I SEE U with Eddie Robinson: Recent Episodes
Houston Public Media
I SEE U is a unique new program that gives voice to those who have often been unheard. Hosted by Houston Public Media’s Eddie Robinson, I SEE U explores cultural identity through the stories of people and places that have been transformed by the effects of long-standing biases. Eddie guides fascinating conversations with newsmakers who share their personal histories, their struggles and their triumphs. In listening, we learn to empathize and hopefully experience a few ‘a-ha’ moments for ourselves.
Legendary singer-songwriter Luther Vandross pioneered a golden age of silky-smooth R&B and passionate slow jams. In addition to countless hits and platinum albums, he earned eight Grammy Awards, including ‘Song of the Year’ in 2004 for “Dance With My Father” – a track that was released while he was hospitalized after suffering from a stroke. He studied from the best at a young age, spending hours watching and recreating the routines of Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick that he saw on television. He wrote, arranged and sang back up for David Bowie, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand and Roberta Flack, before finally deciding to step into the spotlight as a solo artist.Despite his success, the powerhouse balladeer had a very public struggle with weight, especially with an unforgiving media fixated on image. He was also dogged by constant questions over his sexuality, despite pleas to respect his privacy. It’s hard to believe that a man responsible for some of the most beautiful ballads ever recorded had a difficult time finding true love in his own life. Nonetheless, Vandross persevered with an unprecedented work ethic and an unrelenting spirit to succeed.Join I SEE U as host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with award-winning filmmaker, Dawn Porter. Her latest documentary, Luther: Never Too Much, has received critical acclaim for uncovering details of Luther Vandross’ life previously unknown to even the most die-hard fan. Utilizing a hefty trove of archival footage and rare rehearsal recordings, Porter allows Vandross to tell his own story with assistance from his closet friends and collaborators, including Warwick, Mariah Carey, Marcus Miller, Richard Marx and Nile Rodgers. With the recent news of CNN Films and OWN acquiring the film, the director chronicles for I SEE U the triumphs and tribulations of an extraordinary vocalist who grew up admiring the heroines of ‘60s music royalty to become one of the most influential and decorated artists of the last few decades.
Ballet traces its origins to the 15th century and the Italian Renaissance. But the art form has continued to evolve, with choreographers and dancers creatively incorporating new interpretations reflective of contemporary culture. Despite its evolution, today’s ballet still lacks dancers of color, especially in principal roles.Trailblazer Lauren Anderson was one of the first Black dancers to climb the ranks to become the principal dancer at a major ballet company. Though it’s been 34 years since she made history in that role, Anderson tells I SEE U that while progress has been made, more needs to be done so that young people of color can feel like they belong in this industry. She admits that more ballerinas of color are, indeed, taking lead roles – but too often, preference is given to light-skinned dancers. Anderson, who is dark skinned and has a muscular physique, was told as a teen that she didn’t fit the right look of a ballerina – despite being recognized as a huge talent at a young age.Stay tuned as host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with the first African American Principal Dancer with the Houston Ballet, Lauren Anderson. Born and raised in Houston’s Third Ward, the iconic dancer reveals how she dealt with discrimination, which led her to unhealthy coping mechanisms due to the pressures of perfection. While she almost lost her way because of addiction, Anderson is now celebrating 14 years of sobriety as she continues to educate and mentor students on their quest to achieve their own hopes and dreams.
Despite a highly successful acting career with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, Luis Guzmán never really wanted to be an actor. He was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Loísada, the name given to Manhattan’s Lower East Side by the massive working-class Puerto Rican community that migrated to New York in the 1950s. Loísada was also a hot bed for activism, with residents coming together to fight against discrimination and for better housing and working conditions. Guzmán admits to I SEE U that his calling was to be a social worker as he embraced the culture and spirit of his community, working extensively with youth to enhance their lives and help guide them to their own aspirations.Guzmán started performing in popular street theater as a hobby to showcase his acting ability through the art of social and political advocacy. To supplement his social work with more cash, he also appeared in several indie films, including his first movie role in 1977, Short Eyes—a prison life drama written by close friend and playwright, Miguel “Mickey” Piñero. Co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Café, a haven for Black and Latinx artists and activists, Mickey even helped him land a role on NBC’s Miami Vice in 1985—a role that would change Guzmán’s life forever. 50 years and nearly 200 film and TV projects later, his comedic brilliance and authentic bravado have positioned him to become one of the most renowned and recognizable actors around the world.Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats with award-winning actor and producer, Luis Guzmán, from his farm in Vermont. The veteran performer reminisces on his family and how paying a phone bill as a young adult led to finding his biological father in Puerto Rico. Plus, Guzmán shares an incredible moment of vulnerability as he remembers his friend, the late Robin Williams—one of the greatest comedians of all time—and recalls how his death by suicide over a decade ago still affects him to this day.
In 1974, CBS premiered Good Times, a TV sitcom that would showcase the first Black mother and Black father on screen – two parents, trying to make ends meet, while raising three children. Set in a public housing project in the south side of Chicago, Good Times elevated stories of struggle – the joy, the pain and the dreams of a determined Evans family during the economically turbulent 1970s. With legendary producer Norman Lear at the helm, the program would be one of three of the top ten rated shows with Black casts on American TV at that time – the other two gems were Sanford & Son and The Jeffersons.But there were many, including actors on these shows, who believed that producers equated the black experience with poverty and that too often writers pushed negative stereotypes and tropes, especially after the progress in civil rights of the previous decade. Times also weren’t all that good for the Black creators of Good Times, Eric Monte and Mike Evans – both men struggled with Lear to receive recognition for their work.
In the last 50 years, we’ve seen a (mostly) upward trajectory of positive Black representation in film and television – from the likes of The Cosby Show to Abbott Elementary or HBO’s Insecure. Despite this advancement, negative stereotypes persist – and a new animated reboot of Good Times on Netflix is igniting fresh criticism, with many viewers saying the show promotes an image of Blacks as criminal, prone to violence, uneducated and hypersexualized. Would a reboot of a classic sitcom with an all-white cast like The Brady Bunch or Leave It to Beaver receive the same kind of treatment today?Join us as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats with the actor who portrayed the first Black teen on network television – Bern Nadette Stanis, who starred as Thelma, the daughter of the Evans family in Good Times. Stanis shares her thoughts on the adult reboot and how she felt misled after portraying one of the characters in the modern series. Plus, Variety TV critic, Aramide Tinubu, provides her perspective on why Hollywood still refuses to let go of outdated and harmful depictions of American Black life.
Celebrated author of the award-winning book, The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap, Mehrsa Baradaran states that when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, Blacks had 0.5% of the nation’s wealth. This statistic makes sense, since Blacks weren’t allowed to own capital as enslaved people — their bodies were, indeed, the capital used to develop lending in this country. Fast-forward more than 160 years to today, Black households currently have a total wealth of just over 4% - not much growth, especially when U consider that one-in-four Black households overall have no wealth or in debt, compared to about one-in-ten U.S. households. What if our nation’s financial systems were rigged — not by evil puppet masters or villains — but by law-abiding judges, lawyers, policy makers and lobbyists? In Baradaran’s latest book, The Quiet Coup: Neoliberalism and The Looting of America, the acclaimed professor of law at the University of California, Irvine argues that our political and economic systems of government have shifted in recent decades to yield more complex laws and regulations designed to benefit the rich and powerful—while at the same time, proclaiming smaller government and less regulation. The result has been a large section of Americans left poor and disenfranchised. Join us as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats with one of our country’s leading intellectuals and legal scholars, Mehrsa Baradaran. We examine how the Civil Rights movement and the push for economic justice by Black activists led to a so-called neoliberal movement. Baradaran explores this ideology of neoliberalism and explains how it infected our politics to ensure and maintain a dominant system of economic power over democracy – a movement she says is far from over, and even accelerating.
There are 64 million Latinos in the United States – nearly 20% of the population. By 2050, it’s projected that a third of the country’s population will be Latino. But despite being such a significant part of the country, Latinos are still often viewed as being immigrants, not fully American – even though they’ve been a part of American life for centuries. Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with renowned author and journalist, Marie Arana. Her latest book, LatinoLand: A Portrait of America’s Largest and Least Understood Minority, draws from hundreds of interviews and expansive research that not only examine the diverse background of the fastest-growing minority in this country, but also the importance of understanding their history and contributions to this country. Arana, who also served as the inaugural Literary Director of the Library of Congress, shares her own provocative story from growing up in Lima, Peru to arriving in Summit, New Jersey in the wake of the murder of Emmett Till – an African American teen whose death reinvigorated the Civil Rights Movement. She tells I SEE U that Latinos have largely been invisible with a cultural influence that has for too long been dismissed or hidden from public view. Her mission is to encourage all Americans to discover more about this burgeoning population—while the Latino community grapples with understanding its own past, its promising future and its inherent power.
Critically acclaimed musician, Samora Pinderhughes has emerged as one of the most conscientious performers of the moment. The multidisciplinary artist has collaborated with a plethora of musicians, including Herbie Hancock, Common, Robert Glasper, Jill Scott, Sara Bareilles, Daveed Diggs and Lalah Hathaway, just to name a few.Pinderhughes is a filmmaker, a composer and a pianist, and he’s known for creating performance pieces that are extensions of the conversations of his community – from the political to the personal – that incorporate elements of theatre, poetry, even paintings and digital art. His work is also deeply rooted in social justice and the traditions of Black surrealists of the African Diaspora. For nearly a decade, the 32-year-old has been working on his signature concept known as, “The Healing Project,” which centers around testimonials of community members, whose lives have been shattered by senseless violence, incarceration, detention and extreme policing. The initiative has since expanded and evolved into an arts organization based in New York City that’s been featured in short films, museum exhibitions and live concerts.Join us as I SEE U’s Eddie Robinson chats in-studio with multidisciplinary artist, Samora Pinderhughes. The Julliard School graduate guides us through his spiritual process of integrating visuals, sound, and emotions to create a musical landscape that touches the heart and soul of its listeners. He’s already performed his compositions at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center as well as the historic El Dorado Ballroom in Houston’s Third Ward, just blocks away from our I SEE U Studios.
With his signature voice and charismatic presence, legendary actor Keith David has starred in almost 400 projects, including film, television, stage and interactive media. From devils to angels, David has played just about every kind of role you can think of – including voice work in Disney and Manga animation, to roles in classic horror and comedy, to small time crooks and mega-church preachers. His acting range is incomparable, and as a classically trained actor, he’s a firm believer that talent alone is not enough – you must put in the hard work and training to be successful. That’s why he’s won three Emmys, an NAACP Image Award, as well as being nominated for a Tony Award. But how has he remained passionate about acting for so many years, while delivering grace and splendor to each character he portrays?Join us as I SEE U’s Eddie Robinson chats with one of Hollywood’s most sought-after performers, Keith David. The Harlem-born veteran actor shares family stories and insight into his very first movie role—the 1982 horror classic, The Thing. He also reminisces about his relationship with the church, and how he had considered becoming a minister at one point in his career. He channeled that love of ministry into his character, Bishop James Greenleaf, for a powerful performance in the Oprah-produced drama series, Greenleaf. David shows no sign of slowing down as he reveals to I SEE U the secret to his remarkable longevity as a successful actor in a competitive and ever-evolving entertainment industry.
Country music is often referred to as the quintessential American music – and yet the contributions and influences of Black Americans is often erased and ignored. A prime example: Members of the Carter family were among country music’s first big stars, producing some of the earliest commercial recordings in the 1920s. While the Carters are celebrated to this day, few know the name of Lesley Riddle, a Black musician who was instrumental in developing the Carter sound. Even the banjo – an instrument most associated with Appalachia where A.P. Carter and Lesley Riddle researched folk music – has had its African roots neglected over time. The rich cultural legacy of this American genre is only recently getting reexamined as African Americans and other communities of color are telling their own stories and histories of contribution to the origins of country music.
As Houston’s own Beyoncé drops her most recent album, “Cowboy Carter”, some are saying that an artist mostly linked to R&B and hip-hop has no business on the country charts or airwaves. But the owners of a new music enterprise in Houston would respectfully disagree as they live the country life right here in Space City.
Join us as I SEE U’s Eddie Robinson chats with the founders of LaChachere Music Group (LMG), a premiere country music entertainment company based in Houston and Nashville. Owners Dennis Chachere and Ahsaki LaFrance-Chachere stop by our Third Ward studios — just blocks away from Queen Bey’s childhood home. We’ll dive deep into why there remains tension in country music spaces when Black artists desire the spotlight — a notion Beyoncé modestly referred to in a recent Instagram post. Plus, LMG artist, singer-songwriter Caleb James, breaks out his guitar and offers up powerful vocals reminiscent of Charley Pride in an exclusive, live in-studio performance of his latest single, “Just a Few Things.”
Country star Reyna Roberts was born two months prematurely, at just two pounds. Her doctors feared developmental issues; so, her mother – a student at the University of Alaska – teamed up with professors to develop a unique music therapy to aid in her cognitive growth. The therapy not only worked, but it also gave Roberts a deep-seated passion for music. While she is a classically trained pianist and vocalist, her love of music led her to explore all genres before she found her groove in writing and singing country music. And this 26-year-old has been a fighter since birth, with her bold flair and genre-busting sound exemplified on her debut album, “Bad Girl Bible, Vol. 1.”
As Houston’s own, Beyoncé releases “Cowboy Carter” – I SEE U is taking a moment to explore the stories and lives of Black country musicians. Join us for this special bonus podcast as Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with the multi-talented country singer-songwriter, Reyna Roberts. We’ll gain insight into how she’s navigated race and gender inside a challenging music industry as an up-and-coming Black female country artist. Roberts also responds to the criticism female musicians often receive when embracing and displaying a very risqué image.
‘Peanuts’ creator Charles Schulz once shared that a news editor from the South told him, “I don’t mind you having a Black character [on your comic strip], but please don’t show them in school together.” Racial tensions were heated back then when Schultz introduced Franklin, the first Black character in ‘Peanuts,’ in July of 1968—just three months after the assassination of civil rights icon, Martin Luther King, Jr. Despite Franklin’s historic arrival to a legendary comic strip, pushback remained for quite some time.Join us as host Eddie Robinson dedicates a powerful episode to two individuals who are making a profound impact on the lives of young students – syndicated cartoonist, Robb Armstrong and bestselling author, Tiffany Jewell. Armstrong, who would later become Schultz’s close friend and protégé, chats unguarded about the impetus to create Franklin and how the character has evolved—as he’s co-written a new origin story entitled, “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin,” now available on AppleTV+. Later in the episode, Jewell explores highlights from her latest book, “Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned In School,”—a collaborative memoir of her own story, along with other contributors, about how they were often racialized, at times subtle or blatant, both in and out of classrooms.While children of any race absorb coded messaging and information—whether from a ‘Peanuts’ comic, a playground incident or an experience with a teacher—I SEE U takes on a provocative conversation that helps identify opportunities to course correct generations of systemic racism in places and spaces of education once thought to be safe, fair, inclusive and equitable.
In many ways, Texas is representative of the demographic and economic dynamism of America. The Lone Star State is very diverse with Latinos as the largest ethnic group; plus, it boasts the largest African American population in the country. Despite the sweeping demographic change of the last few decades, Texas remains deeply conservative with only one Black and one Latino among statewide elected officials – pushing political observers to begin questioning why Texas politics have remained unchanged. The economic boom of the last decade, dubbed the Texas Miracle, has also skipped over Black and Brown families who are themselves helping to drive this growth and expansion. This is especially true for historic Black communities in one of the wealthiest parts of the world – Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast.
Join us as I SEE U’s Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with award-winning filmmaker, Alex Stapleton. Her documentary, “The Price of Oil,” is part of HBO’s ‘God Save Texas,’ a three-part docuseries now streaming on Max. The renowned director turns a critical eye on the lucrative oil and gas industry – and documents how these companies created a toxic hell for her family and their Houston-area community – destroying the hard-won oasis where Black families could finally own their homes and build wealth. When outsiders would merely suggest to these Texas residents that they should simply move – Stapleton turns the table to question why business leaders and government officials failed from the start to fully compensate generations of Black and Brown communities through adequate health resources and regulation of an industry run amok.
