<![CDATA[Color Commentary]]>Color Commentary with Dr. Cole is where the news meets perspective. Each episode begins in black and white—straight facts, clearly laid out, no spin—before shifting into full color, where Dr. Charles Cole III brings his voice, expertise, and lived experience to unpack what it all really means. From courtroom battles to cultural flashpoints, from education to entrepreneurship, this show gives you both the record and the reflection. Sometimes it’s just Dr. Cole, sometimes it’s with guests, but always it’s about learning, questioning, and seeing the deeper connections others miss. Color Commentary isn’t just about what happened—it’s about why it matters and what comes next.

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentaryRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:13:39 GMTTue, 03 Feb 2026 22:58:31 GMT60Dr. Charles Cole III<p>Color Commentary with Dr. Cole is where the news meets perspective. Each episode begins in black and white—straight facts, clearly laid out, no spin—before shifting into full color, where Dr. Charles Cole III brings his voice, expertise, and lived experience to unpack what it all really means. From courtroom battles to cultural flashpoints, from education to entrepreneurship, this show gives you both the record and the reflection. Sometimes it’s just Dr. Cole, sometimes it’s with guests, but always it’s about learning, questioning, and seeing the deeper connections others miss. Color Commentary isn’t just about what happened—it’s about why it matters and what comes next.</p>episodicDr. Charles Cole IIIcharles@energyconvertors.orgno<![CDATA[Ep 51 | Losing Ground?: Black Wealth, Student Debt, Lost Cities, and What We Can Do]]>New Federal Reserve data shows Black household wealth fell by a quarter between 2022 and 2025, while every other major group gained. The federal government is reportedly preparing to send private collectors after nearly ten million borrowers in default on federal student loans, with wage garnishment of up to 15 percent on the table. And new Census estimates show Chicago, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, New Orleans, and New York leading the country in Black population loss since 2020. Dr. Charles Cole III lays out the facts, then gets into what happens when the house, the degree, and the block start slipping at the same time, and what families can do about it right now.

Find the show at EdPost's YouTube page: youtube.com/@EdPostVideo

We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com


]]>10d5c310-5518-4205-9a1b-94ed0f105422Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:07:56 GMT<p>New Federal Reserve data shows Black household wealth fell by a quarter between 2022 and 2025, while every other major group gained. The federal government is reportedly preparing to send private collectors after nearly ten million borrowers in default on federal student loans, with wage garnishment of up to 15 percent on the table. And new Census estimates show Chicago, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, New Orleans, and New York leading the country in Black population loss since 2020. Dr. Charles Cole III lays out the facts, then gets into what happens when the house, the degree, and the block start slipping at the same time, and what families can do about it right now.</p><p>Find the show at EdPost's YouTube page: youtube.com/@EdPostVideo</p><p>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p><br /></p>no00:36:57Ep 51 | Losing Ground?: Black Wealth, Student Debt, Lost Cities, and What We Can Dofull<![CDATA[Ep 50 | The Bloody Education Revolt Happening in France Right Now]]>France just did something the United States never has. It ran a national experiment sorting middle schoolers into ability groups, the Choc des savoirs, watched its own inspectors, courts, and teachers reject it, and killed the policy in about two years. Dr. Charles Cole III lays out exactly what happened in France, then holds it up to the mirror: the US has sorted children by measured ability for generations under the name tracking, and the harm falls hardest on Black kids, with an estimated 771,000 missing from gifted programs in a single year. In the color, Dr. Cole gets into how serious countries respond when education harms kids, why we have to revisit the standard itself, and the line he will not move off of: you can feel however you want about tracking, but schools have to be honest, and in America we are lying to our students.

Find the show at EdPost's YouTube page: youtube.com/@EdPostVideo

We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And check out our merch here: charlescoleiii.com

]]>a909edc7-136e-47e7-9579-06af9384d1cfWed, 07 Oct 2026 14:07:47 GMT<p>France just did something the United States never has. It ran a national experiment sorting middle schoolers into ability groups, the Choc des savoirs, watched its own inspectors, courts, and teachers reject it, and killed the policy in about two years. Dr. Charles Cole III lays out exactly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yx-sbd3F96I" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">what happened in France</a>, then holds it up to the mirror: the US has sorted children by measured ability for generations under the name tracking, and the harm falls hardest on Black kids, with an estimated 771,000 missing from gifted programs in a single year. In the color, Dr. Cole gets into how serious countries respond when education harms kids, why we have to revisit the standard itself, and the line he will not move off of: you can feel however you want about tracking, but schools have to be honest, and in America we are lying to our students.</p><p>Find the show at EdPost's YouTube page: youtube.com/@EdPostVideo</p><p>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p>And check out our merch here: charlescoleiii.com</p>no00:42:06Ep 50 | The Bloody Education Revolt Happening in France Right Nowfull<![CDATA[Ep 49 | The Hannah-Jones Reckoning]]>Nikole Hannah-Jones's new essay on the school she chose for her daughter has become one of the biggest education stories of the year, and the reactions are still coming. In a different kind of episode, Dr. Charles Cole III gets put in the hot seat by his director. First a straight recap of the whole arc, the 2016 essay, the 2026 reckoning, and a fallout that pulled in the school-choice right, defenders, and a sharp response inside Black communities. Then the conversation: where Dr. Cole agrees, where he pushes back on parent choice, what his own Substack, Read Out Loud Day, argues about grit, agency, and the safety net most of our kids never had, and why he believes this article marks a turn in education policy. Honest, personal, and unfinished on purpose.

Find the show at EdPost's YouTube page: youtube.com/@EdPostVideo

We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And check out our merch here: charlescoleiii.com


]]>7e167670-3e50-4972-ab4a-9ab57c3329bfWed, 30 Sep 2026 00:11:22 GMT<p>Nikole Hannah-Jones's new essay on the school she chose for her daughter has become one of the biggest education stories of the year, and the reactions are still coming. In a different kind of episode, Dr. Charles Cole III gets put in the hot seat by his director. First a straight recap of the whole arc, the 2016 essay, the 2026 reckoning, and a fallout that pulled in the school-choice right, defenders, and a sharp response inside Black communities. Then the conversation: where Dr. Cole agrees, where he pushes back on parent choice, what his own Substack, Read Out Loud Day, argues about grit, agency, and the safety net most of our kids never had, and why he believes this article marks a turn in education policy. Honest, personal, and unfinished on purpose.</p><p>Find the show at EdPost's YouTube page: youtube.com/@EdPostVideo</p><p>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p>And check out our merch here: charlescoleiii.com</p><p><br /></p>no00:47:09Ep 49 | The Hannah-Jones Reckoningfull<![CDATA[Ep 48 | The A That Wasn't]]>Two education stories landed eight days apart this month, and they are really one story. Dr. Charles Cole III breaks down the New York Post front-page report on California high school GPAs climbing while college math skills fall, a piece he is quoted in, alongside Nikole Hannah-Jones's New York Times Magazine essay on the decade-long cost of the school she chose for her daughter. In the black and white, Dr. Cole lays out the data and the personal story straight down the middle. In the color commentary, he makes the case that both pieces expose the same broken promise, the gap between the grade and the learning, and he explains, with respect and real disagreement, where he and Hannah-Jones part ways on parent choice.

Find the show at EdPost's YouTube page: youtube.com/@EdPostVideo

We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And check out our merch here: charlescoleiii.com


]]>68f2cce7-929f-423f-a37e-14a2efe2ddc2Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:18:34 GMT<p>Two education stories landed eight days apart this month, and they are really one story. Dr. Charles Cole III breaks down the New York Post front-page report on California high school GPAs climbing while college math skills fall, a piece he is quoted in, alongside Nikole Hannah-Jones's New York Times Magazine essay on the decade-long cost of the school she chose for her daughter. In the black and white, Dr. Cole lays out the data and the personal story straight down the middle. In the color commentary, he makes the case that both pieces expose the same broken promise, the gap between the grade and the learning, and he explains, with respect and real disagreement, where he and Hannah-Jones part ways on parent choice.</p><p>Find the show at EdPost's YouTube page: youtube.com/@EdPostVideo</p><p>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p>And check out our merch here: charlescoleiii.com</p><p><br /></p>no00:55:04Ep 48 | The A That Wasn'tfull<![CDATA[Ep 47 | Should the Black Voting Block Break Up? [PART 2]]]>This week on Color Commentary, Charles discussed Black political strategy, Democratic Party identity, and whether Black voters should continue voting as a unified bloc or diversify their political leverage.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And check out our merch here!


