The Long Run Presents- The endurance of cultural traditions. From hand games to handoffs- how Black girls played their way to track and field dominance.
a new podcast
I’ve got something for you! I'm excited to introduce my new podcast, Unexpected Curves. At The Long Run, we are dedicated to reimagining narratives around representation and endurance running. As we work towards building connections with community members and securing resources for in-person events that showcase our storytelling goals, Unexpected Curves offers a glimpse into the creative connections you can expect from us in the future!
Spotify/Apple Podcasts/RSS Feed
In this episode, I'm joined by Amira Rose Davis, an Assistant Professor in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Amira specializes in 20th Century American History, focusing on race, gender, sports, and politics.
In our discussion, we explore why Black American girls are highly concentrated in track and field and how the games, and traditions passed down through generations have persisted, representing a form of cultural endurance. We get into why play is so important, how it gets professionalized through sport, athletes bodies as storytellers, and individuality in collectivity. We also examine how the call-and-response format of hand games can inform and inspire the future of sports.
Give the show a listen, let me know what you think, and stay tuned. The Long Run is a creative platform dedicated to highlighting endurance narratives in our collective culture, and we are excited to be in this race with you!