Arguably, the state of Texas’ most famous death row exoneree, Anthony Charles Graves spent nearly 20 years in prison for a brutal crime that he did not commit, including 12 years on death row — all while receiving two execution dates. Since his release more than a decade ago, Graves has been working extensively with the justice system that mistakenly put him behind bars in the first place! Join us for one of the most riveting episodes of I SEE U, as former inmate Anthony Graves speaks unguardedly with host Eddie Robinson about how he really feels about the state of Texas, his recent in-person interaction with the prosecutor in the case, and what he thinks needs to take place for criminal justice reform in this country.
Media depictions of Black men historically have been centered around not so flattering stereotypes: unintelligent, lazy, prone to violence, hypersexual — and worst of all, criminal and dangerous. When he’s out in public, acclaimed actor Eric Kofi Abrefa tells I SEE U he has to be make himself small and always be conscious of not appearing too aggressive. He’s garnered a growing fanbase because of his breakout role as the villain in the STARZ hit crime-drama series, BMF (Black Mafia Family). He explains that a white actor is given the opportunity to portray any — and every kind of role and the audience ‘won’t bat an eye’ or think twice about that depiction. But when a Black actor walks on stage, without uttering a word or reciting a line of script, he is a “walking political statement.” Does this mindset unknowingly restrict audiences’ thinking of what Black actors can achieve or accomplish?
Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats with the man BMF fans “love to hate:” British/Ghanaian actor, Eric Kofi Abrefa. Star of the biblical comedy epic, The Book of Clarence, Kofi Abrefa shares why he is proud of his Ghanaian ancestry and why he is the biggest promotor of Ghana’s film industry. The London-based actor also reveals details of an upcoming sci-fi Netflix series that will feature an all-Black cast with superhero powers.
Ibram X. Kendi is a National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author who has dedicated his life to educating all Americans, from grade school to adults, on the unvarnished history of the United States. His latest release, Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers, is a middle-grade offering for the critically acclaimed Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo,” written by the legendary writer, anthropologist and folklorist, Zora Neale Hurston. The book tells the story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last-known survivors of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade who shared his story with Hurston in 1927. Kendi tells I SEE U that it’s more important than ever for young people to understand slavery and its origins, particularly when book bans targeting writers of color are on the rise. Join us as I SEE U travels to the downtown Houston Public Library where host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with one of the most sought-after historians in the country, Ibram X. Kendi. The author of the award-winning Stamped From the Beginning — now a Netflix documentary — chronicles the creation of racist ideas and myths which were used to codify discriminatory policies that have affected inequalities in everything from health to wealth in America.
Are concepts of race and racism so embedded in our culture, that kids as young as 3 have a racial identity? How do environment and family dynamics impact a child’s perceived sense of self? These were just some of the questions a husband-and-wife team of psychologists asked during their groundbreaking investigation of the racial formation of young Black children. During the 1940s, Kenneth and Mamie Clark recorded the negative impacts of segregation through a series of studies and experiments which came to be known as the “Doll Tests.” A student would choose between a Black doll and a White one when asked a series of questions, like “Which doll is the good doll?” or “which doll is the pretty doll?” Most Black children chose White dolls, and to the dismay of the Clarks, some students were upset and felt devastated after having to identify with the doll they had previously labeled as bad or ugly.
I SEE U host Eddie Robinson candidly chats with acclaimed author, Tim Spofford, about his latest book, What the Children Told Us: The Untold Story of the Famous “Doll Test” and the Black Psychologists Who Changed the World. Spofford, who grew up in an all-white mill town in upstate New York, shares his thoughts on why he felt the need to tell the full story of this pioneering couple – whose research, scholarship and activism played a critical role in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which declared the infamous “separate but equal” doctrine unconstitutional. He also offers up insight on how today’s generation of children would perform if given the same doll tests from back in the day.
Racism is deeply complex and multifaceted, especially when a historically marginalized group can experience discrimination while simultaneously be discriminatory. Take for instance, the gunman who committed the 2023 mass shooting at an outlet mall some 25 miles north of Dallas; the arsonist who set fire to a mosque in Victoria, Texas; or the former national chairman of the right-wing extremist group, known as the Proud Boys, and his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The perpetrators who carried out these tragic events were all Latino. What do U think would draw Latinos to harbor white supremacist views and why do U think extremist groups are, in turn, embracing them? Join us as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson sits down with acclaimed author, Tanya Katerí Hernández, for a provocative conversation that examines racial beliefs in the Latino community. Her latest book, Racial Innocence: Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality, explores the challenges and complexities associated with race, skin color, stereotypes and cultural symbols that inform the interactions and prejudices of Latinos in the United States. The Fordham University Professor of Law unpacks a misconception that Latinos could be exempt from experiencing racism or discrimination because of their background or ethnicity. Plus, she shares her vulnerabilities in how colorism plays out in her own family. As a Latino, and a Black woman with a leadership role in academia, Hernández also touches on the recent controversies at major universities, where Black women accused of being ‘diversity hires’ with radical race agendas are being pushed out of the workforce. Does she fear for her own job given her focus on race and the law?
When a defiant opponent of the apartheid government was assassinated during the Easter weekend in 1993, South Africans were certain that all hell would break loose. The country was slowly moving towards the dismantling of the apartheid system and transition to a true democracy. But the murder of Chris Hani, carried out by a white supremacist in broad daylight, threatened to provoke a civil war and rollback the peace process. Were there other extremists, potentially even members of the government, involved in this plot to rid the nation of Chris Hani, a popular heir apparent to anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela? Rookie journalist Justice Malala was one of the first reporters at the crime scene over three decades ago. His latest book, The Plot to Save South Africa, takes readers on a riveting, nine-day account of what transpired and how a country on the brink survived falling into a civil war. Join us as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with renown political commentator and best-selling author, Justice Malala. The award-winning storyteller will dive deep into how Mandela’s leadership style and his ability to reach out to adversaries ultimately set the stage for a new South Africa. As we continue to highlight untold cultural histories throughout February, Malala will also take a provocative look at how a system that Hani so relentlessly fought for until his death, ironically helped save the life of the assassin who sought to eradicate his life’s work.
His father, born into slavery, had become one of the first African American millionaires in the United States. His mother, though devoted to Black civil rights, was a renowned actress and had kept her racial background a secret. And in 1897, Alonzo and Adrienne Herndon had a son – their only child – named Norris Herndon, who would become the second President, inherited by his father, of the historic, Black-owned Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Behind the scenes, Norris was a major financier of the Civil Rights Movement and often gave large sums of money to several organizations, community groups and universities. He also lived a very private life and learned to hide his attraction for men. Could his homosexuality be a reason why his story remains unknown to so many people? Join host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U takes an in-depth look at the life of Norris Herndon with insight and perspective from writer/columnist, Ryan Lee and history scholar, Pamela Flores – both based in Atlanta.
Community organizer Daniel Banks describes the aura of a former Ku Klux Klan auditorium in Fort Worth, Texas as having “blood in the bricks.” Banks is involved with a project designed to confront the painful histories of this nation by stimulating dialogue and promoting human rights for all. Built in 1924, the intimidating 22,000-foot, imposing red-brick building once served as headquarters, both for the local chapter of the KKK, and for the entire state of Texas, where they staged marching practices, hosted minstrel shows and gathered frequently to strategize their agenda. Over 100 years later, an alliance of eight organizations will transform this structure into a cultural center and “safe space” for the very communities once terrorized by the KKK. Join us for a provocative conversation with I SEE U host Eddie Robinson as he speaks candidly with Daniel Banks. He’s a founding board member of Transform 1012 N. Main Street, a Texas-based coalition of local arts, grassroots and service organizations that seeks to convert the space into a beacon of truth-telling, healing and liberation. Banks sheds light on how such a monument of hate has remained within blocks to Fort Worth's City Hall until now.
As we honor and pay tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on this national holiday weekend, many Black American parents are taking this opportunity to educate their children—and have THE TALK, an unguarded conversation about racism, discrimination and the richness of Black culture.
Those sometimes difficult conversations served as inspiration for children’s book author, Tami Charles – who wrote and used her own New York Times best-selling picture book, “All Because You Matter,” as a springboard to navigate through the intense dialogues she’s had with her son.
Join Host Eddie Robinson as he chats candidly with acclaimed writer, Tami Charles. The former New Jersey schoolteacher sheds light on the obstacles she’s experienced as a woman of color who found it even more of a challenge to maneuver through the children’s book industry.
Her latest book, “We Are Here,” celebrates the extraordinary history of trailblazers, including Dr. King, who sacrificed their lives in hopes of building a better future for all people.
Whether U are a Republican, a Democrat, or neither, why do U think there still exists such deep divides in this country? Why do we have a never-ending fight for a democracy, that is for everybody? In 1960 at an elementary school in New Orleans, why was there so much hate from outraged protesters, white parents, who were yelling and shouting at a Black six-year-old girl who simply wanted a better future? And just three years ago in Washington, D.C. on the steps of the Capitol, what prompted thousands of angry rioters to call for the Vice President of the United States to be hanged? Join us, as host Eddie Robinson tackles these questions and more with the award-winning historian and author of Civil War by Other Means: America’s Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy, Jeremi Suri. The University of Texas at Austin history professor stops by our I SEE U studios in Houston to explore how decisions made in the wake of the Civil War have culminated into a civil breakdown in equality that continues to unravel the nation’s political infrastructure. He argues that what should have been a moment of national renewal and rehabilitation of freedom for everyone after the Civil War, ultimately fell apart with competing visions of democracy that still linger today. In this Season 5 opener, Suri reveals portions of a remarkable history left untold, biases he’s grappling with personally as well as any possible solutions that can be examined for a country striving to rebuild its own future.
Four of the largest cities in the United States are currently run by African Americans. What do U think this says about our nation when four prominent, elected officials of color have been chosen and trusted to lead four of the biggest metropolitan regions of the country? And out of each of these four mayors: Eric Adams of New York City; Karen Bass of Los Angeles; Brandon Johnson of Chicago; Sylvester Turner is the only top city administrator who still resides in the same community where he grew up—Acres Homes, a sprawling working-class neighborhood in northwest Houston that's predominantly Black. What do U think this says about him and his character? Join us as I SEE U travels to City Hall where host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with the chief executive officer of the city of Houston – Mayor Sylvester Turner. As the former lawyer wraps up his two-term tenure in office, Turner reflects on his life, his career in politics and how his upbringing prepared him to take on persistent issues and majors challenges of a Democratic blue city that's deeply rooted inside a Republican red state. He also candidly reveals the complexities of his relationship with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and why he hasn't directly communicated with him for over two years.
Clean energy researcher Roishetta Ozane is a single mother of six children and lives in a Louisiana town that scientists have called, "the heart of America's climate crisis." With her Lake Charles-area home surrounded by refineries, natural gas facilities and petrochemical plants, her family has been inundated with ‘shelter-in-place' alerts and storm-related emergency alarms throughout their lives. Witnessing so much systemic hardship, Ozane created a mutual aid organization to help communities of color and low-income residents navigate government agencies to obtain relief after disasters strike. And she uses her platform to speak out publicly as an advocate for environmental justice at local forums, municipal hearings and regional climate conferences. But are state juries, industry leaders and agency officials willing to listen and take action? Stay tuned as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with the founder of The Vessel Project of Louisiana, Roishetta Ozane. She speaks unguarded about her passion to build solidarity around an effort to combat climate change. A survivor of a 17-year abusive relationship, Ozane reminds us that while the industry sector continues to expand, worsening storms and violent hurricanes will repeatedly use this vulnerable Gulf Coast region as target practice.
Six-time Grammy winner and electronic DJ, Sonny Moore, aka Skrillex, recently released a trove of new music after a nearly decade-long hiatus of full-length solo material. Through a mutual friend, the visionary producer was introduced to a Palestinian vocalist by the name of Nai Barghouti – an acclaimed composer and flute player who's notably famous for creating her own signature fusion of jazz and Middle Eastern soundscapes. But what happens when you blend her angelic, and often times, enchanting voice with a pulsating techno beat and rhythmic, percussive claps? Stay tuned as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with renowned singer-songwriter, Nai Barghouti. We explore the meaning behind their collaborative track called, "XENA," including a deep dive into Palestinian folklore and the song's cultural message of empowerment. The instrumentalist also describes her unique vocal style and how she's used one of the most traumatic experiences of her childhood, while living in Jerusalem under military occupation, as inspiration for her remarkable musical career.
Acclaimed lyricist, Fat Tony, has played a significant role in shaping Houston's rap scene with his unique style of music. Raised in the city's historic Third Ward, he has family roots in Nigeria – a part of the world where emerging singers and songwriters from the region are finding success on American music charts. Consequently, mainstream pop acts have been taking notice and are quickly jumping on their cultured bandwagon with featured collaborations. Join I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson for a very candid conversation with master storyteller, Fat Tony, about his music career, the future of hip-hop and how Prince inspires his creativity. The rapper also explains why so many fans of different races and ethnicities gravitate to his music—a notion that tends to ring true for other renown Houston artists and performers.
Nearly 80 years ago, a group of Yale scholars decided amongst themselves to add the word, "homosexual," in the Bible after mistranslating Greek text. Researchers have said this mistake changed the course of modern history as we know it. The misinterpretation also caused a lesbian Christian to explore this incident and earn the trust of those same researchers by capturing their discovery on film. Join us as host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with Sharon "Rocky" Roggio, the director behind the controversial film, "1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture." Roggio provides I SEE U with an in-depth look at how this misinterpretation came about and what the evidence from the translation committee revealed. We'll also learn more about how she navigated through her own religious environment as well as her desire to change a narrative that speaks to all LGBTQ individuals being acknowledged as equals – and not be seen as "others," or "less than." Despite the documentary receiving backlash from religious writers who, according to the director, haven't seen the film, "1946" has already picked up praise and several prestigious awards during its festival circuit quest.
Legendary actor Glynn Turman remembers a time when hardly any Black men or women were prominently featured in television. Over six decades later, he's played hundreds of characters in film, TV and on-stage, including work as an acclaimed writer, producer and director – both in theater and television. Notable roles include the 2020 Netflix film, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom; the FX drama series, FARGO; more recently, the Paramount sports comedy, 80 for Brady, and an upcoming biographical film, Rustin, produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground. His acting career started as a 12-year-old, when friend of the family—esteemed playwright, Lorraine Hansberry—asked permission from his mother to star alongside Sydney Poitier, Louis Gosset Jr. and Ruby Dee in the original Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun. But it was his movie role in 1975's Cooley High, that he admits to I SEE U of his defining moment as an actor. Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with celebrated actor, Glynn Turman. The Emmy Award winner will share riveting stories and narratives of how he's managed longevity in the industry. Turman will also offer up a preview of his new documentary, his love and passion for horses as well as his fondest memory of being married to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
Four of the largest cities in the United States are currently run by African Americans. What do you think this says about our nation when four prominent, elected officials of color have been chosen and trusted to lead four of the biggest metropolitan regions of the country? And out of each of these four mayors: Eric Adams of New York City; Karen Bass of Los Angeles; Brandon Johnson of Chicago; Sylvester Turner is the only top city administrator who still resides in the same community where he grew up—Acres Homes, a sprawling working-class neighborhood in northwest Houston that’s predominantly Black. What do you think this says about him and his character? Join us as I SEE U travels to City Hall where host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with the chief executive officer of the city of Houston – Mayor Sylvester Turner. As the former lawyer wraps up his two-term tenure in office, Turner reflects on his life, his career in politics and how his upbringing prepared him to take on persistent issues and majors challenges of a Democratic blue city that’s deeply rooted inside a Republican red state. He also candidly reveals the complexities of his relationship with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and why he hasn’t directly communicated with him for over two years.
In January of 2017, a mosque in Victoria, Texas was set on fire just hours after then-President Donald Trump signed a controversial executive order restricting migration from Muslim-majority countries. Victoria law enforcement officials and conservative town administrators were quick to praise local Muslim leadership for not jumping to conclusions that this fire was intentional. How can this “praise” be interpreted? Some might argue and see it as community leaders being passive or docile to avoid fueling a political firestorm. But after six years of reflection and the release of a documentary that explores the burning of the Victoria Islamic Center, the arsonist and the aftermath from the incident—what will it take for a quiet religious community to survive a hate crime? Join us as host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with award-winning filmmaker, Li Lu—director of the PBS docu-series, A Town Called Victoria. In this 100th I SEE U episode recorded live in front of a sold-out studio audience at the historic DeLUXE Theater in Houston’s 5th Ward, Eddie leads a provocative panel conversation with Lu, along with Muslim American community members of Victoria and Houston as they reveal unguarded perspectives about their experiences in the years after the blaze. Can collective healing and restorative justice ever exist in this divisive town? I SEE U panelists include producer/director, Li Lu; Victoria Islamic Center members: Abe and Heidi Ajrami, Dr. Shahid Hashmi, Omar and Lanell Rachid; along with Houston-area filmmaker, Fatima Hye.
