Tangazo

Michael Roberts and I go one on one about his late father Victor Roberts and Mike's career as a media mogul and international businessman. Michael says that everything began with a seventy-five hundred dollar loan from his father, Victor Roberts, to purchase and renovate his first house, after law school, in Lewis Place, midtown St. Louis.------ We talk about how he, along with his brother Steven Roberts, Mike Jones, Waymon Smith and Virvus Jones created the first Aldermanic Black Caucus. Michael ran for several higher offices, including President of the Board of Aldermen and he also led a very effective write-in campaign, for mayor of the city of St. Louis.----- Michael and his brother Steven Roberts bought the Sears Building in 1982, as the giant retailer began to close its stores in urban areas. That led to the ownership of their first television station, channel 46 which became, a home shopping channel, followed by a wireless partnership with Sprint. It was off to the races with additional purchases of ten to eleven more television stations, radio stations, hotels and apartment buildings across the nation. ----- Michael V. Robert's footprint is large in St Louis and beyond as an international businessman. He has authored several books and suggested that African Americans who want to become business persons should read his most popular book titled "Action Has No Season."--

Produced by Sasha Hay for KDHX

We were privileged to have an extended conversation with the founder of BASIC, Oval Miller and his top assistant Michael Batchman, as my guest on the latest episode of the KDHX podcast Tangazo. ——— BASIC was Founded in 1982, as a drug and alcohol treatment center for African Americans. It has a great reputation for the restoration of drug-addicted persons back to contributing citizens. ——— Recently seven people died within a two-hour time span, within two city blocks in the central west end of St Louis, as a result of Fentanyl laced cocaine. Those deaths sparked my concern that more information was needed, about this deadly synthetic drug Fentanyl. ——— What is the genesis of this drug, where does it come from and why does it kill so many people annually in the Stlouis metro area, was the focus of our conversation during this episode of Tangazo. ——— Why isn't there more concern and funding for drug addiction, in black communities in St Louis city and county? Why aren't African American elected officials more involved in helping to eradicate the destruction of black families and communities caused by the drug epidemic, that's raging out of control across the metro area? ——— These questions are raised and answered in this compelling episode of the KDHX podcast Tangazo. ——

Produced by Sasha Hay for KDHX

Recording this week's episode of the KDHX podcast Tangazo, was satisfying, to say the least. ——— My guests were the leadership of the St. Louis County Council, Chairman Rita Heard Days and Vice-Chairman Shalonda Webb. ——— We spent quite a bit of time talking about the value of these two African American women working together, on the many issues of concern to the black communities in St. Louis county. ——— Issues such as the redevelopment of Jamestown Mall, in far northeast county and their efforts deliver a multi recreation and sports complex again for north county. A project that was first conceived of, by the late County Councilwoman Hazel Erby. ——— Talking with these two dedicated courageous public servants, who are the exception, to the transactional type career politicians, to which we have grown accustomed was indeed refreshing to my tired old ears. Lol —— I'm sure that you will also find their genuine commitment to public service and their dedication to uplifting disadvantaged communities in St. Louis county just as refreshing as your Tangazo host found them to be. ———

Produced by Sasha Hay for KDHX

Tim Person takes the host chair for this week's episode of the KDHX podcast Tangazo. —— Former State Education Commission board member and Tangazo regular commentator, Michael Wesly Jones, along with Dr Art McCoy PhD., former Superintendent of the Jennings School District, an internationally recognized educator and champion of children, joins Tim and Michael for an in-depth discussion on the rising issue of Critical Race Theory, commonly referred to as CRT. ——— The discussion explores the roots of CRT and how the right has attempted to reinvent it, into a political tool to sow hate and ignorance to motivate their base. —— This promises to be an honest, insightful and energetic discussion about history, reality and racial politics.——

Three wise men is how I would describe my guest for this week's episode of the KDHX podcast Tangazo. —— Former St. Louis city Comptroller Virvus Jones father of St. Louis mayor Tishaura O. Jones, along with editorial columnist Michael Wesly Jones and my broadcast colleague Tim Person, were my guests for a lively debate on the diminishing value of our so-called "Black History month." ——— Founded in 1926 by black historian Carter G. Woodson, as "Negro History Week" designed to celebrate and raise awareness of African Americans history was expanded into Black History month, in 1970 by black students at Kent State University. ——— Our discussion focused on whether "Black History month," was a missed opportunity to focus on critical issues such as a national voter registration drive are "Critical Race Thinking" discussions to be held throughout the month of February. ———

Needless to say, my panel of three wise men were the right choice, for this robust conversation on the value of Black History month to African Americans across the nation. ———

Produced by Sasha Hay for KDHX

We're talking local politics on this weeks episode of the Kdhx podcast Tangazo.

