Black Issues Forum

We bring you a special treat this week - a show full of holiday music, performed by the North Carolina A&T State University Choir and conducted by Maestro Travis W. Alexander. Filmed at First Baptist Church in Greensboro, the Choir performed their annual Holiday Concert for Black Issues Forum.

President Joe Biden has called for an end to the extension on student loan deferment, leaving some to question his commitment to relieving those in debt. His popularity also takes a hit with criticism around his first Democracy Summit. Biden turns his attention to voting rights, but is it too late? La'Meshia Whittington, Steve Rao, and Dr. Wilmer Leon weigh in.

Our panel examines how President Biden's $1.75 billion Build Back Better social infrastructure package could impact families, climate change, and healthcare in North Carolina and offers light commentary on the growing number of Black Santa Clauses. Senator Natalie Murdock, Dr. Mark Little, and Steve Rao join.

With the Omicron COVID-19 variant now detected in the states, Dr. Julius Wilder provides information on protection. Professor Irving Joyner and Mary C. Curtis discuss the voting rights scorecard on senators issued by an NAACP-led coalition. The Confidence Coach, Jason Phillips, shares tips for engaging self-care to achieve peace and joy amid today's disturbing news and social distractions. (392 characters)

With this year’s release of Ken Burns' 8-hour PBS documentary series about boxing legend Muhammad Ali, this episode examines Ali’s influence as a social justice warrior through the eyes of some North Carolina champions for equality. Coach LeVelle Moton, Coach Marissa Young, Arvetra Jones share what they’re fighting for. Erroll Reese and Dr. Erin Moore of Shaw join the conversation.

Councilman-Elect Leonardo Williams weighs in on the issue of school bus drivers and cafeteria workers' demands for more pay and respect, and La'Meshia Whittington and Harold Eustache join to discuss the hits and misses of North Carolina's just-approved state budget and comment on why Vice President Kamala Harris is repeatedly slammed for dysfunction despite all the support?

Rep. Zack Hawkins discusses the potential impact of greater teacher diversity in classrooms to affect close the achievement gap. He joins Steve Rao and Jessica Holmes to discuss the impact of the recently passed infrastructure bill on Build Back Better plan and where hope for justice stands as the men who shot and killed Ahmaud Arbery stand trial.

This week the CDC approved the COVID vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. NCDHHS’ Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen and Chief Health Equity Officer Victor Armstrong discuss the vaccine’s safety and availability. OBGYN Dr. Velma Tarmina also joins to talk about the vaccine’s safety for pregnant women, its impact on fertility, and the consequences of COVID infection on pregnancy and erectile dysfunction.

As the city of Durham and many urban cities across the state experience increases, leaders debate solutions to make communities safer. Public forums on redistricting wind down, and questions remain about how the GOP majority general assembly will redraw district lines that represent a browning North Carolina. Councilman Mark-Anthony Middleton, DA Satana Deberry, and Attorney Harold Eustache join.

NC Judge David Lee orders lawmakers to take action on the Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan; Governor Cooper signs a compromise Energy Bill HB951, leaving consumers vulnerable to rate hikes and more; realities behind the worker shortage. Guests Senator Natalie Murdock, Steve Rao and La'Meshia Whittington join the conversation.