During the Civil Rights Movement, not only did African-Americans fight for equal protection under the law, but White Americans were also risking their lives in the name of social justice. Some were even murdered for participating in marches and protests aimed at ending segregation and racial discrimination. But in today's political climate and divisiveness, how come more White Americans prefer to remain silent on measures that support systemic change to end racism? Host Eddie Robinson returns from paternity leave and chats candidly with Joan Mulholland, the first White member of the historically Black organization, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Her son, Loki Mulholland, who's an acclaimed film director and human rights activist, Mac Hulslander—the father of I SEE U's Technical Director, Todd Hulslander—offer up their own perspectives in this very provocative episode.
Betty Ann Kilby and her family were terrorized when they defied their local school board and the governor of Virginia to desegregate the only high school in their county in 1959. And yet, nearly 50 years later, in 2007, she was willing to talk to a descendant of a family who had once enslaved her ancestors. It was a defining move reminiscent of a well-known quote in Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's ‘I Have a Dream' speech of 1963. The passage read in part: "I have a dream that one day... the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood." Join us as two courageous women take a seat at the I SEE U table of sisterhood and chat unguarded with Host Eddie Robinson about the power of forgiveness, acceptance and reconciliation. "Wit, Wills and Walls" author, Dr. Betty Kilby Fisher Baldwin, reveals to I SEE U surprising details never-before-told of her personal life; and Phoebe Kilby, co-author of the book, "Cousins," candidly shares her own insight into attitudes toward reparations and how White Americans whose families owned slaves grapple with stories and narratives of descendants who are now starting to trace their hidden histories linked to some form of enslavement.
Zee Clarke received her Harvard MBA and spent over two decades leading teams at FORTUNE 500 companies and tech startups. But after instances of being racially-profiled, experiencing microaggressions at work and even being harassed by police, she realized how breathing exercises were so critical to her mental health – not only to survive, but to also thrive in a world that felt slow to change. Through her holistic training in India, Clarke felt a passionate desire to share these practices with others, particularly Blacks – since researchers have linked systemic racism with ailments related to high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety and depression among communities of color. Join us as I SEE U's Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with Zee Clarke, author of the book, "Black People Breathe." The acclaimed writer shares breathing techniques and tips as well as illustrates some exercises for the host to try out. She also describes how to identity notions of family-inherited trauma and what tools could be useful to help end the cycle of suffering.
As a group of white women sit at a fancy dining room table, sip wine and pass the breadbasket ready to eat, another woman—the only Black woman at the table—asks a stunning question to the guests: “How many of you would trade places with a Black person in this society?” The silence that instantly hovers over the dinner crowd was not only deafening but also revealing. Entrepreneurs Saira Rao and Regina Jackson have designed a program that radically educates a specific group of individuals who they say are directly responsible for the racism and discrimination happening in this country. Their unique tactic is to facilitate honest conversations and sometimes uncomfortable dialogue over an illustrious dinner. These powerful dinner experiences offer up an opportunity for white women to acknowledge their own racism and how they benefit from white privilege—regardless of a political party affiliation. Join us as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with New York Times best-selling authors, Saira Rao and Regina Jackson, for a provocative discussion about their no-holds-barred campaign. We’ll learn more about their Race2Dinner movement, as well as take a deep dive into their latest book, “White Women: Everything You Already Know about Your Own Racism and How to Do Better,”—which serves as a call to action to those who are looking to take the next steps in dismantling white supremacy. Both Rao and Jackson have also released a documentary available on Apple TV and Prime Video entitled, Deconstructing Karen, where viewers become a “fly on the wall” during one of these eye-opening dinners.
Renowned composer and drummer Kendrick Scott is putting anecdotes of his learnings from mentor and distinguished trumpeter, Terence Blanchard, into action by leveraging his musical gifts into a visceral artform of healing and redemption. Through original music mixed with poetry and striking visuals, the multimedia event entitled, “UNEARTHED,” featured Scott collaborating with former Houston poet laureate, Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, the acclaimed Harlem String Quartet along with a trio of talented jazz musicians. Hosted by the arts organization, DACAMERA, the production served as a tribute to the tragic history behind “Sugar Land 95,” the collective name given to the 94 Black men and one woman who were part of a state-run convict leasing program of the late 1800s following the abolition of slavery. Their bodies, buried in unmarked graves, were discovered five years ago during an excavation project in the now trendy suburb of Sugar Land, Texas.I SEE U ventured offsite to tour an exhibit of the Sugar Land 95 Memorial Project in Episode #46. Efforts to expand the memorial are currently underway with the construction of an outdoor learning area and a revitalized cemetery slated to be completed by 2025. In this week’s episode, host Eddie Robinson chats in-studio with Houston-native, Kendrick Scott about his decision to shed light on an untold, dark history. We’ll hear exclusive audio excerpts from the one-night-only event which premiered in May at Houston’s Wortham Theater. Scott also shares inspiration behind the creation of his band, Oracle and reveals how the pandemic, the quarantining, as well as the isolation all played a significant role in the recording of his latest Blue Note release, Corridors.Check out our companion Spotify playlist that celebrates acclaimed composer, drummer and Houston-native, Kendrick Scott. This playlist includes Scott's many inspirations, current collaborators and heroes.
Kathleen McElroy was tapped to lead a new journalism program at her alma mater—Texas A&M, a university that boasts the largest student body in the entire country. Her experience included decades at the New York Times and a reputation for promoting diversity in the workplace. With fanfare usually reserved for college coaches and athletes, McElroy’s signing ceremony took place in the center of the campus not too far from a prominent former Confederate general’s statue—Lawrence Sullivan Ross. But the university buckled under backlash. A watered down job offer fell apart and was ultimately rejected after powerful individuals close to A&M expressed opposition over her previous work in diversity. Consequently, a forthcoming state law banning diversity measures at public colleges has only added more political fuel to a controversial fire. So did it take a million dollar settlement for regents to get the result they eventually wanted all along? Join us as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson talks candidly with UT-Austin’s Journalism Professor, Dr. Kathleen McElroy. She opens up about her quest for encouraging young students to pursue journalism in helping them find their own unique voice in becoming accurate, unbiased storytellers. McElroy also explores how growing up in Third Ward, Houston provided a sense of empowerment that would essentially shape her into the celebrated woman she is today.
The Renaissance World Tour is an energetic, visual, two-and-a-half-hour musical journey, showcasing the latest album of award-winning singer-songwriter, Beyoncé. The event has broken ticket sales records worldwide with each performance stimulating regional economies along the way. Running almost parallel with Beyoncé’s tour is pop singer Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which pays homage to her own musical career and has also garnered unprecedented success in ticket sales and global economic impact. But with the Renaissance tour, Bey’s performances speak more to notions of identity and race, where past and present traumas of being Black, being gay and being unnoticed are transformed into a cultural vibe that embodies inspiration, freedom of expression, purpose and personal empowerment. Join us as host Eddie Robinson pays tribute to the Houston native and chats candidly with New York Times business reporter, Jordyn Holman, along with Harrison Guy, founder of Urban Souls Dance Company. Holman shares her insight into why there’s an interest in comparing these two female trailblazers in pop culture. Guy, who’s also an acclaimed choreographer, offers up perspective into the person who inspired the energy behind the Renaissance album—Uncle Johnny, a gay man who helped raise Beyoncé and her sister Solange as young girls but died from complications related to HIV. Legendary Houston DJ Tony Powell also makes an I SEE U appearance to share historical color and context to a vibrant, liberating vintage Bayou City that existed within the Black queer community.
Houston is home to the most successful musical talent in the world. But decades ago, the city was once the epicenter for the blues genre. Why has the city’s blues history been neglected for so long? Stay tuned as host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with acclaimed filmmaker, Drew Barnett-Hamilton. Her new documentary, When Houston Had The Blues, is currently touring the festival circuit with an astonishing goal of putting the city of Houston on the map as a major music city. The film explores the blues scene and culture from back in the day – from Texas bluesman and guitarist Sam “Lightnin’” Hopkins; superstar singer Bobby “Blue” Bland; to renowned blues saxophonist Grady Gaines and influential songstress ‘Big Mama’ Thornton – even rock pioneer Little Richard signed a recording contract with a label based out of Houston. Barnett-Hamilton takes I SEE U on a vintage musical journey that showcases the artists, the performance venues, and the Bayou City’s unique role in defining this remarkable genre.
For decades, barbershops have served as special places for people of color. The barber plays a major role in not only providing hair care services, but for many Black men, in particular, this person is responsible for how their customers are viewed and seen by society. Notions of identity, appearance and character are often assessed, evaluated, measured—even stereotyped by the way a Black man's hair is styled or fashioned. But what happens when haircutting suites and brick-and-mortar barbershops become safe havens? These establishments bring a unique sense of energy and refuge where Black men turn to for comfort, networking, career insight, health advice and gossip – a destination where they can discuss anything, from sports to politics—and not have to worry about being discriminated against or humiliated. Join us as Host Eddie Robinson takes I SEE U away from the broadcast studio and into Ken's Kutting Shoppe – a Black-owned barbershop and hair salon located near NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The owner, Ken Hicks, as well as one of his employees, Derrick Williams, share their stories of overcoming obstacles and a deadly pandemic all while transforming the lives of Black men (and their hair) for nearly 30 years.
Former NFL player, Ryan Russell, tells I SEE U that he feels there is an imbalance in male athletics where society does not encourage, support or sustain LGTBQ+ youth in sports, much less create safe space environments early in their development. His latest memoir, “The Yards Between Us,” has allowed him to reminisce on narratives of his own past—of growing up in conservative Dallas; shy, loving the game but struggling with expectations of being Black in the South; and learning to hide things about himself while playing as a defensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills. Stay tuned as host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with author and social justice advocate, R.K. Russell, who made history by becoming the first out active athlete in the NFL to identify as bisexual. He explores the notion of why players are, at times, showered with support from the league and teammates after coming out but then later find themselves unemployed. Russell, whose boyfriend is a professional dancer, also shares personal insight on interracial relationships and whether the stigma around couples of different races and ethnicities remains.
With a successful career in entertainment alongside his business partner, EGOT-winning musician John Legend, renowned producer Mike Jackson tells I SEE U he has a responsibility to bring multicultural content to global audiences. The Philly-native has produced countless projects with major networks, including ABC, NBC, FOX, HBO, Showtime, Netflix and FX. But what obstacles can exist in film, TV and theater pitch sessions when more diverse projects are shunned or snubbed by studio, production agents and network executives? Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with Emmy® and Tony® Award-winning producer, co-founder and managing partner of Get Lifted Film Co., Mike Jackson. He shares insight on how he’s been able to navigate through instances of prejudice and exclusionism as he continues his work of elevating Black artists and Black voices through different forms of media and digital platforms. Jackson, who now calls Austin his home, reveals his key ingredient to telling a remarkable story and provides details on a discussion series that he leads for people of color and underrepresented communities in media hosted at the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas called, Why Not Me? Our unguarded conversation also explores the intentions and motives behind Jackson’s ambitions and whether he’s leveraged the star-power of established entertainer, John Legend, to achieve his own personal success as an award-winning producer.
Reginald DesRoches, the eighth president of one of the most prestigious universities in the country, recently completed the first year of his historical post. The Haitian-native is the first Black president, the first immigrant and the first engineer to ever lead Rice since the founding of the university in 1921. But the history of Rice is a bit complicated and very controversial. Join I SEE U as host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with the Chief Executive Officer of Rice, Dr. Reginald DesRoches. A university that once banned Black undergraduates from attending, DesRoches shares his feelings about leading an institution whose founder, William Marsh Rice, profited from the slave trade. With DesRoches establishing the first Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Rice, a private institution, he offers up his perspective as to why state lawmakers are looking to dismantle those same offices at public universities across Texas. Plus, we learn more about his mentor—the former president of Prairie View A&M University, Dr. Ruth Simmons—and the role she’s played in his career since his arrival at Rice in 2017. A pioneer in higher education herself, Simmons now serves as the President’s Distinguished Fellow and Advisor at Rice.
Renowned actress Grace Byers embraced her leading role in the hit summer comedy horror, The Blackening. “Allison” – an outspoken, no-nonsense character from the film – was very proud of her Black heritage; that role has served as a replicate of who she’s become as a proud Black woman of empowerment. Her children’s books, “I Am Enough,” and “I Believe I Can,” remained on the New York Times best-sellers list for months. But for a long time, Byers, who was raised in a multicultural household, struggled with her own sense of identity and the pressures of society trying to define her. Stay tuned as host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with acclaimed actress and celebrated author, Grace Byers. The new mom shares with I SEE U the challenges of navigating through her journey of being both Black and white; being Caymanian and American; and being of the deaf and hearing cultures. Byers also offers up an intriguing look at how her recent birth has admittedly overwhelmed her mentally and physically – providing moments of candid reflection as she comes to grips with her health all while showing a vulnerable ‘grace’ under pressure.
Award-winning film director, Steven Caple Jr., is fresh off his summer box office success with Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Interestingly enough, he doesn’t have a massive portfolio of blockbuster films under his belt. But with this accomplishment for a major Transformers franchise comes a tremendous responsibility for an incredibly gifted, Black filmmaker in the competitive world of cinema. Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with acclaimed film and television director, producer and screenwriter, Steven Caple, Jr. The Cleveland, Ohio-native calls his unguarded chat with I SEE U: “therapy—but in a good way.” He dives deep into his own journey of what led him to pursue filmmaking as a career. The first generation college graduate also shares insight into his own unique style of visual storytelling and what he believes to be actual road blocks within the industry for directors of color.
Whether he’s acting in a film, on-stage or involved in a television series, Russell Hornsby ends up delivering a powerful performance full of emotion with a genuine passion for the craft. In a career spanning over two decades, his extensive portfolio includes the infamous boxing promoter, Don King, in Hulu’s “Mike,” the Oscar-nominated Paramount film, FENCES, opposite Denzel Washington and Viola Davis; the Netflix drama series, “Seven Seconds,” with Regina King; and the devoted patriarch in the mega-hit STARZ series, “BMF (Black Mafia Family).” But in many of his roles, he plays the ‘angry Black father’ – a moniker he says is “misplaced.” Join us as host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with award-winning actor, Russell Hornsby, in one of I SEE U’s most provocative episodes ever produced. The NAACP Image Award nominee offers up fresh insight into how he’s managed to channel certain energies within himself to bring such an astounding presence and strength to his style of acting. Hornsby candidly admits that it’s these portrayals of fatherhood that speak to a larger sense of dignity, cultural worth and personal responsibility, especially in fatherless homes of today. Plus, the star describes what he believes to be the real reason behind the success of shows like BMF and the popular POWER franchise.
Civil rights attorney, Jeffery Robinson, released a film in 2021 entitled, "WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA." In the documentary, Robinson addresses an audience onstage as if he's inside a courtroom, arguing a case on how grappling with racism is "our shared history." He challenges them to question why so many aspects of American history related to slavery, state-sanctioned violence and discrimination against Blacks had been forgotten or even hidden. Since the film's release, what inroads to racial progress have happened in the United States? Join us as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with the founder and executive director of ‘The Who We Are Project,' an organization that tackles this country's history of anti-Black racism and white supremacy, Jeffery Robinson. A former ACLU Deputy Legal Director offers up a compelling look at the importance of reframing today's discussions around race and the implications of understanding what could happen if these hidden histories are suddenly revealed and circulated throughout communities across the nation.
The very complicated legacy of entertainer Little Richard is thoroughly examined in a new documentary by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, Lisa Cortés. The film showcases a bold, audacious man who's trying to navigate his life through sex, drugs, rock and roll, and the Lord – with the help of archival footage mixed with deep, social context from family, friends, scholars, ethnomusicologists, and on-screen fact-checkers. Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with celebrated director, Lisa Cortés, about her critically-acclaimed documentary, "Little Richard: I Am Everything." Cortés shares insight into how the film was conceived and why it was important for her to reveal the struggles of Richard Wayne Penniman – a musical icon who was coming to terms with being a man of faith as well as being a man who was queer. I SEE U will also dive into her own personal life story, as the former Def Jam record label executive offers up her thoughts on today's LGBTQ+ artists and performers maneuvering through the music industry in their quest to make a name for themselves.
