With Good Reason

The most celebrated African American poets in America pay homage to the life’s work of former Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Rita Dove (University of Virginia). The occasion was the inspiration of Joanne Gabbin, Director of the Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University. With Good Reason interviews Rita Dove and features readings from Dove, as well as readings by renowned poets Elizabeth Alexander, Ishmael Reed, and Frank X Walker.

Later in the show: A common myth is that Native Americans were an “oral people” and did not engage in literacy. In his book, Red Ink, Drew Lopenzina (Old Dominion University) argues that Native Americans early on acquired the skills of reading and writing. Also featured: In the movies, the American frontier is a lawless place. But historian Turk McCleskey (Virginia Military Institute) studied 18th-century court records and found that the first settlers of Virginia’s frontier actually took the law very seriously. And: We have a sense of what early America looked like, but Bonnie Gordon (University of Virginia) and Emily Gale ask: What did it sound like? From bawdy tavern songs to tunes about Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings, Gordon and Gale are uncovering the soundscape of early America.

The most celebrated African American poets in America pay homage to the life’s work of former Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Rita Dove (University of Virginia). The occasion was the inspiration of Joanne Gabbin, Director of the Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University. With Good Reason interviews Rita Dove and features readings from Dove, as well as readings by renowned poets Elizabeth Alexander, Ishmael Reed, and Frank X Walker.

Later in the show: A common myth is that Native Americans were an “oral people” and did not engage in literacy. In his book, Red Ink, Drew Lopenzina (Old Dominion University) argues that Native Americans early on acquired the skills of reading and writing. Also featured: In the movies, the American frontier is a lawless place. But historian Turk McCleskey (Virginia Military Institute) studied 18th-century court records and found that the first settlers of Virginia’s frontier actually took the law very seriously. And: We have a sense of what early America looked like, but Bonnie Gordon (University of Virginia) and Emily Gale ask: What did it sound like? From bawdy tavern songs to tunes about Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings, Gordon and Gale are uncovering the soundscape of early America.

In the 1960s, it took almost three weeks to cross the sea from America to Vietnam. Three weeks for young men in crowded cabins with salt water showers and absolutely nothing to do but think about home, the war, and what might be next. In this Memorial Day special episode we focus on a single troopship, the General Nelson M. Walker, and a few of the soldiers who traveled on it.

There’s the man who wrote home about the voyage to Vietnam—about tanning oil, hillbilly radio, and a run-in with a typhoon. Another who survived the jungles of Vietnam, only to return home and feel as though democracy had passed him by. And then there’s the fiancée who snuck on board to say one last goodbye to her lover before he was killed in action.

Through found tape and contemporary interviews, we recreate the troopship experience and capture the moments outside of combat—three weeks there, and, for the lucky ones—three weeks back.

These stories were produced in partnership with The Vietnam Graffiti Project.

Later in the show: Women journalists who covered the Vietnam War are often not given their proper due when the history of the conflict is told. Joyce Hoffman (Old Dominion University) is the author of On Their Own: Women Journalists in Vietnam. She shares stories of women who won esteemed prizes for their reporting and several who broke new ground covering the war. Plus: In recent years, more and more military mothers have been deployed throughout the world. Mona Ternus says there’s a connection between the length of time military mothers are deployed and an increase in drug use, attempted suicide, and other risk factors for their children.

In the 1960s, it took almost three weeks to cross the sea from America to Vietnam. Three weeks for young men in crowded cabins with salt water showers and absolutely nothing to do but think about home, the war, and what might be next. In this Memorial Day special episode we focus on a single troopship, the General Nelson M. Walker, and a few of the soldiers who traveled on it.

There’s the man who wrote home about the voyage to Vietnam—about tanning oil, hillbilly radio, and a run-in with a typhoon. Another who survived the jungles of Vietnam, only to return home and feel as though democracy had passed him by. And then there’s the fiancée who snuck on board to say one last goodbye to her lover before he was killed in action.

