I SEE U

Whether U are a Republican, a Democrat, or neither, why do U think there still exists such deep divides in this country? Why do we have a never-ending fight for a democracy, that is for everybody? In 1960 at an elementary school in New Orleans, why was there so much hate from outraged protesters, white parents, who were yelling and shouting at a Black six-year-old girl who simply wanted a better future? And just three years ago in Washington, D.C. on the steps of the Capitol, what prompted thousands of angry rioters to call for the Vice President of the United States to be hanged? Join us, as host Eddie Robinson tackles these questions and more with the award-winning historian and author of Civil War by Other Means: America’s Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy, Jeremi Suri. The University of Texas at Austin history professor stops by our I SEE U studios in Houston to explore how decisions made in the wake of the Civil War have culminated into a civil breakdown in equality that continues to unravel the nation’s political infrastructure. He argues that what should have been a moment of national renewal and rehabilitation of freedom for everyone after the Civil War, ultimately fell apart with competing visions of democracy that still linger today. In this Season 5 opener, Suri reveals portions of a remarkable history left untold, biases he’s grappling with personally as well as any possible solutions that can be examined for a country striving to rebuild its own future. 

Four of the largest cities in the United States are currently run by African Americans. What do U think this says about our nation when four prominent, elected officials of color have been chosen and trusted to lead four of the biggest metropolitan regions of the country? And out of each of these four mayors: Eric Adams of New York City; Karen Bass of Los Angeles; Brandon Johnson of Chicago; Sylvester Turner is the only top city administrator who still resides in the same community where he grew up—Acres Homes, a sprawling working-class neighborhood in northwest Houston that's predominantly Black. What do U think this says about him and his character? Join us as I SEE U travels to City Hall where host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with the chief executive officer of the city of Houston – Mayor Sylvester Turner. As the former lawyer wraps up his two-term tenure in office, Turner reflects on his life, his career in politics and how his upbringing prepared him to take on persistent issues and majors challenges of a Democratic blue city that's deeply rooted inside a Republican red state. He also candidly reveals the complexities of his relationship with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and why he hasn't directly communicated with him for over two years.

Clean energy researcher Roishetta Ozane is a single mother of six children and lives in a Louisiana town that scientists have called, "the heart of America's climate crisis." With her Lake Charles-area home surrounded by refineries, natural gas facilities and petrochemical plants, her family has been inundated with ‘shelter-in-place' alerts and storm-related emergency alarms throughout their lives. Witnessing so much systemic hardship, Ozane created a mutual aid organization to help communities of color and low-income residents navigate government agencies to obtain relief after disasters strike. And she uses her platform to speak out publicly as an advocate for environmental justice at local forums, municipal hearings and regional climate conferences. But are state juries, industry leaders and agency officials willing to listen and take action? Stay tuned as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with the founder of The Vessel Project of Louisiana, Roishetta Ozane. She speaks unguarded about her passion to build solidarity around an effort to combat climate change. A survivor of a 17-year abusive relationship, Ozane reminds us that while the industry sector continues to expand, worsening storms and violent hurricanes will repeatedly use this vulnerable Gulf Coast region as target practice.

Six-time Grammy winner and electronic DJ, Sonny Moore, aka Skrillex, recently released a trove of new music after a nearly decade-long hiatus of full-length solo material. Through a mutual friend, the visionary producer was introduced to a Palestinian vocalist by the name of Nai Barghouti – an acclaimed composer and flute player who's notably famous for creating her own signature fusion of jazz and Middle Eastern soundscapes. But what happens when you blend her angelic, and often times, enchanting voice with a pulsating techno beat and rhythmic, percussive claps? Stay tuned as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with renowned singer-songwriter, Nai Barghouti. We explore the meaning behind their collaborative track called, "XENA," including a deep dive into Palestinian folklore and the song's cultural message of empowerment. The instrumentalist also describes her unique vocal style and how she's used one of the most traumatic experiences of her childhood, while living in Jerusalem under military occupation, as inspiration for her remarkable musical career.

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.