Based on his own real-life experiences, Elegance Bratton's THE INSPECTION, tells the story of a young Black man who was kicked out of the house by his Christian mother for being gay. After spending years at a homeless shelter and on the streets of New York City, he decides to enlist in the U.S. military to become a Marine. Ironically, this autobiographical film takes place during the era of ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' – a controversial policy that shunned openly gay people from entering the armed services. Join us as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with acclaimed filmmaker, Elegance Bratton, about his feature debut and future projects on the horizon. Bratton will share intimate details of how he came to grips with the ultimate dilemma of whether he'd stay out on the streets and die young to become a mere statistic or join the military and die young to become a war hero. The New Yorker will even offer up words of encouragement for parents, when visions and dreams they had for their own children don't quite pan out the way they expected them to.
10-year-old Graceyn Hollingsworth has become an internet viral sensation. Her popular YouTube children's channel, "Gracie's Corner," features Black and brown animated characters reciting remixed nursery rhymes, soulful vintage poems and original songs in video form. Her father, Javoris Hollingsworth, came up with the idea during the pandemic and noticed the lack of diversity, especially in educational tools for kids. But with so much uncertainty around social media and digital entrepreneurship, are the financial sacrifices worth the risk? And what do you say to parents who support programs like this, but they are still concerned about the amount of screen time that children of a certain age are spending on the internet or watching television? Join us as host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with members of the Hollingsworth family – the content creators behind "Gracie's Corner." Javoris, along with his wife, Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth and Gracie herself stop by our I SEE U studios for a candid conversation about the triumphs and challenges of developing such an inclusive brand of this nature. The Houston-based educators will also share insight on new, upcoming features and details on a live tour in the works.
United States Press Secretary and presidential advisor, Karine Jean-Pierre has held her current post at the White House for over a year. Despite the highs and lows of being at the press podium, the official spokesperson for the leader of our country has remained focused in her role – a role where she’s become a pioneering voice in American politics. The daughter of Haitian parents, Jean-Pierre is the first Black woman, the first gay woman and the first immigrant woman to hold the position of White House Press Secretary. How has she been able to navigate through the pressures of her tasks, while maintaining a sense of confidence and inner peace as the Agency’s primary messaging strategist and mother of a 9-year-old? Join I SEE U as host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with one of President Joe Biden’s top senior advisors, Karine Jean-Pierre. In honor of Pride month, Jean-Pierre offers up her candid remarks about the source of her resiliency and why she’s been determined to control her own narrative in living her life openly as a queer woman of color. She sits down exclusively with Eddie just moments before her commencement speech to Rice University graduates in Houston.
A fresh documentary has been released on PBS that explores a rich, but complicated history of the Buffalo Soldiers. Film director Dru Holley says these 19th century troops fought military conflicts abroad all while being confronted with civil rights struggles at home. Join us for a special edition of I SEE U that honors the national holiday, JUNETEENTH. Host Eddie Robinson chats with documentarian Dru Holley, as he shares his inspiration behind the film, Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts. Plus, I SEE U travels to the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston to learn more about the many troops, who had been former slaves in the South, that were now suddenly wearing a uniform of the United States Army. The museum’s exhibitions director and historian, Cale Carter II, provides insight into the challenges researchers are facing today as it relates to bias at certain phases of study and data collection. We find out how this dynamic could impact the next generation of learning and knowledge of Black military history.
Award-winning singer-songwriter Ruthie Foster has a voice unlike any other. Her unique style of blending blues, gospel, soul and American roots has inspired many music lovers across the globe. A native of Central Texas, Foster grew up around gospel singers and knew instantly of her passion for music – from singing in rural Texas churches to performing in the military with the Navy Band. But she was also aware of her surroundings, as she navigated around a discriminatory Deep South. Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with Texas Music Hall of Famer, Ruthie Foster. She shares intimate stories about her devotion to family and how the coronavirus pandemic almost pushed her away from recording music permanently. Plus, the multiple Grammy-nominated artist reveals a very traumatic incident that happened to her as a child on her way to take piano lessons – a moment that would change her life forever.
Grammy-award winning mega-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis admit to I SEE U that they have nothing to prove and yet, so much to say. Although the duo had been working together for over 35 years — writing and producing hits for other artists, they’ve finally released a studio album with their own marquee. ‘Jam and Lewis: Vol 1,’ showcases top-charting vocalists like Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Boyz II Men and The Sounds of Blackness. The iconic producers reveal to host Eddie Robinson how White club owners in the ’70s shunned them from performing at venues in Minneapolis; how cultures clashed during recording sessions with English synth-pop group, The Human League; why a Janet Jackson reunion will be delayed; and what happened that made Terry Lewis almost walk away from the music industry entirely.
With the anniversary of George Floyd’s death, two preachers — one Black, one White — both of large congregations in Houston, share unguarded perspectives on why some evangelical Christians have largely remained silent on race-related issues in America where social justice concerns are taking center stage. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, Senior Pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist and Dr. Steve Wells, Senior Pastor of South Main Baptist join ‘I SEE U’ Host Eddie Robinson in a surprising conversation where all participants reveal a sense of openness, vulnerability and authenticity.
Whether he’s acting in a film, on-stage or involved in a television series, Russell Hornsby ends up delivering a powerful performance full of emotion with a genuine passion for the craft. In a career spanning over two decades, his extensive portfolio includes the infamous boxing promoter, Don King, in Hulu’s “Mike,” the Oscar-nominated Paramount film, FENCES, opposite Denzel Washington and Viola Davis; the Netflix drama series, “Seven Seconds,” with Regina King; and the devoted patriarch in the mega-hit STARZ series, “BMF (Black Mafia Family).” But in many of his roles, he plays the ‘angry Black father’ – a moniker he says is “misplaced.” Join us as host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with award-winning actor, Russell Hornsby, in one of I SEE U’s most provocative episodes ever produced. The NAACP Image Award nominee offers up fresh insight into how he’s managed to channel certain energies within himself to bring such an astounding presence and strength to his style of acting. Hornsby candidly admits that it’s these portrayals of fatherhood that speak to a larger sense of dignity, cultural worth and personal responsibility, especially in fatherless homes of today. Plus, the star describes what he believes to be the real reason behind the success of shows like BMF and the popular POWER franchise.
Legendary actor Glynn Turman remembers a time when hardly any Black men or women were prominently featured in television. Over six decades later, he’s played hundreds of characters in film, TV and on-stage, including work as an acclaimed writer, producer and director – both in theater and television. Notable roles include the 2020 Netflix film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; the FX drama series, FARGO; more recently, the Paramount sports comedy, 80 for Brady, and an upcoming biographical film, Rustin, produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground. His acting career started as a 12-year-old, when friend of the family—esteemed playwright, Lorraine Hansberry—asked permission from his mother to star alongside Sydney Poitier, Louis Gosset Jr. and Ruby Dee in the original Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun. But it was his movie role in 1975’s Cooley High, that he admits to I SEE U of his defining moment as an actor. Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with celebrated actor, Glynn Turman. The Emmy Award winner will share riveting stories and narratives of how he’s managed longevity in the industry. Turman will also offer up a preview of his new documentary, his love and passion for horses as well as his fondest memory of being married to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
In the Peacock documentary, Handle With Care, British actor Jimmy Akingbola shares his personal experience of growing up in London’s foster care system. His father disowned him as a baby. The actor’s mother, who suffered from schizophrenia, abandoned him and left him inside an office building when he was 2 years old. Akingbola then found himself in foster care and was raised by a white family for over a decade; but as a kid, he felt ashamed and embarrassed to be seen with them while in public. Join us as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with acclaimed actor, Jimmy Akingbola. The star of the reimagined, serialized hit drama, BEL-AIR, reminisces about the joys and challenges of growing up with the Crowe family while wondering if the love he possessed for his biological siblings felt mutual. Akingbola also offers up insight into the importance of understanding cultural identity and embracing one’s own unique gifts and talents, as performing runs deep in his family. His older brother, Sola Akingbola, is a percussionist for the Grammy-award winning band, Jamiroquai; and his niece, Fola Evans-Akingbola, is a British actress and model who plays a Secret Service agent in the acclaimed Netflix series, The Night Agent.
Multi-platinum singer-songwriter, Crystal Waters — whose chart-topping ’90s hits include “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)” and “100% Pure Love,” — has been in the industry for over three decades. Music journalists say Waters paved the way for many Black and female artists in dance music at a time when critics quickly shunned the genre as a passing fad. Unfortunately, her new singles fail to get the attention of today’s commercial radio or digital music programmers. The acclaimed singer tells I SEE U that payola still exists and she has to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for her songs to gain airplay and notoriety. Join us as host Eddie Robinson explores the life and career of house music goddess, Crystal Waters. She chats unguarded about surviving a music industry that rewards certain white electronic dance artists but neglects DJ’s and producers of color who represent the genre’s original creators. The Howard University scholar also acknowledges the profound impact of how a Black, cultural phenomenon in American television played a significant role in undermining her pursuit for more stardom.
The biographical film, Chevalier, is based on the life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges – a Black, French composer and violinist of the 1700s. As the movie unfolds, there’s an intriguing line spoken by Chevalier, in which the lead character, played by actor Kelvin Harrison Jr., states, “I realized… the more I excelled, the less I was alone.” With those resounding words, combined with a riveting film score, an interesting takeaway begins to emerge: Excellence is the best deterrent to racism. Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with the film’s composer, Kris Bowers. The Emmy Award-winning musician – whose work includes the score to the Oscar-winning film, Green Book; the biographical sports movie, King Richard; and Netflix hit dramas, When They See Us, and Bridgerton – offers up a candid conversation centered around the reasons why Chevalier and the lives of so many other persons of color, along with their contributions to art and culture, are left out of the larger historical narrative. Bowers also reveals to I SEE U how he felt his career was being ‘categorized’ and limited by the kinds of projects presented to him. An accomplished photographer and filmmaker himself, he also shares deep introspection surrounding his Oscar-nominated short film, A Concerto Is a Conversation, which received critical acclaim for its portrayal of race in America, as the story of the relationship with his grandfather is pieced together through music.
The very complicated legacy of entertainer Little Richard is thoroughly examined in a new documentary by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, Lisa Cortés. The film showcases a bold, audacious man who’s trying to navigate his life through sex, drugs, rock and roll, and the Lord – with the help of archival footage mixed with deep, social context from family, friends, scholars, ethnomusicologists, and on-screen fact-checkers. Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with celebrated director, Lisa Cortés, about her critically-acclaimed documentary, “Little Richard: I Am Everything.” Cortés shares insight into how the film was conceived and why it was important for her to reveal the struggles of Richard Wayne Penniman – a musical icon who was coming to terms with being a man of faith as well as being a man who was queer. I SEE U will also dive into her own personal life story, as the former Def Jam record label executive offers up her thoughts on today’s LGBTQ+ artists and performers maneuvering through the music industry in their quest to make a name for themselves.
Nearly 80 years ago, a group of Yale scholars decided amongst themselves to add the word, “homosexual,” in the Bible after mistranslating Greek text. Researchers have said this mistake changed the course of modern history as we know it. The misinterpretation also caused a lesbian Christian to explore this incident and earn the trust of those same researchers by capturing their discovery on film. Join us as host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with Sharon “Rocky” Roggio, the director behind the controversial film, “1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture.” Roggio provides I SEE U with an in-depth look at how this misinterpretation came about and what the evidence from the translation committee revealed. We’ll also learn more about how she navigated through her own religious environment as well as her desire to change a narrative that speaks to all LGBTQ individuals being acknowledged as equals – and not be seen as “others,” or “less than.” Despite the documentary receiving backlash from religious writers who, according to the director, haven’t seen the film, “1946” has already picked up praise and several prestigious awards during its festival circuit quest.
10-year-old Graceyn Hollingsworth has become an internet viral sensation. Her popular YouTube children’s channel, “Gracie’s Corner,” features Black and brown animated characters reciting remixed nursery rhymes, soulful vintage poems and original songs in video form. Her father, Javoris Hollingsworth, came up with the idea during the pandemic and noticed the lack of diversity, especially in educational tools for kids. But with so much uncertainty around social media and digital entrepreneurship, are the financial sacrifices worth the risk? And what do you say to parents who support programs like this, but they are still concerned about the amount of screen time that children of a certain age are spending on the internet or watching television? Join us as host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with members of the Hollingsworth family – the content creators behind “Gracie’s Corner.” Javoris, along with his wife, Arlene Gordon-Hollingsworth and Gracie herself stop by our I SEE U studios for a candid conversation about the triumphs and challenges of developing such an inclusive brand of this nature. The Houston-based educators will also share insight on new, upcoming features and details on a live tour in the works.
Six-time Grammy winner and electronic DJ, Sonny Moore, aka Skrillex, recently released a trove of new music after a nearly decade-long hiatus of full-length solo material. Through a mutual friend, the visionary producer was introduced to a Palestinian vocalist by the name of Nai Barghouti – an acclaimed composer and flute player who’s notably famous for creating her own signature fusion of jazz and Middle Eastern soundscapes. But what happens when you blend her angelic, and often times, enchanting voice with a pulsating techno beat and rhythmic, percussive claps? Stay tuned as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with renowned singer-songwriter, Nai Barghouti. We explore the meaning behind their collaborative track called, “XENA,” including a deep dive into Palestinian folklore and the song’s cultural message of empowerment. The instrumentalist also describes her unique vocal style and how she’s used one of the most traumatic experiences of her childhood, while living in Jerusalem under military occupation, as inspiration for her remarkable musical career.
Only a few descendants of West African slaves remain on a coastal Georgia portion of land called, Sapelo Island. In the early 1800s, ancestors of the Gullah Geechee community were brought to these barrier islands along the nation's southeast Atlantic coast to work on plantations. These slaves acquired land on the island – but decades later, that ownership is almost diminished. Many of the residents say they've been squeezed out due to deliberate tax hikes and gentrification of the area. Join host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U explores the African cultural heritage of the Gullah Geechee. We'll meet one of the descendants of the enslaved and a resident of Sapelo Island, Reginald Hall. What will it take for his people to hold on to their legacy? Hall tells I SEE U he's willing to die before anyone takes land away from him and his ancestors.
Zee Clarke received her Harvard MBA and spent over two decades leading teams at FORTUNE 500 companies and tech startups. But after instances of being racially-profiled, experiencing microaggressions at work and even being harassed by police, she realized how breathing exercises were so critical to her mental health – not only to survive, but to also thrive in a world that felt slow to change. Through her holistic training in India, Clarke felt a passionate desire to share these practices with others, particularly Blacks – since researchers have linked systemic racism with ailments related to high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety and depression among communities of color. Join us as I SEE U’s Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with Zee Clarke, author of the book, “Black People Breathe.” The acclaimed writer shares breathing techniques and tips as well as illustrates some exercises for the host to try out. She also describes how to identity notions of family-inherited trauma and what tools could be useful to help end the cycle of suffering.
Award-winning singer-songwriter Ruthie Foster has a voice unlike any other. Her unique style of blending blues, gospel, soul and American roots has inspired many music lovers across the globe. A native of Central Texas, Foster grew up around gospel singers and knew instantly of her passion for music – from singing in rural Texas churches to performing in the military with the Navy Band. But she was also aware of her surroundings, as she navigated around a discriminatory Deep South. Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with Texas Music Hall of Famer, Ruthie Foster. She shares intimate stories about her devotion to family and how the coronavirus pandemic almost pushed her away from recording music permanently. Plus, the multiple Grammy-nominated artist reveals a very traumatic incident that happened to her as a child on her way to take piano lessons – a moment that would change her life forever.
When an untold history that impacts your own family is buried so deep, how does one know the real importance or value of that piece of information? A 4th-generation Black entrepreneur, Keewa Nurullah, had asked herself this question throughout her life, until she realized why the truth was hidden in the first place. Her great grandfather owned a tailor shop on “Black Wall Street” just before the bombing of Tulsa’s Greenwood District in 1921. This history was a special part of her family’s history. When Nurullah was a child, not only was it omitted from her school textbooks, but she also grew up thinking what occurred over 100 years ago in Tulsa, Oklahoma wasn’t important at all. Nurullah admits to I SEE U that sometimes she’s felt robbed – adding that she, along with her relatives, were robbed of the privilege of knowing that members of her family were, indeed, a part of something extraordinary. Join us as Host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with Keewa Nurullah, the owner of an award-winning children’s boutique in Chicago called, KIDO. She reveals the inspiration behind the store’s concept and how she proudly displays banned books on shelves inside the boutique. A retired Disney princess, Nurullah also reminisces about her pursuit of a performing arts career that paved the way in shaping her interests on inclusivity and cultural empowerment.