]]>ab345e95-c02d-4fbc-a7a9-103b1f6620b5Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:59:17 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Charles discussed Black political strategy, Democratic Party identity, and whether Black voters should continue voting as a unified bloc or diversify their political leverage.</p><p></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p><br /></p>no00:43:56Ep 47 | Should the Black Voting Block Break Up? [PART 2]full<![CDATA[Ep 46 | The Question Black Voters Keep Dodging [PART 1]]]>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole III starts with Lanterns, HBO's grounded, critically loved take on the Green Lantern mythos that finally puts John Stewart at the center of the story and turns a comic book into prestige television and a conversation about race in America. Then Dr. Cole shifts to a harder question: after sixty years voting as one bloc, is unified Black political power still the strongest play, or is it time to spread the leverage across both parties? Plus, a personal note on Color Commentary partnering back with 8BH, and where you can find the show now. 


**NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, half this show was accidentally not recorded. So, Charles will be returning next week to finish the conversation.


Find the show at EdPost's YouTube page: youtube.com/@EdPostVideo We'd love to hear from you!

Email Charles at colorcommentarypod.com


]]>de322c30-5c39-4108-9dd1-fdb2ea6d45a2Thu, 10 Sep 2026 02:04:18 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole III starts with Lanterns, HBO's grounded, critically loved take on the Green Lantern mythos that finally puts John Stewart at the center of the story and turns a comic book into prestige television and a conversation about race in America. Then Dr. Cole shifts to a harder question: after sixty years voting as one bloc, is unified Black political power still the strongest play, or is it time to spread the leverage across both parties? Plus, a personal note on Color Commentary partnering back with 8BH, and where you can find the show now. </p><p><br /></p><p>**NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, half this show was accidentally not recorded. So, Charles will be returning next week to finish the conversation.</p><p><br /></p><p>Find the show at EdPost's YouTube page: <a href="http://youtube.com/@EdPostVideo" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><b><strong>youtube.com/@EdPostVideo</strong></b></a> We'd love to hear from you!</p><p>Email Charles at <a href="http://colorcommentarypod.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><b><strong>colorcommentarypod.com</strong></b></a></p><p><br /></p>no00:58:07Ep 46 | The Question Black Voters Keep Dodging [PART 1]full<![CDATA[Ep 45 | Grading Practices (with Dr. Shawnta Barnes)]]>This week on Color Commentary centers on one big question: what are grades really measuring, and who gets harmed when grading practices drift away from actual learning? Dr. Charles Cole III and Educator Barnes break down grading inflation, participation grades, mastery-based retakes, and the gap between student performance and student proficiency.


They also widen the conversation to agency, teacher expectations, and what happens when education becomes a job instead of a vocation. The discussion closes with a sobering reflection on plagiarism, academic accountability, and how Black scholars are often treated differently when their work is questioned.


We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com


And check out our merch here!


]]>31f79231-38cc-4381-b4a4-6a1bb26aa652Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:17:23 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary centers on one big question: what are grades really measuring, and who gets harmed when grading practices drift away from actual learning? Dr. Charles Cole III and Educator Barnes break down grading inflation, participation grades, mastery-based retakes, and the gap between student performance and student proficiency.</p><p><br /></p><p>They also widen the conversation to agency, teacher expectations, and what happens when education becomes a job instead of a vocation. The discussion closes with a sobering reflection on plagiarism, academic accountability, and how Black scholars are often treated differently when their work is questioned.</p><p><br /></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p><br /></p><p>And check out our merch <a href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p><br /></p>no01:22:08Ep 45 | Grading Practices (with Dr. Shawnta Barnes)full<![CDATA[Ep 44 | Two Things Can Be True]]>This week on Color Commentary, Charles takes on two stories that turn out to be one. First, the viral video of a Houston teacher and influencer who broke down over seniors who could not read, and everything that came out after: the school's A rating, a former colleague's pushback, and the messenger's own history. Charles lays out the real literacy data, refuses to soften it, and asks what we owe kids who are being turned into content. Then he introduces Fannie Lou Hamer, a woman with a sixth grade education who became one of the most powerful voices in American history, and explains why she belongs in the same conversation.

We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com


]]>7004d065-ee60-4d64-a2d3-4fa640bc2daeWed, 19 Aug 2026 01:16:49 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Charles takes on two stories that turn out to be one. First, the viral video of a Houston teacher and influencer who broke down over seniors who could not read, and everything that came out after: the school's A rating, a former colleague's pushback, and the messenger's own history. Charles lays out the real literacy data, refuses to soften it, and asks what we owe kids who are being turned into content. Then he introduces Fannie Lou Hamer, a woman with a sixth grade education who became one of the most powerful voices in American history, and explains why she belongs in the same conversation.<br /></p><p>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p><br /></p>no00:39:55Ep 44 | Two Things Can Be Truefull<![CDATA[Ep 43 | The Tuskegee Dress Code (feat. Jubilee Ransome)]]>A one-line dress code policy out of Tuskegee University, banning bonnets and durags in class and the cafeteria, set off an online firestorm. But is this really about clothes? This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole III breaks down the facts, then sits down with educator and executive leadership coach Jubilee Ransome, founder of RestartED, to dig into professionalism versus respectability, what the discourse is drowning out, and who gets to decide what professional looks like for Black students. Going in, it looks like a story about a bonnet. It is about a lot more than that.


We would love to hear from you. Email Dr. Cole at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com, and shop at charlescoleiii.com.


]]>e63c6148-c199-40d3-9ef7-6abd311f4c5eThu, 06 Aug 2026 02:33:19 GMT<p>A one-line dress code policy out of Tuskegee University, banning bonnets and durags in class and the cafeteria, set off an online firestorm. But is this really about clothes? This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole III breaks down the facts, then sits down with educator and executive leadership coach Jubilee Ransome, founder of RestartED, to dig into professionalism versus respectability, what the discourse is drowning out, and who gets to decide what professional looks like for Black students. Going in, it looks like a story about a bonnet. It is about a lot more than that.</p><p><br /></p><p>We would love to hear from you. Email Dr. Cole at <a href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a>, and shop at <a href="http://charlescoleiii.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">charlescoleiii.com</a>.</p><p><br /></p>no01:27:41Ep 43 | The Tuskegee Dress Code (feat. Jubilee Ransome)full<![CDATA[Ep 42 | The Odyssey: Christopher Nolan Subverts the Myth ]]>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole III reviews Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, the record-shattering, IMAX-shot adaptation of Homer's epic starring Matt Damon as Odysseus. In the black and white, Dr. Cole runs the numbers on a film that has already become Nolan's biggest global debut and an instant Oscar front runner. Then, in full color, he digs into the themes that stuck with him: the meaning of the horse, guilt and accountability, the weight of leadership, a time to kill, and the casting controversy. Going in, he thought he knew this story. He came out seeing it differently.


We would love to hear from you. Email Dr. Cole at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com, and shop at charlescoleiii.com.


]]>8cc823af-64c4-417a-83df-afde1c589c3fThu, 30 Jul 2026 04:46:50 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole III reviews Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, the record-shattering, IMAX-shot adaptation of Homer's epic starring Matt Damon as Odysseus. In the black and white, Dr. Cole runs the numbers on a film that has already become Nolan's biggest global debut and an instant Oscar front runner. Then, in full color, he digs into the themes that stuck with him: the meaning of the horse, guilt and accountability, the weight of leadership, a time to kill, and the casting controversy. Going in, he thought he knew this story. He came out seeing it differently.</p><p><br /></p><p>We would love to hear from you. Email Dr. Cole at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a>, and shop at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://charlescoleiii.com" target="_blank">charlescoleiii.com</a>.</p><p><br /></p>no00:47:16Ep 42 | The Odyssey: Christopher Nolan Subverts the Myth full<![CDATA[Ep 41 | Rules to Success Spiritually (Feat. CJ McCollum)]]>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole III catches CJ McCollum on X breaking down what it actually takes to make it in the NBA, and realizes the advice was never really about basketball. It was about survival, strategy, and fit. Dr. Cole plays the clip, breaks down the line that anchors the whole episode ("it is not the best 450 players, it is the 450 that fit the best"), and then delivers his own spiritually grounded set of rules, the ones that carried him from a shelter bunk and extreme poverty to where he stands now. He opens with a direct letter to the young person listening from a hard place: the kid in poverty, the first-generation college student, and the frustrated young entrepreneur who is starting to wonder if the problem is them. Plus, an academic announcement from the work behind the mic.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!


