Zebra Sisters

In the Season 1 finale of “Zebra Sisters,” a podcast about race relations hosted by Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci, the hosts call out Roseanne Barr's "bad joke" about Valerie Jarrett as "racist" and Samantha Bee's joke about First Lady Melania Trump.The hosts explore the current environment and news cycle in which racist comments and actions are downplayed as jokes, mistakes or inappropriate, but not "racism."They also applaud the rapid responses by ABC, Starbuck's and Water Tower Place against racist behaviors. Next, they discuss the alleged youth flash mobs occurring along Chicago's Magnificent Mile and options for how city officials should deal with them.The episode concludes with Leslie announcing her upcoming retirement and plans for fun.

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci question whether attitudes about interracial relationships have changed in their discussions about President Trump's posthumous pardon of African American boxer Jack Johnson and the Royal Wedding of England's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. They dive into the Chicago debate to name a street after African American journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells, and offer up better options to memorialize her importance and impact. Then Mary reveals her transformative birthday - and plans for her new outlook on life this summer.

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci discuss the disturbing gap between white and black home ownership. In Chicago, whites are twice as likely to own homes as African-Americans. The hosts turn to Courtney Jones, president of the oldest African-American real estate trade association, to find out what can be done to close the gap. They also discuss the unsettling rise of incidents in which whites have called the police on black people for just being in their vicinity.

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci discuss how Water Tower Place officials apologized to the black teenagers they expelled right before a flash mob of teens disrupted tourists and shoppers on Chicago's Magnificent Mile. They discuss some angry fan mail that reinforces concerns for loitering policies and typecasting black youth under one negative banner. Struggling with their own perceptions linking appearance and behavior to racial stereotypes, they turn to diversity and inclusion expert Julie Heard about how to break away from stereotyping and racial profiling on the personal level. They also continue exploring the "100 Ways White People Can Make Life Less Frustrating for People of Color" list and several "micro-aggression" acts.

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci call out Camille Cosby, R. Kelly and Kanye West for their twisted views of America’s racial history. This comes after Cosby and Kelly have both claimed to be victims of public lynchings, while West has called slavery a “choice.” Then, the hosts discuss their favorite and least favorite points in Kesiena Boom's "100 Ways White People Can Make Life Less Frustrating for People of Color.”

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci explore how racial bias and stereotypes can be overcome through diverse neighbors and interracial friendships. Joining the hosts is Linda Gartz, author of "Redlined: A Memoir of Race, Change and Fractured Community in 1960s Chicago," who shares what her white family learned while living on the West Side alongside black and Mexican families. Another guest, Deborah Hayter, explains what it was like to grow up in a black family on the North Side and attend an all-white Catholic school. Then, Leslie reflects on her story about the racial profiling of her daughter and friends, and apologizes for her "white privilege" point of view.

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci explore why so few blacks play hockey with Sun-Times Digital Content Producer Evan Moore. Moore is the author of a recent Chicago Reader story titled "Icing Racism," which explores the history of racism in hockey and how that's changing. Brad Erickson, founder of Inner City Education, an ice hockey and academic tutoring program for disadvantaged youth, also joins the hosts. Then, Leslie and Mary address 50/50 Day, and Mary explains why she and other black women feel bitterness toward the predominantly white women's movement. The episode concludes with the definition of the word "WYPIPO", its use, and tone.

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci dive into the issues of implicit bias and racist behavior evident in the Starbucks' incident in which two black men were arrested for sitting at a table without buying anything. Anti-racism and diversity trainer Glenn Singleton joins the hosts, with insight on whether or not diversity training makes a difference in changing unconsciously biased and racist behavior. Singleton addresses concrete steps that can be taken to change individuals' consciousness about their own experiences and attitudes. Mary and Leslie wrap up reviewing additional racial clashes, including racist and anti-Semitic graffiti at DePauw University in Indiana, high school students displaying confederate flags on pickup trucks in Michigan, and counter protests planned for a Sons of Confederate Veterans memorial service at a South Side cemetery where famous African Americans are buried.

