Undisciplined: Recent Episodes
KUAF 91.3 Public Radio
Undisciplined is a podcast produced in collaboration with the African and African American Studies program with the University and KUAF Public Radio. Hosted by Dr. Caree Banton, this podcast will push the confines of your traditional academic disciplines and unveil how the objectives of African and African American studies can be found in the everyday if you just look.
We talk with Arkansas International Writer-at-Risk, Uchenna Awoke about his debut novel, "The Liquid Eye of a Moon." Described as a modern day, A Nigerian Catcher in the Rye, Uchenna Awoke’s masterful debut breaks the silence about a hidden and dangerous contemporary caste system. The Liquid Eye of a Moon" is by turns hilarious and poignant, capturing all the messiness of adolescence, and the difficulty of making your own way in a world that seeks to oppress you.
In this podcast episode, we speak to Michad Holliday a PhD student in education about his upcoming documentary that covers the massive educator exodus that is presently plaguing our public school system. He investigates the cause through a social justice lens, by connecting the initial southern exodus following the Sweat vs Painter and McLaurin versus Oklahoma State Regents higher learning cases, which set the precedent for the landmark, Brown V. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. He also explores how the 14th Amendment set off another public-school exodus and eventually what happened in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, "The Little Rock Nine" and cover Charter Schools and the privatization of public education, which has recently been exacerbated by the new Arkansas LEARNS Act.
In this podcast episode, we tell you who we are as host and cohost, what Undisciplined is all about and in providing a brief breakdown of the upcoming season we highlight why you the listeners should tune in to us.
In this episode, we shift the narrative of summer school from punishment to enrichment. Dr. Lakia Scott, Assistant Provost for Faculty Development & Diversity at Yale University, shares her experience as the Founding Executive Director of the Baylor Freedom Schools Program. This episode explores the program's enrichment impact on students, strategies for fostering successful collaborations with local school districts and other sponsors, and the logistical and cultural considerations in building the program and curricula. The program's unique focus on texts that explore citizenship, government, History, and culture as a pathway to expand African American students' access to educational enrichment, equity, and opportunity is particularly relevant in an education policy era that may be widening the opportunity gap.
Historian, Angela Sutton, speaks to us about her groundbreaking new book, PIRATES OF THE SLAVE TRADE: THE BATTLE OF CAPE LOPEZ AND THE BIRTH OF AN AMERICAN INSTITUTION, in which she explores how a pivotal battle between the British navy and a notorious pirate crew, led by “Black Bart” Roberts, cleared the way for an explosion of the slave trade, the establishment of chattel slavery in the Americas, and the deadly racism that still permeates U.S. society. She also speaks to us about her current work at Fort Negley and what it means to do the work of breaking the barriers created by slavery, racism, and other inequities.
In this episode, we chat with Victor Luckerson, journalist and author of Built From the Fire, recognized as a Best Book of the Year by the New York Times, is a multigenerational saga of a family and a community in Tulsa’s Greenwood district, known as “Black Wall Street.” Listeners can look forward to exploring the differences between the mythology about the Tulsa Race Massacre and the evidential facts of what occurred before, during, and after the massacre. Join us as we explore the connections between the forms of racial violence of the past and modern forms of racial violence enacted through policies like urban renewal and gentrification. Enjoy the lessons that critical figures of Black Wall Street have to teach us about women, Black love, wealth, and success.
In this episode of Undisciplined, we explore the complexities, conscientious choices, and cultural considerations that impact the development of textbooks. American Historian, author, and academic Dr. Kathleen DuVal talks with us about how her interests in early American history led to her co-authorship on Give Me Liberty! We put the textbook in conversation with the current textbook culture throughout the United States, its use and relevance for curriculum and instruction in the 7-12 social studies classroom, and the topics yet to be explored. This episode is a fascinating dive into understanding how the everyday citizen should read, question, and analyze textbooks for their storytelling of truth versus fact.
