Studs Terkel, Richard Durham, Oscar Brown Jr. & Radio Inventions

Last month I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with the director and staff of the Studs Terkel Radio Archives based at WFMT in Chicago. While sharing good food and stimulating conversation, we talked about Terkel’s decades long contributions to the art of radio interviewing and writing, as well as his long-term friendship with fellow radio scriptwriter Richard Durham.

Interested in hearing my conversation with Director Tony Macaluso?

If so, click on the image below. There you can also hear Durham’s Destination Freedom episode about baseball great Jackie Robinson, featuring Studs Terkel as the drama’s narrator and actor Oscar Brown Jr. as Robinson.  Enjoy!

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Calling All Book Lovers to Baltimore!

Do you live in or near Baltimore, Maryland? If so, please join me on Friday, November 18, 2016 at Morgan State University.

The University’s School of Global Journalism & Communication, along with the Women’s National Book Association of Washington, D.C., will sponsor an evening of dialogue and celebration of new works by dynamic authors. Three African American authors will offer their diverse insights on life, professional enrichment, networking and overcoming career obstacles.

So on Nov. 18th from 5:00-8:00p.m., come to the MSU School of Global Journalism & Communication, 4905 Perring Parkway (at corner of Hartsdale Road) in Baltimore. To RSVP or get more details, email jacqueline.jones@morgan.edu or Majeedah Johnson, shebefearless@gmail.com.

And just who are these guest authors? They are:

Marja Lee Freeman, an award-winning, professional employment coach and author of Career Building: How to Stand Out, Get Ahead & Get Noticed!

Valerie Graves, a major advertising exec, and author of the memoir, Pressure Makes Diamonds: Becoming the Woman I Pretended to Be.

And yes, I’ll talk about Word Warrior: Richard Durham, Radio and Freedom.

Hope to see you there!

A Presidential Election and Worldwide Concern

I have just returned from England, where the temperatures were mild, the sun was bright and umbrellas were necessary for only part of one day. This was the first time I spent several days in the U.K. img_2346

My other trips to London were quick airport stopovers before making my way to Africa or other parts of Europe.

This time however, London and Oxford called me to explore their sights, history and people.

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I attended an international biographers symposium where writers from France, The Netherlands, the Czech Republic, England and the United States gathered to share their insights about what it means to shine an intensive light on the lives of other people – whether well known or not. Fellow biographers’ smiles were warm and congeniality was high.

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But while we talked and laughed and shared, one thing was on everyone’s minds and invaded discussions daily – the upcoming American presidential election.

This critical, often nonsensical and even frightening election season has captured the attention of much of the world’s population. People around the world are watching, analyzing and nervously waiting for this election’s outcome.

 

Of course, we’ll all soon know who will move into the White House in January 2017. In the meantime, I am reminded of what media writer Richard Durham said some 67 years ago. In looking at the crucial importance of voting for all people – especially African Americans – who yearn for freedom, justice, and equality, Durham noted:

the real-life story of a single Negro in Alabama walking into a voting booth across a Ku Klux Klan line has more drama and world implications than all the stereotypes Hollywood or radio can turn out in a thousand years.  (Richard Durham, 1949)

While actual Ku Klux Klan lines may not be apparent in 2016, it’s clear that this election has worldwide implications. I hope that everyone will vote, through the drama and all, on November 8th.

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