Shelley’s Plumbline

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As a member of the King's inner circle, Hosea Williams served as the advance man, organizing some of the most important events in the movement. Williams traveled to cities throughout the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers, paving the way for appearances by King, Jesse Jackson, and Andrew Young. Williams and John Lewis led the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.

This episode features an interview from September of 1994 with Shelley Stewart and Hosea Williams. Hosea reveals the dire warning King had for the members of his inner circle.

Ricky reflects on the Black struggle and the unfortunate missteps made by Black leaders after the loss of King.

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In this episode Shelley reflects on his journey from a homeless youth in Birmingham to a pioneering radio personality and successful business consultant. 

This episode  touches on civil rights history, economic empowerment, education, and the ongoing struggle for equality, offering a powerful look at legacy, fatherhood, and social consciousness.

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In this week's episode, Shelley and Ricky discuss how over-reliance on AI for writing and thinking threatens critical thinking and foundational professional competencies, forcing educators to find new ways to verify comprehension. 

The conversation also covered the historical ties between literacy and empowerment, current political pressures on educators (such as the dissolution of the Auburn University faculty senate), and concerns over historical awareness in federal leadership.

What will society suffer due to its reliance on AI?

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In this episode, we explore the sharp decline in educational literacy across the U.S. and the emerging cognitive threats posed by artificial intelligence. 

We examine alarming literacy trends, including 25 million American children reading below proficiency, 61% of low-income families lacking age-appropriate books, and only 2% of adults reading to a child on any given day. 

As reading for pleasure continues to drop, we discuss how reading and writing serve as essential brain exercises to refine and test ideas. 

Finally, we address growing concerns that an over-reliance on AI for writing and thinking will cause critical thinking skills to atrophy, undermine the foundational competency of future professionals like doctors and lawyers, and force educators to turn back to oral exams.

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In this episode, hosts Shelley Stewart, Ricky Jones, and Mark Jamroz explore the persistent challenges of truth-telling in both professional and societal contexts.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Cost of Truth: An analysis of why individuals often prioritize saying what others want to hear over speaking necessary truths—a pattern observed from the 1950s through today.
• Barriers to Progress: An examination of how the fear of professional retaliation, selfishness, and the preservation of racial dominance stifle advocacy and collective growth.
• Responsibility & Literacy: A conversation on the importance of personal and familial accountability, and the growing concern over rising anti-intellectualism and the decline in engagement with historical documentation.
• Future Challenges: A preview of upcoming discussions, including the societal risks of artificial intelligence and the "illiteracy of America."

Join us as we discuss the necessity of individual courage and the critical work required to prevent historical and painful experiences from being ignored.

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Today, we (re)present the most downloaded Plumbline episode of 2025, titled "Racism Today."

In this episode, Shelley, Mark, and Ricky Jones launch into a powerful discussion on the enduring struggle against racism, arguing that while overt segregation is gone, it has transformed, with terms like DEI serving as "code words" for veiled racist policies. They explore the historical context of white supremacy, citing Abraham Lincoln's views on racial inequality, and stress the urgent need for continued, honest conversation about justice. The episode also covers modern dangers to society like greed and anti-intellectualism, and examines intra-racial dynamics and miseducation within the Black community. Listen, learn and share your thoughts.

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This episode of Shelley's Plumbline celebrates the return of Dr. Shelley Stewart to the podcast team! 

The discussion centers on the systemic challenges facing black academics and educators, including the mental health toll of targeted media attacks, the lack of representation in higher education (where black professors constitute only 5% of the faculty), and the exclusion of black voices from mainstream media platforms. 

The hosts also touch upon conflicts involving high-profile media figures, critique narratives surrounding black tenure-track faculty, and reflect on historical events to contextualize the ongoing struggle for visibility and equality.

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In this episode, we move beyond the headlines to examine the systemic pressures facing higher education—from the dismantling of DEI initiatives to the political influence on university leadership.

We explore the roots of current political polarization, analyze the impact of populist movements on our national discourse, and discuss why critical thinking is under attack. If you’re looking for a substantive, intellectual look at race, power, and the state of American morality, this conversation is for you. We don’t shy away from the hard questions; we pursue the truth that lies between conflicting perspectives.

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In this episode, Mark and Ricky pull back the curtain on the hypocrisy within military leadership, discussing the targeted removal of Black historical figures from institutions and the exclusionary rhetoric permeating the Pentagon. 

Through the lens of Clint Smith’s The Atlantic piece, "The Betrayal of America’s Black Patriots," they analyze the complex legacy of figures like Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. and the persistent "unrequited love" Black Americans have shown a country that often fails to return it.

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In 1993, Shelley hosted the Shelley Stewart Show, Survival in the 90s. It was a talk show on television that ran for 13 episodes. Today, we feature the audio from an extraordinary episode that featured a conversation with three very different people on the same stage.

The discussion featured Lamarse Washington, Executive Director of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, William Muhammad, Minister of Nation of Islam and on the other end of the spectrum, William Burchfield, Grand Titan of Alabama for the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.

Can you imagine a more diverse group in one place? We believe that you’ll discover the topics between then and today are not that different. But we wonder, could people of such diverse opinions share a stage with civility and respect today?

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