Bar Crawl Radio

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Rebecca Mckean and I were out on a late Sunday afternoon in June at the West Side Community Garden on the Upper West Side of Manhattan -- waiting to listen to Sweet Plantain – a string quartet -- with occasional trombone and mandalino – playing “a complex mix of Latin American music that artfully fuses western classical traditions” – according to the program.  The mic was open to talk with our neighbors about their super powers. After the concert we spoke with Eddie Venegas leader of Sweet Plantain.

So imagine this – the band is a bit late due to traffic and a large crowd is gathers at a favorite neighborhood garden. The children prance on the lawn anticipating a dance fest -- the birds pumping out their joyful calls --– despite the dire state of the world –  the air most comfortable – and you are amongst some of the friendliest people you could ever meet.

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BCR is talking about Sex Work. We spoke with a knowledgeable scholar whose recently published book “Policing Bodies” details her ethnographic study of the interaction of sex workers – the police – and the justice system of Johannesburg, South Africa.  Prof. Thusi teaches in Bloomington at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and at the Kinsey Institute.  India has worked with the ACLU, Human Rights Watch, the Center for Constitutional Rights and The Opportunity Agenda. 

Early in her career – India clerked for the South African Constitutional Court – and was curious about the rough neighborhood down the block from the Court. Her two-year study of the interaction of Johannesburg police and that city’s sex workers began in May of 2013. What India Thusi learned in South Africa may help us think more deeply about our own American attitudes on sex work.

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Back at the West Side Community Garden -- between W. 89th and 90th Streets – Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues -- and we opened this Bar Crawl Radio podcast with the sounds of "Inti and the Moon" – an Andean / Latin / World Fusion band. It was the second concert of the 2022 summer series in the Garden – organized by Randa Kirschbaum. 

Rebecca McKean and I were out on a beautiful late spring afternoon to settle an argument about whether it is rude to point – AND – to enjoy some delightful music.  At the end of the recording, I talked with Geo Suquillo – founder and leader of “Inti and the Moon.

Alan Winson - BCR Co-host

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Rebecca and I arrived early to The West Side Community Garden -- a verdant neighborhood oasis – to record the jazz offerings of Sabu Adeyola's Spiritual Reunion Band and to talk to its leader about his career and memories of his teacher Charles Mingus. By the end of the concert Randa Kirshbaum who produces these summer musical repasts -- renamed the band "Miracle" because halfway through the concert Mr. Adeyola’s bass collapsed – well the bridge of his bass collapsed. And since this is the UWS, there was a professional bass player in the audience who ran up to the stage and helped Sabu repair the instrument as the band played on.

Before the program we talked with members of the audience about their favorite teachers.  

So imagine this – it’s a late spring afternoon – birds are joyful -- the air is velvety – the bees are buzzing – the flowers are smellin fine – and you are amongst some of the friendliest people you could ever meet.

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We are back recording at Gebhard's Beer Culture Bar on the UWS -- taking a deep dive into Brownsville Brooklyn and the amazing work being done by its community organizations working to establish a good life for its citizens. We talked with Genese Morgan, community organizer and Chair of Community Board 16 which advocates for Brownsville, Brooklyn in the New York City Council. And Ms. Morgan is the founder of the Ocean Hill-Brownsville Neighborhood Improvement Association, INC.

And, La’Shawn Allen-Muhammad joined us. She holds many prestigious positions;  La’Shawn is the Executive Director of Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corporations; President of Entrepreneurs of New York; Brooklyn Director of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce – and others. She is a native of Brownsville and is committed to revitalizing her home town by creating opportunities for her neighbors through home and business ownership.

We also spoke with Sandy Nurse of NYC Council representative of District 37.

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Catholic Workers – students of peace activism – knowers of Father Berrigan and the Plowshares movement – are already aware that this week was the fourth anniversary of the Kings Bay Plowshares action protesting the U.S. military’s nuclear stockpile. It is also the week that Martin Luther King was assassinated, over three decades ago. Less than a year before he was murdered, Dr. King addressed the National Conference of New Politics and argued that the American society was spoiled by 3 evils – Racism, Materialism and Militarism.

Three Evils of Society: Racism, Materialism, and Militarism

This week -- sitting on the edge of the Peace Statue at the Isaiah Wall across from the UN, I spoke with three Catholic Workers who participated and went to jail for cutting through the fence of the largest and most lethal submarine base in the world at Kings Bay, Georgia. They spilt their blood from baby bottles and hung banners calling for nuclear disarmament -- Martha Hennessy - Clare Grady - Mark Colville. We spoke at the end of their day-long walk which started at Riverside Church where MLK had delivered his “3 Evils of Society” speech in 1967. Their walk was organized by the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 group, Ellen Grady and Anthony Donovan. Also, I spoke with Mary Yelenick -- Main Representative at the United Nations for Pax Christi International and a member of the NGO Working Group on the Security Council. 

Alan Winson

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For this BCR episode, we were privileged to talk with a woman who a few days prior to the recording escaped the war in Ukraine. I teach at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and recently one of my students missed several classes. This was unusual as Mishelle is the sort of student any teacher would welcome – attentive – actively participating – interested in most topics I bring up – and always prepared. In one class -- I had noted a sticker on the back of her laptop -- "F*** Putin" -- and she shared with the class her concerns with what was happening in her country – Ukraine. When she returned to the class Mishelle told me that she had been occupied with helping to get her aunt-- Alla --out of Ukraine. Rebecca and I spoke with Alla, her sister, Tanya, and brother-in-law, Larry, at Gebhard’s Beer Culture Bar -- Mishelle translated. Alla spoke about experiencing constant Russian bombing -- her reticence to leave her life-long town near Kviv - escape through Poland, German, and finally reaching the Mexican border, the only route for Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum in the United States -- and about her hope that she will return to her country -- a free Ukraine.

Alan Winson

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BCR is back podcasting at Gebhard's Beer Culture Bar on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. We talked with brave people who decided to start a new business during a pandemic – Dan Auld and David Fullner of Kekoa Foods – making forward thinking and tasty natural baby foods. 

And Adam Simon – a grand master – maybe not at chess – but bread making. He recently started Sourdough Gambit supplying UWS residents with amazing artisanal breads. 

CONTACT Rebecca, Alan and Alina -- [email protected]

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