Black Issues Forum: Season 2007- 2008

Episode 2301
A New Call for Civil Rights
Thanks to previous generations' courage, sacrifice, and determination, Americans of all skin colors today freely enjoy access to the same public spaces; yet the question of equal treatment remains. In light of recent racially-charged incidents like the infamous Imus comment, the public derogation of football standout Michael Vick, Jena Six, the conclusion of the Duke Lacrosse case and persistent racial disparities, is it time to invoke a new Civil Rights Movement?

Episode 2302
Truths & Lies About Black Men
Film producer Janks Morton produced a new documentary that explores the role that media and government play in perpetuating damaging stereotypes and myths about African-American men. This discussion presents commentary from North Carolina thinkers on this polarizing subject.

Episode 2303
Plump & Healthy or Just Plain Fat?
Full-sized African American female celebrities are being lauded for presenting a beauty alternative to "thin is in;" but is the message about a healthy weight getting through? In this discussion, we examine healthy weight indicators versus the devastating implications of overweight and obesity.

Episode 2304
Reengineering the Black Vote
Long-time North Carolina Journalist and radio talk show host Val Atkinson discusses the history of the black vote in North Carolina and how southern politics have influenced its power. Host Mitch Lewis talks to him about his recent book, Southern Racial Politics and North Carolina's Black Vote.

Episode 2305 - Transcript
Sister's Guide to Breast Health
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for all women in the United States. But even though fewer of those diagnosed are black women, more black women are dying from the disease. Why is that?...and more importantly, what do you need to know to reduce your risk or extend your quality-of-life if diagnosed? Natalie Bullock Brown talks to a medical expert and two breast cancer survivors who have information that everyone needs to hear.
Guests:
Gloria Frelix, M.D., M.H.A.:Department of Radiation Oncology, The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Valarie C. Worthy: President, Sisters Network Triangle NC
Sandra Johnson: Breast cancer survivor in Wake County

Episode 2306 - Transcript
Publishing from the Ground Up
The publishing industry can be a bit intimidating--especially for writers trying to get that first piece of work in print. Mitchell Lewis talks with two African American women in the publishing field--an author--and an editor--for their advice on how to get started In the "write" direction.
Guests:
Peggy Tatum: Publisher and Editor of Editor of TCP Magazine
Jacquelin Thomas: Christian fiction author

Episode 2307 - Transcript
Models of Power

Episode 2308 - Transcript
Helping Through the Holidays
During the holiday season, more focus is given towards helping those in need. Mitchell Lewis talks to the founder of North Carolina's Helping Hand Mission and a local representative from the Salvation Army about their work to counter poverty and where the greatest areas of need are throughout the year.
Guests:
Sylvia Wiggins:Founder and Director of Helping Hand Mission
Ashley Delamar:Director of Operations & Communications for The Salvation Army (Serving Wake County)

Episode 2309 - Transcript
A Celebration of Kwanzaa
Learn about the meaning behind the symbols of the African-American holiday Kwanzaa and how people are personalizing the principles in their daily lives. Natalie Bullock Brown hosts.
Guests:
Lester Thomas: President of the Ujima Group and principle organizer of Kwanzaa celebrations in the Town of Cary
Zayd Malik Shakur: a musical artist who has hosted the 7-day presentation and interpretations of Kwanzaa at the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham and also performed with choreographer Chuck Davis' African American Dance Ensemble.

Episode 2310 - Transcript
Black Economic Impact Part I
In 2006, the North Carolina Institute for Minority Economic Development commissioned the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise to produce a study on the Economic Impact of African Americans on the State of North Carolina. The study followed one similar in scope about the Hispanic community that was published in january of 2006. in november of 2007, the study's authors Dr. John D. Kasarda, and Dr. james H. Johnson, Jr. presented their findings from the second report before an audience of invited community leaders and media at the George Watts Hill Alumni Center on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill.  Black Issues Forum was there to capture an important discussion with leading African-American thinkers about the implications of the study. Natalie Bullock Brown presents the discussion moderated by Mitchell Lewis. Click here to view the report, "The Economic Impact of the African American Population on the State of North Carolina."
Guests:
Dr. James H. Johnson: Director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center at the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and Co-author of the Economic Impact Study
Andrea Harris: President of the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development
Rev. Dr. William Barber: President of the State Conference NAACP
Dr. Julius Chambers: Former Chancellor of North Carolina Central University and current Director of the Center for Civil Rights at the UNC School of Law http://www.law.unc.edu/centers/civilrights/default.aspx
Dr. Julianne Malveaux: President of Bennett College for Women and a national economist.