Through found tape and contemporary interviews, we recreate the troopship experience and capture the moments outside of combat—three weeks there, and, for the lucky ones—three weeks back.

These stories were produced in partnership with The Vietnam Graffiti Project.

Later in the show: Women journalists who covered the Vietnam War are often not given their proper due when the history of the conflict is told. Joyce Hoffman (Old Dominion University) is the author of On Their Own: Women Journalists in Vietnam. She shares stories of women who won esteemed prizes for their reporting and several who broke new ground covering the war. Plus: In recent years, more and more military mothers have been deployed throughout the world. Mona Ternus says there’s a connection between the length of time military mothers are deployed and an increase in drug use, attempted suicide, and other risk factors for their children.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and early rock and roll. She became the first superstar of gospel music and was an early influence on Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Johnny Cash. Chris Kjorness (Longwood University) plays some of her groundbreaking recordings and talks about her legacy. Also featured: The Broadway musical has often taken up southern themes, from Show Boat and Porgy and Bess in the first half of the twentieth century to Memphis, which hit the Broadway stage in 2009. For all their popularity, Gary Richards (University of Mary Washington) argues that these musicals nevertheless tend to have a negative view of the South and don’t reflect its diversity today.

Later in the show: Accents can be endearing, but southern students and African American students are often marginalized in the classroom because of their dialects. Anne Harper Charity Hudley (College of William & Mary) is the coauthor of a book to help educators make sure students don’t suffer for the way they talk. And: John Russell Rickford (Stanford University) has written a book on the topic: Spoken Soul: The Story of Black English. Also featured: The Affrilachian Poets are celebrating 20 years. Frank X Walker coined the term in 1991 after he came away from a literary event frustrated by the exclusion of African American writers from Appalachian literature. Theresa Burriss (Radford University) is an expert on the Affrilachians and an honorary member of the group.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and early rock and roll. She became the first superstar of gospel music and was an early influence on Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Johnny Cash. Chris Kjorness (Longwood University) plays some of her groundbreaking recordings and talks about her legacy. Also featured: The Broadway musical has often taken up southern themes, from Show Boat and Porgy and Bess in the first half of the twentieth century to Memphis, which hit the Broadway stage in 2009. For all their popularity, Gary Richards (University of Mary Washington) argues that these musicals nevertheless tend to have a negative view of the South and don’t reflect its diversity today.

Later in the show: Accents can be endearing, but southern students and African American students are often marginalized in the classroom because of their dialects. Anne Harper Charity Hudley (College of William & Mary) is the coauthor of a book to help educators make sure students don’t suffer for the way they talk. And: John Russell Rickford (Stanford University) has written a book on the topic: Spoken Soul: The Story of Black English. Also featured: The Affrilachian Poets are celebrating 20 years. Frank X Walker coined the term in 1991 after he came away from a literary event frustrated by the exclusion of African American writers from Appalachian literature. Theresa Burriss (Radford University) is an expert on the Affrilachians and an honorary member of the group.

In the 1960s, it took almost three weeks to cross the sea from America to Vietnam. Three weeks for young men in crowded cabins with salt water showers and absolutely nothing to do but think about home, the war, and what might be next. In this Memorial Day special episode we focus on a single troopship, the General Nelson M. Walker, and a few of the soldiers who traveled on it.

There’s the man who wrote home about the voyage to Vietnam—about tanning oil, hillbilly radio, and a run-in with a typhoon. Another who survived the jungles of Vietnam, only to return home and feel as though democracy had passed him by. And then there’s the fiancée who snuck on board to say one last goodbye to her lover before he was killed in action.

Through found tape and contemporary interviews, we recreate the troopship experience and capture the moments outside of combat—three weeks there, and, for the lucky ones—three weeks back.

These stories were produced in partnership with The Vietnam Graffiti Project.

