Professor Ed Pavlić is back again this week to talk more Baldwin, specifically about how to use Baldwin in the classroom and Black music. Jesse then talks about the death of Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman, and the importance of representation for Black folks.

Songs of the Week:

Kendrick Lamar and SZA: All the Stars

James Brown: Living in America

Link to Ed Pavlić's reading material

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Jesse discusses the breaking news of another Black man (Jacob Blake) being shot by police officers. He also talks about why Jemele Hill would compare the United States to Nazi Germany. Jesse is then joined by Professor Ed Pavlić from the University of Georgia. The two discuss Baldwin's last major novel, Just Above My Head, and the explore the subject of identity, both personally and how Baldwin viewed the topic as well.

Songs of the Week:

Mariah Carey: https://youtu.be/BNgT_WWmS44

James Brown: https://youtu.be/9bJA6W9CqvE

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Professor Emeritus of African American Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Craig Werner, joins Jesse this week. They discuss Craig's favorite work by Baldwin, how he came to Baldwin in the first place as well as Baldwin's importance still resonating today. They also talk about the three impulses of Black music, the importance of the church to the history of Black music, and finally, the upcoming book about the 1960's that Craig is currently working on. 

Songs of the Week: Kendrick Lamar - Alright. https://youtu.be/Z-48u_uWMHY

Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions - People Get Ready. https://youtu.be/l04yM7-BWbg

Craig Werner's Website: https://afroamericanstudies.wisc.edu/staff/craig-werner/

Other artists discussed this week include: Miles Davis, Booker T and the MGs, The Sharelles, Darlene Love, The Crystals, and Ruby and the Romantics

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This week, Jesse talks about his Master's Thesis work, focusing on what he calls a Baldwinian Pedagogy. It looks a Baldwin through many lens and breaks down his work to individual topics that can then be used as building blocks for a proper humanities-based education.

Songs of the Week
This is America, Childish Gambino https://youtu.be/VYOjWnS4cMY

Acknowledgement, John Coltrane https://youtu.be/TMvbUKqWYEs

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This week Jesse reviews the 1989 documentary, "The Price of The Ticket." The documentary covers Baldwin's life in his own words and the words of those closest to him. 

Songs of the week: Neil Young, "Lookin for a Leader 2020": https://youtu.be/HFACj_BfFTg

Nina Simone, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free": https://youtu.be/vq3sdF0YXkM

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This week Jesse reviews the 2020 documentary: John Lewis: Good Trouble. Jesse also talks about Black music, introducing two new segments to the show. 

J. Cole "The Climb Back": https://youtu.be/oVaBgcJwkI4

Martha and the Vandellas "Dancing in the Streets": https://youtu.be/CdvITn5cAVc

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In this episode Jesse talks about love, loss, and heroes. 

Link to John Lewis speech: https://youtu.be/QV_8zSA3pyU

Link to both John Lewis speeches from the March on Washington: https://billmoyers.com/content/two-versions-of-john-lewis-speech/

Link to James Baldwin singing Precious Lord: https://youtu.be/51Kms22pd6Q

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Jesse talks about where he's been the last month and the profound impact the events he's dealt with have had on him. He also reviews Raoul Peck's 2016 documentary on James Baldwin, "I Am Not Your Negro". So many similarities exist between the current Black Lives Matter movement and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Yet there are key differences that may make what's happening in America now stronger in the long run. Baldwin foretold of so much that is happening to those involved with Black Lives Matter and his solution to solving race relations in America is the same now as it was in the 1960s. 

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With the death of George Floyd, there seems to be progress being made in America for police reform. But what is progress really? Is police reform enough? What did Baldwin think about progress? White supremacy is addressed by Jesse James and the now infamous speech by Kimberly Jones is discussed to close out the episode. You can view Ms. Jones' speech here: https://youtu.be/llci8MVh8J4

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In this episode Jesse James listens to some clips of James Baldwin and introduces himself and Baldwin to the listeners. Artist Jamie Dawson sings a moving rendition of Strange Fruit to end the show. You can contact the show by email at [email protected], follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JamesBaldwinsAmerica/ or on twitter at James_Baldwins. 

You can hear and read more about Jamie Dawson at https://www.dawsontheartist.com/.

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