WASHINGTON 鈥� For the last time, folks, Phoebe Robinson wants to let you know it鈥檚 not OK to touch her hair.
鈥淏lack women鈥檚 hair get touched a lot because I think, historically, there鈥檚 been a lot of confusion and not a lot of acceptance of black women鈥檚 hair, so when people see it, they just want to touch it,鈥� said Robinson, a comedian, writer, actress and podcast host.
The title of her new book, “,” is Robinson鈥檚 humorous and subtle reminder of what is and isn鈥檛 appropriate.
But the collection of essays is more than a list of 鈥渄on鈥檛s.鈥� Page after page, Robinson tackles themes such as race, gender, pop culture and 鈥渕y love of Oprah, my love of U2 and how I want to be married to Michael Fassbender,鈥� she added.
Injecting humor into heavy topics is Robinson鈥檚 forte. On her two WNYC podcasts 鈥� 鈥�,鈥� which she co-hosts with former Daily Show correspondent Jessica Williams, and 鈥�,鈥� on which Robinson interviews performers, musicians and artists who are not white 鈥� she鈥檚 not afraid to broach subjects that make many squirm with discomfort.
Within minutes, the unease turns to laughter.
鈥淓ven though we talk about some kind of heavier topics, we still want the show to be a place of escape and a place that鈥檚 empowering for people,鈥� Robinson said about her show with Williams, which is one of the most popular podcasts on iTunes.
鈥淲e just really try to make each other laugh, and if that works, then we feel that other people will laugh too. We鈥檙e not social justice people. But we really try to see if we can make something funny.鈥�
Robinson, who also worked as a consultant on season three of 鈥淏road City,鈥� says the podcast medium has been the perfect place to make those connections and bridge those divides, due to radio鈥檚 intimate nature. (She listens to podcasts as she falls asleep.)
鈥淓ven if I am talking about heavy topics or tough topics, I still feel like I鈥檓 coming at it from a personal perspective,鈥� she said.
That personal approach is also reflected in her New York Times Bestselling book, where Robinson writes about her experiences on being a black woman in comedy.
鈥淚 think it will speak to people and make them feel like they鈥檙e hanging out with their best friend,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥淚 like to say it鈥檚 like a bad feminist鈥檚 little sister.鈥�
Next up on Robinson鈥檚 agenda is a new Amazon project from Jill Soloway, in which she has a reoccurring role, and amping up her stand-up schedule. Robinson says she is even exploring options for her own TV project.
But in the meantime, she has a more serious matter to attend to. When asked what change she wants to see for the next generation of women, Robinson鈥檚 response was quick.
鈥淚 would like for coded language to not be used toward women any more 鈥� like 鈥榮he鈥檚 nasty,鈥� or making women feel bad if they choose to not be parents, or if they are parents, acting like they鈥檙e not capable of working,鈥� she said.
鈥淛ust underestimating women, overall, and making them feel bad for being women 鈥� I鈥檓 hoping people will just realize that we鈥檙e half the population and we belong here.鈥�
That鈥檚 pretty dope.