]]>6976b2d2-98f9-4a44-8a45-69a4546aa488Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:51:38 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole III catches CJ McCollum on X breaking down what it actually takes to make it in the NBA, and realizes the advice was never really about basketball. It was about survival, strategy, and fit. Dr. Cole plays the clip, breaks down the line that anchors the whole episode ("it is not the best 450 players, it is the 450 that fit the best"), and then delivers his own spiritually grounded set of rules, the ones that carried him from a shelter bunk and extreme poverty to where he stands now. He opens with a direct letter to the young person listening from a hard place: the kid in poverty, the first-generation college student, and the frustrated young entrepreneur who is starting to wonder if the problem is them. Plus, an academic announcement from the work behind the mic.</p><p></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p><br /></p>no00:32:59Ep 41 | Rules to Success Spiritually (Feat. CJ McCollum)full<![CDATA[Ep 40 | Overcoming The Literacy Crisis (with Dr. Dr. Shawnta Barnes)]]>In this episode of Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole interviews his friend and collaborator, Dr. Shawnta Barnes, to discuss the literacy crisis in America.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And check out our merch here!

]]>95eb5682-ee52-4d44-9e40-4abc157a8f3eThu, 09 Jul 2026 14:59:09 GMT<p>In this episode of Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole interviews his friend and collaborator, Dr. Shawnta Barnes, to discuss the literacy crisis in America.</p><p></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p></p>no01:01:19Ep 40 | Overcoming The Literacy Crisis (with Dr. Dr. Shawnta Barnes)full<![CDATA[Ep 39 | The Black Achievement Trauma Tax, John Henryism, and The Bear]]>Welcome to Color Commentary, where the stories shaping our world start in black and white and then come into full color. In this episode, Charles opens with a homecoming in New Orleans: the A Black Hands crew reunited at the National Charter Schools Conference, where a packed room, a custom podcast space, and real chemistry made the night feel bigger than a reunion. He reflects on why the show mattered then, why it mattered again now, and what it says about speaking plainly in a moment that often rewards silence.

Then Charles introduces John Henryism, the little-known but powerful research concept that explains the cost of relentless grind. Drawing from the legend of John Henry, the work of Dr. Sherman James, and his own framework around the black achievement trauma tax, Charles connects hard work, stress, and survival to the long-term toll on Black bodies and minds. It’s a deeply personal and cultural conversation about hustle, agency, self-determination, and the line between discipline and self-destruction.

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>de4fccc3-c52a-4d3e-86c4-18bf6534db6fFri, 03 Jul 2026 22:50:45 GMT<p>Welcome to Color Commentary, where the stories shaping our world start in black and white and then come into full color. In this episode, Charles opens with a homecoming in New Orleans: the A Black Hands crew reunited at the National Charter Schools Conference, where a packed room, a custom podcast space, and real chemistry made the night feel bigger than a reunion. He reflects on why the show mattered then, why it mattered again now, and what it says about speaking plainly in a moment that often rewards silence.</p><p></p><p>Then Charles introduces John Henryism, the little-known but powerful research concept that explains the cost of relentless grind. Drawing from the legend of John Henry, the work of Dr. Sherman James, and his own framework around the black achievement trauma tax, Charles connects hard work, stress, and survival to the long-term toll on Black bodies and minds. It’s a deeply personal and cultural conversation about hustle, agency, self-determination, and the line between discipline and self-destruction.</p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:43:44Ep 39 | The Black Achievement Trauma Tax, John Henryism, and The Bearfull<![CDATA[Ep 38 | The Failures in Memphis Schools]]>What’s really happening behind the scenes of Memphis’ education upheaval? Dr. Cole dissects the recent law that replaces elected school boards with a shady, unchecked, state-appointed oversight board—who controls the district’s $1.7 billion budget—and what that means for local voices. You’ll discover how this law, rooted in a governance crisis, reveals the entrenched disparities and political machinations that keep Black children trapped in failing systems. With candid stories of community resilience, Dr. Cole challenges listeners to confront the silence and apathy that allow this to persist.


In this episode, you’ll hear about the gritty realities faced by Memphis schools: from shocking dropout rates and dismal proficiency scores (only 3 in 10 kids proficient in reading and math) to the passionate efforts of Memphis Lyft and leader Sarah Carpenter, who fights tooth and nail for children’s rights. We break down the high-stakes implications of standardized testing, funding mismanagement, and the urgent need for community outrage—and action. Dr. Cole shares powerful insights on how silence is complicity, and why making noise is a moral duty.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>d1b6c0f1-9d7b-4b1c-b751-c6678ff95238Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:32:03 GMT<p>What’s really happening behind the scenes of Memphis’ education upheaval? Dr. Cole dissects the recent law that replaces elected school boards with a shady, unchecked, state-appointed oversight board—who controls the district’s $1.7 billion budget—and what that means for local voices. You’ll discover how this law, rooted in a governance crisis, reveals the entrenched disparities and political machinations that keep Black children trapped in failing systems. With candid stories of community resilience, Dr. Cole challenges listeners to confront the silence and apathy that allow this to persist.</p><p><br /></p><p>In this episode, you’ll hear about the gritty realities faced by Memphis schools: from shocking dropout rates and dismal proficiency scores (only 3 in 10 kids proficient in reading and math) to the passionate efforts of Memphis Lyft and leader Sarah Carpenter, who fights tooth and nail for children’s rights. We break down the high-stakes implications of standardized testing, funding mismanagement, and the urgent need for community outrage—and action. Dr. Cole shares powerful insights on how silence is complicity, and why making noise is a moral duty.</p><p></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:30:21Ep 38 | The Failures in Memphis Schoolsfull<![CDATA[Ep 37 | Unpacking Diaspora Dynamics, Cultural Identity, and Educational Battles]]>In this episode of Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole, III delves into the intricate dynamics between Black America and the diaspora, exploring how cultural identity and political maneuvers shape our communities. From dissecting controversial comments on accents to exposing the strategic defunding of Black educational programs, this conversation highlights the critical need for unity, understanding, and action in the face of division.


Join us as we navigate the complexities of diaspora wars, the resilience of Black culture, and the real impact of legislative tactics on future generations. Dr. Cole's insights emphasize the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths to foster genuine progress and empowerment.


We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>16b1c87c-7299-4eef-ac84-e4cb36b8203eTue, 16 Jun 2026 22:52:03 GMT<p>In this episode of Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole, III delves into the intricate dynamics between Black America and the diaspora, exploring how cultural identity and political maneuvers shape our communities. From dissecting controversial comments on accents to exposing the strategic defunding of Black educational programs, this conversation highlights the critical need for unity, understanding, and action in the face of division.</p><p><br /></p><p>Join us as we navigate the complexities of diaspora wars, the resilience of Black culture, and the real impact of legislative tactics on future generations. Dr. Cole's insights emphasize the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths to foster genuine progress and empowerment.</p><p><br /></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p></p>no00:10:05Ep 37 | Unpacking Diaspora Dynamics, Cultural Identity, and Educational Battlesfull<![CDATA[Ep 35 | Celebrating Cultural Literacy]]>In this episode of Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole, III explores the profound connections between literacy, hip-hop artistry, and cultural expression, while also diving into the excitement of the NBA Finals and the rise of Victor Wembanyama. From uncovering Jay-Z's intricate wordplay to analyzing basketball phenoms, this conversation emphasizes the importance of education, authenticity, and resilience in both music and sports.


