Anthems Black, Celebrating the Diversity of Black Voices
2020 has truly shown the importance of amplifying the Black voice to effect real and significant change in society. That unified Black voice is what’s driving the Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM). And we certainly need more amplification to disrupt the way things are, just as we need that shot of self-confidence, a relatable anecdote, unadulterated joy or cultural insights.
Anthems Black, a podcast series from Broccoli Content gives us all of this by capturing a scope of Black British voices with a collection of 31 original manifestos, speeches, stories, poems and also rallying cries read and written by the UK’s most notable figures. The creators hope to connect with “anyone who wants to hear themselves through the voices of our contributors. The beauty of these episodes is that there is such a fantastic intersection and cross section of Black voices that there is literally something for everybody.” Says Executive Producer Hana Walker-Brown.
Contributors to the podcast include lawyer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch, comedian Munya Chawawa, poet, actor and writer Jade Anouka, all providing compelling bite sized episodes that begin with a “word of the day”, lending itself to the theme of their piece. The “word” is served to carry you through the day.
When asked about what listeners can expect, Walker-Brown told I AM, “it was created as both a celebration and call to arms – it is in a sense an audio album of stirring pieces and words that embody grace, rage, power, joy, beauty, love, loss and everything in between.”
She added “Words that inspire not only courage and comfort but also action in a world that sometimes relies on the inaction of the many to uphold the power of the few – something we have seen consistently throughout the history of the global Black civil rights movements.”
The podcast arena is becoming more diverse and Black people can access content that speaks about Black British experiences - from all aspects. However, if you were to Google ‘Black UK podcasts’, the lists often repeat themselves, which means there is a lot more to do behind the scenes to push and market the many that are not getting the attention or indeed the remuneration they deserve.
In a move to push the industry forward, the CEO and founder of Broccoli Content Renay Richardson set up the Equality in Audio Pact challenging it to make a difference. The pact consists of five points of change that companies need to pledge to and be held accountable for. So far, over 53 companies have signed up, including Acast, Transmitter Media and Third Coast.
This is why Anthems Black is so vital to this space, as Richardson says “it has always been a priority to help platform the voices of minorities that is a reality and not a gimmick. Black people, speaking their truths, authentically, is one of the main reasons we are so proud and honoured to be making ANTHEMS Black – it is essential now as it has always been.”
Launched on September 1st, each episode is released every other day and will conclude at the end of Black History Month. So if you haven’t already, we highly recommend following and listening.
