Bring It On! – WFHB

In tonight’s edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with John Ashworth to shed light on a dark past in America – the rampant lynching of African Americans. This is Part Two of the discussion. Part One aired last week and can be found here. Tonight, John Ashworth continues this discussion about lynching, which unfortunately still happens today, and this historical preservation of this terrible past with his museum and article entitled, “The Red Summer of 1919: A Legacy of Resilience and the Promise of What Might Have Been”.

John Ashworth is a Vietnam veteran with 21 years of active military service followed by 20 years of commercial aviation management.  He has pursued his education at Tennessee State University, Columbia College-Missouri, Eastern Michigan University at Ypsilanti, Michigan, and DeVry Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2007, he returned to his hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee, and pursued with diligence his interest in African American history.

He is the co-founder of the Dunbar Carver Museum in Brownsville, co-founder and Treasurer of the Geneva Miller Historical Society; chairperson of the Elbert Williams Memorial Committee, and a board member of Tennesseans for Historical Justice (THJ). The advantages of living in a small town allow him to remain civically engaged in the community; he is also the Secretary of the Haywood County Election Commission, a member of the Brownsville Historic Zoning Commission, and the Brownsville Regional Planning Commission.

He is the co-founder of the Dunbar Carver Museum in Brownsville, co-founder and Treasurer of the Geneva Miller Historical Society; chairperson of the Elbert Williams Memorial Committee, and a board member of Tennesseans for Historical Justice (THJ). The advantages of living in a small town allow him to remain civically engaged in the community; he is also the Secretary of the Haywood County Election Commission, a member of the Brownsville Historic Zoning Commission, and the Brownsville Regional Planning Commission.

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In tonight’s edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with John Ashworth to shed light upon a dark past in America – the rampant lynching of African Americans. This topic is relevant tonight because this atrocity still seems to occur today. Here for our Part-One discussion on his remarkable museum and to elaborate on his article entitled, “The Red Summer of 1919: A Legacy of Resilience and the Promise of What Might Have Been”.

John Ashworth is a Vietnam veteran with 21 years of active military service followed by 20 years of commercial aviation management.  He has pursued his education at Tennessee State University, Columbia College-Missouri, Eastern Michigan University at Ypsilanti, Michigan, and DeVry Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2007, he returned to his hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee, and pursued with diligence his interest in African American history.

He is the co-founder of the Dunbar Carver Museum in Brownsville, co-founder and Treasurer of the Geneva Miller Historical Society; chairperson of the Elbert Williams Memorial Committee, and a board member of Tennesseans for Historical Justice (THJ). The advantages of living in a small town allow him to remain civically engaged in the community; he is also the Secretary of the Haywood County Election Commission, a member of the Brownsville Historic Zoning Commission, and the Brownsville Regional Planning Commission.

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Tonight Bring It On! explores what happens to the history of those whose stories aren’t preserved from generation to generation through a discussion of the new theatrical production, Tomorrow’s Sentry.  The story centers around Dot Weaver, a 102-year-old Bloomington resident whose passing leaves behind a forgotten trunk containing fragments of a history waiting to be discovered. Through those fragments, audiences are invited to uncover stories of people, places, struggles, celebrations, and experiences that have helped shape this community.

Tomorrow’s Sentry is described as “one forgotten trunk, one extraordinary life, and one community’s untold story.” The production not only looks backward, but asks an important question about the future: Who will become the guardians of our history when today’s generation is gone?

Gladys DeVane and Danielle Bruce wrote the play. Danielle Bruce is the director, and Elizabeth Mitchell serves as research historian for the play. To order tickets for the performance, visit: https://resilienceproductions.org/upcoming-productions.

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On today’s edition of Bring It On!, host Clarence Boone spends the hour with Jim Sims and Beverly Calender-Anderson. They discuss the Monroe County Branch of the NAACP’s 45th Freedom Fund Banquet at the Monroe County Convention Center on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

Funds raised from the dinner financially support the branch’s activities such as the Scholarship Program for local high school seniors, public forums on significant civil rights issues, and community programs that advance the mission of the NAACP. This year’s theme is “We, The People… “

You can purchase tickets here.