Episode 2311 - Transcript
Black Economic Impact Part II
Features more highlights from the discussion of the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise 2007 study "The Economic Impact of the African American Population on the State of North Carolina" featuring Natalie Bullock Brown and moderator Mitchell Lewis. See episode 2310 for guests and link to the report.

Episode 2312 - Transcript
Celebrate African American Culture
Presented for the 7th year, the Annual African American Cultural Celebration at the North Carolina Museum of History is one of the museum's largest events of the year. This family event, free to the public, features musical performances, step dancing, storytelling, craft and cooking demonstrations, art displays, hands-on activities, and more. Find out what's in store this year.
Guests:
Emily Grant: Youth Programs Coordinator at the North Carolina Museum of History
Ron Baxter: a Saxophonist, Composer, and Clinician at Shaw University who with his musical group "R-Effect" will be performing at this year's Celebration; click here for information about "R-Effect" and the art work of Ron's father, Ed Baxter.
Michelle Laniere: Curator of Cultural History for North Carolia State Historic Sites
Click here for information about the Museum's annual African American Cultural Celebration.

Episode 2313 - Transcript
Revisiting Princeville
While the devastation of Hurricane Katrina still remains fresh in our nation's collective memory, the impact of Hurricane Floyd, which hit North Carolina in 1999, continues to resonate for citizens in the eastern part of our state. A new documentary, entitled This Side of the River, captures the history behind one of towns hardest hit by Hurricane Floyd: Princeville. Natalie Bullock Brown hosts.
Guests:
Ryan Rowe: producer of the documentary This Side of the River and an instructor at North Carolina State University (click here to order a copy of This Side of the River or schedule a screening).
Delia Perkins: Mayor of Princeville
9th Wonder: nationally-acclaimed artist who created music for the documentary

Episode 2314 - Transcripts
  Blacks Going Green
"Green" has become a hot topic for everyone from political candidates and scientists to community activists, but why?  With so much attention around the Green movement and economic implications attached, how well positioned are African Americans to be significant players in the discussions?   Producer Deborah Holt talks to African Americans long involved in the Green Movement about the related health concerns, economic implications, and issues around environmental justice issues.
Guests:
Anita Brown Graham: Director of the Institute for Emerging Issues, which will be presenting discussions about North Carolina's leadership on the global energy challenge at the 2008 annual Emerging Issues Forum. 
Joseph Jackson: Assistant Director for Grounds, Sanitation and Recycling Services at Duke University
Yasmin M. Fozard, M.L.A.: an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Environmental, Earth, and Geospatial Sciences at North Carolina Central University.  She is also working to develop an environmentally sustainable African American community in Durham.

Episode 2315 - Transcript
Update on 1898
The only coup d’état ever to take place in the United States occurredin the coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina in 1898.  Motivated by racism and lust for political power, the republican government was overthrown by a group of radical white Democrats.  This violent act left countless African Americans dead or wounded, and many others removed from political office, places of business and employment, or run out of town.  Some say it set the stage for the establishment of Jim Crow law which would soon follow.   More than 100 years later, in the year 2000, the North Carolina General Assembly establisihed a commission to research what's come to be knows as the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot and Coup.  This commission produced a report on their findings, and since that time, many recommendations have been made to help repair the damage brought upon the descendants of those injured by the incident and to ensure that the incident be remembered in state history.  In this edition, Natalie Bullock Brown talks to the leader of the state conference NAACP and to a co-chair of the original study commission about some of these recommendations and any progress that has been made or  and what remains to be done toward repairing the past.
Guests:
Professor Irv Joyner: Vice Chair of the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot Commission and Law Professor at North Carolina Central University
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II: President of the NAACP, North Carolina State Conference

Episode 2316 - Transcript
Homebuying & the Housing Crisis
Subprime loans have enabled more African Americans to become homeowners, but now many are losing their homes due to unfair lending practices. According to a report from RealtyTrac Inc., foreclosures on homes in North Carolina were up 20% from last year and expected to increase another 20% over the next year.  African Americans have been significantly impacted by these.  In this episode, Natalie Bullock Brown talks to homeowner counseling experts about ways to prevent foreclosure and what to do if you're in the middle of one.
Guests:
Stella Adams: National fair lending expert and Founder/CEO of SJ Adams Consulting
Elsie Gilmore: A certified housing counselor and Housing Director with Kingdom  Community Development Corporation

