You Had Me at Black

Welcome to Season 4! After a traumatic experience at work, Brea reclaims her right to be the Angry Black Woman.

Welcome to our Season 3 Finale Part 21 This week we’re playing back the last two stories from our last kickback in Oakland. First up is Randi, whose story, effectively dubbed, “The Legend of Yoga Booty #1” needs no introduction. We close out this season with Mehera, who is just tired of being told she’s not *really* black. . Produced by: @adizaheghan . Our kickbacks are a space to celebrate our culture, our community, and to turn up. All across the country we see gentrification push us out, disregard our history and erase our presence. In the wake of that, YHMAB is a notice that we are still here and we are not silent. We want to bring these events across the country and need your help. We have 2 days to reach our Kickstarter goal, or we’ll lose everything we’ve raised. Make a pledge to join our movement at youhadmeatblack.com/donate

Welcome to pt 1. of our Season 3 finale! Today we're playing back stories recorded at our last kickback in Oakland. The first comes from Theo, a former child singer whose mom did whatever it took to support his career. The second, from Mani, who tried to run away from something that was rooted deep within. Produced by: Adizah Eghan After listening, head to youhadmeatblack.com/donate to back our Kickstarter campaign and bring live shows like this one to cities across the country. We have 9 days left to raise $12k!

Produced by: Britney Abrahams Music & Scoring by: Deion Henderson A young rising athlete, Andre learns that sometimes giving up what you love can bring you closer to who you love. We recorded this story as part of the Black Space Matters exhibit at Art Basel Miami. It's a multi-media project that pays tribute to black-owned spaces in the wake of gentrification and mass cultural appropriation. Andre, who goes by Natty Rebel, was one of the artists on the project. After listening, check out our Kickstarter: youhadmeatblack.com/donate. We're raising $25k to bring our live experiences on tour to different cities! We just released new rewards, including personal finance consultations, fitness coaching, and professional headshot sessions!

To her horror, Jessica's dad reveals an unconventional plan to get in to their local zoo. Produced by: Afi Yellow-Duke Scoring by: Charlie Caperning After listening, check out our Kickstarter: youhadmeatblack.com/donate. We're raising funds to bring our live experiences on tour to different cities! Today we released a new reward for ten $50 donors: a 90-minute crash course in launching and growing a podcast. This course will be taught in a virtual small-group over Google Hangout and will cover: - Picking a podcast name - Equipment and software - Designing your cover art - Hosting, and getting set up on platforms like iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play - Must-do marketing activities (pre-and post-launch) Finally, be sure to chat us up in Twitter @youhadmeatblack

Today is our birthday! In just one year we've had the privilege of capturing dozens of inspiring, raw, intimate, and hilarious stories across the country. To celebrate this milestone for us, we reflected on our favorites, and the ones that made the greatest impact on us. Visit www.youhadmeatblack.com/birthday to hear/read our reflections. We'll be back next week with a new story ;) Peace.

Jonathan's story begins after he starts a new job, and learns his company has a program that might help him fulfill his mom's lifelong dream. Produced by: Britney Abrahams Music and Scoring by: Deion Henderson After listening, share a story about your mom with us. Email a photo and 1 minute audio recording (mp3 or wav file) to talktous@youhadmeatblack.com by Saturday, 5/13 at 3pm PST.

12 year old Beejus goes to Jamaica on a family vacation, and ends up trying to smuggle cannabis over the border. Produced by: Jarrod Sport Music & Scoring by: Charlie Corpening After listening, share your funniest ganja stories on Twitter: @youhadmeatblack

Welcome to the second installment of our Tech Inclusion series. Tech Inclusion is a conference that brings tech investor, entrepreneurs and workers together to discuss solutions to the industry's diversity and inclusion challenges. They invited us to host a storytelling segment during the conference last year. This week's story comes from Leslie, who has led engineering teams at some of the largest and most influential tech companies. One day after a confrontation with his father, his dad goes missing and Leslie sets out in search of him. Produced by: Adizah Eghan After listening, join us on Twitter @youhadmeatblack

Last fall we were invited to host a storytelling segment at Tech Inclusion San Francisco. Tech Inclusion is a conference that brings together tech entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers and diversity workers to find solutions to the industry's diversity and inclusion issues. This and next week we're publishing the stories shared at the event. This story is from Hadiyah, founder of HBCU to Startup, a community that connects HBCU students and grads with opportunities at startups. But before Hadiyah was a founder, she was an engineer. During her first job out of college, she received some interesting advice on how to handle workplace microaggressions. Produced by: Adizah Eghan

Kevin had a tendency to take on other people's problems as his own. It wasn't until a traumatic experience that he realized how much doing so took a toll on his wellbeing. This story is produced by Britney Abrahams (@thelovelybee) Music and Scoring by Deion Henderson (@deion.henderson) Created by Martina Abrahams (@MARTINAdotA) and Britney Abrahams (@thelovelybee) Keep up with us after the show on Twitter: @youhadmeatblack.

One night Fredia got a little *too* drunk for her own good, and learned a valuable lesson. This story is produced by Britney Abrahams (@thelovelybee) Music and Scoring by Deion Henderson (@deion.henderson) Created by Martina Abrahams (@MARTINAdotA) and Britney Abrahams (@thelovelybee) Keep up with us after the show on Twitter: @youhadmeatblack.

Mark takes an impromptu and lifechanging trip - or what's formally known as an Ayahuasca- in Peru. * Produced by Jarrod Sport * Music and scoring by Charlie Corpening (@Black_ChinaKid) and Deion Henderson (@Deion.henderson) * Created by Martina Abrahams (@MARTINAdotA) and Britney Abrahams (@the_lovelybee) Use the hashtag #youhadmeatblack to join the conversation.

Eric's trip to Cuba takes an unexpected twist when he's forced to confront skeletons from his past. Follow us on Twitter - @youhadmeatblack Produced by Afi Yellow-Duke (@ayellowdutchess) Music & Scoring by Charlie Corpening (@Black_ChinaKid) Sound Engineering by Miles Dotson ( Created by Martina Abrahams (@MARTINAdotA) and Britney Abrahams (@The_lovelybee)

200 people squeezed into an Oakland backyard to listen to stories and celebrate the launch of our second season in early October. These are the stories shared that night. Produced by: Adizah Eghan Photo by: Alexandra Fox

From a young age, Greg knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. One day he received an invitation for the opportunity of a lifetime, but the opportunity was not at all what he expected. Produced by: Britney Abrahams Photo by: @m__tina

Jasmine threw a party, yea she threw a party. People came over, yea she threw a party. This is story about when creating a safe space for yourself becomes a form of activism. Produced by: Britney Abrahams Music & Scoring by: @diracproductions Photo by: Martina Abrahams

Jordannah's a musician, singer and writer. But after an important relationship ended, she fell into a dark place and stopped creating. Then one day at a party she picked up a guitar, played a song, and changed her life forever. Produced by: Britney Abrahams Music & Scoring by: @topshelfcuzo Photo by: @witty.media

Jamica agreed to help her BFF move cross-country... in an 22-foot truck. The move was so unpredictable and ridiculous that she kept a journal. Here's what it said. Produced by: Britney Abrahams Music & Scoring by: @topshelfcuzo Photo by: @micholiano

In 1992, the Blood and Crip gangs in Los Angeles delcared a truce after over two decades of rivalry. This peace agreement became known as The True of Nine Deuce. When he was 5 years old Damon and his family were victims of a shooting that became a catalyst for the truce. He brings us through that life-changing day. Produced by: Britney Abrahams Music & Scoring: @diracproductions Photo by: @quinntonharris