Is astrology real? Depends who you ask

In this 10th-anniversary episode of Code Switch, hosts B.A. Parker and Jean Demby explore the cultural and psychological appeal of astrology, particularly among Black and Latino women, LGBTQ individuals, and lower-income communities. The episode begins with Parker using astrology to analyze both himself and the show’s birth chart, guided by Oakland-based astrologer Issa Nakazawa, who frames astrology as a tool for reclaiming personal and ancestral narratives beyond trauma. Nakazawa, a former skeptic, shares how astrology helped her connect with a deeper sense of identity and meaning, especially as a Japanese American navigating a history rooted in incarceration and political violence. In contrast, science journalist Carlos Orsi offers a skeptical perspective, arguing that astrology is a pseudoscience that mimics scientific legitimacy but lacks empirical validity. He explains how its popularity stems from a desire for control and connection in the face of systemic marginalization, citing studies showing how horoscopes in different magazines reflect racial and class stereotypes—such as advising Black women to save money and avoid lending, while wealthy white women are told to spend freely and focus on romance. The conversation ultimately grapples with the emotional and psychological value of astrology, even if it’s not scientifically real, concluding that it often serves as a mirror for self-knowledge rather than a predictor of fate.