Tim Person a long time political operative and Michael Wesly Jones editorial columnist for the Stlouis American Newspaper, join me for some lively political repartee, as we take a deeper dive into the Stlouis Aldermanic ward reduction, from 28 down to 14. We begin that discussion looking for winners and losers, only to discover that there were no losers, only winners. Very few people thought that the Stlouis board of aldermen was capable of reducing itself by half. Aldermanic seats of friends, allies and neighborhood disruptions, were on the table but under the leadership of Board of Aldermen President, Lewis Reed, the feat was accomplished with very little rancour. The final draft was unanimously passed by the board and Stlouis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones has indicated that she plans to sign off on it. We paused to acknowledge the political maturation, that we are witnessing from St Louis's top two political leaders, who have a history of being combative, to say the least. Their ability to work together on critical issues putting personal politics aside, such as ward reduction, bodes well for the city of Stlouis. A city that was floundering with high crime and dramatic population loss is now poised to begin the process of becoming a great city once again and the ability of African American leadership, to work together is of vital importance, to the future of St Louis.

Produced by Sasha Hay

In this episode, our guests look back on the life of renowned actor and civil rights activist Sidney Poitier. Today's panel share what the work of Sidney Poitier meant to them and how he personified the essence of self-respect within himself and his work. Host Hank Thompson is joined by broadcaster Bernie Hayes, short film producer Owen Woodard, and Portfolio Arts and Education Gallery founder Robert A. Powell.

Each guest talks about their current efforts to further the preservation of African American history in the area and throughout the nation. The panel discusses how black communities must come together to strengthen themselves in the face of destructive forces and injustice.

Burnie Hayes

Robert A. Powell

Owen Woodard

Hank Thompson

Joining us for this episode of Tangazo is retired Saint Louis journalist L. S. Lockheart, former KTVI and KMOX broadcaster Charles Jaco, Saint Louis American editorial columnist Michael Wesley Jones and Missouri State Senator Brian Williams of Saint Louis County's 14th district.

The panel this week took a look back on the hectic year of 2021 and discussed some of the most important events of this year from global, national, and local perspectives. Each guest compiles their own personal ranking of events from the January 6th insurrection at the Capital to the pandemic to the climate crisis.

Local events that made the list include the election of Saint Louis' first African American female mayor, Tishaura O. Jones and the passage of Senator Brian Williams' Criminal Justice Reform Bill.

L. S. Lockheart

Charles Jaco

Michael Wesley Jones

Senator Brian Williams

Hank Thompson

Preserving the history of the African American community, that once flourished in Stlouis's Mill Creek Valley area, is the the theme for the latest episode of the kdhx podcast Tangazo. Tim Person, is the host for this thoughtful discussion on how black history is actually being preserved in the case of Mill Creek Valley.

The Guests Are:

Vivian Gibson, author of The Last Children of Mill Creek, describes her family's history as residents of that once thriving black community. Gibson also speaks to the aftermath of the removal of black peoples from Mill Creek, in the name of Urban Renewal.

Shaugnessy Daniels, of the Great Rivers Greenway project, spoke of the importance of developers acknowledging cultural and historical concerns of black communities. She shares how her public agency sought to work hand and hand with community organizations and concerned citizens to preserve the black history of Mill Creek Valley.

Barbara Bracken Martin, a former Normandy School educator and former resident of Mill Creek Valley, got involved with The Great Rivers Greenway project. Barbara, is dedicated to making sure that the the history of the African American community in Mill Creek Valley is indeed preserved.

Join host Hank Thompson as he talks with his panel of guests about ward reduction, redistricting, and how to go about avoiding conflicts of interest and unfavorable political actions.

Today's guests are Kathleen Farrell, city unit leader of the League of Women Voters of Metro Saint Louis; LaShanna Lewis of the group Show Me Integrity, which was responsible for the development of Proposition R; and political consultant Tim Person.

The panel discusses the potential dissatisfaction that would result from the drawing of districts without regarding the nuances of each community as they currently stand in their wards. Will white judges be conscious of the skepticism around their ability to tactfully handle the future of African American politics?

LaShanna Lewis

Kathleen Farrell

Tim Person

Hank Thompson