Later in the show: Women journalists who covered the Vietnam War are often not given their proper due when the history of the conflict is told. Joyce Hoffman (Old Dominion University) is the author of On Their Own: Women Journalists in Vietnam. She shares stories of women who won esteemed prizes for their reporting and several who broke new ground covering the war. Plus: In recent years, more and more military mothers have been deployed throughout the world. Mona Ternus says there’s a connection between the length of time military mothers are deployed and an increase in drug use, attempted suicide, and other risk factors for their children.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and early rock and roll. She became the first superstar of gospel music and was an early influence on Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Johnny Cash. Chris Kjorness (Longwood University) plays some of her groundbreaking recordings and talks about her legacy. Also featured: The Broadway musical has often taken up southern themes, from Show Boat and Porgy and Bess in the first half of the twentieth century to Memphis, which hit the Broadway stage in 2009. For all their popularity, Gary Richards (University of Mary Washington) argues that these musicals nevertheless tend to have a negative view of the South and don’t reflect its diversity today.

Later in the show: Accents can be endearing, but southern students and African American students are often marginalized in the classroom because of their dialects. Anne Harper Charity Hudley (College of William & Mary) is the coauthor of a book to help educators make sure students don’t suffer for the way they talk. And: John Russell Rickford (Stanford University) has written a book on the topic: Spoken Soul: The Story of Black English. Also featured: The Affrilachian Poets are celebrating 20 years. Frank X Walker coined the term in 1991 after he came away from a literary event frustrated by the exclusion of African American writers from Appalachian literature. Theresa Burriss (Radford University) is an expert on the Affrilachians and an honorary member of the group.

A new study finds that an affectionate work environment boosts teamwork and job satisfaction and leads to less burnout and absenteeism. A forthcoming article in the Harvard Business Review looks at the research by Mandy O’Neil (George Mason University). And: A young husband and wife explain how they turned to bicycling to lose weight and gain fitness. Donald and Kelly Sorah (University of Virginia at Wise) have lost nearly 300 pounds together. Plus: With people living longer, more adult children are caring for their aging parents. Sarah Gilbert (Radford University) gives long-term planning tips for this period in our lives.

Later in the show: Horses and humans have long interacted, but now therapeutic horse riding is helping children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in some life-changing ways. Kim Wendell (Cori Sikich Therapeutic Riding Center) and Sandra Ward (College of William and Mary) were part of a study that found the benefits of riding carried over to more positive behaviors in the classroom. Also featured: Today on an iPhone or iPod there is an app for almost any facet of living. Tony Gentry (Virginia Commonwealth University) modifies apps to help employees with autism work more productively in their jobs. And: Inspired by her young daughter’s battle with a blood disorder, engineer Rasha Morsi (Norfolk State University) developed a game app called Blood Feud that encourages kids in hospitals to understand and fight their illnesses.

A new study finds that an affectionate work environment boosts teamwork and job satisfaction and leads to less burnout and absenteeism. A forthcoming article in the Harvard Business Review looks at the research by Mandy O’Neil (George Mason University). And: A young husband and wife explain how they turned to bicycling to lose weight and gain fitness. Donald and Kelly Sorah (University of Virginia at Wise) have lost nearly 300 pounds together. Plus: With people living longer, more adult children are caring for their aging parents. Sarah Gilbert (Radford University) gives long-term planning tips for this period in our lives.

Later in the show: Horses and humans have long interacted, but now therapeutic horse riding is helping children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in some life-changing ways. Kim Wendell (Cori Sikich Therapeutic Riding Center) and Sandra Ward (College of William and Mary) were part of a study that found the benefits of riding carried over to more positive behaviors in the classroom. Also featured: Today on an iPhone or iPod there is an app for almost any facet of living. Tony Gentry (Virginia Commonwealth University) modifies apps to help employees with autism work more productively in their jobs. And: Inspired by her young daughter’s battle with a blood disorder, engineer Rasha Morsi (Norfolk State University) developed a game app called Blood Feud that encourages kids in hospitals to understand and fight their illnesses.