Clean energy researcher Roishetta Ozane is a single mother of six children and lives in a Louisiana town that scientists have called, “the heart of America’s climate crisis.” With her Lake Charles-area home surrounded by refineries, natural gas facilities and petrochemical plants, her family has been inundated with ‘shelter-in-place’ alerts and storm-related emergency alarms throughout their lives. Witnessing so much systemic hardship, Ozane created a mutual aid organization to help communities of color and low-income residents navigate government agencies to obtain relief after disasters strike. And she uses her platform to speak out publicly as an advocate for environmental justice at local forums, municipal hearings and regional climate conferences. But are state juries, industry leaders and agency officials willing to listen and take action? Stay tuned as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with the founder of The Vessel Project of Louisiana, Roishetta Ozane. She speaks unguarded about her passion to build solidarity around an effort to combat climate change. A survivor of a 17-year abusive relationship, Ozane reminds us that while the industry sector continues to expand, worsening storms and violent hurricanes will repeatedly use this vulnerable Gulf Coast region as target practice.
There is a movement happening that consists of Black and Brown entrepreneurs embracing the craft of the winemaking process. But the wine industry, including suppliers and distributors, may not be so open to embracing, much less investing in these businesses—especially with an industry that has curated an image historically of White gatekeepers. Jennifer McDonald, the founder of Wichita’s first Black-owned wine company, admits to I SEE U that wine professionals of color have largely been excluded from access to finance – a major component that impacts business longevity, visibility and continued growth. Join us as Host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with winemaker Jennifer McDonald of Jenny Dawn Cellars, the first urban winery of Wichita, Kansas. A wine connoisseur and educator herself, McDonald shares insight and perspective into what more can be done to support Black wine entrepreneurs when many of them are stereotyped, profiled or even overlooked in this traditionally exclusive industry.
Historian Dr. Lindsay Gary felt a passion to showcase the beauty and richness of multiple spots around Houston that would be historically significant within Black communities of the region. But she quickly realized over the course of her analysis that some of those sites had simply disappeared. In her research, she also discovered a vintage book published in 1915 called, “The Red Book of Houston.” This interesting artifact would depict an older Houston after the Civil War filled with prosperous and successful Blacks during a time of social and political upheaval. So what happened to those areas of African American wealth? Could the threat of Blacks faring better among Whites of southern states pose this much of an impact for these pockets of prosperity to be completely diminished—right here in the Bayou City? Stay tuned as Host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with genealogist and professor-scholar, Dr. Lindsay Gary. The acclaimed writer of “The New Red Book,” takes us on a compelling journey of how she’s paid tribute to the original ‘Red Book’ by shining a spotlight on several little-known entities of Houston’s past as well as a number of pop cultural destinations that celebrate the vibrant spirit and heritage of those Black enterprises that remain strongholds of today and hopefully for more years to come.
Pulitzer-prize winning author, Bill Keller, argues that incarceration here in America is a shameful waste of lives and money. The former New York Times executive editor says prison rehabilitation has been neglected with only a handful of successful reentry programs for inmates. Join us as Host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with the founding editor-in-chief of the Marshall Project, Bill Keller. The acclaimed author of “What’s Prison For?” builds a compelling case that criminal justice reform must take place now and compares American caged prisons to their foreign counterparts, where corrections officers are considered therapists and social workers. Who or what is standing in the way of much-needed reform in this country? And can educational programming and therapeutic interventions really solve the problem?
Author Falisa Ray took notice in her son’s interest and realized early his love for the arts. Instead of pressuring him to pursue law school or the medical field, she was led to embrace his passion and help him navigate through the unpredictable world of the entertainment industry – but not before coming to grips with the rough streets of Chicago’s South Side. Through the course of her own life, Ray—a fashion designer—quickly discovered the importance of how she needed to experience a sense of healing herself, from dealing with sexual assault as a teenager to facing financial hardships and evictions. Her determination and unwavering spirit carved out an inspirational path that resulted in her son earning the acclaimed role of Simba in Disney’s landmark Broadway musical, ‘The Lion King.’ Join us as Host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with the author of the book, “Raising Simba,” Falisa Ray, along with her son, actor Aaron Nelson. Both share their remarkable journey of what it takes to understand the power of faith, the strength to endure and the ability to forgive.
As we honor and pay tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on this national holiday weekend, many Black American parents are taking this opportunity to educate their children—and have THE TALK, an unguarded conversation about racism, discrimination and the richness of Black culture.
Those sometimes difficult conversations served as inspiration for children’s book author, Tami Charles – who wrote and used her own New York Times best-selling picture book, “All Because You Matter,” as a springboard to navigate through the intense dialogues she’s had with her son.
Join Host Eddie Robinson as he chats candidly with acclaimed writer, Tami Charles. The former New Jersey schoolteacher sheds light on the obstacles she’s experienced as a woman of color who found it even more of a challenge to maneuver through the children’s book industry.
Her latest book, “We Are Here,” celebrates the extraordinary history of trailblazers, including Dr. King, who sacrificed their lives in hopes of building a better future for all people.
Charles shares her remarkable journey of why she saw a need to pursue writing full-time, while still helping young Black and brown kids discover their own dreams.
For decades, barbershops have served as special places for African-Americans. The barber plays a major role in not only providing hair care services, but for many Black men, in particular, this person is responsible for how their customers are viewed and seen by society. Notions of identity, appearance and character are often assessed, evaluated, measured—even stereotyped by the way a Black man’s hair is styled or fashioned. But what happens when haircutting suites and brick-and-mortar barbershops become safe havens? These establishments bring a unique sense of energy and refuge where Black men turn to for comfort, networking, career insight, health advice and gossip – a destination where they can discuss anything, from sports to politics—and not have to worry about being discriminated against or humiliated. Join us as Host Eddie Robinson takes I SEE U away from the broadcast studio and into Ken’s Kutting Shoppe – a Black-owned barbershop and hair salon located near NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The owner, Ken Hicks, as well as one of his employees, Derrick Williams, share their stories of overcoming obstacles and a deadly pandemic all while transforming the lives of Black men (and their hair) for nearly 30 years.
For decades, members of the Black community and other communities of color have been excluded from owning media broadcast properties. Recent data released by the Federal Communications Commission shows that women and minorities are underrepresented in license ownership, particularly in FM commercial radio stations. Will the FCC ramp up policies and legislation to effectively promote diversity of media ownership? Check out this powerful episode of I SEE U, as host Eddie Robinson chats with the first and only African-American female to ever own an AM or FM radio station in all of New England – President/CEO and General Manager of Cutting Edge Broadcasting, Carol Moore Cutting. The radio pioneer discusses in unguarded detail how discrimination and racial prejudice continue to run rampant in today's broadcast ownership industry. Veteran radio programmer, Nikki Swarn, also joins the conversation. Swarn is the GM of THE DROP—a new public media, Urban-Alt station with an all-Black staff based in Denver, Colorado. This episode is an encore of the January 8, 2022 broadcast.
Members of a group of community-based organizations recently embarked upon a month-long bus caravan that stretched across several cities throughout the southern region of the country, including places like Atlanta; Birmingham; Little Rock, Arkansas; Houston and Jackson, Mississippi. The tour was designed specifically to support Black girls and young women by providing them with resources and networking tools to help build on their personal and professional career goals. Appropriately titled, "Joy Is Our Journey Dream Bus Tour," the eye-catching, hot pink vehicle carried a portable ‘Dream Village' that featured collaborative workshops, face-painting stations and other interactive activities. But why dedicate this endeavor exclusively to the South? And how come this community collective decided to partner with one of the most provocative and controversial Southern Black women in entertainment—Houston's own and three-time Grammy-award winner, Megan Thee Stallion? Join us as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with the Visionary Founder of Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium, LaTosha Brown as well as the group's Executive Director, Malikah Berry Rogers. The pair will share their strategies and ideas behind how they've been able to transform mindsets of young teen girls and even adult women of a certain age realize their full potential while living and sometimes surviving in the Deep South.
Based on his own real-life experiences, Elegance Bratton’s THE INSPECTION, tells the story of a young Black man who was kicked out of the house by his Christian mother for being gay. After spending years at a homeless shelter and on the streets of New York City, he decides to enlist in the U.S. military to become a Marine. Ironically, this autobiographical film takes place during the era of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ – a controversial policy that shunned openly gay people from entering the armed services. Join us as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with acclaimed filmmaker, Elegance Bratton, about his feature debut and future projects on the horizon. Bratton will share intimate details of how he came to grips with the ultimate dilemma of whether he’d stay out on the streets and die young to become a mere statistic or join the military and die young to become a war hero. The New Yorker will even offer up words of encouragement for parents, when visions and dreams they had for their own children don’t quite pan out the way they expected them to.
While medical teams question whether the omicron variant marks a COVID-19 transition from a pandemic stage to an endemic phase, minorities along with a host of communities of color are seeing disproportionately higher rates of mental health problems. Moreover, disparities exist as it relates to accessibility in mental health care services. Join host Eddie Robinson for the second part of our series on I SEE U that explores the impacts of mental illness on more diverse populations. Guests include therapists, Eliza Boquin and Eboni Harris, co-founders of Melanin and Mental Health; and Manuel Zamarripa and Jessica Tlazoltiani Zamarripa, founders of XICANX PSYCHOLOGY – Institute of Chicana/o Psychology This episode is an encore of the January 21, 2022 broadcast.
Renowned instrumentalist, Branford Marsalis, has spent four decades in the international spotlight touring the globe and perfecting his skillsets as the standard-bearer of modern jazz. The Louisiana native also comes from a musical family, with brothers—Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason—becoming acclaimed jazz musicians; and his father, the patriarch Ellis Marsalis, Jr., a jazz pianist and educator himself. But how does a three-time Grammy Award-winner maintain his longevity in a recording industry submerged in a world that continues to grapple with notions of social unrest and injustice? How is he able to sustain such an artistic excellence in musicianship despite the racial tension and political polarization happening in this country? Stay tuned as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with legendary composer and bandleader, Branford Marsalis. He talks candidly about the motivation behind his music; how his father, who died in 2020 from COVID-19 complications, helped inspire his approach to confronting racism; and what he really thinks about the future of American democracy.
In recent years, with each election cycle, voting results very often come down to the wire. Consequently, when it comes to politics and ideologies related to our government, America remains completely divided. And with the racial and political reckoning of 2020 after the death of George Floyd, the clash over the true meaning of democracy has burst right back into the spotlight. It’s exactly why acclaimed author, Peniel Joseph, decided to release his latest book, The Third Reconstruction. Join us as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with scholar-activist and professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Peniel Joseph. The forward-thinking historian offers up insight on how he’s dissected significant aspects of our American history into three watershed hinge moments and why he argues that it is in this third moment where an opportunity exists for all Americans to effectively confront racism and build new ways of reconciliation, thoughtful action and healing.
In 2021, after a wave of global unrest over racial injustice that followed the death of Houstonian George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, a coalition of Broadway theater owners, union leaders, creators and casting directors outlined a series of reforms and commitments for the industry to ensure there would be equity and inclusion implemented in all of its new contractual agreements, including ways to help widen the talent pool to more diverse candidates. But for how long will this push for more diversity last? Are there any measures of tracking and accountability in place? And will audiences take notice and support those shows in ticket sales? Join us as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson explores what’s really happening behind the curtain with actor and 4-time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, Ron Simons. A former Microsoft executive, he’s also Founder and CEO of SimonSays Entertainment, a multiple award-winning production house and consultancy service for artists, producers and investors.
Civil rights attorney, Jeffery Robinson, released a film in 2021 entitled, “WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA.” In the documentary, Robinson addresses an audience onstage as if he’s inside a courtroom, arguing a case on how grappling with racism is “our shared history.” He challenges them to question why so many aspects of American history related to slavery, state-sanctioned violence and discrimination against Blacks had been forgotten or even hidden. Since the film’s release, what inroads to racial progress have happened in the United States? Join us as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with the founder and executive director of ‘The Who We Are Project,’ an organization that tackles this country’s history of anti-Black racism and white supremacy, Jeffery Robinson. A former ACLU Deputy Legal Director offers up a compelling look at the importance of reframing today’s discussions around race and the implications of understanding what could happen if these hidden histories are suddenly revealed and circulated throughout communities across the nation.
Actress Karyn Parsons is best known for her role as the spoiled ‘Hilary Banks,’ Will Smith’s cousin in the hit ‘90s sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – which aired for six seasons on NBC. Parsons is now an acclaimed writer and has already produced a series of award-winning animated children’s films about unsung Black historical figures. She’s also published three books for children: a middle-grade novel, How High the Moon; and two picture-book biographies that stem from her non-profit organization called, Sweet Blackberry. But what sparked her interest in writing – and why has it been so important for her to focus on specific illustrations and images of Black achievement for all children and young readers? Join us as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with author Karyn Parsons Rockwell about whether or not these renewed conversations about race are starting to cause a bit of fatigue and exhaustion in today’s society. The celebrated actress also reveals how the relationship she’s had with her mother served as inspiration that instilled a deep sense of culture and heritage to her first-born child.
Gerald Albright is one of the most sought-after musicians in the world of contemporary jazz. The iconic saxophonist has been recording music for nearly four decades with eight Grammy Award nominations to show for it. And with his signature blend of funk, soul and R&B, much of his productions create the perfect mood for love and romance. But despite the success of smooth jazz back in the early 90’s, today’s commercial radio won’t touch the format. Join Host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U continues its ongoing series dedicated to exploring the predominantly African-American musical format of smooth jazz with renown musician, Gerald Albright. The veteran instrumentalist offers up his candid insight on how station clustering and computer automation may have contributed to its decline, but he remains optimistic of a new generation of performers and innovative musicians who are working to reinvigorate its future.
Known as one of the Original Kings of Comedy with Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, and Cedric the Entertainer—the legendary comedian, Bernie Mac, is now featured in a book of inspirational quotes and daily motivations called, “I Don’t Care If You Like Me, I Like Me.” A native of Chicago, Bernie Mac developed a comedic style of storytelling that was aggressive, honest, and straight-up, in-your-face humor that only he could uniquely pull off or get away with onstage and onscreen. His wife, Rhonda McCullough, held on to old tapes and vintage recordings of the Emmy award-winning actor to construct the book where each day of the year features an interesting quote of affirmation in the voice of Bernie Mac. Join Host Eddie Robinson as he speaks candidly with his wife, Rhonda McCullough, about why she chose this format to pay tribute to her late husband, who died in 2008 from complications of a disease known as sarcoidosis. I SEE U also chats unguarded with the master impressionist who served as the narrator of the audiobook, comedian Reggie Reg.
In the PBS series, MAKING BLACK AMERICA: THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, famed documentarian, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., sits down with noted scholars, politicians, cultural leaders and old friends to explore what it means to be a Black American in a country where racial discrimination and white supremacy still exist. Join us as Host Eddie Robinson facilitates a recent panel discussion about the film that was recorded live in front of a virtual audience. The panel of guests include the film’s award-winning producer and director, Stacey Holman; acclaimed historian who’s featured in the project and University of Texas at Austin professor, Dr. Ashley Farmer; and Senior Pastor of the historic Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Houston and KTSU radio host, Pastor Dr. D.Z. Cofield. Our I SEE U panelists will chat candidly about the real impacts of racial integration on the Black community, the current state of Black institutions following the Civil Rights Movement and a possible incentive for any family to start their own quest of building personal archives that preserve the rich histories and stories of their ancestors.
Members of a group of community-based organizations recently embarked upon a month-long bus caravan that stretched across several cities throughout the southern region of the country, including places like Atlanta; Birmingham; Little Rock, Arkansas; Houston and Jackson, Mississippi. The tour was designed specifically to support Black girls and young women by providing them with resources and networking tools to help build on their personal and professional career goals. Appropriately titled, “Joy Is Our Journey Dream Bus Tour,” the eye-catching, hot pink vehicle carried a portable ‘Dream Village’ that featured collaborative workshops, face-painting stations and other interactive activities. But why dedicate this endeavor exclusively to the South? And how come this community collective decided to partner with one of the most provocative and controversial Southern Black women in entertainment—Houston’s own and three-time Grammy-award winner, Megan Thee Stallion? Join us as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with the Visionary Founder of Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium, LaTosha Brown as well as the group’s Executive Director, Malikah Berry Rogers. The pair will share their strategies and ideas behind how they’ve been able to transform mindsets of young teen girls and even adult women of a certain age realize their full potential while living and sometimes surviving in the Deep South.