Nearly 80 years ago, a group of Yale scholars decided amongst themselves to add the word, "homosexual," in the Bible after mistranslating Greek text. Researchers have said this mistake changed the course of modern history as we know it. The misinterpretation also caused a lesbian Christian to explore this incident and earn the trust of those same researchers by capturing their discovery on film. Join us as host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with Sharon "Rocky" Roggio, the director behind the controversial film, "1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture." Roggio provides I SEE U with an in-depth look at how this misinterpretation came about and what the evidence from the translation committee revealed. We'll also learn more about how she navigated through her own religious environment as well as her desire to change a narrative that speaks to all LGBTQ individuals being acknowledged as equals – and not be seen as "others," or "less than." Despite the documentary receiving backlash from religious writers who, according to the director, haven't seen the film, "1946" has already picked up praise and several prestigious awards during its festival circuit quest.

Legendary actor Glynn Turman remembers a time when hardly any Black men or women were prominently featured in television. Over six decades later, he's played hundreds of characters in film, TV and on-stage, including work as an acclaimed writer, producer and director – both in theater and television. Notable roles include the 2020 Netflix film, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom; the FX drama series, FARGO; more recently, the Paramount sports comedy, 80 for Brady, and an upcoming biographical film, Rustin, produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground. His acting career started as a 12-year-old, when friend of the family—esteemed playwright, Lorraine Hansberry—asked permission from his mother to star alongside Sydney Poitier, Louis Gosset Jr. and Ruby Dee in the original Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun. But it was his movie role in 1975's Cooley High, that he admits to I SEE U of his defining moment as an actor. Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with celebrated actor, Glynn Turman. The Emmy Award winner will share riveting stories and narratives of how he's managed longevity in the industry. Turman will also offer up a preview of his new documentary, his love and passion for horses as well as his fondest memory of being married to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Four of the largest cities in the United States are currently run by African Americans. What do you think this says about our nation when four prominent, elected officials of color have been chosen and trusted to lead four of the biggest metropolitan regions of the country? And out of each of these four mayors: Eric Adams of New York City; Karen Bass of Los Angeles; Brandon Johnson of Chicago; Sylvester Turner is the only top city administrator who still resides in the same community where he grew up—Acres Homes, a sprawling working-class neighborhood in northwest Houston that’s predominantly Black. What do you think this says about him and his character? Join us as I SEE U travels to City Hall where host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with the chief executive officer of the city of Houston – Mayor Sylvester Turner. As the former lawyer wraps up his two-term tenure in office, Turner reflects on his life, his career in politics and how his upbringing prepared him to take on persistent issues and majors challenges of a Democratic blue city that’s deeply rooted inside a Republican red state. He also candidly reveals the complexities of his relationship with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and why he hasn’t directly communicated with him for over two years.

In January of 2017, a mosque in Victoria, Texas was set on fire just hours after then-President Donald Trump signed a controversial executive order restricting migration from Muslim-majority countries. Victoria law enforcement officials and conservative town administrators were quick to praise local Muslim leadership for not jumping to conclusions that this fire was intentional. How can this “praise” be interpreted? Some might argue and see it as community leaders being passive or docile to avoid fueling a political firestorm. But after six years of reflection and the release of a documentary that explores the burning of the Victoria Islamic Center, the arsonist and the aftermath from the incident—what will it take for a quiet religious community to survive a hate crime? Join us as host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with award-winning filmmaker, Li Lu—director of the PBS docu-series, A Town Called Victoria. In this 100th I SEE U episode recorded live in front of a sold-out studio audience at the historic DeLUXE Theater in Houston’s 5th Ward, Eddie leads a provocative panel conversation with Lu, along with Muslim American community members of Victoria and Houston as they reveal unguarded perspectives about their experiences in the years after the blaze. Can collective healing and restorative justice ever exist in this divisive town? I SEE U panelists include producer/director, Li Lu; Victoria Islamic Center members: Abe and Heidi Ajrami, Dr. Shahid Hashmi, Omar and Lanell Rachid; along with Houston-area filmmaker, Fatima Hye.