Shelley’s Plumbline

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. King's legacy inspired generations of activists and leaders, and his contributions continue to be recognized and celebrated today as a beacon of hope and progress. But Dr. King had a premonition about his death, and he warned the members of his inner circle to beware of the tactics external forces would use to break the movement apart after he was gone.

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.

Was Hosea Williams right? Did the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Become a Nightmare? Listen and let us know what you think.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

Hey, Plumbliners. As we rewind through some of our most popular podcasts, we couldn’t overlook our very first. It was published on April 17, 2023. And it’s about Internalized Racism. Take a listen.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

Happy New Year, Plumbliners! Welcome to the year 2025!

We are planning for great things in this new year, but before we get started, we wanted to look back. So, for the next few weeks, we will be rebroadcasting some of YOUR favorite Plumblines.

To date, we have published 87 podcasts. While most of our fans are in the US, Shelley’s Plumbline has a global reach with downloads in Singapore, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

When it comes to subject matter, some of our most popular podcasts have been about Internalized Racism, Hate Crimes, the interview with Hosea Williams, The Rare Speeches of Dr King, and the stories of Shelley’s life in music and the Chitlin' Circuit.

So today, to kick off the New Year in style, we’re going to rebroadcast the episode of The Last Interview with Eddie Kendricks, the lead singer for The Temptations.

Happy New Year, Plumbliners! Let’s make it our best ever.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we continue our conversation from last week, when Shelley and Ezekwa discuss the effects of the Willie Lynch letter with Dr Cashen, a one-time candidate for governor of Alabama on the independent ticket.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

Today we pick up on the theme of the Willie Lynch letter, but in a different time and place. Stay tuned as we hear an interview from 1997 with Ezekwa Abdullah.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

Whether the Willie Lynch letter is real or not, the content of the message remains very much intact today. Seeding division among an audience is a way to get them fighting amongst themselves, which makes them easier to control from the outside. Today, Shelley takes a look at the continuing impact of that strategy on the world.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

Today, Shelley continues his search for the truth on the topic of selling. It is often an occupation that is looked on with disdain, yet nothing can happen without it. Whether it’s an idea or a product, we are all selling something.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

Today, Shelley shares an interview from 1991 with George Sarris. Mr. Sarris was an immigrant from Greece who eventually developed a small empire of seafood restaurants in and around the Birmingham, Alabama, area. He discusses how the Greek community worked together to help each other grow and prosper.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

This week, Shelley once again shines the light on the importance of education as he shares a recording from 1991 of a speech given by Charles Gray on the Re-Education of our Children.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

As election week finally rolls around, Shelley recalls the ultimate sacrifice that was made by his bother Jerome in Korea. He also talks about Georgia Price and others who, in the late 50s and mid-60s, paved the way for the movement toward equality and human rights in the United States.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.