Tagged: Black History Month 2013

Sunday, February 10 at 9 a.m.

Memorialized in a Bob Dylan song and an Academy Award nominated Denzel Washington film, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter was a successful prize fighter, who was falsely accused of murder. After nearly two decades in prison, Carter was exonerated by a federal judge (also heard in our documentary) in a ruling later affirmed by the US Supreme Court. Now in his 70s and an outspoken advocate for others wrongly convicted, Carter recently published a spiritual memoir on how he emerged not only from physical incarceration, but from the emotional prison of hatred and bitterness.

Humankind presents the riveting stories of everyday people who have found real purpose in life. Living by their principles - compassion, service, generosity, spirituality, equality, and integrity -they make a profound difference in the quality of life in their communities. Hosted and produced by David Freudberg, Humankind helps listeners examine some of humanity's biggest questions and illuminates the lives of ordinary people who, by their example, can inspire us all. 

Sunday, February 17 at 9 a.m.

From The Columbia University Institute For Religion, Culture and Public Life, and the Luce Group, an exploration in words and music of how music, religion, and politics intersected during this rich period in African American history.

During the vibrant years of the Harlem Renaissance, music, religion, and spirituality were interconnected -- not just in the religious setting of the church, but in the jazz club, the dance hall, the rent party, even the political street rally.  Writer Carl Hancock Rux, Reverend Calvin Butts of the Abyssinian Baptist Church, historian Farah Griffin, Professors Josef Sorett and Obery Hendricks, and others explore these powerful interconnections.  Includes the voices of Langston Hughes, poet Sterling Brown, Marcus Garvey, as well as readings from Hughes, Arna Bontemps, and musician James Reese Europe.  Music includes Count Basie, Chick Webb, The Abyssinian Baptist Church Choir, Geri Allen, The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama, Duke Ellington, Ma Rainey, Ella Fitzgerald, James Reese Europe's 369th US Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band, Mahalia Jackson, Ron Carter Big Band, Fats Waller, James P Johnson, WIllie The Lion Smith, Courtney Bryan, The Abyssinian Baptist Choir and more. 

Sunday, February 24 at 9 a.m.

An unlikely story of Civil Rights and the Space Program.

The Space Age began when America was going through a wrenching battle over Civil Rights.  And because the heart of the old Confederacy was chosen as its base, NASA  played an unintended role in Civil Rights history.  In this program, we hear how this happened and we hear the stories of the people who broke the color line at NASA.  Their stories of frustration and their stories of perseverance.  Produced by Richard Paul with Soundprint and narrated by Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in Space, “Race and the Space Race” tells the unlikely story of Civil Rights and the Space Program.