This podcast is based on Roberts' recent book, I've Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land. We explore questions around Black freedom and Native American relationships. The trail of tears runs through NWA and Native Americans moved though the area with their enslaved Africans. Furthermore, with westward expansion onto Native land, the question of black citizenship would be co-mingled with the issue. As Black, white, and Native people recreated concepts of race, belonging, and national identity, Indian Territory became a space where Black people could flee to escape the ravishes of Jim Crow, as well as finally become landowners and while also exercising political rights. But Blacks have had to sue Native Nations for citizenship rights in recent years. Now with increasing calls for reparations and demands for land, Black and Native relationships are necessary to understand. Alaina Roberts, Associate professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh.Check out her website: https://alainaeroberts.com/
In this episode, we get to know Dr. Karynecia Elizabeth Conner, the new Co-host of Undisciplined Podcast! We learn about the twists and turns on Karynecia's life path that has led her to us and the University of Arkansas! You'll learn how she used tragedy to triumph, what makes her so Texas, what her greatest inspirations are, and what the listeners can expect from her as a co-host. Don't miss this one!
University of Arkansas Museum’s Laurel Lamb speaks about artifacts and objects available in the University Museum and the new activities available for families, children and the public.
In this episode, we speak to three Black Film makers about conveying Black history through the lens of films. We explore how these different kinds of storytelling are facilitating new kinds of narratives about African Americans and Arkansas as well as helping to transform the single story and stereotypes about African Americans.Caree Banton, @diasporise, the_forgetful_historianKarynecia Conner @thewordyprofessor
In this episode, Fayetteville High School Students weigh in on a conversation that has largely affected their lives but from which people like them tend to be excluded. These students reflect on Black History and policies and politics Surrounding their Education including the Black History Curriculum, the Learns Act, the banning of AP African American Studies and Critical Race Studies that affect their learning.
Kenneth Tagoe, currently an M.A. History student from Ghana, West Africa is passionate about Pan-Africanism. He grew up idolizing Pan-African icons like Marcus Garvey, Du Bois, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Kwame Nkrumah and the ideas of black consciousness advocated by Frederick Douglass. In this episode, we explore the History of the Black Bombers, Ghana's Amateur Boxing Team, and its contribution to Pan- Pan-Africanism and nation-building in Ghana.
This collaborative episode between the R-Word and Undisciplined Podcasts is a discussion of the history of reparations, the views of three members of the Zacchaeus Foundation organization who are involved in community efforts for reparations, and student questions and views on the subject.
This episode is an interview with Sarah Collins Rudolph. Sarah Collins Rudolph, often referred to as the "Fifth Little Girl," is a survivor of the 1963 Birmingham church bombing. Born on January 26, 1951, in Birmingham, Alabama, Rudolph lost her sister, Addie Mae Collins, and three other girls in the bombing. She herself sustained severe injuries. Her story represents resilience and a powerful witness to history.
We speak to Bassekou Kouyate, a griot (storyteller via music) from Mali, a true masters of the ngoni, an ancient traditional lute found throughout West Africa. He is a virtuoso, innovator, stronghold of tradition all at the same time.*Produced by Matthew Moore
We speak to a student who has interest in African and African American Studies from a medicine and health perspective. She explores why being an African and African American Studies major is important especially for those considering medical school
The podcast host speak with Allan Hatch, an Economics PhD student about work and involvement in advocacy on campus with the Black Graduate Students Association and Graduate Professional Congress.Caree Banton diasporise, the_forgetful_historianNenebi Tony (IG HANDLES: @everyday.NWA)AAST (@uarkaast)Allan Hatch Instagram:@uark_bgsa@uofagpsc
African and African American Studies (AAST) partners with Mr. Ron Harris of A Level Up to collect and deliver relief to the victims of the tormado in Little Rock and Wynn, Arkansas. They discuss why the University and community partnership is necessary and valuable.Mr. Ron Harriswww.AlevelUp.org
We explore the intricacies of Southern politics and culture and how it has had an outsized effect on American politics and way of life. Our guest, Angie Maxwell is Director of the Diane Blair Center of Southern Politics and Society at the University of Arkansas and an award-winning author. Her forthcoming book, "The Long Southern Strategy”, unpack the evolving landscape of Southern politics and its national implications.
Professor Todd Cleveland currently teaches History of Africa and History of Football at the university of Arkansas. In this episode we explore the complicated relationship between the love of football in Africa, labor and social relations.