We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com


And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>271cefe3-512c-4180-ac43-17b25f0dd144Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:17:06 GMT<p>In this episode of Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole, III explores the profound connections between literacy, hip-hop artistry, and cultural expression, while also diving into the excitement of the NBA Finals and the rise of Victor Wembanyama. From uncovering Jay-Z's intricate wordplay to analyzing basketball phenoms, this conversation emphasizes the importance of education, authenticity, and resilience in both music and sports.</p><p><br /></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p><br /></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:52:03Ep 35 | Celebrating Cultural Literacyfull<![CDATA[Ep 34 | Summer Learning: Balancing Fun and Education with Educator Barnes]]>Join Dr. Charles Cole and Educator Barnes as they explore innovative strategies for keeping kids engaged during the summer without turning it into a mini school session. Discover how library programs, cultural festivals, and meaningful conversations can transform summer into a time of growth and connection. Learn about the importance of autonomy for older kids and how simple activities can enhance literacy and critical thinking. Plus, a deep dive into the role of parents in fostering lifelong learning and the power of intentional moments.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>98a04c65-ab79-4354-a44a-731e0f11cd67Mon, 25 May 2026 13:00:46 GMT<p>Join Dr. Charles Cole and Educator Barnes as they explore innovative strategies for keeping kids engaged during the summer without turning it into a mini school session. Discover how library programs, cultural festivals, and meaningful conversations can transform summer into a time of growth and connection. Learn about the importance of autonomy for older kids and how simple activities can enhance literacy and critical thinking. Plus, a deep dive into the role of parents in fostering lifelong learning and the power of intentional moments.</p><p></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no01:08:53Ep 34 | Summer Learning: Balancing Fun and Education with Educator Barnesfull<![CDATA[Ep 33 | The Cheyenne Bryant Credentials Controversy]]>She's been on The Breakfast Club, gone viral with Cam Newton, coached celebrities on live streams, and built a platform as 'Dr. Cheyenne Bryant.' But can she prove the doctorate? This week, Dr. Cole breaks down the full story — the Argosy University collapse, the empty ProQuest record, the licensure debate, and what this moment actually reveals about credibility, accountability, and mental health in Black communities. Plus: Victor Wembanyama just put up 41 points and 24 rebounds in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals — and we need to talk about it. And one more thing: why is everything asking for a tip now?


We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com


And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>224b5ade-d319-4342-b40e-3ee4afd50759Wed, 20 May 2026 04:44:11 GMT<p>She's been on The Breakfast Club, gone viral with Cam Newton, coached celebrities on live streams, and built a platform as 'Dr. Cheyenne Bryant.' But can she prove the doctorate? This week, Dr. Cole breaks down the full story — the Argosy University collapse, the empty ProQuest record, the licensure debate, and what this moment actually reveals about credibility, accountability, and mental health in Black communities. Plus: Victor Wembanyama just put up 41 points and 24 rebounds in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals — and we need to talk about it. And one more thing: why is everything asking for a tip now?</p><p><br /></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p><br /></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:48:22Ep 33 | The Cheyenne Bryant Credentials Controversyfull<![CDATA[Ep 32 | The Voting Rights Act Is Gone in Everything but Name]]>In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was the federal government's answer to a century of voter suppression against Black Americans. In 2013, the Supreme Court gutted its most powerful provision. On April 29, 2026, the Court finished what it started — and within days, states across the South began redrawing maps to strip Black communities of their congressional representation before November's midterm elections. Dr. Cole breaks down what the Voting Rights Act was, what the Supreme Court's Callais ruling actually means, and what is happening right now on the ground — including a deep dive into Memphis, Tennessee, where a 60 percent Black city just had its congressional district sliced into three pieces and handed to rural, white, conservative communities hundreds of miles away.


We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com


And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>ce999408-36ea-4dbf-b555-a6506e3280d4Wed, 13 May 2026 05:00:58 GMT<p>In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was the federal government's answer to a century of voter suppression against Black Americans. In 2013, the Supreme Court gutted its most powerful provision. On April 29, 2026, the Court finished what it started — and within days, states across the South began redrawing maps to strip Black communities of their congressional representation before November's midterm elections. Dr. Cole breaks down what the Voting Rights Act was, what the Supreme Court's Callais ruling actually means, and what is happening right now on the ground — including a deep dive into Memphis, Tennessee, where a 60 percent Black city just had its congressional district sliced into three pieces and handed to rural, white, conservative communities hundreds of miles away.</p><p><br /></p><p><i><em>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at </em></i><a href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank"><i><em>colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</em></i></a></p><p><br /></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:42:50Ep 32 | The Voting Rights Act Is Gone in Everything but Namefull<![CDATA[Ep 31 | Office Hours: What Do You Do With a Kid the System Wants to Give Up On?]]>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Cole opens up Office Hours, a new lane on the show where he takes a real situation and works it live using the A.N.D. framework. This one is a composite drawn from more than ten real cases he's seen over the years as a social worker, scholar, organizer, and entrepreneur. A middle school teacher is fighting to keep a brilliant 12-year-old Black boy out of an alternative school, and she has ten days. Frameworks are meaningless if you can't use them on a Tuesday afternoon. This is the framework at work.

Got a situation of your own? Email Dr. Cole at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com with "Office Hours" in the subject line.

And be sure to check out our merch here!


]]>538fce9a-df97-4fb1-935d-ca03697b5fe0Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:52:46 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Cole opens up Office Hours, a new lane on the show where he takes a real situation and works it live using the A.N.D. framework. This one is a composite drawn from more than ten real cases he's seen over the years as a social worker, scholar, organizer, and entrepreneur. A middle school teacher is fighting to keep a brilliant 12-year-old Black boy out of an alternative school, and she has ten days. Frameworks are meaningless if you can't use them on a Tuesday afternoon. This is the framework at work.</p><p></p><p>Got a situation of your own? Email Dr. Cole at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a> with "Office Hours" in the subject line. </p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p><br /></p>no00:44:45Ep 31 | Office Hours: What Do You Do With a Kid the System Wants to Give Up On?full<![CDATA[Ep 30 | They Made the Promises. Here's What the Data Says They Did.]]> In 2020, American philanthropy made a lot of noise about supporting Black-led nonprofits. New research from Candid and ABFE just dropped — and it shows that for most Black-led organizations, those promises amounted to a brief surge and a hard landing. The money was temporary. The relationships never formed. The structural gap never closed. And now, with the Trump administration rolling back DEI support across the board, Black-led nonprofits are navigating the most hostile funding environment in recent memory. Dr. Cole breaks down the data — and then gets personal about what it actually means to lead a Black nonprofit in this climate. The article discussed is: Black-led nonprofits didn’t see the lasting funding boosts promised after 2020’s racial reckoning


We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!



]]>0f79b163-f107-460d-a7bb-e1096fd1b563Wed, 15 Apr 2026 21:30:06 GMT<p><b> </b>In 2020, American philanthropy made a lot of noise about supporting Black-led nonprofits. New research from Candid and ABFE just dropped — and it shows that for most Black-led organizations, those promises amounted to a brief surge and a hard landing. The money was temporary. The relationships never formed. The structural gap never closed. And now, with the Trump administration rolling back DEI support across the board, Black-led nonprofits are navigating the most hostile funding environment in recent memory. Dr. Cole breaks down the data — and then gets personal about what it actually means to lead a Black nonprofit in this climate. The article discussed is: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://apnews.com/article/black-nonprofits-study-abfe-candid-710f03382d3498606157dc23e06b6d31" target="_blank">Black-led nonprofits didn’t see the lasting funding boosts promised after 2020’s racial reckoning</a></p><p><br /></p><p><i>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at </i><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank"><i>colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</i></a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>no00:36:53Ep 30 | They Made the Promises. Here's What the Data Says They Did.full<![CDATA[Ep 29 | Inside the Manosphere — What It Means for Black Boys, ft. Chris Stewart]]>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole is joined by education activist, Brightbeam CEO, and fellow 8 Black Hands host Chris Stewart to break down the Netflix documentary Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere. The film — which hit number one on Netflix — takes viewers inside a growing world of online male influencers who profit from messages about masculinity, dominance, and distrust. But Charles and Chris go deeper: What void is the manosphere filling that schools, fathers, and communities have left open? Why are young Black men among those consuming — and sometimes producing — this content? And what do educators and parents actually do about it?