Betty Ann Kilby and her family were terrorized when they defied their local school board and the governor of Virginia to desegregate the only high school in their county in 1959. And yet, nearly 50 years later, in 2007, she was willing to talk to a descendant of a family who had once enslaved her ancestors. It was a defining move reminiscent of a well-known quote in Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech of 1963. The passage read in part: “I have a dream that one day… the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.” Join us as two courageous women take a seat at the I SEE U table of sisterhood and chat unguarded with Host Eddie Robinson about the power of forgiveness, acceptance and reconciliation. “Wit, Wills and Walls” author, Dr. Betty Kilby Fisher Baldwin, reveals to I SEE U surprising details never-before-told of her personal life; and Phoebe Kilby, co-author of the book, “Cousins,” candidly shares her own insight into attitudes toward reparations and how White Americans whose families owned slaves grapple with stories and narratives of descendants who are now starting to trace their hidden histories linked to some form of enslavement.
Author Jill Nagle is not intimidated by facilitating open and honest conversations about white supremacy. She’s even designed workshops and programs to help counsel and coach white people to help them better understand how racism works and how they can use their white privilege to make a difference. But are these programs and teachings really working? Find out as I SEE U takes a provocative look at what some people are doing to overcome racist attitudes and behaviors. Host Eddie Robinson talks candidly with writer/consultant, Jill Nagle, to learn more about what triggered her interest in anti-racism as well as gain insight into the unique practices and strategies that she is incorporating during these sessions. Nagle, who joins us virtually from her home in the Bay Area, is currently putting the finishing touches on an upcoming book that examines how white people can engage with other whites to develop action plans that dismantle white supremacy and those ideals linked to white nationalism.
Veteran jazz keyboardist Brian Culbertson has a 25-album discography that offers up his signature sounds of funky instrumentals, sexy soul jams and straight-up, smooth R&B grooves. With a career of delivering some 40 Billboard No. 1 singles, he’s performed and recorded with the industry’s finest – from Stevie Wonder and Bootsy Collins to the late Prince and Maurice White, the founder of the iconic band, Earth Wind & Fire. Culbertson has also earned a very loyal fan base, including online music connoisseurs who follow his weekly YouTube and Facebook hang out sessions. But there’s one entity where music support has dwindled over the years—terrestrial FM radio. Join Host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U continues its ongoing series dedicated to exploring the future of the smooth jazz format and speaks candidly with acclaimed producer and songwriter, Brian Culbertson. The hitmaker from Decatur, Illinois chats about why he believes jazz music discovery is almost non-existent on FM radio and how he, along with countless other musicians, rely on satellite radio and the digital landscape to keep the momentum and energy of the jazz genre afloat.
Brian Greene is President of Houston Food Bank, the largest food distribution bank in the nation. Greene, who once headed the New Orleans food bank, arrived in Houston on the tailwinds of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina when his own Crescent City home flooded with water – only to be pummeled by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, where the first floor of his Houston home took on three feet of storm water. Join I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson as we reflect on one of Houston’s costliest and most devastating natural disasters in the city’s history, five years later, with Houston Food Bank CEO, Brian Greene. We’ll discuss how food recovery operations in Houston and New Orleans compared to each other as well as how he managed to keep both his personal home and family needs in check while addressing major food distribution efforts during Harvey.
A native of Houston’s Third Ward, Derryl Bohanna Sr., knows the importance of being industrious, enterprising and disciplined. A product of the U.S. Army and a father of seven, Bohanna quickly realized he needed to figure out a way to financially support his children. But he also learned some very interesting lessons about the concept of saving money and creating generational wealth—early. Join us as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with children’s book author, Derryl Bohanna, as he offers up a preview of his recent release, “The Adventures in Moneyland with DeDe, Dez and Dexx.” The self-published author is writing a series of books designed to help kids build a better relationship with money and how to improve decision-making skills as it relates to managing money. Plus, he’ll share his thoughts and perspective on whether or not he believes African Americans will ever achieve financial stability in the future.
P-VALLEY is a provocative drama series on the cable television network, STARZ. The series follows the lives of employees and exotic dancers who work at a strip club in a fictional town in northern Mississippi. The show’s creator and executive producer, Katori Hall, presents a captivating look at the nuances of southern Black culture. P-VALLEY explores the complexities of our humanity – using extraordinary color, piercing dialogue and remarkable cinematography to tell unique stories and narratives often related to notions of race, sexuality and identity. Join I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson for an unguarded chat with Pulitzer-Prize winning writer, Katori Hall, as the Memphis native explains in her own words why this sexually-tinged series has become so popular. Plus, we’ll take a deep dive into how she’s courageously redefining stereotypes and gender norms from stage to screen through distinct, artistic visuals and experiences that pay tribute to a life of hustle and survival in the Deep South.
Acclaimed jazz vocalist and Baltimore native, Maysa Leak, admits to I SEE U that she’s always felt hidden. Starting out as a member of the legendary Stevie Wonder’s background singer entourage, Maysa has been performing in the music business for over three decades. She landed her first lead vocal gig with a British soul collective ironically called, Incognito. But music reps told her she could not appear in a music video for the group because of her weight. And yet, despite her challenges of not having a solid promotional machine to support her career; experiencing a difficult pregnancy while on tour; online search engines erroneously tying her to a dead Brazilian actress and even losing her vocal cords to a roommate’s pet rabbit — Maysa uses her silky, velvet smooth voice as a beautiful instrument of emotion, vulnerability and inspiration throughout her vast discography of music. Join Host Eddie Robinson for this premiere Season 2 episode of I SEE U as he chats candidly with jazz singer-songwriter, Maysa. This episode also kicks off an ongoing series that highlights the music radio format known as Smooth Jazz, where we examine the rich origins of its past and the uncertainty of its future.
Arguably, the state of Texas’ most famous death row exoneree, Anthony Charles Graves spent nearly 20 years in prison for a brutal crime that he did not commit, including 12 years on death row — all while receiving two execution dates. Since his release more than a decade ago, Graves has been working extensively with the justice system that mistakenly put him behind bars in the first place! Join us for one of the most riveting episodes of I SEE U, as former inmate Anthony Graves speaks unguardedly with host Eddie Robinson about how he really feels about the state of Texas, his recent in-person interaction with the prosecutor in the case, and what he thinks needs to take place for criminal justice reform in this country.
This is an encore of the August 14, 2021 broadcast.
In 1981, militant Klansmen in East Texas waged a terror campaign against recently immigrated Vietnamese fishermen who were trying to make a living near Galveston Bay. As tensions heated up, some began to label the conflict a “race war.” But a legal argument brought justice to the vulnerable community of Vietnamese refugees. Join us we take you on a journey through the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico featuring 87-year-old South Vietnamese army colonel, Nguyen Van Nam; his son Michael; and acclaimed author Kirk Johnson. Host Eddie Robinson also chats with the prosecuting attorney of the case, David Berg, as well as the lawyer representing the Ku Klux Klan–Sam Adamo.
A young computer scientist who grew up in Mississippi is focusing her efforts on fairness and identifying biases in technology. Though she’s working in Atlanta as an artificial intelligence researcher for Amazon, she’s reinvesting much of her earnings towards the development of a multi-million dollar innovation center that’s set to transform her native downtown Jackson. Dr. Nashlie Sephus is also CEO of The Bean Path — a non-profit that works to bridge the “tech gap” in communities where access to technical expertise, computer coding and other resources are limited. She speaks candidly with host Eddie Robinson about her experiences in closing commercial real estate deals in the Deep South and how she’s worked in a field of study where there’s not many Black women with PhDs.
Earlier this year in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, singer Stevie Wonder described his plans to move permanently to Ghana, West Africa. Weeks later, comedian Dave Chappelle said he was inspired by Wonder to do the same. There’s a sudden trend of Americans who are leaving the United States and relocating to a foreign country — Americans like the Jones family. 50-year-old Tony Jones, a former Milwaukee police officer, said ‘enough is enough!’ Blaming racism, harassment from law enforcement and rampant discrimination as reasons for the move, Tony and his wife, Ayo — along with their two young boys — left their home in Houston, Texas and relocated to Ghana. What is it about West Africa that offers them a greater sense of community than here in the United States? And could this be seen as a relief to those who suggest Blacks should ‘go back to where they came from?’ How are lawmakers in Congress reacting to this trend of searching for democracy elsewhere? Host Eddie Robinson chats with the Jones family and gets national reaction from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
The legendary Prince created an iconic band known as, The Revolution. Not only did the early ’80s group incorporate an energy and sound that threw off music radio programmers worldwide, but The Revolution also consisted of overwhelming talent that embraced notions of diversity and inclusion with members from different backgrounds, ethnicities, races and sexual orientations. Two band members — Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman — were romantically involved with each other and had kept their relationship under wraps from the public during the band’s popularity. Host Eddie Robinson chats with the Emmy winners separately as they offer up career introspection and how their strong partnership played a significant impact on Prince. I SEE U also introduces a new guest host — author and political science professor, Dr. Melanye Price. She’ll be the guiding voice for a couple of months while Eddie becomes a new dad and goes on paternity break. This episode is an encore of the October 2, 2021 broadcast.
Many view Juneteenth as a celebration for slaves in Texas who finally received word on June 19, 1865, that they were free. But it took more than two years for that news to reach the ears of those enslaved after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. While it took several more months for slavery to be abolished in 1865, a system known as convict leasing had emerged in Southern states where Blacks were forced into unpaid labor. Historians note that these factors along with ongoing research provide evidence of how slavery played a major role in building this nation’s economy. Moreover, some experts argue that slavery, mixed with a host of other discriminatory, economic practices like redlining and segregation, contribute to an already large racial wealth gap that continues to grow even wider. Complicating matters, state lawmakers have proposed legislation that attempt to regulate how teachers and educators can discuss those histories in classrooms across the country. Stay tuned as I SEE U takes a provocative look at Juneteenth. We invite the renowned schoolteacher and counselor who was the driving force in making Juneteenth a national holiday, 95-year-old Opal Lee. We’ll also examine the commercialization of this holiday and what efforts are needed for progress with an unguarded chat with Morgan State University’s Journalism Professor, Dr. Jared Ball; and President/CEO of Center of Black Equity in Washington, D.C., Earl D. Fowlkes, Jr.
Convict leasing, a gruesome practice that started in 1867, was highly profitable for states across the South and for the families who owned plantations. It was a time when Sugar Land, Texas was known to carry a network of sugar cane farms and state-sanctioned labor camps after the abolition of slavery. It also wasn’t uncommon for Black men to be arrested for often times bogus or trumped up charges, so that plantation owners could build a solid workforce of leased laborers. But in February of 2018 at a construction site during excavation, human bones were discovered. Later, an investigation resulted in 95 African-American bodies buried in unmarked plywood coffins, ushering in the country’s first-ever convict labor camp cemetery to be analyzed and studied. Join us as I SEE U takes a “FEEL” trip to Fort Bend County and explores a recently opened educational exhibit called, “Sugar Land 95.” Community and Civic Engagement Coordinator, Chassidy Olainu-Alade, guides host Eddie Robinson on a tour of the memorialization site as well as provides riveting and emotional detail of yet another piece of hidden history that social studies textbooks across America failed to include.
Scholars have labeled the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 as one of the most horrific incidents of racial violence in U.S. history. But why has that history remained under wraps for so long? Historian Dr. Karlos Hill of the University of Oklahoma; and Scott Ellsworth, author of “The Ground Breaking,” shed light on the disaster. And with this racial attack as a backdrop, host Eddie Robinson chats with acclaimed violinist, Daniel Roumain, about the real reason why he was fired from a special centennial concert hosted by Tulsa Opera. The Opera’s artistic director, Tobias Picker, also makes a guest appearance and responds to Roumain’s accusations with some surprising revelations.
As the nation continues to mourn those killed in a violent elementary school shooting, teachers in classrooms across Texas are saying, ‘enough is enough.’ Reports of a teacher shortage continue to dominate local and regional headlines. One Houston-area union leader put it best—as fresh faces of new teachers enter classrooms through the front door, more and more seasoned, veteran educators are starting to leave through the back door. Join Host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U presents our 50th episode and celebrates one full year of content with a provocative look at why hundreds of school teachers in the Lone Star State won’t be returning to class next year. We speak candidly with University of Houston Professor, Dr. Duncan Klussmann, who has spent nearly 35 years in public education and helped transform a West Harris County school district of 35,000 students into one of the most successful districts in the region. Klussmann shares his unguarded perspective as it relates to how teacher salaries should be accurately measured and where the future of this profession is headed. I SEE U also welcomes former Houston Independent School District teacher, Terrilyn Batiste, who recently quit her job and now works as a staff member for Houston Public Media.
Lou Weaver is a queer, transgender man who grew up in Colorado, but now lives in Houston as a much sought-after speaker for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans community. After his transition from female to a man, Weaver discovered something about himself that shook him to his core: White male privilege! Join I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson for an insightful look at what it really means to be transgender. University of Texas medical researcher, Lou Weaver, shares his powerful story of fearlessness and his strong desire to educate and inform. It’s all part of his mission to provide understanding as to what trans people must endure to simply live their lives and embrace their authentic selves unapologetically.
As we approach another anniversary of Houstonian George Floyd’s death, I SEE U examines company and organizational initiatives that had been triggered once calls for racial justice and global protests erupted two years ago. But are employers today fully committed to these measures of growth? Experts say many companies are simply checking boxes and have no real intentions of undergoing major, meaningful change when it comes to fostering and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. How long can a company sustain itself when much of its diverse workforce rushes to the exit door? Join host Eddie Robinson as he facilitates unguarded conversations with NPR’s DEI Manager, Whitney Maddox and DEI strategist, Denise Hamilton, for fresh, new insight and perspective on the future of these initiatives. We also explore how notions of leadership and accountability are tested when there continues to be a lack of genuine commitment and oversight as well as limited support of adequate resources.
Interdisciplinary scholar and curator Laura Marshall Clark has maintained a love for the arts, a thirst for the humanities, along with a passion for literature and Native American history throughout her life. But what happens when you embrace and infuse religion into those interests? And with religion and spirituality playing such key roles in Native American art, why does she still feel intimidated by her belief system in Christianity? Find out as I SEE U explores aspects of identity, culture and family with acclaimed author, Laura Marshall Clark, as she speaks candidly with host Eddie Robinson about her own Native American heritage. We'll learn more about her fascination with tribal programs, divergent histories and aesthetics as well as how she acknowledges the power of being completely vulnerable as a global teacher and creative writer.
Convict leasing, a gruesome practice that started in 1867, was highly profitable for states across the South and for the families who owned plantations. It was a time when Sugar Land, Texas was known to carry a network of sugar cane farms and state-sanctioned labor camps after the abolition of slavery. It also wasn't uncommon for Black men to be arrested for often times bogus or trumped up charges, so that plantation owners could build a solid workforce of leased laborers. But in February of 2018 at a construction site during excavation, human bones were discovered. Later, an investigation resulted in 95 African-American bodies buried in unmarked plywood coffins, ushering in the country's first-ever convict labor camp cemetery to be analyzed and studied. Join us as I SEE U takes a "FEEL" trip to Fort Bend County and explores a recently opened educational exhibit called, "Sugar Land 95." Community and Civic Engagement Coordinator, Chassidy Olainu-Alade, guides host Eddie Robinson on a tour of the memorialization site as well as provides riveting and emotional detail of yet another piece of hidden history that social studies textbooks across America failed to include.
Dr. Victoria Massie is a professor of anthropology at Rice University. This fall, she’s introducing students to a new course that explores concepts and theories related to Black women’s lived experiences and how those narratives help shape discussions around race and gender. Interestingly enough, Dr. Massie’s late grandfather, Dr. Samuel Massie, was a renowned chemist who worked as a technician on The Manhattan Project during World War II. He was also the first African-American professor at the United States Naval Academy in 1966. Did his work on one of the most highly classified secured programs in U.S. history help influence her thoughts and perspective as an anthropologist? And is she still grappling with her grandfather’s legacy of having developed atomic weapons of mass destruction? I SEE U host Eddie Robinson speaks unguarded with scientist/writer, Dr. Victoria Massie about her new course at Rice and how these studies will help transform our future and inspire a new way of thinking.
