this episode, journalist Ivie Ani joins the podcast to break down colorism in music and entertainment and how it is specifically dangerous to Black women.

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Welcome back, y’all! This Inauguration Day ― held in spite of violent white supremacist insurrectionists who just weeks ago waged a war on the U.S. Capitol to prevent it ― simply hit different.

On our first episode of 2021, we reflect on the inauguration and how we each celebrated the transition of power from Ol’ Boy and His Friends to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

There is a lot of work ahead for the new administration, but the inauguration afforded us all deserved time ― a few moments ― to acknowledge how dire things have been over the past four years and to celebrate the people who worked hardest to rescue the U.S. from the grips of authoritarianism.

We knew we had to kick this season off right, so we were excited to welcome HuffPost’s senior enterprise editor and friend-of-the-show Erin E. Evans, who joined us to discuss her recent piece reflecting on the Capitol riot, America’s history with white terrorism and the way forward for the Biden-Harris administration.

We touch all bases in this one. Come for our sober-minded deliberation, stay for our best “so-you-just-survived-four-years-of-pseudo-fascism” tips.

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It’s the last episode of the year, and we have to be honest and, most important, we have to be real: 2020 done snatched everyone’s wigs off their heads in some way, shape or form. However, 2021 is approaching like a thief in the middle of the night, and we’re hoping the new year comes with some wig glue to stick our crowns right back on our heads.

This week, Taryn and Shaquille talk with author and wellness consultant Alex Elle about her new book, “After the Rain: Gentle Reminders for Healing, Courage, and Self-Love.” Elle gives listeners advice on what steps they should take to go into the new year with a positive state of mind.

But first, the hosts break down the highs and lows of the year 2020, talking about everything, including the rise of Verzuz battles to Kanye West’s shocking run for the presidency. And That's That!

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