We Unpack Black Male Privilege

This week, shortly after multi-hyphenate artist Donald Glover blew up the internet with the video for his song "This is America," Wesley and guest host Rembert Browne (New York Magazine, Grantland) explore Glover's career, and how he evolved from a likable comedian to a cultural provocateur and authority on blackness. We like Glover's brain and the music and TV he is making, but we also wonder about the speed with which he's been anointed a "genius." Who gets left out when we apply that label so liberally to men? What do women have to do to be considered geniuses? More specifically, why aren't we using that term for black women? And is there such a thing as black male privilege?

Jenna will be back next week.

Discussed this week:

• Magic Mike XXL (Warner Bros., 2015)
• "I'm Not Black, I'm Kanye" (Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic)
• "This is America" (Childish Gambino)
• "That Hump" (Erykah Badu)
• "How I Got Over" (Aretha Franklin)
• "For a Black Artist to Win Album of the Year, They Have to Make an Album of the Decade" (Rembert Browne, Vulture)
• "Miss Independent" (Ne-Yo)

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.