Only a few descendants of West African slaves remain on a coastal Georgia portion of land called, Sapelo Island. In the early 1800s, ancestors of the Gullah Geechee community were brought to these barrier islands along the nation’s southeast Atlantic coast to work on plantations. These slaves acquired land on the island – but decades later, that ownership is almost diminished. Many of the residents say they’ve been squeezed out due to deliberate tax hikes and gentrification of the area. Join host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U explores the African cultural heritage of the Gullah Geechee. We’ll meet one of the descendants of the enslaved and a resident of Sapelo Island, Reginald Hall. What will it take for his people to hold on to their legacy? Hall tells I SEE U he’s willing to die before anyone takes land away from him and his ancestors.
Blacks have historically been portrayed in films as pimps, hustlers, prostitutes, maids, gang-bangers, drug addicts, alcoholics, junkies and crime-ridden thieves. Though filmmakers would describe these roles as simply reflecting life’s realities in technicolor. But were these depictions, subconsciously, impacting the essence of Black creativity, culture and identity for decades to come? Join I SEE U host Eddie Robinson for a provocative and very candid conversation with one of the only living cast members of the 1972 hit film, SUPER FLY – Sheila Frazier. The actress and former model speaks unguarded about how a White-male dominated film industry earned so much money at the expense of those character portrayals.
His father, born into slavery, had become one of the first African American millionaires in the United States. His mother, though devoted to Black civil rights, was a renowned actress and had kept her racial background a secret. And in 1897, Alonzo and Adrienne Herndon had a son – their only child – named Norris Herndon, who would become the second President, inherited by his father, of the historic, Black-owned Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Behind the scenes, Norris was a major financier of the Civil Rights Movement and often gave large sums of money to several organizations, community groups and universities. He also lived a very private life and learned to hide his attraction for men. Could his homosexuality be a reason why his story remains unknown to so many people? Join host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U takes an in-depth look at the life of Norris Herndon with insight and perspective from writer/columnist, Ryan Lee and history scholar, Pamela Flores – both based in Atlanta.
Join us for a special ENCORE presentation of an I SEE U episode featuring Oscar-nominated actress, Aunjanue Ellis. The veteran actor has been working in the film and television industry for three decades and she’s finally receiving recognition from the Academy in the category for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the mother of Venus and Serena Williams in the movie, KING RICHARD – which was also nominated this year for Best Picture. In this provocative episode, Ellis talks candidly with host Eddie Robinson, who both hail from McComb, Mississippi. She shares her unguarded perspective on the hidden biases in journalism; notions of supremacy in PBS Masterpiece; as well as aspects of pay equity and why she believes prosperous Black celebrities who hold producorial roles in film should also be held accountable in paying actors their full worth.
Acclaimed lyricist, Fat Tony, has played a significant role in shaping Houston’s rap scene with his unique style of music. Raised in the city’s historic Third Ward, he has family roots in Nigeria – a part of the world where emerging singers and songwriters from the region are finding success on American music charts. Consequently, mainstream pop acts have been taking notice and are quickly jumping on their cultured bandwagon with featured collaborations. Join I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson for a very candid conversation with master storyteller, Fat Tony, about his music career, the future of hip-hop and how Prince inspires his creativity. The rapper also explains why so many fans of different races and ethnicities gravitate to his music—a notion that tends to ring true for other renown Houston artists and performers.
Singer/songwriter Alex Isley has music in her DNA. Her dad and uncles together make up the legendary group, The Isley Brothers. Her silky, sweet voice blends perfectly with her colorful melodies and infectious productions. But most commercial radio stations steer clear of her music and prefer to rotate more popular, familiar acts. As a result, Alex has had to rely on cable networks, television series and digital music services to promote her material. Despite her releasing songs for over a ten-year span, it still remains a challenge for artists like her to be seen and recognized. In this episode, I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with R&B vocalist, Alex Isley, about the challenges of discovering new music and how she’s redefining genres with her own music while honoring harmonies of the past. She speaks to us virtually from her home in Los Angeles, as she prepares for her first-ever performance in Houston, Texas this weekend.
Richard Antoine White survived the streets of West Baltimore as a young child and later, transformed his life – with the help of a brass instrument, the tuba! His incredible journey from experiencing homelessness to performing at concert halls across the world has inspired him to write his own memoir— “I’m Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream.” I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with acclaimed musician, Richard Antoine White, who’s also the first African-American to ever earn a doctorate degree in playing the tuba. We learn the secrets to his perseverance and how he’s on a mission to challenge stereotypes as well as traditional sounds of classical music.
Acclaimed actress, Shalita Grant, suffered severe hair damage and was on the verge of baldness while working for years on the CBS television series, NCIS: New Orleans. After leaving the show, Grant says the emotional trauma she experienced was even more depressing as she grappled with a label of being “too difficult to work with.” In this episode, host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with Tony-nominated actress and entrepreneur, Shalita Grant, about her renewed spirit of purpose and the importance of having a strong relationship with your hair. She speaks to I SEE U virtually from her new home in Houston, Texas where she and her partner, former MMA World Champion, Jessica Aguilar, currently reside.
The film, KING RICHARD, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, tells the story of how Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams, was determined to transform their lives into tennis legends. Interestingly enough, Green’s father wanted him to become a professional baseball player. What happens when a father’s dreams are shattered? What if Venus and Serena never achieved stardom as champion tennis players? I SEE U host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with acclaimed filmmaker, Reinaldo Marcus Green about what real fatherhood looks like for men of color. Dr. Melanye Price, Director of the Ruth Simmons Center for Race and Justice at Prairie View A&M University, also weighs in and provides a provocative observation to Richard Williams’ motives.
Critics believe independent writers, reporters, producers and content creators with large digital followers will paint the future of journalism. But with (mis)information so readily available via the internet, will media consumers trust those fresh voices? I SEE U host Eddie Robinson questions whether traditional journalism runs the risk of falling prey to an overwhelming arena of YouTubers, vloggers and podcasters hoping for a digital, multimedia transformation. Peabody Award-winning Professor of Media, Journalism and Film at Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications, Sonja D. Williams, provides her insight; along with Emmy award-winning reporter, Justin Carter, who left his TV job to work for the independent media company, “The Shade Room,” a celebrity news and trending gossip platform.
ENCANTO is Disney’s first-ever Latinx musical. Critics have largely praised the film for its unique approach to storytelling, diversity in characters and original score which infuses a host of Columbian-rhythmic styles and design. But why has it taken Disney Animation some 60 films in to offer up an opportunity for a Latina to co-direct one of its productions? I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson has a compelling conversation with screenwriter/director, Charise Castro Smith, about how the coronavirus pandemic along with certain racial and political awakenings in this country impacted the production of ENCANTO; the ideas and musical components that landed on the cutting room floor; and what the future holds for Latin content creators and other people of color in the film and entertainment industry.
He’s an original member of the legendary Jackson 5, who churned out a plethora of hits from the mid-‘60s well into the late ‘80s. One of the brothers of the group, Tito Jackson, remains active in the recording industry. The singer/songwriter and guitarist speaks unguarded with I SEE U host Eddie Robinson about his relationship with the other siblings in the Jackson family, the racism he and his brothers experienced while on tour, as well as their electrifying TRIUMPH album, which set the stage for the biggest selling album of all-time by his younger brother, Michael.
While medical teams question whether the omicron variant marks a COVID-19 transition from a pandemic stage to an endemic phase, minorities along with a host of communities of color are seeing disproportionately higher rates of mental health problems. Moreover, disparities exist as it relates to accessibility in mental health care services. Join host Eddie Robinson for the second part of our series on I SEE U that explores the impacts of mental illness on more diverse populations. Guests include therapists, Eliza Boquin and Eboni Harris, co-founders of Melanin and Mental Health; and Manuel Zamarripa and Jessica Tlazoltiani Zamarripa, founders of XICANX PSYCHOLOGY – Institute of Chicana/o Psychology
Born in Birmingham, England, CW Network’s Supergirl actor/director David Harewood has seen his career flourish here in the United States. While living in the United Kingdom, the ‘Blood Diamond’ actor had been physically restrained by a half dozen police officers, hospitalized, heavily sedated and transferred to a locked ward after suffering from a severe psychotic breakdown. But Harewood admits to I SEE U that had he lived in the States, struggling with his bipolar-like symptoms, he would likely end up dead. Join us as host Eddie Robinson begins the first of a two-part series addressing mental health on communities of color with critically acclaimed actor/author, David Harewood, who shares his remarkable story on what it means to be a Black man from Britain.
For decades, members of the Black community and other communities of color have been excluded from owning media broadcast properties. Recent data released by the Federal Communications Commission shows that women and minorities are underrepresented in license ownership, particularly in FM commercial radio stations. Will the FCC ramp up policies and legislation to effectively promote diversity of media ownership? Check out this powerful episode of I SEE U, as host Eddie Robinson chats with the first and only African-American female to ever own an AM or FM radio station in all of New England – President/CEO and General Manager of Cutting Edge Broadcasting, Carol Moore Cutting. The radio pioneer discusses in unguarded detail how discrimination and racial prejudice continue to run rampant in today’s broadcast ownership industry. Veteran radio programmer, Nikki Swarn, also joins the conversation. Swarn is the GM of THE DROP—a new public media, Urban-Alt station with an all-Black staff based in Denver, Colorado.
During the Civil Rights Movement, not only did African-Americans fight for equal protection under the law, but White Americans were also risking their lives in the name of social justice. Some were even murdered for participating in marches and protests aimed at ending segregation and racial discrimination. But in today’s political climate and divisiveness, how come more White Americans prefer to remain silent on measures that support systemic change to end racism? Host Eddie Robinson returns from paternity leave and chats candidly with Joan Mulholland, the first White member of the historically Black organization, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Her son, Loki Mulholland, who’s an acclaimed film director and human rights activist, Mac Hulslander—the father of I SEE U’s Technical Director, Todd Hulslander—offer up their own perspectives in this very provocative episode.
To be black and southern is to contend with the embedded legacy of racial terror and grapple with the unique and enduring culture created in its shadow. The term “dirty south” can invoke many images connected to southern agrarian life, but hip-hop artists have transformed it into a banner of pride. Dirty South now represents a short cut for understanding the perspectives of creatives who were raised or procured their work in the South – through music, art, fashion, and other forms of cultural products that possessed a specific, Southern lens. This work has been captured in an exhibit called, “Dirty South,” currently on display at the Contemporary Art Museum of Houston until February. On this episode of I SEE U, join us as guest host, Dr. Melayne Price, chats with the exhibit’s curator, Valerie Cassel Oliver, as well as Houston artists Nathaniel Donnett and Mel Chin whose works are included in the show. Find out what happens when contemporary art merges with the roots of Southern hip-hop culture in The Dirty South.
When the coronavirus summarily shut down the world in 2020, we were all sent home to figure how to live, work and play from a distance. Within weeks millions learned to use digital platforms to connect to work, family, school, and friends. Streaming services like Amazon Prime, Hulu and Netflix benefited greatly. In one year, subscriptions during the pandemic rose over 30% and increased to 1 billion subscribers worldwide. On this episode, guest host Dr. Melanye Price chats with her favorite content viewing partner, twin sister, Melynda Price, along with cultural critic Jeff Yang, who’s co-host of the podcast, They Call Us Bruce and author of RISE: A Pop History of Asian America from the ‘90s to Now. Yang also shares his unique perspective on why there’s a lack of Asian American representation in the media today. We’re taking a closer look at streaming in the American mainstream on this episode of I SEE U.
From black urban farms to traditional soul food kitchens to fine dining…Houston has a vibrant black food scene. We call this the “Who Made the Potato Salad?” episode to reference a specific cultural tradition. If you show up at any holiday meal or family cookout in the black community you will notice that everyone gathered will look at treasured family dishes like potato salad, mac and cheese, sweet potato pie and ask…who made this? These dishes are so important that only trusted family members are allowed to be involved in their preparation. Inevitably, when an ambitious relative tries to innovate on the traditional recipes and a simple question of “who made the potato salad” becomes a lesson in family traditions and a cautionary tale. On this episode, I talk to some of the most successful chefs and restaurateurs from Houston institutions—Craig Joseph who is the third-generation owner of This Is It, Marcus Davis from The Breakfast Klub and Top Chef finalist Dawn Burrell. I discuss black food traditions, the elevation of soul food, and maybe a few tips for your holiday preparations. I also want to know what happens when culinary school meets the family cookout!! All this and more and this episode of I See U.
After the death of George Floyd organizations across America embarked upon what has been called a racial reckoning. A process started to be more intentional about understanding the impact of race on the past and charting a course for how we will make a better racial future. For a lot of universities this has meant confronting their own history with enslavement and racial segregation. Nearly two decades ago, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) President Ruth Simmons, as president of Brown University, led the school through an historic intellectual and institutional process to know more about the role of Brown’s participation in the slave trade. What resulted was an historic accounting of university history and a model many universities seek to follow. On this episode we discuss the ongoing efforts to uncover their institutions connections of slavery and segregation with historians Drs.
After the death of George Floyd organizations across America embarked upon what has been called a racial reckoning. A process started to be more intentional about understanding the impact of race on the past and charting a course for how we will make a better racial future. For a lot of universities this has meant confronting their own history with enslavement and racial segregation. Nearly two decades ago, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) President Ruth Simmons, as president of Brown University, led the school through an historic intellectual and institutional process to know more about the role of Brown’s participation in the slave trade. What resulted was an historic accounting of university history and a model many universities seek to follow. On this episode we discuss the ongoing efforts to uncover their institutions connections of slavery and segregation with historians Alexander Byrd and Caleb McDaniel at Rice University and Marco Robinson at Prairie View A&M University. Given Prairie View’s connection to those who were enslaved and Rice’s founders history as a slaveholder, we ask are there differences when the project is undertaken by a predominantly white or historically black college. We’ll also talk to the Vanderslice family who are descendants of the owners of the Alta Vista plantation that was purchased by the state of Texas to establish Prairie View. What happens when universities start to confront the hard truths of their past on this episode of, I SEE U.
Alexander Byrd and Caleb McDaniel at Rice University and Dr. Marco Robinson at Prairie View A&M University. Given Prairie View’s connection to those who were enslaved and Rice’s founders history as a slaveholder, we ask are there differences when the project is undertaken by a predominantly white or historically black college. We’ll also talk to the Vanderslice family who are descendants of the owners of the Alta Vista plantation that was purchased by the state of Texas to establish Prairie View. What happens when universities start to confront the hard truths of their past on this episode of, I SEE U.
In 2013 when Houston native and global megastar, Beyoncé, openly embraced the feminist label, there was a lot of discussion about what this would mean for young women and girls who followed her music. Would her millions of fans also start to embrace feminisms as well? What is also true is that Beyoncé, like many women her age, were coming out as feminists because they were being influence by a vibrant digital community of young black feminists and other feminists of color who were educating each other and having ongoing dialogues about what it means to be a feminist today. One of the groups at the forefront of online feminist writing and activism was the Crunk Feminist Collective. On this episode of I SEE U we will talk to the founders of the Crunk Feminist Collective, Drs. Brittney Cooper, and Susana Morris, about their new book, written with Chanel Craft Tanner, Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood. We will end the show with Dr. Esha Pandit a member of the Crunk Feminist Collective who is also a Houston native. She and I will discuss the work of women of color feminist in the Houston and the region. Stay with us as we discuss the F word—feminism—on this episode of I See U.
In Texas where football is king all schools are celebrating homecoming. That halfway point of the season where homecoming kings and queens are crowned, alumni return to be honored and remember their golden years, and the entire community is focused on tradition. At HBCUs or historically black colleges these festivities are accompanied by a wall of sound, a marching band that mixes traditional fanfare, with R&B and blues classics, contemporary dance routines and songs you just heard on the radio. They have become so important that there is now a tradition called the fifth quarter when the bands takeover when the football is done for a battle of the bands. You can lose the entire football game but hold your head high because your band won the fifth quarter. On this episode we’ll be talking to Brian Simmons and Timmey Zachery who are the band directors at Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M Universities about homecoming and HBCU bands. The influence of these bands has never been greater, so we will talk to unexpected members of a black college band—a Latino student and international students.
