At the beginning of Black History Month, I want to share a resource that remains as relevant today as it was when it first aired in 2017. If you haven’t yet listened to Scene on Radio’s series Seeing White, now is the perfect time to start. This 14-episode series, beginning with Episode 1: Turning the Lens, is a deep dive into the history, construction, and impact of whiteness in America. It might seem odd to draw attention to a podcast on whiteness in Black History Month, but if you take the time to listen you will understand that the history of whiteness is a story of all races.

John Biewen, the host, takes an honest and unflinching look at what it means to be white and how that identity has shaped the nation. He does so not just from an academic perspective but with the help of Chenjerai Kumanyika, a scholar and media critic, who provides crucial insights and pushback. The conversation is at times uncomfortable, often eye-opening, and always necessary.

Episode 1 begins with a moment of self-reflection—a viral comment from comedian D.L. Hughley that challenged Biewen’s own assumptions. From there, it unfolds into a broader conversation about the 2016 election, white identity, and the historical forces that have shaped racial dynamics in the U.S. What makes this series compelling is its refusal to let whiteness remain invisible or unexamined. It flips the script, taking a journalistic lens often focused on communities of color and instead interrogating what it means to be white in America.

This isn’t just a history lesson; it’s an opportunity to reflect, to wrestle with hard truths, and to engage in necessary conversations. Whether you’ve explored these topics before or are just beginning to think about them, Seeing White is a powerful resource that challenges and informs.

As we step into Black History Month, I invite you to check it out. Start with Episode 1, Turning the Lens, and see where the journey takes you. You can listen at Scene on Radio or any of the podcast apps.