We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!


]]>d30724e2-8596-4591-bc4c-b7338b6d436fThu, 09 Apr 2026 13:20:43 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole is joined by education activist, Brightbeam CEO, and fellow 8 Black Hands host Chris Stewart to break down the Netflix documentary Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere. The film — which hit number one on Netflix — takes viewers inside a growing world of online male influencers who profit from messages about masculinity, dominance, and distrust. But Charles and Chris go deeper: What void is the manosphere filling that schools, fathers, and communities have left open? Why are young Black men among those consuming — and sometimes producing — this content? And what do educators and parents actually do about it?</p><p></p><p><i>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at </i><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank"><i>colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</i></a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p><br /></p>no01:14:17Ep 29 | Inside the Manosphere — What It Means for Black Boys, ft. Chris Stewartfull<![CDATA[Ep 28 | Beautiful and Jealous — The Truth About Ambition]]>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Cole gets personal. From sleeping in a Tenderloin shelter at nine years old to earning a doctorate, speaking across the country, and helping more than a thousand kids get to college — he traces the origins of an ambition that has driven everything and cost him plenty. This is not a success story. This is an honest reckoning with the most faithful and most dangerous force in his life.

We would love to hear from you. Email Dr. Cole at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com.

And be sure to check out our merch here!


]]>de2b56f1-bf20-4b4e-a8b4-0476072bd689Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:48:24 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Cole gets personal. From sleeping in a Tenderloin shelter at nine years old to earning a doctorate, speaking across the country, and helping more than a thousand kids get to college — he traces the origins of an ambition that has driven everything and cost him plenty. This is not a success story. This is an honest reckoning with the most faithful and most dangerous force in his life.<br /></p><p>We would love to hear from you. Email Dr. Cole at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a>.</p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p><br /></p>no01:00:06Ep 28 | Beautiful and Jealous — The Truth About Ambitionfull<![CDATA[Ep 27 | Don't Tell Me What Young People Can't Do]]>Today I want to make an argument. It is one I believe in deeply — both because of the work I do every day and because of the evidence that history gives us when we bother to look. The argument is simple: do not underestimate young people. Do not put a ceiling on what they are capable of creating. Because the next time someone tells you that youth is a limitation, I want you to think about two names. Nasir Jones. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Let me give you the facts first.
__
We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>6ccc6213-01d7-49f8-a9b1-c081e78b1da5Thu, 26 Mar 2026 02:54:32 GMT<p>Today I want to make an argument. It is one I believe in deeply — both because of the work I do every day and because of the evidence that history gives us when we bother to look. The argument is simple: do not underestimate young people. Do not put a ceiling on what they are capable of creating. Because the next time someone tells you that youth is a limitation, I want you to think about two names. Nasir Jones. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Let me give you the facts first.<br />__<br />We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:35:20Ep 27 | Don't Tell Me What Young People Can't Dofull<![CDATA[Ep 26 | The Oscars, the Manosphere, and the Boys Nobody Came For]]>We have two things today. First — the Oscars happened Sunday...and I need to say a few words. Then we're going deep on something I watched this weekend that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. Louis Theroux just dropped a documentary on Netflix called Inside the Manosphere. I watched it. I have thoughts. And I think you need to watch it too — especially if you have a son, a nephew, a little brother, or a student. Let's get into it.
--
We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>76468025-341f-4ab3-848b-931034ce870eWed, 18 Mar 2026 18:21:42 GMT<p>We have two things today. First — the Oscars happened Sunday...and I need to say a few words. Then we're going deep on something I watched this weekend that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. Louis Theroux just dropped a documentary on Netflix called <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms23FeJWvKU" target="_blank">Inside the Manosphere</a>. I watched it. I have thoughts. And I think you need to watch it too — especially if you have a son, a nephew, a little brother, or a student. Let's get into it.<br />--<br />We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a><br /></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no01:01:22Ep 26 | The Oscars, the Manosphere, and the Boys Nobody Came Forfull<![CDATA[Ep 25 | The Oscar 10 & What We Built: Energy Convertors and The Agentic Institute]]>I want to revisit the BAFTA conversation one more time — because the comments have not stopped coming in and there is one more thing I need to say. Then we are going to walk through all ten Best Picture nominees ahead of the Oscars this Sunday — what they are, whether I've seen them, what I actually think. I'll be honest about which ones I've seen, which ones I haven't, and which one I started and had to walk away from. And in the back half of the show, I want to introduce you to something personal. Something I've been building for years that deserves its own moment on this microphone. Let's get into it.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>f951ab45-316e-42d0-ada3-c12cdd0d45fdWed, 11 Mar 2026 12:27:32 GMT<p>I want to revisit the BAFTA conversation one more time — because the comments have not stopped coming in and there is one more thing I need to say. Then we are going to walk through all ten Best Picture nominees ahead of the Oscars this Sunday — what they are, whether I've seen them, what I actually think. I'll be honest about which ones I've seen, which ones I haven't, and which one I started and had to walk away from. And in the back half of the show, I want to introduce you to something personal. Something I've been building for years that deserves its own moment on this microphone. Let's get into it.</p><hr /><p></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:42:03Ep 25 | The Oscar 10 & What We Built: Energy Convertors and The Agentic Institutefull<![CDATA[Ep 24 | MBJ Wins, and We Need to Talk About Those Comments]]>Last week we talked about the BAFTAs — Ryan Coogler's historic win, and what Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo had to endure on that stage. Well, this week MBJ went and won the Actor Award — formerly the SAGs — in one of the biggest upsets of the awards season. And the Oscars are twelve days away. We're going to celebrate that. But I also need to address some of the comments from last episode — because some of y'all had me in my feelings. Let's get into it.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>9313639e-6c43-4ba1-b160-943d53ca0085Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:30:20 GMT<p>Last week we talked about the BAFTAs — Ryan Coogler's historic win, and what Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo had to endure on that stage. Well, this week MBJ went and won the Actor Award — formerly the SAGs — in one of the biggest upsets of the awards season. And the Oscars are twelve days away. We're going to celebrate that. But I also need to address some of the comments from last episode — because some of y'all had me in my feelings. Let's get into it.</p><p></p><hr /><p></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:27:07Ep 24 | MBJ Wins, and We Need to Talk About Those Commentsfull<![CDATA[Ep 23 | The BAFTAs: Sinners, History, and the N-Word]]>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole III breaks down the 2026 BAFTAs — Ryan Coogler's historic Best Original Screenplay win for Sinners, what Tourette syndrome and Coprolalia actually are, and why the real story isn't John Davidson. It's what BAFTA and the BBC chose to do — and chose not to do — while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were standing on that stage.

--

We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>2d20be2a-9728-4a9c-bdcf-34f96a3b6109Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:35:57 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole III breaks down the 2026 BAFTAs — Ryan Coogler's historic Best Original Screenplay win for <i>Sinners</i>, what Tourette syndrome and Coprolalia actually are, and why the real story isn't John Davidson. It's what BAFTA and the BBC chose to do — and chose not to do — while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were standing on that stage.</p><p></p><p>--</p><p>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank"><b>colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</b></a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:42:18Ep 23 | The BAFTAs: Sinners, History, and the N-Wordfull<![CDATA[Ep 22 | Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson & Tyler Perry's Joe's College Road Trip]]>Today we’ve got two stories:

Let’s get into it.

---

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>26e89b9a-b626-4557-94f1-c5d1348dd4bfThu, 19 Feb 2026 12:46:27 GMT<p>Today we’ve got two stories:</p><ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/us/jesse-jackson-dead.html" target="_blank">Eulogizing Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.</a></li></ul><ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://deadline.com/2026/02/netflix-ratings-tyler-perry-joes-college-road-trip-epstein-1236727560/" target="_blank">Tyler Perry's <i>Joe's College Road Trip</i></a></li></ul><p></p><p>Let’s get into it.</p><p></p><p>---<br /></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:19:20Ep 22 | Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson & Tyler Perry's Joe's College Road Tripfull<![CDATA[Ep 21 | Bad Bunny's Halftime Show and the Problem with Proxy Wars]]>This week, we're talking about proxy wars. And I don't mean the kind where countries fight each other through intermediaries — though we'll get to that. I'm talking about how almost every cultural fight you're seeing right now is a proxy war for something deeper. Something people can't or won't say out loud.

