Black Imagination

We continue our TRUST BLACK WOMEN Tour with Tyanna McLaurin from Marquette University and Milwaukee Film Festival’s Black Lens. Our conversation starts by checking in on each other after the officer that shot Breonna Taylor was not convicted (3:00). Then, Tyanna shares about her time living in Ghana (13:17), her work at Marquette and her philosophy on community work (27:30), the Milwaukee Film Festival's - Black Lens Program (32:52), how she tries to highlight Black leaders (42:05), advice for Black Filmmakers in Milwaukee (46:40), participating in African American Leadership Program (51:12), some of Tyanna's other hobbies and her favorite MKE-based artists (55:43).

Music: Song of Freedom by Shonn Hinton - https://soundcloud.com/shonnhinton/song-of-freedom

Four days before her tenure with the Milwaukee Health Department concluded, Antoine and Kennita spoke with Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik and her chief of staff Lilliann Paine. They reflect on her time in Milwaukee (9:00), Lovecraft country and pioneerism (22:51), her new national role in DC (25:20), and the power of the arts (29:37).

Black Imagination names this next round of episodes "The Trust Black Women Tour," so sit back, listen, and enjoy hearing from powerful Black women!

Intro/Outro music: “Song of Freedom” by Shonn Hinton https://soundcloud.com/shonnhinton/song-of-freedom

This week on Black Imagination, Antoine and Kennita share their space with Malkia Stampley – mom and wife; TV, film and stage actor; voice over artist; and stage director from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

(2:00) Malkia talks about her childhood and the pipeline for artists of color in Milwaukee (8:30), her experience going through college being one of the few theater students of color (11:10), representation of black roles in MKE and her experience working around the country (13:10), the life of Chadwick Boseman (19:10), her return back to MKE and how difficult it sometimes is to work here (28:30), The MKE Black Theater Festival (37:10), her health and wellness philosophies (42:53), how to create a new energy around the arts in the city (48:20), and her favorite MKE-based artists (56:30).

This is the first episode on a set of episodes called the "Trust Black Women Tour." Subscribe to not miss any of the upcoming pods!

Some of Malkia’s Favorite Artists

Ammar Nsoroma @ammarnsoroma

Adjua Nsoroma El @ansoroma

Kwabena Nixon @iamikan 

Muhibb Dyer @muhibbdyer

Dasha Kelly @dasha_kelly

DiMonte Henning @Monte_dh

Kevin Seivert - @kevkev7878

Della Wells @dellaartwells

Teju the Storyteller

Zakiya Courtney - Vegan chef - @zakiyacourtney

Intro/Outro music: “Song of Freedom” by Shonn Hinton https://soundcloud.com/shonnhinton/song-of-freedom

This week on Black Imagination, Antoine and Kennita welcome Nicole Acosta - photographer, painter, dancer, DJ, Marketing and Communications Associate for Ex Fabula, and all around cool lady.

Kennita and Nicole start off by sharing a quick memory about a Career Day they attended (0:24), then Nicole talks about her early connections to art (6:00), Quinceañeras (8:00), joining our Imagine workgroups (11:48), being Black/Brown in white workspaces (15:00), Season 12 of Ex Fabula (17:45), her “Hoops” exhibit and artist residency at Arts @ Large (20:50), and her favorite Milwaukee-based artists (32:05).

Intro/Outro music: “Song of Freedom” by Shonn Hinton 

This week, Antoine and Kennita talk to Lafayette Crump, Commissioner of the City of Milwaukee’s Department of City Development.

After first having a great laugh about food (2:20), Lafayette talks about his work in the DNC (oh yeah that’s this week); how Milwaukee should be thinking going forward (6:00); how we think about equity and black thoughts (not the rapper) (11:14); his new role as the Commish and how he views city development (17:00); being a political cartoonist (27:30); binge watching, who invented the remix, and hip hop (33:45); and his favorite Milwaukee-based artists (43:53).

Intro music: “Song of Freedom” by Shonn Hinton (https://soundcloud.com/shonnhinton/song-of-freedom)

In this bonus episode, Antoine and Kennita talk to Alderwoman Milele Coggs of the 6th District of the City of Milwaukee to check in right before Bronzeville Week. 

Alderwoman Coggs talks about her journey back to Milwaukee and why she chose to stay in Milwaukee (2:52), how she uses social media to talk to her constituents (5:00), we ask her about her role as an Alderwoman and what she does as a member of Common Council (14:30), talk about Bronzeville week (21:50), putting some respect on earned titles (26:50), the role of art in Alderwoman Coggs’ work (31:45), her favorite Milwaukee-based artists (35:30).

Intro music: “Song of Freedom” by Shonn Hinton 

This week, Black Imagination welcomes rapper and developer Ray Nitti to the show to talk about how he got his start in rap, the business around music, and his transformation from full time rapper to Milwaukee Mogul.  

Antoine and Kennita dive right into the conversation with standard Riverside vs. King banter and hair talk. Ray talks about his organizing days and how he got into civic engagement (4:00). Then the group discusses how Ray got into rapping (7:00), the story of his hit song “Bow” (10:25), looking back at the business of “Bow” (16:40), his verse and video shoot for “Milwaukee Strong” (21:00), reflections back on his journey from the Virgin Islands to making multi-million dollar investments in MKE (24:18), and his shout-outs of his favorite MKE-based artists (28:18) 

Audio transitions: “Champion Style" by Ray Nitti from the short film “Champion Style” coming soon.  

Welcome to the latest podcast out of the Imagine MKE podcast shop, Black Imagination!

In this pilot episode, Antoine and Kennita introduce themselves (and get to know each other even more) by chatting about food, the origin of this podcast, their upbringing in the city, and their relationship with art as youngins. They wrap things up with diving into their work at Imagine and the role of art in Milwaukee today.

Black Imagination is a bi-weekly podcast, so look for new episodes to drop every other Wednesday.

Music: "Song of Freedom," by Shonn Hinton