Just a warning, the episode you're about to hear contains some strong language.

So buckle up.

I'm Karen Griegsby-Bates and this is Code Switch from NPR.

Unapologetically black.

It's a phrase that I hear thrown around a lot, but in practice, what does it actually mean?

It's a long process of unlearning and learning to de-center the feelings,

gaze, fears of white people.

That voice you just heard, it belongs to actress and author and businesswoman Gabrielle Union.

She sat down with Jay Williams, the host of NPR's newest podcast called The Limits.

And she got real about many of the different things she's dealt with as a black woman.

Pressure to look a certain way, scrutiny about how to raise her kids and how to navigate her

very public marriage to NBA start Duane Way. How to deal with fertility issues when you're

surrounded by the narrative that black women shouldn't have any trouble conceiving.

And the message over and over again, that she should somehow be able to balance it all.

But as I got older, you know, as I say, my basket of fox had been full.

It was overflowing. I hadn't get extra baskets, you know, to carry all the fox that I gave.

But around, you know, 40, I just emptied them out.

Give a fuck. You know, when you've survived the worst and public humiliation upon public humiliation,

and yet you're still standing and you're still thriving and you're still, you know, succeeding.

Yeah, you feel like the freaking Avengers. And it's like, try me if you want to, but I wouldn't.

Don't worry, Miss Union. We will not. Today on Code Switch, we're bringing you this bonus

episode and trust. You are in for a treat with this one. Welcome to the limits. I'm Jay Williams.

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