Professor Trish Starks currently teaches race and medicine (Bad Medicine Honors course) at the University of Arkansas. This episode will explore how medical abuse has persisted and flourished in the modern era, with a specific focus on black people at the receiving end of such abuses.
Dr. Caree Banton, Director of the African and African American Studies Program at the University of Arkansas, returns to host season 5 of Undisciplined. In the first episode of the new season, Dr. Banton introduces some of the concepts she will explore with new co-host Nenebi Tony, a writer and researcher hailing from Ghana, West Africa and a graduate student pursuing a Master's in Food and Agricultural Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Feeding America ranks Arkansas—the home of Tyson Foods and Walmart—as the second most food insecure state in the United States. What does it look like to have a better understanding of where our food comes from and what does food justice mean? Terrius Bruce is a doctoral student studying these questions and is the guest on the latest episode of Undisciplined.
Mary Church Terrell was described in her eulogy as an "unceasing militant" by legendary singer Paul Robeson. Dr. Allison Parker recently wrote a biography of Mary Church Terrell and wrestles with the idea of what it means to be unceasing in your activism over many decades and across many political movements.
Dr. Alexia Angton joins the podcast to discuss her research on youth and crime as well as the school to prison pipeline in the United States.
In the final installment of Undisciplined Live during Black History Month, we recorded at Art Ventures in Fayetteville to discuss Arkansas' agricultural relationship with rice as well as an exploration of the Black diaspora through the making of rice.
Coming to you live from Memorial Hall on the University of Arkansas campus, we discuss the history and current work being done on food insecurity in Northwest Arkansas. Our panel includes, David Street, Judy Kamau, Terrius Bruce, Denise Garner, Monique Jones, and Casey Cowan.
Coming to you live from the Squire Jehagan Outreach Center in Fayetteville, we take the podcast on the road to discuss the story of black erasure in northwest Arkansas. Our panel includes Sharon Killian, Chris Seawood, Tommie Davis, and Ngozi Brown. For details on upcoming live recordings, head to https://kuaf.com/livepodcast
There's been a lot of conversation around bail reform nationwide. What would it actually look like if the justice system took a hard look at the impact of the excessive bail prices? Jon Comstock of the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition comes to Undisciplined to talk about the history and hopeful progress of bail reform.
The National Football League accounted for 82 of the 100 most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts in 2022. And yet, NFL players do not have guaranteed contracts, and the league average career length is just over 3 years. In the season 4 premiere of Undisciplined, we hear from Dr. Charles Ross, a professor of history and expert in African American history and sports history.
In the season three finale of the podcast, we finish our conversation with Dr. Calvin White, Jr. discussing his work on Oscar De Priest, the 1919 Elaine Race Massacre, and thinking about the way history is taught in Arkansas.
Church in the African American tradition is a major element of life. For Dr. Calvin White, Jr., it was also the source material for his 2012 book The Rise to Respectability: Race Religion and the Church of God in Christ. In our conversation, we discuss the impact of growing up COGIC and more.
One of the hallmarks of the African and African American Studies program at the University of Arkansas is the semester abroad in Ghana. Today we hear from Kim Jannsen who has been on this trip twice. She shares the expectations, emotions, and impact the trip to Ghana had on her life.
When Americans think of vodou, we often think of the dolls, the stereotypes from the New Orleans shops, and witchcraft. Dr. Patrick Bellegarde-Smith helps us demystify and better understand the religion of Haitian vodou on this episode.
Verlon Stone is a special advisor at the Indiana University Liberian Collections, but his main goal is to help connect people with the sort of resources and research that helps them to build their own communities and understanding. He joins us to discuss his work, his passions, and more.
The sport basketball was famously invented by James Naismith in 1891, and within a matter of years, African Americans picked up the sport and began playing. Claude Johnson is the author of The Black Fives and has researched extensively the history of African American basketball teams predating integrated professional basketball leagues in the United States.
The sport basketball was famously invented by James Naismith in 1891, and within a matter of years, African Americans picked up the sport and began playing. Claude Johnson is the author of The Black Fives and has researched extensively the history of African American basketball teams predating integrated professional basketball leagues in the United States.
Do you remember the first time you were keenly aware of your body? Maybe a bully a school pointed out your skin tone, or you noticed your hair didn't look quite like your siblings. Body image plays a major role in our lives, and not just as kids. On today's episode we hear from Dr. Angela Mensah, an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas.
