Six Years of The Read: Black, Queer, & Excellent
As Black History Month begins, I am committing to hyping up all the Black creators who inspire me. So what better way to begin then diving into the podcast which is essential to my self-care routine: The Read. The timing could not be any better as the show approaches it six year anniversary.
The Read is a podcast covering pop culture, Blackness, and all the mess Black folk endure in our daily lives. Its hosts, Kid Fury and Crissle, are a queer Black duo trying to make it in New York. Imagine Will and Grace, but Black, both gay, allergic to respectability, and high almost all the time. Each week they unwind in the studio and dissect all of the foolishness erupting in the media. Topics range from Tr*mp to hip hop stan wars and everything in between. The two use their marginalized identities as a lense into the many varieties of ills plaguing the world today.
The name of the podcast, The Read, is itself a title rooted in the language of the Black and Latinx queer community. Thus, the title of the podcast pays homage to the queer community and guarantees queerness stays centered. Moreover, it is the perfect description of the show. To read someone is not simply just to insult them. You are tearing them apart with conviction and remained unbothered in the process. Crissle and Kid Fury embody this energy as they dissect the horror of politics, social media, and stan culture. Nobody is safe-- except Beyonce.
While The Read began as a podcast six years ago it has grown into a Black queer empire. There are now tours, event hostings, and merchandise to support the growing Read fandom. The two were even invited by Beyonce as VIP guests to her OTRII tour. If that is not the epitome of fame then I don’t know what more anyone could ask for. Their rise on iTunes podcasts charts have given visibility to Black queer folk who previously found themselves erased within a media world of white queer affluence. Crissle and Kid Fury disrupt the narrative. Their discussions of poverty, domestic violence, and informal education highlight the multifaceted existence of queerness.
The two hosts, however, never bask in their newfound fame. Instead, they shy away from it. Crissle and Kid Fury both talk open and honestly about how their mental health concerns impact their reception of praise. Essentially, they believe they’re undeserving. This reaction illustrates the larger issue of Black folk being conditioned to undervalue ourselves and our achievements. Can anyone blame us? Black folk, particularly Black Americans, have experienced this socialized insecurity for centuries. Our inventions have been stolen. Our movements co-opted. Our culture deemed subhuman. How can we expect to praise ourselves when controlling images constantly tell us the opposite? It’s an unfortunate reality that Crissle and Kid Fury showcase through their podcast.
At the end of each show both Kid Fury and Crissle deliver their weekly read. They dedicate the last 30 minutes of the show to ripping the biggest bullsh*t of the weak a new one. Often reads are dedicated to the big three: racism, homophobia, and transphobia. A recent topic that Kid Fury read was the suicide by nine year old Jamel Myles. His voice shook. You can hear his throat closing. Kid Fury, a Black gay man, is broken. He is confronting the reality of homophobia and its influence on children. He is confronting his own lived experiences of being a queer child. His tone is hopeless. The authenticity and vulnerability of every episode draws us into the show. We are here with them. We experience their ups and downs. We are in this together.
The Read gives us political and pop culture commentary we can relate to. Their language is accessible. They define sociological theory and apply it to our everyday lives. Don’t understand immigration policy? Kid Fury and Crissle break down Tr*mp foolishness. Don’t understand misogynoir? Crissle rips the pastor who disrespected Aretha Franklin’s funeral. They do not shy away from analysis. On the contrary, they make analysis hilarious and relatable. This fills a gap in political and pop culture analysis. Often the language used to analyze these topics in inflated and exclusive to college educated folks. Kid Fury and Crissle use accessible language and humor as tools to educate their audience.
The Read gives me everything I need to push through my week. It is truly an essential portion of my self care routine. Together Kid Fury and Crissle give us the collective sigh that we all need. They go through the weekly mess that makes the social media monster rage and the policies which threaten our human rights. Ultimately, The Read is a powerhouse of Black queer talent that is finally getting the widespread recognition they deserve.