When Bring It On launched in 2005, Jim Sims was the first co-anchor along with Delia Alexander. Jim was employed at Indiana University – Residential Programs and Services Division (31 years) and additionally served as Council liaison to the City of Bloomington Utilities (among other council board, commission, and committee appointments), as President of the Monroe County NAACP, and as Chair for Second Baptist Church Trustee Board. Jim is the second African American to ever serve on Bloomington City Council, where he also served as Council President and At-Large Representative.

Beverly Calender-Anderson is the Monroe County Branch of the NAACP’s Branch Membership Chair and Freedom Fund Banquet Planning Committee member. Beverly has enjoyed a long tenure as one of the distinctive voices, as an anchor, for Bring It On! For more than 18 years, Beverly has served the City of Bloomington in the Community and Family Resources Department. She served, first, as the director of Safe and Civil Cities (9+ years), and then as director of the department (9+ years). She is a longtime leader in the community through her roles with the City of Bloomington and countless other community-based roles on boards and commissions. Among her many distinctions, in 2021, she was honored as a Women Excel Bloomington Honoree.

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On February 15 of this year, the Monroe County Branch of the NAACP held a summit titled “Beyond Brown: Building Forward When Progress Is Rolled Back.” The audience revisited the unfinished promise of Brown v. Board of Education. They explored the enduring legacy of Freedom Schools and participated in an urgent conversation about protecting accurate history, critical thinking, and equitable education in our K–12 schools and higher education institutions. The guest keynote was Dr. Charlie Nelms, who challenged all to not only remember, but to organize, advocate, and build forward.

On tonight’s edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell welcome the organizers of a Freedom School pilot program set to launch this fall. Coinciding with the launch is a theatrical production entitled Tomorrow’s Sentry, presented by Resilience Productions. Along with my co-host, Liz Mitchell, we’ve invited committee members Brittany King and Julie Hardesty to join us and provide an update on the development of the Freedom School concept here in Monroe County.

Freedom Schools have a powerful history rooted in the Civil Rights Movement, when communities recognized that education could be a tool for liberation, empowerment, and social change. These schools were created to give young people access to an education that went beyond the traditional classroom, one that taught Black history, encouraged critical thinking, developed leadership, and helped students understand their own power and responsibility within their communities. Freedom Schools were not simply about learning facts. They were about helping young people see themselves as capable of shaping the future.

Today, there is a renewed call to revive that spirit of Freedom Schools because many of the issues that gave rise to them are once again confronting our communities. Questions about whose history is taught, how young people are prepared to think critically and participate in civic life, and whether every student has access to safe, equitable, and well-resourced schools are very much with us. So, this is not simply an exercise in remembering what Freedom Schools once were. It is about asking what Freedom Schools need to be today. It is a call to teach truth, develop leadership, strengthen community, and equip a new generation to understand that education can be a pathway to freedom.-

More about Our Guests:

Brittany Talissa King is a writer and journalist based in Bloomington. She earned a Master’s in Journalism from NYU and a Bachelor’s in Writing from IU. She’s the founder and editor of American Shade Magazine and proudly serves on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission Board, helping to amplify her hero’s legacy.

Julie Hardesty has been involved in community organizations such as Monroe County NOW and Your Art Here, and currently serves on the Monroe County Women’s Commission. She also serves as co-chair with Brittany King for the Freedom Schools Steering Committee, shaping this program into something supportive for youth and good for the community.

COMMUNITY CALL-OUT (Monroe County Link here):Credits:

Host Clarence Boone spends the hour with Dr. Gloria Howell. She is one of the gleaming contributors here on Bring It On! She is the director of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center (NMBCC) at Indiana University Bloomington. She is also faculty coordinator for a first-year experience and introductory research course for freshman Hudson and Holland Scholars. Her research focuses on Black students broadly, and specifically on identity development and affirmation, culturally relevant pedagogy and curricular practices, and the effects of student activism on institutional change.

Dr. Howell is hard at work planning an exceptional lineup of events for the NMBCC and the entire Bloomington community. She joins us as a guest to provide an overview of the exciting offerings coming from the NMBCC. Below is an overview of upcoming events:

The Bison Kickback

Annual First-Year Pinning Ceremony

Tomorrow’s Sentry: Preserving the Past to Prepare the Future

Tickets can be purchased here: https://givebutter.com/mcnaacp2026

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On tonight’s edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with Dr. Adam Stewart. He is a trained surgeon with a special interest in breast surgery. As a general surgeon, he is qualified to manage many other surgical conditions, including gallstones and hernias. Tonight’s program focuses on the disparity of breast cancer treatment outcomes for black and Indigenous women, primarily because of issues of systemic racism.

Key Takeaways:

Dr. Stewart is a prominent advocate for breast cancer screening, particularly for expanding access to free mammograms for women ages 70 to 74. His work emphasizes the importance of early detection and its role in improving health outcomes for women. Beyond his advocacy, Dr. Stewart is deeply passionate about the early detection and effective management of breast cancer, while also bringing a kind and caring approach to every consultation. Joining us from “down under” in New Zealand, he’ll share insights into his innovative medical practice, along with some practical, common-sense approaches to staying informed about your cancer risk.

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On tonight’s edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone, Liz Mitchell, and Dr. Gloria Howell spend the hour with LaTonya Benson, the Unit Director of the Ferguson Crestmont Club branch of the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington, IN.

She has made a lasting impact on the lives of young people. Many are impressed with her commitment to nurturing, encouraging, and inspiring the next generation. Her leadership is making a real difference in our community.

Since 1956, the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington has been dedicated to serving the youth in our local community. They annually provide extensive camps and programs during after-school hours, holiday breaks, and summer break. They have three core program areas in which all program activities are formulated: Healthy Lifestyles, Academic Success, and Good Character & Active Citizenship.

Serving over 700 youth daily, they operate four Club locations throughout Monroe & Owen County. Their primary unit is the historic Lincoln Street Club, which has been serving the community since 1956 and underwent a multi-million dollar renovation in 2018.

Additionally, they operate the Steve & Connie Ferguson Crestmont Club, where they serve those living in the Bloomington Housing Authority, the Ellettsville Club, which is located about 10 miles west of Bloomington & the Owen County Club located in Spencer, Indiana. The Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington is also a proud member of United Way Monroe County.

On today’s edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with Mark Brundage Odom. Author Mark Brundage Odom shares in his book, “The Sum of Me”, his journey of finding the truth about his biological father that had long eluded him. This deeply personal narrative explores a life-altering revelation, capturing the complex emotions of gratitude, bewilderment, and a profound sense of purpose accompanying the search for one’s identity and heritage. Odom’s story is a testament to his resilience and an inspiring beacon for those on similar quests for understanding.

Hailing from Pittsburgh, PA, and having traversed the globe in his formative years, Mark Brundage Odom now proudly resides in Maryland with his beautiful wife, Ariane.

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On today’s edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Dr. Gloria Howell spend the hour with attorney William Morris. He is also known as Brother William on WFIU’s Soul Kitchen, a radio program focused on American soul, jazz, and old-school rock music. Brother William is a former WFHB radio personality and a respected attorney. He also recently became a deacon at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Nashville, IN.

In addition, he is a member of BTCC (Building a Thriving Compassionate Community), a group of Monroe County residents committed to Racial Justice that offers implicit bias training. He has earned degrees from Lehigh University, Howard University, the University of North Carolina School of Law, and Indiana University. As a friend of Bring It On!, he joins us tonight to catch up, reflect on his international travels, and give us his insights on issues that matter to our community.

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