I SEE U

I SEE U

By Houston Public MediaSociety & CultureNewsArts
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I SEE U episodes

  • 43: Black Films, White Profits with Actress Sheila Frazier
    Blacks have historically been portrayed in films as pimps, hustlers, prostitutes, maids, gang-bangers, drug addicts, alcoholics, junkies and crime-ridden thieves. Though filmmakers would describe these roles as simply reflecting life’s realities in technicolor. But were these depictions, subconsciously, impacting the essence of Black creativity, culture and identity for decades to come? Join I SEE U host Eddie Robinson for a provocative and very candid conversation with one of the only living cast members of the 1972 hit film, SUPER FLY – Sheila Frazier. The actress and former model speaks unguarded about how a White-male dominated film industry earned so much money at the expense of those character portrayals.
    53 min
  • I SEE U, Episode 42: The Gay Black Civil Rights Financier

    His father, born into slavery, had become one of the first African American millionaires in the United States. His mother, though devoted to Black civil rights, was a renowned actress and had kept her racial background a secret. And in 1897, Alonzo and Adrienne Herndon had a son – their only child – named Norris Herndon, who would become the second President, inherited by his father, of the historic, Black-owned Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Behind the scenes, Norris was a major financier of the Civil Rights Movement and often gave large sums of money to several organizations, community groups and universities. He also lived a very private life and learned to hide his attraction for men. Could his homosexuality be a reason why his story remains unknown to so many people? Join host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U takes an in-depth look at the life of Norris Herndon with insight and perspective from writer/columnist, Ryan Lee and history scholar, Pamela Flores – both based in Atlanta.

    53 min
  • 42: The Gay Black Civil Rights Financier
    His father, born into slavery, had become one of the first African American millionaires in the United States. His mother, though devoted to Black civil rights, was a renowned actress and had kept her racial background a secret. And in 1897, Alonzo and Adrienne Herndon had a son – their only child – named Norris Herndon, who would become the second President, inherited by his father, of the historic, Black-owned Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Behind the scenes, Norris was a major financier of the Civil Rights Movement and often gave large sums of money to several organizations, community groups and universities. He also lived a very private life and learned to hide his attraction for men. Could his homosexuality be a reason why his story remains unknown to so many people? Join host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U takes an in-depth look at the life of Norris Herndon with insight and perspective from writer/columnist, Ryan Lee and history scholar, Pamela Flores – both based in Atlanta.
    53 min
  • 41: Rise Up, Down in Mississippi [Encore]
    Join us for a special ENCORE presentation of an I SEE U episode featuring Oscar-nominated actress, Aunjanue Ellis. The veteran actor has been working in the film and television industry for three decades and she’s finally receiving recognition from the Academy in the category for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the mother of Venus and Serena Williams in the movie, KING RICHARD – which was also nominated this year for Best Picture. In this provocative episode, Ellis talks candidly with host Eddie Robinson, who both hail from McComb, Mississippi. She shares her unguarded perspective on the hidden biases in journalism; notions of supremacy in PBS Masterpiece; as well as aspects of pay equity and why she believes prosperous Black celebrities who hold producorial roles in film should also be held accountable in paying actors their full worth.
    53 min
  • 40: The Fans LoveSexy Fat Tony
    Acclaimed lyricist, Fat Tony, has played a significant role in shaping Houston’s rap scene with his unique style of music. Raised in the city’s historic Third Ward, he has family roots in Nigeria – a part of the world where emerging singers and songwriters from the region are finding success on American music charts. Consequently, mainstream pop acts have been taking notice and are quickly jumping on their cultured bandwagon with featured collaborations. Join I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson for a very candid conversation with master storyteller, Fat Tony, about his music career, the future of hip-hop and how Prince inspires his creativity. The rapper also explains why so many fans of different races and ethnicities gravitate to his music—a notion that tends to ring true for other renown Houston artists and performers.
    53 min
  • 39: (At Her Best) She is Alex Isley
    Singer/songwriter Alex Isley has music in her DNA. Her dad and uncles together make up the legendary group, The Isley Brothers. Her silky, sweet voice blends perfectly with her colorful melodies and infectious productions. But most commercial radio stations steer clear of her music and prefer to rotate more popular, familiar acts. As a result, Alex has had to rely on cable networks, television series and digital music services to promote her material. Despite her releasing songs for over a ten-year span, it still remains a challenge for artists like her to be seen and recognized. In this episode, I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with R&B vocalist, Alex Isley, about the challenges of discovering new music and how she’s redefining genres with her own music while honoring harmonies of the past. She speaks to us virtually from her home in Los Angeles, as she prepares for her first-ever performance in Houston, Texas this weekend.
    53 min
  • 38: Seeking Vision Despite Division
    Richard Antoine White survived the streets of West Baltimore as a young child and later, transformed his life – with the help of a brass instrument, the tuba! His incredible journey from experiencing homelessness to performing at concert halls across the world has inspired him to write his own memoir— “I’m Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream.” I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with acclaimed musician, Richard Antoine White, who’s also the first African-American to ever earn a doctorate degree in playing the tuba. We learn the secrets to his perseverance and how he’s on a mission to challenge stereotypes as well as traditional sounds of classical music.
    53 min
  • 37: Shalita Grant Me the Serenity
    Acclaimed actress, Shalita Grant, suffered severe hair damage and was on the verge of baldness while working for years on the CBS television series, NCIS: New Orleans. After leaving the show, Grant says the emotional trauma she experienced was even more depressing as she grappled with a label of being “too difficult to work with.” In this episode, host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with Tony-nominated actress and entrepreneur, Shalita Grant, about her renewed spirit of purpose and the importance of having a strong relationship with your hair. She speaks to I SEE U virtually from her new home in Houston, Texas where she and her partner, former MMA World Champion, Jessica Aguilar, currently reside.
    53 min
  • 36: Black Fatherhood is King
    The film, KING RICHARD, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, tells the story of how Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams, was determined to transform their lives into tennis legends. Interestingly enough, Green’s father wanted him to become a professional baseball player. What happens when a father’s dreams are shattered? What if Venus and Serena never achieved stardom as champion tennis players? I SEE U host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with acclaimed filmmaker, Reinaldo Marcus Green about what real fatherhood looks like for men of color. Dr. Melanye Price, Director of the Ruth Simmons Center for Race and Justice at Prairie View A&M University, also weighs in and provides a provocative observation to Richard Williams’ motives.
    53 min
  • 35: The Future ‘Shift Key’ in Journalism
    Critics believe independent writers, reporters, producers and content creators with large digital followers will paint the future of journalism. But with (mis)information so readily available via the internet, will media consumers trust those fresh voices? I SEE U host Eddie Robinson questions whether traditional journalism runs the risk of falling prey to an overwhelming arena of YouTubers, vloggers and podcasters hoping for a digital, multimedia transformation. Peabody Award-winning Professor of Media, Journalism and Film at Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications, Sonja D. Williams, provides her insight; along with Emmy award-winning reporter, Justin Carter, who left his TV job to work for the independent media company, “The Shade Room,” a celebrity news and trending gossip platform.
    53 min

About I SEE U

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I SEE U is a unique, award-winning program that gives voice to those who have often been unheard, and exploring cultural identity through the stories of people and places that have been…