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show? That's not really about the performance. J. Cole's new album? That's not really about the music. These are battlefields for fights about identity, power, and who belongs in America.

--

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!


]]>003f7ffb-5947-43ae-95ff-be9ff80b75ffThu, 12 Feb 2026 02:45:00 GMT<p>This week, we're talking about proxy wars. And I don't mean the kind where countries fight each other through intermediaries — though we'll get to that. I'm talking about how almost every cultural fight you're seeing right now is a proxy war for something deeper. Something people can't or won't say out loud.</p><p></p><p>Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show? That's not really about the performance. J. Cole's new album? That's not really about the music. These are battlefields for fights about identity, power, and who belongs in America.</p><p></p><p>--</p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p><br /></p>no01:11:29Ep 21 | Bad Bunny's Halftime Show and the Problem with Proxy Warsfull<![CDATA[Ep 20 | The High Price of Poverty]]>Today, we're talking about something that doesn't get enough attention: the high price of poverty. How it costs more to be poor in America. How the system doesn't just ignore poverty—it profits from it.

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We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out our merch here!

]]>d52e3c95-7acd-464d-b94b-a94216295a93Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:35:18 GMT<p>Today, we're talking about something that doesn't get enough attention: the high price of poverty. How it costs more to be poor in America. How the system doesn't just ignore poverty—it profits from it.</p><p>--</p><p><br />We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank"><b>colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</b></a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:34:54Ep 20 | The High Price of Povertyfull<![CDATA[Ep 2 | Breaking News: Charlie Kirk Killed]]>This week on Color Commentary, Charles and producer Tommy were recording an episode when we learned that Charlie Kirk had been killed. This episode is an iimpromptu recording of their conversation on the matter.

Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/22102684142b556-fcfc-41ce-96c7-6332c184bab0Thu, 11 Sep 2025 04:47:00 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Charles and producer Tommy were recording an episode when we learned that Charlie Kirk had been killed. This episode is an iimpromptu recording of their conversation on the matter.</p><p></p><p>Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:23:05Ep 2 | Breaking News: Charlie Kirk Killedfull<![CDATA[Ep 1 | Welcome to Color Commentary: Uncle Nearest at Risk]]>This week on Color Commentary, Charles discussed what happens when a brand that built its name on reclaiming Black history suddenly finds its own story being rewritten in court.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2190478caca856c-8ef7-4832-a424-f13ce737495dThu, 04 Sep 2025 12:00:55 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Charles discussed what happens when a brand that built its name on reclaiming Black history suddenly finds its own story being rewritten in court.</p><ul><li>Under Receivership, Uncle Nearest Is At Risk (<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2025/08/27/under-receivership-uncle-nearest-is-at-risk/" target="_blank">Forbes, 8/27/25</a>)</li></ul><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:33:50Ep 1 | Welcome to Color Commentary: Uncle Nearest at Riskfull<![CDATA[Ep 3 | Marcus Garvey & Chance the Rapper]]>This week on Color Commentary, Charles asks - what do Chance the Rapper's comeback album, a failed shipping company from 1919, and the heated debates tearing apart Black America today all have in common?

By the end of this episode, you'll understand how they're all connected to the same fundamental question: What does it mean to have real power as a Black person in this world?

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2210302eeb1a23c-03fb-4793-bb03-314966399304Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:24:56 GMT<p>This week on Color Commentary, Charles asks - what do Chance the Rapper's comeback album, a failed shipping company from 1919, and the heated debates tearing apart Black America today all have in common?</p><p>By the end of this episode, you'll understand how they're all connected to the same fundamental question: What does it mean to have real power as a Black person in this world?</p><p></p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:17:57Ep 3 | Marcus Garvey & Chance the Rapperfull<![CDATA[Ep 15 | The A.N.D. Model—Awareness, Navigation, and Duty]]>A recent study examined three Black men who earned doctoral degrees despite growing up during the crack epidemic. Despite meaningful cultural differences—two African American, one Caribbean diaspora—all three demonstrated remarkably similar patterns of development across three dimensions

  1. Awareness:
  2. Navigation
  3. Duty

Let's talk about it.

--

Thank you for listening to Color Commentary. We’d love to hear from you, so us drop an email at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And if you like what you hear, please subscribe to the show, leave us a five-star rating, share it on social media, and join us every Thursday for more Color Commentary with Dr. Cole.

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2396091f4f9bd33-aba2-4098-a971-96fb9897ea0fThu, 18 Dec 2025 05:16:02 GMT<p>A recent study examined three Black men who earned doctoral degrees despite growing up during the crack epidemic. Despite meaningful cultural differences—two African American, one Caribbean diaspora—all three demonstrated remarkably similar patterns of development across three dimensions </p><ol><li><strong>Awareness:</strong></li><li><strong>Navigation</strong></li><li><strong>Duty</strong></li></ol><p>Let's talk about it. </p><p>--</p><p>Thank you for listening to Color Commentary. We’d love to hear from you, so us drop an email at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p>And if you like what you hear, please subscribe to the show, leave us a five-star rating, share it on social media, and join us every Thursday for more Color Commentary with Dr. Cole.</p>no00:45:31Ep 15 | The A.N.D. Model—Awareness, Navigation, and Dutyfull<![CDATA[ Ep 8 | The Beef Between Joe Budden and Native Land: Authenticity, Class, and Who Gets to Speak for the Culture (ft. Torraine Walker)]]> This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole is joined by digital storyteller and journalist Torraine Walker to break down the viral beef between The Joe Budden Podcast and The Native Land Pod—and what it really says about class, authenticity, and Black discourse. From the performance of intellectualism to the question of what credentials actually mean, Dr. Cole and Torraine keep it real about being stuck between worlds and why Joe's platform resonates with millions while others just perform.

Torraine Walker is a digital storyteller, journalist, and brand strategist specializing in authentic messaging and content creation. His work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Huffington Post, Splinter News, and more. He's partnered with organizations like Community Movement Builders and Energy Convertors to help find and amplify authentic voices in Black media. Learn more at torrainewalker.com.

We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2285591cb8f4636-9a94-4713-b22f-ff4b943b8bb6Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:00:20 GMT<p> This week on <em>Color Commentary</em>, Dr. Charles Cole is joined by digital storyteller and journalist Torraine Walker to break down the viral beef between <em>The Joe Budden Podcast</em> and <em>The Native Land Pod</em>—and what it really says about class, authenticity, and Black discourse. From the performance of intellectualism to the question of what credentials actually mean, Dr. Cole and Torraine keep it real about being stuck between worlds and why Joe's platform resonates with millions while others just perform.</p><p>Torraine Walker is a digital storyteller, journalist, and brand strategist specializing in authentic messaging and content creation. His work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Huffington Post, Splinter News, and more. He's partnered with organizations like Community Movement Builders and Energy Convertors to help find and amplify authentic voices in Black media. Learn more at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://torrainewalker.com" target="_blank">torrainewalker.com</a>.</p><p>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no01:08:13 Ep 8 | The Beef Between Joe Budden and Native Land: Authenticity, Class, and Who Gets to Speak for the Culture (ft. Torraine Walker)full<![CDATA[Ep 12 | The Ballad of Eddie Murphy: The Architect We Didn't Recognize]]>This week, we're talking about Eddie Murphy. Netflix just dropped a documentary called "Being Eddie," and while I knew most of what was in there—what can I say about myself knowing that?—it got me thinking about something bigger. Eddie Murphy isn't just arguably the greatest comedian of all time. He's the kind of architect I respect—the quiet kind. The one who changes the landscape without needing a title or a speech. Let me explain.

