All Of It with Alison Stewart

One of the first famous Black athletes in the United States was Isaac Murphy, who was born enslaved in 1861 and rose to become one of the greatest jockeys in horse racing history. Horse racing was the most popular sport in this country in the 1800s, and Murphy won three Kentucky Derbies during his career. On the eve of the 149th Kentucky Derby, Katherine C. Mooney, professor of history at Florida State University and author of the new book, Isaac Murphy: The Rise and Fall of a Black Jockey, joins to tell us more about the life of Isaac Murphy.

The American Museum of Natural History just opened up its newest wing: The Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. Entomologist Dr. Jessica Ware, who is also the museum's associate curator of Invertebrate Zoology, shares what she wants visitors to learn from the 'insectarium' and butterfly habitat she worked on, and Preeti Gupta, senior director for Children, Family and Youth Programs and Research, shares some of the community engagement that the museum is planning for its new Data Lab Classroom and Research Library.

The beloved Judy Blume book about puberty is now on the big screen. Writer and director Kelly Fremon Craig joins us to discuss her adaptation of "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," which is in theaters now. We'll also be joined by Abby Ryder Fortson, who stars as Margaret in the film.

[REBROADCAST FROM March 16, 2023] VENI VIDI, an exhibition at Galerie Templon in Chelsea showcasing the work of American artist Michael Ray Charles, closes this weekend. Charles first made waves in the 90s with paintings depicting Black stereotypes using archives of American advertisements, billboards, and television and radio commercials. But since 2004, frustrated by the art world, Charles committed himself to research and his art, deciding to avoid public exposure. As a result, this exhibition is the first showing of Charles' work in New York in two decades. Charles joins us to discuss his return, which is on view until May 6.

A new anthology series publishes the work of Black poets who have been forgotten in history. Minor Notes, Volume 1, includes the work of poets George Moses Horton, Fenton Johnson, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Henrietta Cordelia Ray, David Wadsworth Cannon Jr., Anne Spencer, and Angelina Weld Grimké. Editors Joshua Bennett and Jesse McCarthy join to discuss the project, the history of these Black poets, and read from the collection.

The music festival Long Play returns this weekend in venues across Brooklyn. Organized by the boundary-pushing contemporary classical organization Bang on a Can, the 2023 edition of the festival features more than 50 concerts from artists of various backgrounds. Joining us with a preview is composer and Bang on a Can co-founder Michael Gordon, whose outdoor installation "Field of Vision" will be performed at a free concert in Fort Greene Park on Saturday. Also joining is singer and bass player Ganavya, who will perform alongside London-based jazz musician Shabaka Hutchings at BRIC Ballroom on Saturday.

Our May Get Lit with All Of It book club selection is Lone Women by Victor LaValle! He joins us for a preview discussion about the novel, which tells the chilling story of a Black woman with a magical steamer trunk heading to Montana alone in 1915. Learn more about how to borrow the book, and get tickets for the May 22 event with Victor Lavalle and a special musical guest singer-songwriter Kaia Kater, by clicking here!

The personal injury firm Cellino & Barnes made a name for itself with catchy TV jingles, ubiquitous billboards, bus stop ads and more. The duo acrimoniously parted ways in 2020, and just months later, Stephen Barnes was killed in a plane crash in upstate New York. Their story now appears on stage in the form of a play called "Cellino v. Barnes," written and performed by Mike B. Breen and David Rafailedes, who join us to talk about the production. "Cellino v. Barnes," is running through May 7. 

Canadian and Peguis First Nation singer-songwriter William Prince created his latest album, Stand in the Joy, with the help of country super-producer Dave Cobb. The JUNO-winning musician brings his rich baritone to our studios for a live performance.

Singer/songwriter Connie Converse was a groundbreaking folk artist years before people like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell arrived on the scene. But she's better known for getting in her VW Beetle in 1974 and driving off, never to be heard from again. In recent years, her work has been released as an album in 2009 and played on WNYC's "Spinning on Air," which led to more recognition. Writer, performer and musician Howard Fishman sought to understand her music and her life, and he joins us to discuss his biography, To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse.