The Optional Facts

In this episode, Kyle talks about life in prison. Quarantine, fights, moving from level 2 to level 5, and back to level 2. Kyle finally gets to a point where he knows how he approaches life has to change. At the same time, the Supreme Court begins to look at the legality of Juvenile life sentences.

In part three Kyle is faced with a choice, take care of a problem in the neighborhood or have the neighborhood take care of him. It ends with him running from the police, and after a mistrial, coming so close to freedom.

In the second part we pick up as Kyle is jumped into the Vice Lords. He talks about his time in the gang, what it meant to part of it and how his life became more intense as time went on. Kyle talks about their interactions with the police, and when he finally went to jail, for good - so he thought.

Have you ever wondered how you go from being a little kid in Vermont to living in Detroit, a member of one of the oldest gangs in the Chicago area, and then being convicted of the most serious of crimes, spending a significant amount of time in jail, and then turning your life around?

Well, you are about to find out. This is the first part of an interview I did with Kyle Daniel-Bey. Kyle is easy to listen to because he is honest. His story just flows from him, and as with all good stories, you can’t help but learn.

Do you ever wonder if you are going to come home at night, or, again? Have you ever wondered what it is like to be beaten by police when you are just trying to support your community? What about the knowledge that no matter what happens to you, you will be back, raising your voice, lifting your community, organizing and protesting. Listen in as we talk with Chris Brown aka Thoughtpoet.

Committed to racial justice and healing

Alexander Twilight was the first person of color to graduate from a college in the United States. He was also the first American of African descent to serve in a state legislature in the United States. Twilight was also the principal of the Orleans County Grammar School in Brownington, Vermont. He became known as an amazing teacher, instilling a love of learning in the boys and girls he taught.

On today’s show we talk about the Old Stone House Museum, a place dedicated to preserving and exploring the life and legacy of Alexander Twilight. I talk with Executive Director Molly Veysee, Board President Carmen Jackson, and the Assistant Director for Development, Marketing and Communications Drew Bush, about Alexander Twilight and his accomplishments.

Ghetto Chronicles explores the African American experience living in America, through the eyes and mind of the writer, director, and producer DWhit. No topic is left off the table in this sixty-minute musical. Police brutality, child support, and the 13th amendment are just a few of the topics covered. Today, we talk with DWhit, and two performers - Steve Smith and MC Heavyn about how the truth in the production effects the audience.

Today, I talk with Lamont Jack Pearly an Applied Folklorist, African American Traditional Music Practitioner/Historian and the Executive Director at Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation.

Lamont can tell stories. It is part of his craft..part of who he is. 

I interviewed Lamont about his life growing up in Brooklyn NY. We talk about music, life, early rap, and we even get into how the evolution of rap follows the crack epidemic in the 80s.

Mitia Oliver is a singer-songwriter from Washington state. She has been making music for decades on her own and with her family. Today we talk about her music, her family and how her faith has changed and saved her life.