--

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2335441117e02de-0b80-484b-920f-95484a17729cThu, 20 Nov 2025 01:00:13 GMT<p>This week, we're talking about Eddie Murphy. Netflix just dropped a documentary called "Being Eddie," and while I knew most of what was in there—what can I say about myself knowing that?—it got me thinking about something bigger. Eddie Murphy isn't just arguably the greatest comedian of all time. He's the kind of architect I respect—the quiet kind. The one who changes the landscape without needing a title or a speech. Let me explain.</p><p>--</p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:atcolorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:26:34Ep 12 | The Ballad of Eddie Murphy: The Architect We Didn't Recognizefull<![CDATA[Ep 4 | Young Thug's Freedom & the Street Codes That Bind Us]]>Young Thug just walked out of jail after 2½ years. His plea deal ends Georgia's longest criminal trial in history. But the real question isn't about his freedom - it's about the culture that put him there in the first place, and why it's time for Black communities to have an honest conversation about moving beyond street codes that are destroying us from the inside.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/22199966fd2a6f1-b91e-482d-b4d2-0fa0ef7c2396Thu, 18 Sep 2025 13:20:08 GMT<p>Young Thug just walked out of jail after 2½ years. His plea deal ends Georgia's longest criminal trial in history. But the real question isn't about his freedom - it's about the culture that put him there in the first place, and why it's time for Black communities to have an honest conversation about moving beyond street codes that are destroying us from the inside.</p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:35:49Ep 4 | Young Thug's Freedom & the Street Codes That Bind Usfull<![CDATA[Ep 9 | The NBA Gambling Scandal —When the Mafia Met the League]]>This week on Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole breaks down the massive FBI investigation that led to the arrests of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former player Damon Jones.

But this isn't just a sports scandal—it's a Mafia story. Dr. Cole explains why he's been warning about this for years, how players get pulled into these schemes, and why the toothpaste is never going back in the tube. This is about corruption, class, and a system that invited organized crime into the game.

We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2296853a354b2ab-3391-443f-8579-bf7ffa8b41e6Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:26:02 GMT<p>This week on <em>Color Commentary</em>, Dr. Charles Cole breaks down the massive FBI investigation that led to the arrests of Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former player Damon Jones. </p><p>But this isn't just a sports scandal—it's a Mafia story. Dr. Cole explains why he's been warning about this for years, how players get pulled into these schemes, and why the toothpaste is never going back in the tube. This is about corruption, class, and a system that invited organized crime into the game.</p><p></p><p>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:39:30Ep 9 | The NBA Gambling Scandal —When the Mafia Met the Leaguefull<![CDATA[Ep 6 | Let's Talk About Ta-Nehisi Coates & Ezra Klein]]>After the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, New York Times columnist Ezra Klein wrote a piece that many saw as too sympathetic to Kirk's legacy. Ta-Nehisi Coates responded with a piece in Vanity Fair criticizing Klein's take, comparing it to the whitewashing of the Confederate cause after the Civil War. Let's talk about it.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2260403a41ff1dd-397a-4d09-90f8-b64b1e3a0875Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:50:07 GMT<p>After the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, New York Times columnist Ezra Klein wrote a piece that many saw as too sympathetic to Kirk's legacy. Ta-Nehisi Coates responded with a piece in Vanity Fair criticizing Klein's take, comparing it to the whitewashing of the Confederate cause after the Civil War. Let's talk about it.</p><ul><li>Ta-Nehisi Coates and Ezra Klein Hash Out Their Charlie Kirk Disagreement (<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaeoDlLNnok" target="_blank">The Ezra Klein Show, 9/28/25</a>)</li><li>Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way by Ezra Klein (<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/opinion/charlie-kirk-assassination-fear-politics.html" target="_blank">NYT, 9/11/25</a>)</li><li>Charlie Kirk, Redeemed: A Political Class Finds Its Lost Cause by Ta-Nehisi Coates (<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/charlie-kirk-ezra-klein-tanehisi-coates?srsltid=AfmBOoqqK-f53_LA9pKv2-9G-s6GMgNQiT77XS0MjGvyHZdHNgtSKmV6" target="_blank">Vanity Fair, 9/16/25</a>)</li></ul><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:42:43Ep 6 | Let's Talk About Ta-Nehisi Coates & Ezra Kleinfull<![CDATA[Ep 13 | Dr. Howard Fuller: The Revolutionary Who Won't Let Us Rest]]>This week, we're talking about Dr. Howard Fuller. I was just at the Black Male Educator Convening in Philadelphia last week, and I posted a clip of Dr. Fuller speaking. It went viral on TikTok—a new generation discovering an 83-year-old revolutionary who refuses to rest.

Watching young educators discover him moved me in ways I wasn't prepared for. Dr. Fuller is one of my most faithful advisors, and today I want to introduce him to those who don't know his story. Not as a historical figure, but as a living blueprint for how to fight for Black children's liberation. Let me explain.

--

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And be sure to check out...

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2365377e61819fc-f914-4e41-adef-4e8fde2b1bc6Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:40:08 GMT<p>This week, we're talking about Dr. Howard Fuller. I was just at the Black Male Educator Convening in Philadelphia last week, and I posted a <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@drcharlescoleiii/video/7575307296385895693" target="_blank">clip</a> of Dr. Fuller speaking. It went viral on TikTok—a new generation discovering an 83-year-old revolutionary who refuses to rest. </p><p>Watching young educators discover him moved me in ways I wasn't prepared for. Dr. Fuller is one of my most faithful advisors, and today I want to introduce him to those who don't know his story. Not as a historical figure, but as a living blueprint for how to fight for Black children's liberation. Let me explain.</p><p>--</p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p></p><p>And be sure to check out...</p><ul><li>"<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiSjL13LOfB5Gxta19UdxzPMVeAvDmEb6" target="_blank">Howard's University</a>" - my 10-episode series with Dr. Fuller: </li><li> Agentic merchandise at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://charlescoleiii.com" target="_blank">charlescoleiii.com</a></li></ul>no00:32:45Ep 13 | Dr. Howard Fuller: The Revolutionary Who Won't Let Us Restfull<![CDATA[Ep 16 | "The Spook Who Sat by the Door" - The Real Cost of Revolution]]>Today we're talking about a book that's shaped how I think about activism, sacrifice, and what it really means to fight for change: "The Spook Who Sat by the Door" by Sam Greenlee.

--

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/243752681bf8534-39f2-4773-b4af-ad7dc789a03fWed, 07 Jan 2026 23:55:35 GMT<p>Today we're talking about a book that's shaped how I think about activism, sacrifice, and what it really means to fight for change: <em>"</em><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spook_Who_Sat_by_the_Door_(novel)" target="_blank"><em>The Spook Who Sat by the Door</em></a><em>"</em> by Sam Greenlee.</p><p>--</p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:53:23Ep 16 | "The Spook Who Sat by the Door" - The Real Cost of Revolutionfull<![CDATA[Ep 5 | The Problem with Performing Blackness for the Ruling Class]]>We love celebrating Black excellence. And we should. The first Black CEO, the only Black partner, historic appointments - these matter. These are victories.

But somewhere along the way, something shifted. Black excellence stopped being about actual excellence and started being about performing a version of Blackness that makes the ruling class comfortable.

There's a version of Black excellence that's become popular in corporate America, in academia, in predominantly white institutions. And it's not real excellence. It's performance.

--

Thank you for listening to Color Commentary. We'd love to hear from you, so drop us an email at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2248042f95f8a0e-4fac-4180-a26b-b227570ef656Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:01:13 GMT<p>We love celebrating Black excellence. And we should. The first Black CEO, the only Black partner, historic appointments - these matter. These are victories.</p><p>But somewhere along the way, something shifted. Black excellence stopped being about actual excellence and started being about performing a version of Blackness that makes the ruling class comfortable.</p><p>There's a version of Black excellence that's become popular in corporate America, in academia, in predominantly white institutions. And it's not real excellence. It's performance.</p><p>--</p><p>Thank you for listening to Color Commentary. We'd love to hear from you, so drop us an email at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:40:44Ep 5 | The Problem with Performing Blackness for the Ruling Classfull<![CDATA[Ep 10 | Who's Getting Paid to Make Us Look Bad?]]>Today we're talking about something that's been bothering me for a while: these so-called "culture" pages on social media. You know the ones—millions of followers, claiming they're amplifying Black voices, but really just posting our worst moments on repeat and making money off it.