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci reflect on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. 50 years ago, where they were at the time, and his impact on each of their lives. Leslie shares how she bought into the "dream" and made a commitment to raising her family in a racially integrated neighborhood. Mary discusses her mixed feelings about the "dream." Both lament the continuation of segregated housing and education, resurgence of hate groups and neighborhood gentrification. Next, the hosts tackle mortality, and Leslie discloses her pact with her friends, while Mary shares her recent epiphany about death. From death, they revisit aging and dealing with the loss of youthful beauty, and Leslie shares her anti-aging beauty secrets. The episode concludes with Leslie posing to Mary the BIG question to be answered in episode 11: "How do you pronounce the word WYPIPO?"

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci are joined by Dr. Carla Hightower and Kevin Berry as they discuss an incident of racial profiling at Chicago's Water Tower Place. Hightower was at the mall when she witnessed a group of black teenagers being groundlessly expelled from the mall before confronting management, and Berry is an executive at General Growth Properties, which owns the mall. After admitting wrongdoing, Berry shares steps the management company is taking to change policies and prevent racial profiling.Mary and Leslie pursue the issue further with personal stories of how racial profiling cuts across racial lines. Then Mary answers Leslie's question from Ep. 8 with a fond reminiscence of dating a white man. Ep. 9 concludes with Mary's BIG question to Leslie: Why do you continue to live in a neighborhood that has changed to being predominantly black? 

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci take the "Bitch Quiz." Leslie takes a look back at her career and ponders the use of sexuality in the workplace in contrast to the recent abuses of power made known in the #MeToo movement. Then, the hosts discuss feeling invisible with age and have fun with a list of annoying things said to women over 50. Leslie talks about an uncomfortable situation in a grocery store.

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci discuss gun violence protests, and Leslie shares how she's reactivating her activism. In light of a documentary about Rachel Dolezal, Mary wonders, can you decide to be a different race? Then, what does National Geographic's April issue mean for the magazine's future? And Mary leaves Leslie with a question for her to answer in the next episode: What's the worst racist remark you heard from a friend - and what did you do?

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci lament dealing with aging and the loss of beauty. The hosts discuss the recent mass shooting in Parkland, and whether or not teachers should be armed. As a former teacher, Leslie contemplates how she would feel if she was told to carry a gun in her classroom. Then, Mary asks Leslie: “What’s the worst thing you heard a white person say about a black person, and what did you do about it?” Leslie answers with a heartbreaking memory about her grandmother.

Hosts Mary Mitchell and Leslie Baldacci discuss “colorism.” Leslie spends some time asking Mary what the impact of “colorism” was on her life. Mary recounts painful memories of being bullied when she was a child for having light skin and green eyes, and what her friends looked like in school. Then, the hosts talk about Black History Month, and ponder the frequently-posed question: Should there be a White History Month?

Leslie's answer to Mary's "big question": has she ever dated a black guy? reveals the racism in her family - and how she's dealt with it. Lineup also includes a review of the Showtime hit series "The Chi" and their discomfort with some of the character portrayals, more cultural appropriation spotting, and questioning who is - and is not - involved in the #metoo movement. Leslie lays a "big question" on Mary...catch the next episode for the painful memories the question brings to light.

"The Talk," "Get Out," and when is it o.k. to "steal" from other cultures? Mary and Leslie explore Proctor and Gambles' controversial "The Talk" video and the very different kinds of conversations black parents have with their children about survival than white parents. Lineup also includes reactions to the hit movie "Get Out," appreciating culture vs. stealing it, and part two of the White Privilege quiz. Don't miss Mary's Big Question for Leslie to answer in the next episode.

Exploring white privilege, the reality of color blind relationships and ... hair.Join the Zebra Sisters as they tackle a so-called “white privilege” quiz and hear the surprising results.  Mary and Leslie also talk about the very nature of Zebra Sister relationships — are they real or a media creation? Plus, hair. All women talk about their hair and these two are no exception.

In this first Zebra Sisters episode, Mary and Leslie describe how they met and their unique 25+ year working relationship and friendship, including the racial lens — and misperception — they each had of the other in their first meeting. Other topics covered include the meaning behind President Trump's racist "sh-thole" countries remark and a remarkable new documentary about the African American writer Lorraine Hansbury.