The sound and fury of HBCU marching bands on this episode of I SEE U
According to new census data 95% of the population growth in Texas was from communities of color and Texas is a majority minority state. Latinos and African Americans are the largest minority groups in the state and have the potential to wield enormous political power if they can build and maintain successful coalitions. On this episode, we explore examples of Black/Latino coalition building past and present. We’ll chat with former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins whose work with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to expand voter access during the pandemic gained national attention. We also talk to former Secretary Julian Castro about his bid for the presidency, political advocacy work and partnership with African American political strategists, Maya Rupert. It is also important to recognize that Latinos and African Americans have a long history of working together in Texas.
Latinos and African Americans have a long history of working together in Texas, as Maria Esther Hammack, historian from the University of Pennsylvania, shares in the surprising history of the Underground Railroad leading south to Mexico. Its Back to the Future of Black/Latino coalition building on this episode of I SEE U.
Often seen as an expression of youth culture, hip hop as a musical genre is almost FIFTY! That means that hip hop’s earliest fans are also aging. Now parents, professionals, and caregivers, they are asking: can you be fully adult—Grown—and stay true to the love of the music that shaped your childhood? In Houston hip hop culture, the word Trill, which is a combination of the terms true and real, is used to describe people and things that are authentic and rooted in the culture. On this episode, we learn what Texas hip hop icon Bun B can tell us about coming of age in hip hop. We discuss his highly successful career, life after the death of Pimp C - the other half of the mega-duo UGK – and his role as a civic leader, a university lecturer and potential political candidate. Author of Houston Hip Hop: The Origin and Legacy, Maco Faniel, offers historical context for understanding the evolution of the Houston hip hop sound and the unique contributions it has made to the genre as a whole. Ultimately we want to know, will our love of hip hop follow us through our entire lives? Will the soundtrack of our youth also be the soundtrack to our parties at the senior center? Find out as we explore how to be ‘Grown and Trill’ on this episode of I SEE U.
Our geography defines our understanding of the world as much as anything else. National and state boundaries and even city streets define the areas that mark what is home, what is safe, and where we belong. The ability to make choices about where you want to live also shapes what schools you attend, your level of access to parks and green space, and your commute to work. There is one neighborhood characteristic that does not happen by accident—racial composition. Discriminatory lending practices such as redlining have created cities that are racially segregated. Growing up in racially segregated communities shape children’s perspectives and they implicitly learn who city leaders prioritize in terms of services and investment. Small childhood trips to the grocery store, airports or downtown can be adventures in learning about social difference. Within the confines of their own neighborhoods, children also learn the importance of their own culture and what it means to value community. On today’s episode Juliet Stipeche, Attorney and former Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education, Dr. Assata Richards, Director of the Sankofa Reach Institute, join guest host Dr. Melanye Price to discuss growing up in racially segregated Houston and their experiences of crossing racial borders while traversing the city. Both of their communities are also undergoing major changes because of gentrification, and we talk about what will be lost if current residents are displaced.
The legendary Prince created an iconic band known as, The Revolution. Not only did the early '80s group incorporate an energy and sound that threw off music radio programmers worldwide, but The Revolution also consisted of overwhelming talent that embraced notions of diversity and inclusion with members from different backgrounds, ethnicities, races and sexual orientations. Two band members -- Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman -- were romantically involved with each other and had kept their relationship under wraps from the public during the band's popularity. Host Eddie Robinson chats with the Emmy winners separately as they offer up career introspection and how their strong partnership played a significant impact on Prince. I SEE U also introduces a new guest host -- author and political science professor, Dr. Melanye Price. She'll be the guiding voice for a couple of months while Eddie becomes a new dad and goes on paternity break.
His song mashup featuring a popular Rihanna track mixed with a vintage Luther Vandross classic threw the internet music world into a frenzy! Celebrities and hip-hop artists quickly showered him with accolades and overwhelming social media support. Now, Jamir Reece Davis, aka AMORPHOUS, has become a much sought-after music producer, having released an EP called, "Things Take Shape." But how long will this momentum last? And as an openly gay artist, how will this impact his career in a hip-hop/rap industry that once embraced sexism and homophobia? Host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with AMORPHOUS in an unguarded conversation about how today's generation of content creators is carving out their own digital, pop-culture future.
Comedian Ali Siddiq spent six years in a maximum-security penitentiary on a 15-year sentence for trafficking cocaine. Siddiq discovered his voice to make people laugh behind bars. And now, he's found success all over the country and across the globe with his laid-back, sometimes stand-up, comic storytelling about being locked up, fatherhood and racism. Though he's appeared on major outlets like Comedy Central, Showtime, HBO and BET, he is reluctant to leave the city of Houston -- a place he calls home -- and relocate to media-centric cities like Los Angeles, New York or even Atlanta. Is this unwillingness to move preventing him from "being seen" more in television and movies? And how has his incarceration impacted his own style of comedy flair? Find out as host Eddie Robinson invites veteran comedian Ali Siddiq into our I SEE U studios for an open and honest dialogue about his career, what he'd be doing if he hadn't gone to prison and how he's dealing with the notions of 'cancel culture' in his profession.
Film composer Vince DiCola had never scored an entire movie before in the mid-80s. But once actor/director Sylvester Stallone heard a few of his demo tracks for Rocky IV, he decided to hire DiCola for the gig. That film ended up being one of the most financially successful movies of the Rocky franchise. In fact, earlier this summer, Stallone announced a re-release of the film with a "Director's Cut," to hit theaters in November. Join host Eddie Robinson as he chats candidly with the mastermind behind the music of Rocky IV, Vince DiCola. Plus, I SEE U could not produce a Rocky feature without exploring the signature Rocky hymnal, "Eye of The Tiger," and Eddie catches up with the song's writer/producer, Grammy-award winning Frankie Sullivan of the vintage rock band, Survivor.
Born in Afghanistan, Nadia Nadim was only 11 years old when the Taliban executed her father, who was an Army General. Her mother, along with Nadia's four sisters, ended up fleeing through neighboring Pakistan with a fake passport, before eventually arriving in Denmark -- the country she now calls home. From living in a refugee camp to winning a title for a national French soccer team, Nadia's journey to becoming an international football star seems to be the perfect ingredient for a motion picture. But her perseverance to succeed has only increased as she also works to complete medical requirements to become a reconstructive surgeon. Join host Eddie Robinson for a compelling conversation with professional soccer's dominating striker, Nadia Nadim, who's currently playing for Racing Louisville FC in the National Women's Soccer League.
There's a Spanish teacher at Bellaire High School in southwest Houston who's using a unique method of connecting with his students inside the classroom. He's creating digital dance videos on TikTok and Dubsmash as his way of building stronger relationships with his students and developing an enhanced learning environment. His dance moves have earned him hundreds of thousands of social media followers and national media coverage. But is this new teaching strategy really working? Should parents of teens be concerned about digital addiction? And what about race or gender? Are there hidden biases embedded in TikTok algorithms? Join I SEE U for a special 'Back To School' episode as host Eddie Robinson chats unguardedly with author/teacher Dr. Trevor Boffone and one of his students, Rian, for a thought-provoking exchange that focuses on different learning tactics with today's generation.
Arguably, the state of Texas' most famous death row exoneree, Anthony Charles Graves spent nearly 20 years in prison for a brutal crime that he did not commit, including 12 years on death row -- all while receiving two execution dates. Since his release more than a decade ago, Graves has been working extensively with the justice system that mistakenly put him behind bars in the first place! Join us for one of the most riveting episodes of I SEE U, as former inmate Anthony Graves speaks unguardedly with host Eddie Robinson about how he really feels about the state of Texas, his recent in-person interaction with the prosecutor in the case, and what he thinks needs to take place for criminal justice reform in this country.
Grammy-award winning mega-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis admit to I SEE U that they have nothing to prove and yet, so much to say. Although the duo had been working together for over 35 years -- writing and producing hits for other artists, they've finally released a studio album with their own marquee. 'Jam and Lewis: Vol 1,' showcases top-charting vocalists like Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Boyz II Men and The Sounds of Blackness. The iconic producers reveal to host Eddie Robinson how White club owners in the '70s shunned them from performing at venues in Minneapolis; how cultures clashed during recording sessions with English synth-pop group, The Human League; why a Janet Jackson reunion will be delayed; and what happened that made Terry Lewis almost walk away from the music industry entirely.
As Track And Field athletes prepare their mark and get set to run for the gold in Tokyo, six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee connects with I SEE U from her native East St. Louis to observe this weekend's competitive rounds. At the Seoul Summer Olympics in 1988, she became the first woman to win back-to-back gold medals in the grueling heptathlon event, as well as the first African-American woman to win an Olympic medal in the long jump. Founder and CEO of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, she speaks unguarded with host Eddie Robinson about racist incidents she experienced while competing; what makes the city of Houston so special to her; and tips on how to stay mentally focused -- as Olympians in Tokyo and as adults here in the United States, grapple with pandemic-related stress amid heightened concerns over coronavirus variants.
A young computer scientist who grew up in Mississippi is focusing her efforts on fairness and identifying biases in technology. Though she's working in Atlanta as an artificial intelligence researcher for Amazon, she's reinvesting much of her earnings towards the development of a multi-million dollar innovation center that's set to transform her native downtown Jackson. Dr. Nashlie Sephus is also CEO of The Bean Path -- a non-profit that works to bridge the "tech gap" in communities where access to technical expertise, computer coding and other resources are limited. She speaks candidly with host Eddie Robinson about her experiences in closing commercial real estate deals in the Deep South and how she's worked in a field of study where there's not many Black women with PhDs.
In 1981, militant Klansmen in East Texas waged a terror campaign against recently immigrated Vietnamese fishermen who were trying to make a living near Galveston Bay. As tensions heated up, some began to label the conflict a "race war." But a legal argument brought justice to the vulnerable community of Vietnamese refugees. Join us we take you on a journey through the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico featuring 87-year-old South Vietnamese army colonel, Nguyen Van Nam; his son Michael; and acclaimed author Kirk Johnson. Host Eddie Robinson also chats with the prosecuting attorney of the case, David Berg, as well as the lawyer representing the Ku Klux Klan--Sam Adamo.
Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, Robert Palmer, Angela Bofill and Steve Winwood are just a few names who've landed hit after hit while working with veteran keyboardist David Frank and guitarist/vocalist Mic Murphy. But the talented duo worked largely under the radar for years. Both Murphy and Frank created their musical magic and pioneering sound not only for other artists but also for themselves, under the name, THE SYSTEM, with popular songs like, "Don't Disturb This Groove," and "You Are In My System." But would they have succeeded without the help of legendary radio DJ, the late Frankie Crocker of New York's WBLS? And do radio 'tastemakers' similar to Crocker still exist in today's digital music landscape? Join us for a first-ever public media conversation with '80s synth-pop duo, THE SYSTEM. Host Eddie Robinson also chats with Dallas-based R&B/soul couple, Yarbrough & Peoples, and emerging, electronic music duo, The Midnight.
The T.R.U.T.H. Project is a non-profit in Houston that works to educate and mobilize LGBTQ+ communities of color and their allies, with resources that promote mental, emotional and sexual health through the arts. The group's founder, Kevin Anderson, recently received a grant to produce a new digital documentary entitled, "Black Boy Symphony." Shot at the Deluxe Theatre in Houston's historic downtown 5th Ward, the film explores the lives of several gay men of color in the wake of a global pandemic. Brave Black men of varying ages reveal plenty about their authentic selves and the challenges they face, including racism, homophobia and marginalization. Host Eddie Robinson chats with Anderson, the film's creator, along with one of the men featured in the movie, John Nicklos, in a deeply moving discussion that's bold, provocative and unguarded.
As an only-child growing up in the early '70s in rural Mississippi, I SEE U's Eddie Robinson admired his mom and dad. Family meant the world to him -- it gave him a deep sense of belonging. But years later, when he came out to them as gay during a phone call, his religious parents shut off all communication with him. But it was his father who finally broke the silence and expressed how much they loved and supported him. Years later, Eddie made a promise to his dad that he'd be a grandfather some day. But with no partner, limited funds and his father's unexpected death, Eddie's desire to have a child through surrogacy has become a very challenging experience. Join us as host Eddie Robinson shares his personal story of struggle and perseverance in an effort to raise a child of his own. Guests include Eddie's surrogate, Whitney Crenshaw, along with Barbara Collura of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, and mental health expert, Joey Guzman-Kuffel.
What is it about strong, Black Women of the South? You may very well discover the answer in our interview with acclaimed actress and Mississippi-native, Aunjanue Ellis. Remarkably, she's been working in the film and television industry for over 25 years, starring in movies like, "The Help," "Ray," Lifetime's "The Clark Sisters," Netflix miniseries "When They See Us," and most recently, HBO's "Lovecraft Country." In many of her acting roles, Ellis' characters are bold, fierce, audacious - fearless. Are these traits a product of her Magnolia State upbringing? Does being from the South help fuel a fire to spark action in today's climate of social unrest? Find out when Emmy-nominated actress, Aunjanue Ellis, talks candidly with host Eddie Robinson, who both hail from the same neck of the woods--McComb, Mississippi! Ellis reveals her perspective on hidden messages of prejudice in media and journalism as well as talks about her new project centered around three powerful civil rights activists of Mississippi -- Fannie Lou Hamer, Annie Devine and Victoria Gray Adams.
Earlier this year in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, singer Stevie Wonder described his plans to move permanently to Ghana, West Africa. Weeks later, comedian Dave Chappelle said he was inspired by Wonder to do the same. There's a sudden trend of Americans who are leaving the United States and relocating to a foreign country -- Americans like the Jones family. 50-year-old Tony Jones, a former Milwaukee police officer, said 'enough is enough!' Blaming racism, harassment from law enforcement and rampant discrimination as reasons for the move, Tony and his wife, Ayo -- along with their two young boys -- left their home in Houston, Texas and relocated to Ghana. What is it about West Africa that offers them a greater sense of community than here in the United States? And could this be seen as a relief to those who suggest Blacks should 'go back to where they came from?' How are lawmakers in Congress reacting to this trend of searching for democracy elsewhere? Host Eddie Robinson chats with the Jones family and gets national reaction from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
Scholars have labeled the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 as one of the most horrific incidents of racial violence in U.S. history. But why has that history remained under wraps for so long? Historian Dr. Karlos Hill of the University of Oklahoma; and Scott Ellsworth, author of "The Ground Breaking," shed new light on the disaster. And with this racial attack as a backdrop, host Eddie Robinson chats with acclaimed violinist, Daniel Roumain, about the real reason why he was recently fired from a special centennial concert hosted by Tulsa Opera. The Opera's artistic director, Tobias Picker, also makes a guest appearance and responds to Roumain's accusations with some surprising revelations.
With the anniversary of George Floyd's death, two preachers -- one Black, one White -- both of large congregations in Houston, share unguarded perspectives on why some evangelical Christians have largely remained silent on race-related issues in America where social justice concerns are taking center stage. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, Senior Pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist and Dr. Steve Wells, Senior Pastor of South Main Baptist join 'I SEE U' Host Eddie Robinson in a surprising conversation where all participants reveal a sense of openness, vulnerability and authenticity.
I SEE U's premiere episode welcomes Oscar-winning filmmaker, Kevin Willmott, Duke University researcher, Dr. Adriene Lentz Smith and film producer, Brandy Byers. We'll reveal unexplored takeaways from a film Willmott directed and released in 2020 called, "THE 24th." The movie takes place in 1917, where soldiers from the Army's all-Black 24th Infantry Regiment become involved in a deadly riot in Houston. Throughout the course of the film, soldiers kept putting each other down and calling each other names. Guests talk candidly about the notion of colorism within the Black community and why so many African-Americans tend to discriminate and criticize each other. The episode will also grapple with why some White Americans tend to avoid discussions dealing with racism and prefer to look ahead and not dwell into the past.
One outgrowth of the social changes happening around us is people who have been historically disenfranchised are now taking control of their own narratives. I SEE U with Eddie Robinson brings those voices to a wider audience.
The show features candid interviews with newsmakers, filmmakers, musicians and community leaders that help us understand the cultural shifts that are changing our society in so many ways – surprising interviews filled with unpredictability, vulnerability and even a little playfulness.
Eddie shepherds a new approach to the talk show and podcast format. The show’s design weaves personal histories and compelling storytelling into unique soundscapes. Captivating conversations drive listeners to reconsider preconceived notions about race and ethnicity, fairness, justice and much more. Ultimately, I SEE U will help us learn more about ourselves and each other; explore the origins of our biases and find ways to live together regardless of the color of our skin or our cultural differences.
Listen to I SEE U with Eddie Robinson every Saturday at 1pm on News 88.7, starting May 15. And subscribe to the podcast by visiting the website ISEEUshow.org.