Podcast: Ask Code Switch: The racial politics of washing dishes?

Sep 16 / Karith Foster
This week on Ask Code Switch, we're getting into the politics and power dynamics of race and dishes in the workplace (which is more fraught than you might think). When no one is "technically" the "dishwasher" at work...who's washing the dishes and should you feel some type of way about it?

Part of the tension underlying Shaq's question has to do with the way his supervisors – both white women – approached the issue to begin with. Having identifiers in common, like race and gender, can create common ground and even community. But it can also amplify our implicit biases. "Birds of a feather flock together," right? It's not just an expression because it's cute and it rhymes – it's because it's true," says Karith Foster, the founder of INVERSITY Solutions.

So when it comes to those dishes, who was in the wrong? Why is the situation still keeping Shaq up at night?

Listen now on the Code Switch feed on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Do you have a question for Lori and the Code Switch team? Send us your questions on Instagram @nprcodeswitch. Or, email us at codeswitch@npr.org – subject line, Ask Code Switch.

This episode was written and hosted by Lori Lizarraga. It was produced by Schuyler Swenson, edited by Veralyn Williams, engineered by Gilly Moon and fact checked by Greta Pittenger. Our project manager was Lauren Gonzalez. And a special thanks to the content development team for making this series a reality.