The Snob Talks Danny Brown and Consent on NPR

Rapper Danny BrownThis Wednesday on NPR's Tell Me More with Michel Martin, I was on discussing rapper Danny Brown being fellated by a fan from the audience as he was rapping on stage. Rapper Kitty Pryde, who is touring with Brown, condemned the act, calling it sexual assault. For me, this was about consent (which is the basis of sexual assault). Whether Brown enjoyed it or not is a non-factor as he had no way of consenting to anything if he was on stage performing. Despite popular belief, men (especially black men) are not sex automatons, ready to go at anytime incapable of being molested, assaulted or raped. They do get a say about who they want to have sex with and when.

Check out the convo, featuring myself, Prof. Mark Anthony Neal, Deputy Director Malik Washington of the William Kellibrew Foundation, and Village Voice music critic Jessica Hopper.

Click to read more ...

The Snob Talks Cleaning Out Your Closet on Tell Me More

Image via California ClosetsOn NPR's Tell Me More with Michel Martin Wednesday, we were talking about closets! Namely how much clothes in them we actually wear. (Not a lot.) Why we purchase so many clothes. Why living in a town with an extended social season will result in you owning an inordinate amount of dresses thanks to all the fashion snobs. And why that is so annoying. Featured Beauty Shop segment chatters were yours truly (coming in from NYC this time), Pulitzer-winning fashion writer Robin Givhan and a woman who really enjoys the smell of throwing out useless things in the morning, author and life coach Gail Blanke. 

Check it out.

Click to read more ...

The Snob Talks Diversity, Demographic Shifts on Tell Me More

Michel Martin

Tuesday on NPR's Tell Me More with Michel Martin it was all about shifting demographics and how the more things change in the "Browning of America" the panel thought the more things may stay the same. Featuring myself, Fernando Vila, an editor at Univision and Howard Dodson, an African American historian at Howard University, we talked about "Hispanic" being a made up term, that the Americas have been minority white before (during the time of Native Americans and African slaves) and that it's about your country of origin, assimilation and skin color that may determine who is an "other" and who's simply another type of white person.

Never mind those darn Baby Boomers. We talked about them too as the country both gets older AND younger and the complications that come with that.

Click to read more ...

The Snob Will Be ON NPR's Tell Me More Today Talking Demographics

Photo by Danielle BeltonYours truly is returning to Michel Martin's Tell Me More on NPR today to talk America's changing demographics. Check your local listings to find out when Michel's show is playing in your area.

The Snob Talks Lena Dunham's Boobs and Beyonce's Docu-Drama-Rama on NPR

The Snob returned to NPR's Tell Me More with Michel Martin for another round of the popular "Beauty Shop" segment. This time, myself, along with regulars Viviana Hurtado of The Wise Latina Club and Bridget Johnson with PJ Media, were talking about "Lady Power" in the form of Lena Dunham's floppy boobs being the other "stars" of her hit show "Girls," and Beyonce's recent HBO documentary where she declares her career independence while also shouting out her "loving" interdependence on hubby Jay-to-the-Izzo. Since I think all drama surrounding Dunham is hilarious (but in that "laughing at, not with" kind of way) and I think Beyonce is a huge try-hard whom I both love and cannot stand, I was full of opinions!

Take a listen to the show after the jump.

Click to read more ...

Talking Women, Gun Debate on NPR's Tell Me More

Last week, I went on NPR's Tell Me More with Michel Martin for the Beauty Shop segment where we discussed women and the gun control debate. All of us shared personal stories about how the gun issue isn't about gender, but some of the reasons why a woman may (or may not) own a gun has a lot to say about our society.

Check out the audio after the jump.

Click to read more ...

The Snob Talks Presidential Appointments and Reality TV on NPR

This week The Snob returned to the Beauty Shop at NPR's Tell Me More with Michel Martin. It was my first time back since running away to New York City this fall. I'd missed being on the show ... a lot. I love Michel and the whole Tell Me More family, so it was great to be back. On Wednesday's show, we talked the drama surrounding President Obama picking Chuck Hagel for Secretary of State and the "drama" surrounding rapper Shawty Lo and his new show on Oxygen, All My Babies Mamas where -- FINALLY -- you can witness the fall of Western Civilization in real time.

Seriously, China. It's your turn at bat. Like Daniel Day-Lewis at the end of "There Will Be Blood," we're all finished here. Nothing left to see. Idiocracy is real and whatnot.

Audio after the jump!

Click to read more ...

The Snob Talks Todd Akin's "Legitimate Rape," Paul Ryan's Black Woman of Ex-Girlfriends Past on NPR

Click to enlarge.This Wednesday The Snob made a return to NPR's Tell Me More with Michel Martin for the Beauty Shop segment. Michel was out, leaving it up to the Wise Latinas Club's Viviana Hurtado to do the heavy host lifting. Topics du jour included Missouri's Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin channelling Effie White from "Dreamgirls," telling the GOP he's not going from the Senate race and YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE ME in the face of overwhelming pressure to drop out; Romney veep pick Paul Ryan's black ex-girlfriend and whether or not she matters (Short version: She doesn't.); and Augusta National allowing female members to their golf club the same year Saudi Arabia finally sent female athletes to the Olympics. Joining me for the chat are Beauty Shop regulars Mary Kate Cary and Bridget Johnson.  

Check out the audio after the jump.

Click to read more ...

The Snob Talks Sally Ride's Life In the Glass Closet, Shooting In Aurora, Colo.

The Snob returned to NPR's "Tell Me More" with Michel Martin Wednesday to discuss the recent death of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. A pioneer in promoting women and the sciences, Ride's sexual orientation came up for discussion when in her obituary it was listed she was survived by her partner of many years, who happened to be a woman. Myself, along with Viviana Hurtado, Bridget Johnson and Deepa Iyer of South Asian Americans Leading Together discussed the inner debate of private versus public many well-known gays and lesbians face. We also briefly chatted about the tragic shooting in Aurora, Colo. and what its impact will be.

Audio after the jump.

Click to read more ...