Episode 2317 - Transcript
Fighting Financial Predators
Today, many Americans—particularly minority and low-income Americans—find themselves on the brink of financial ruin due insurmountable debt, increasing cost of living, or foreclosure, and blame has been cast toward predatory lending practices within the financial industry as well as to financial illiteracy and poor decision-making on the part of consumers. In a previous episode, "Black Issues Forum" talked specifically about the sub-prime mortgage lending crisis that has disproportionately hit the minority- and low-income community causing many African- and Latino-Americansto lose their homes. In this discussion, we continue in a broader discussion about the loss of wealth sustained by many of these individuals due not only to the epidemic of foreclosures but also to the history and continuance of economic discrimination. Natalie Bullock Brown hosts.
Guests:
Keith Corbett: Senior Vice President for the Center for Responsible Lending
Lucera Parker: Marketing Director for Mechanics & Farmers Bank
Philip A. Lehman: Assistant Attorney General the Consumer Protection Division of the State Attorney General's Office

Episode 2318 - Transcript
Gangs and Drugs No More
While many in North Carolina are concerned over the dangers around gang involvement, one former gang member is doing all he can to make sure young and old alike are deterred from gang membership or able to leave the lifestyle behind.  He's doing it through a unique program called Campaign4Change. In this episode, Natalie Bullock Brown talks to Otis Lyons and two other individuals who've left gang life as a result of Campaign4Change and have begun to make a difference for others.
Guests:
Otis Lyons: Founder of Campaign4Change
Carlton Amey: (aka Big "C" SOUND TECHNICIAN) A single parent and Ex-Drug Dealer, that has struggled with making the positive transition but has become one of C4C's biggest assets. He's taken C4C's mission and has applied it as his way of life. Big "C was born September 27, 1968, in Newhaven Connecticut. While attending Durham public schools, Big "C" and C4C's founder Otis Lyons became close friends. A drum line leader in High School, the Band was his sole passion. The beginning of 2006, his lifetime friend Lyons presented him an opportunity to be a part of "C4C". Big "C" excelled into the challenge as sound tech. As of today, he has elevated into several additional duties including acting to make his own personal achievements for this exceptional cause.
Jakayla Hart: is the voice of the new generation. For many months, she has been serving God through spokenword. Though her time on the poetic scene seems short, she has managed to touch the lives of many. With many obstacles in her past. She has had many friends who had been affiliated with a gang, she herself have dealt with sexual abuse, and was rebellious in her young age. She is a very unique thirteen year old who does not hesitate to express her views on issues such as teenage pregnancy, racism, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. After just some time as a spokenword artist, she was nominated for the NUSPA Spokenword Performance Youth Award. From then and on, she has encouraged herself to do bigger and better. This native of Durham, North Carolina has future ambitions of being a published international poet. She has performed at various churches, cafes, and now, she is ready to broaden her horizons with C4C.

Episode 2319   
Fertility and the  Black Woman - Transcript
American women are fighting to "have it all," but more and more are surprised to find themselves unable to conceive and give life. While fertility has declined among all ethnic groups in the U.S., African Americans, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, now have a lower average fertility rate than whites.  In this edition of "Black Issues Forum," we talk about some of the causes, solutions, and coping measures for those facing permanent infertility.  Natalie Bullock Brown hosts.
Guests:
Dr. Millie Behera: a practicing doctor, Fertility Specialist, and Clinical Director for Duke's Center for Fibroid Biology and Therapy at Duke University Medical Center. 
Dr. Grace Couchman: an OB/GYN and Founder of Carolina Conceptions
Vanessa Richardson: a resident of Fayetteville who has authored a book titled "The Certain Ones" in her effort to cope with infertility

Episode 2320 - Transcript
There Goes the Neighborhood
"There goes the neighborhood," an expression that refers to the unwelcome of certain newcomers to a community, but recently the sentiment of long-time residents in some traditionally black neighborhoods. In this episode, hear from residents in two Triangle area neighborhoods about the changes taking place, why, and how well they fit the culture of the current communities.  Deborah Holt hosts.
Guests:
Larry Hester: Unity in the Community for Progress
Lonnette Williams: Central CAC & SPERNA South Park East Raleigh Neighborhood Association (SPERNA)
Octavia Rainey: North Carolina CAC, Chairwoman
Mitchell Silver: City of Raleigh Planning, Planning Director

