You wouldn’t know it today, but Manhattan Beach in California was once a destination, a playground for Black families in southern California – and there were others. Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson, researcher and native Californian tells the remarkable story of the legacy of these places in the book, Living the California Dream: African American Leisure Sites during the Jim Crow Era.
Much of America’s history has been dominated by one particular subculture – White, Christian, specifically Protestant Americans. Slowly over the generations and even in the past 10 years, that has begun to change. Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute and author of The End of White Christian America explains the history, and how the current political and cultural climate has brought it to an end.
Warmth, and art. Quilting is a pastime that has been passed down from generations. It has grown across the country, including southern plantations of yesterday to urban cities of today. Certain names stand out from the Gee’s Bend quilters of Alabama to Harriet Powers. Kyra E. Hicks, author, researcher and quilter talks about the rich and cozy heritage of quilting.
In 2014 and 2015, protests and unrest took place in several cities including Baltimore, Maryland and Ferguson, Missouri. In 2015 another officer involved shooting, resulting the death of Laquan McDonald was scrutinized. One person who helped bring the story to the forefront was Jamie Kalven. Kalven is the founder of The Invisible Institute, a media production company with the aim of creating better transparency in between the community and the police and criminal justice system.
Mammoth Cave National Park Ranger Chuck DeCroix leads us through the history and practical aspects of the 400 mile long cavern. You will find that what makes cave exploration special is the intimacy of hidden nature and the people that have preserved it.
As Flint, Michigan slowly begins to resolve the water crisis that plagued the city, we take a look at the origin, some lead pipe history and the reality of the toxic water levels. Dr. Amy Pruden of Virginia Tech and the Flint Water Study gives us insight.
The only thing missing is the ‘ding’.
Keyboards can be heard in offices around the world, but that’s only half of what was once a ubiquitous tool at home and the workplace. Typewriters were quickly tossed aside in the age of personal computers and the digital age. Yet as Americans recollect and repurchase vinyl, cassettes and other classic devices, typewriters are seeing an increase in sales too; in some cases for very different reasons.
Richard Polt, philosophy professor at Xavier University, avid typewriter collector and enthusiast shines light on the latest resurgence in nostalgia and with typewriters.
This interview was recorded on November 30, 2015
With the passing of Hank Aaron, we look at the legacy of the Negro Leagues. Bob Kendrick shares his experience with Hank Aaron and the remarkable talent and legacy of Negro League baseball.
The Negro Leagues included several independent baseball leagues that were founded by and regulated by Black people between 1920 and 1948. The league produced notable players including Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Henry ‘Hank’ Aaron.
Bob Kendrick is the President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
On the outside, segregation and Jim Crow. On the inside, “only the ball was white”. Black players thrived during the zenith of America’s past time. Baseball provided entertainment, culture and business. Not to be left out of the game were Negro League umpires. Bob Motley late, Negro League umpire shares his experience along with his son, multi-faceted artist, Byron Motley. From Sunday games to excited fans, Motley tells the story of game he remembers and loves.
Note: Bob Motley passed away on September 14, 2017 at the age of 94.
Young Americans have always returned home after heading out into the world for the first time. Today, the number of Millennials living with parents are comparatively larger. What are the reasons behind the recent spike? The Great Recession, relationships and the workforce play important roles in this trending, practical living arrangement. Richard Fry, senior researcher at the Pew Research Center takes us beyond the numbers to better understand the reality and what it means for Millennials, and their parents.