Joining me today is Chris Stewart—Citizen Stewart. He runs Brightbeam, he's co-creator of 8 Black Hands with me, and he's spent years fighting for educational justice. He knows firsthand how these narratives shape what people expect from our kids.

Thank you for listening to Color Commentary. We'd love to hear from you, so drop us an email at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com.

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/230274581716a17-44ea-4df7-ac0b-7c8be3f0cd17Thu, 06 Nov 2025 12:01:16 GMT<p>Today we're talking about something that's been bothering me for a while: these so-called "culture" pages on social media. You know the ones—millions of followers, claiming they're amplifying Black voices, but really just posting our worst moments on repeat and making money off it.</p><p>Joining me today is <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://citizen.substack.com" target="_blank">Chris Stewart—Citizen Stewart</a>. He runs <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://brightbeamnetwork.org" target="_blank">Brightbeam</a>, he's co-creator of 8 Black Hands with me, and he's spent years fighting for educational justice. He knows firsthand how these narratives shape what people expect from our kids.</p><p>Thank you for listening to <em>Color Commentary.</em> We'd love to hear from you, so drop us an email at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank"><strong>colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</strong></a>.</p>no01:10:02Ep 10 | Who's Getting Paid to Make Us Look Bad?full<![CDATA[Ep 14 | From YN to Quarter Zip - When Young Black Males Trade Nike Tech for Matcha]]>Today we're talking about the Quarter Zip movement - young Black men trading in their Nike Techs for business casual, their coffee for matcha, their "YN" identity for something they're calling "Young Gentlemen." But to understand why this matters, we need to talk about what a "YN" actually is. These teenagers are calling themselves "Young Niggas," and I have complicated feelings about how adults are responding to this. Let's talk about it.

Thank you for listening to Color Commentary. We'd love to hear from you, so drop us an email at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2380673d17ffafa-9867-494f-a32c-cbed13114d37Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:44:54 GMT<p>Today we're talking about the Quarter Zip movement - young Black men trading in their Nike Techs for business casual, their coffee for matcha, their "YN" identity for something they're calling "Young Gentlemen." But to understand why this matters, we need to talk about what a "YN" actually is. These teenagers are calling themselves "Young Niggas," and I have complicated feelings about how adults are responding to this. Let's talk about it.</p><p>Thank you for listening to Color Commentary. We'd love to hear from you, so drop us an email at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:43:44Ep 14 | From YN to Quarter Zip - When Young Black Males Trade Nike Tech for Matchafull<![CDATA[Ep 17 | Will Sinners Keep Getting Snubbed?]]>Ryan Coogler made a $368 million vampire thriller with a nearly all-Black cast. Michael B. Jordan delivered a career-defining dual performance. Warner Bros. had the biggest original Black film of the year. And the Golden Globes gave it two awards - one of which wasn't even televised.

Meanwhile, a table tennis movie made $79 million and won Best Actor. A 2 hour 41 minute PTA film about anarchists made $200 million and won Best Screenplay.

Is Sinners bound to get snubbed at the Oscars?

---

Thank you for listening to Color Commentary. We'd love to hear from you, so drop us an email at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And if you like what you hear, please subscribe to the show, leave us a five-star rating, share it on social media, and join us every Thursday for more Color Commentary with Dr. Cole.

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2458982b138b22b-0128-4775-99ed-1a89ec268693Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:21:05 GMT<p>Ryan Coogler made a $368 million vampire thriller with a nearly all-Black cast. Michael B. Jordan delivered a career-defining dual performance. Warner Bros. had the biggest original Black film of the year. And the Golden Globes gave it two awards - one of which wasn't even televised.</p><p>Meanwhile, a table tennis movie made $79 million and won Best Actor. A 2 hour 41 minute PTA film about anarchists made $200 million and won Best Screenplay.</p><p>Is Sinners bound to get snubbed at the Oscars?</p><p>---</p><p>Thank you for listening to Color Commentary. We'd love to hear from you, so drop us an email at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p>And if you like what you hear, please subscribe to the show, leave us a five-star rating, share it on social media, and join us every Thursday for more Color Commentary with Dr. Cole.</p>no00:40:13Ep 17 | Will Sinners Keep Getting Snubbed?full<![CDATA[Ep 19 | Sinners, Ye, and Wonderman]]>In this episode of Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole, III discusses the recent Oscar nominations for the film 'Sinners', the public apology from Ye regarding his past comments, and the premiere of Marvel's 'Wonder Man'. He reflects on the significance of these events in the context of the film industry, mental health, and the evolving landscape of superhero narratives.

-

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And check out our merch here!

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2501964b58ddb13-7e58-4b16-a055-3d3b453ce586Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:57:22 GMT<p>In this episode of Color Commentary, Dr. Charles Cole, III discusses the recent Oscar nominations for the film 'Sinners', the public apology from Ye regarding his past comments, and the premiere of Marvel's 'Wonder Man'. He reflects on the significance of these events in the context of the film industry, mental health, and the evolving landscape of superhero narratives.</p><p>-</p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p>And check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank">here</a>!</p><p></p><p></p>no00:57:49Ep 19 | Sinners, Ye, and Wondermanfull<![CDATA[Ep 7 | How We End the Proficiency Illusion]]>A decade of the same results means the education system is functioning exactly as designed. The only way to end the proficiency illusion is to build an Agency Movement—one student, one family, one classroom at a time.

We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2270856f8f3cda2-5a54-4762-866b-1bb3aa05f040Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:01:28 GMT<p>A decade of the same results means the education system is functioning exactly as designed. The only way to end the proficiency illusion is to build an Agency Movement—one student, one family, one classroom at a time.</p><p>We'd love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:32:34Ep 7 | How We End the Proficiency Illusionfull<![CDATA[Ep 11 | Fine Print and Black Futures: How New Student Loan Rules Rewrite the Game]]>Today we're talking about something that will reshape Black futures for the next generation—new federal student loan rules that just cleared a major hurdle at the U.S. Department of Education.

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/232519624b6404d-8c61-4c49-ae2c-f552bb9dae96Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:45:09 GMT<p>Today we're talking about something that will reshape Black futures for the next generation—new federal student loan rules that just cleared a major hurdle at the U.S. Department of Education.</p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p>no00:26:42Ep 11 | Fine Print and Black Futures: How New Student Loan Rules Rewrite the Gamefull<![CDATA[Ep 18 | California’s Grading Wars]]>Today's story is about a question schools don't ask out loud enough: What is a grade actually supposed to mean?

We're looking at two connected developments out of California—one focused on grade inflation and the incentives driving it, and another focused on grading reform that's spreading across high-performing districts, even when they avoid naming it directly.

  • Don’t blame California’s teachers for inflated grades. Look at school officials (CalMatters, 1/16/26)
  • Why some top schools in the Bay Area are rebranding a controversial grading system (SFChronicle, 1/16/26)

--

We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at colorcommentarypod@gmail.com

And check out our merch here!

]]>https://rss.com/podcasts/color-commentary/2472626861ad9e9-fdd0-4ba3-bb77-9d05c793cadeWed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:10 GMT<p>Today's story is about a question schools don't ask out loud enough: What is a grade actually supposed to mean?</p><p>We're looking at two connected developments out of California—one focused on grade inflation and the incentives driving it, and another focused on grading reform that's spreading across high-performing districts, even when they avoid naming it directly.</p><ul><li>Don’t blame California’s teachers for inflated grades. Look at school officials (<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://calmatters.org/commentary/2026/01/teachers-grade-inflation-california-schools/" target="_blank">CalMatters, 1/16/26</a>)</li><li>Why some top schools in the Bay Area are rebranding a controversial grading system (<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/tri-valley-school-district-grading-equity-21290913.php" target="_blank">SFChronicle, 1/16/26</a>)</li></ul><p>--</p><p>We’d love to hear from you! Email Charles at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:colorcommentarypod@gmail.com" target="_blank">colorcommentarypod@gmail.com</a></p><p>And check out our merch <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://dr-cole-exclusives.creator-spring.com" target="_blank">here</a>!</p>no00:56:23Ep 18 | California’s Grading Warsfull