Episode 2321- Transcript
Why Celebrate Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is an African-American celebration that acknowledges the end of slavery in the United States. Learn about the historical events that led to the creation of Juneteenth as well as how Juneteenth is recognized today. Mitchell Lewis hosts.
Guests:
Freddie Parker, PhD: NCCU, Modern Foreign Languages
Phyllis Coley: Spectacular Magazine, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Episode 2322  
Inspired by Art - Transcript
He calls his collection of human portraits “Birth of the Cool.” One look at his paintings and you’ll understand exactly why. The Nasher Museum of Art in Durham presents the works of nationally renowned artist Barkley Hendricks, and Deborah Holt talk to him about his collection.
Guest:
Barkley Hendricks: Renowned American Artist

Episode 2323
Behind Talking Heads - Part One
A two part discussion about the low and dwindling representation of ethnic minorities in decision-making positions in media.  This first part focuses on the power of mass media ownership, and what the implications are when a society comprised 33% people-of-color receives information designed by a group that's only 3% people-of-color, as is the case in America's mass media landscape.
Guest:
Dr. Kristal Brent Zook: Contributing Writer with the Women's Media Center and Essence magazine and Associate Professor of Journalism at Hofstra University, the largest private college on Long Island, New York.  She's also authored three books: I See Black People: The Rise and Fall of African American-Owned Television and Radio, Black Women's Lives: Stories of Power and Pain, and Color By Fox: the Fox Network and the Revolution in Black Television.

Episode 2324
Behind Talking Heads - Part Two - Transcript
The second in a two-part discussion about the low and dwindling representation of ethnic minorities in decision-making positions in media.  This second  program gets at how the news and entertainment messages we receive in print, radio, and especially on television are designed, who's making the decisions, and does ethnic diversity matter behind the scenes?
Guests:
Katina Rankin: CEO of Katina Rankin Enterprises.  Ms. Rankin is the former evening anchor at WTVD ABC-11 News in the Triangle and currently runs her own company specializing in professional development and coaching for journalists and public figures. they only make up 3% of the people in media ownership.
Brett Chambers: an award winning television producer (WTVD-ABC11) and avid Parent and Media Literacy Advocate. Brett is presently an Instructor at North Carolina Central University, teaching Mass Communications and Education Technology Courses.

Episode 2325 - Transcript
The Cost of College Credit
Is a college degree worth the cost any more?  Not only are college costs like tuition and fees rising, so are the financial burdens related to living expenses.  In addition to taking on debt in the form of student loans to afford a ticket to the American Dream, college students desperate to pay for their ideal of a college standard-of-living are easily wooed and captured by credit card companies.  In the end, some graduate, and some don't, but almost all will enter America's debt society.  In this edition, we'll address the questions how will these individuals debt loads affect their ability to function and contribute to society, and are there attractive ways to avoid coming out of college upside down on debt--including perhaps avoiding college altogether? 
Guests:
Andrea Harris: President of the NC Institute for Minority Economic Development
Van Wilson: Vice President and Associate Vice President, Academic & Student Services Division at the North Carolina Community College System
Frank Henderson: Financial professional with Navigon Financial

Episode 2326
Black Identity Formation
Many black Americans have struggled to fit comfortably into mainstream society.  There is tension between understanding who we are and remaining true to that, and conforming to the expectations and dictates of the world around us.  For young black people, whose development, self-awareness, and self-esteem is in the burgeoning stages, the emotional struggle to fit in and feel accepted can often be overwhelming.  In this edition of Black Issues Forum, we will hear personal testimony from a young man who struggled hard to come to grips with his identity as a black male in a white world, and what he had to finally realize in order to feel comfortable in his own skin.  We will also talk about the normality of this struggle, as well as offer advice and alternative approaches to identity formation and affirmation, in order to help our viewing audience navigate for themselves the vast terrain of black identity.  Natalie Bullock Brown hosts.
Guests:
Dr. Tammie Moore: A licensed psychologist with Western Wake Counseling & Psychological Service
Oronde Ash: Founder of bygINCpresents.  Oronde is an educator and public speaker on issues of identity formation, psychosocial development and getting the most from oneself.