Do you remember the first time you were keenly aware of your body? Maybe a bully a school pointed out your skin tone, or you noticed your hair didn't look quite like your siblings. Body image plays a major role in our lives, and not just as kids. On today's episode we hear from Dr. Angela Mensah, an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas.
Joseph Wood is a surprising man in many ways. He was abandoned on the streets as a baby and was eventually fostered and adopted. He nearly became a Catholic priest. He’s a proud alumni of the historically black fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi. He’s a Chicago native Republican. And he’s also the first black county judge in the state of Arkansas. He sits down for an interview to discuss his life and time in politics with the Undisciplined crew.
Joseph Wood is a surprising man in many ways. He was abandoned on the streets as a baby and was eventually fostered and adopted. He nearly became a Catholic priest. He’s a proud alumni of the historically black fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi. He’s a Chicago native Republican. And he’s also the first black county judge in the state of Arkansas. He sits down for an interview to discuss his life and time in politics with the Undisciplined crew.
Black enslaved women were the center of the profit world in America; they not only produced capital with their free labor in the fields, but they reproduced more capital and more workers. In a post-slavery society, they have had to hold space for white men, white women, and Black men—often at their own expense. Joi McGowan is one of the founders of Resilient Black Women and she joins us to talk about mental health and the uphill battle for Black Women to get the care they deserve and need. Host: Caree Banton Producer and Cohost: Matthew MooreGuest: Joi McGowanUndisciplined is a production of KUAF Public Radio and Ozarks at Large.
Black enslaved women were the center of the profit world in America; they not only produced capital with their free labor in the fields, but they reproduced more capital and more workers. In a post-slavery society, they have had to hold space for white men, white women, and Black men—often at their own expense. Joi McGowan is one of the founders of Resilient Black Women and she joins us to talk about mental health and the uphill battle for Black Women to get the care they deserve and need. Host: Caree Banton Producer and Cohost: Matthew MooreGuest: Joi McGowanUndisciplined is a production of KUAF Public Radio and Ozarks at Large.
In celebration of Juneteenth, Undisciplined held a live taping of the podcast in front of an audience at NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, Arkansas. The topic of discussion was continuing the work of freedom in the spirit of Juneteenth, with three panelists doing the work of justice and freedom in northwest Arkansas.
Our host Dr. Caree Banton was interviewed alongside Allan Benson, the director of student life at Northwest Arkansas Community College on the latest edition of Ozarks at Large. As we’re coming up on the live taping, we wanted to share this interview about what you can look forward to with Saturday’s event. The Juneteenth Celebration at NWACC starts at 2pm, we’ll be taping our live episode at 4pm. We’ll see you on Saturday!
Undisciplined will be having a live taping June 11th at NorthWest Arkansas Community College's Juneteenth Celebration event! The live podcast episode will be called “Movement Towards Freedom Now” and will feature Sarah Moore and Beth Coger from the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition, Monique Jones from the Food Pantry at St. James Baptist Church in Fayetteville, and the folks behind the Instagram account Black Owned NWA. For more, visit kuaf.com/livepodcast
In part two of our conversation with Michael Pierce, we hear what happens to Nelson Hackett, his impact on fugitivity and slavery in North America, and more.
Host Caree Banton is joined by Michael Pierce, an associate professor of history at the University of Arkansas to talk about the story of Nelson Hackett's escape from Fayetteville.
If you’re familiar at all with the west African nation of Liberia, perhaps you know it as a nation founded as a place for formerly enslaved African-Americans to return back to Africa following the American Civil War. However, Liberia became home for many Caribbean migrants as well from nations like Barbados and Trinidad. In the latest episode of Undisciplined, we hear from Lorenzo Witherspoon. Witherspoon is an ambassador from Liberia, working alongside Nelson Mandela, the World Health Organization, and an international renaissance man.
On today's episode, we talk to Mary Henningan, a journalist who recently reported on a racial massacre in St. Charles, Arkansas in 1904 and her editor Rob Wells.
A surprise period can ruin someone's day. That's why April Roy created FemPAQ. Today we hear about why it's important to talk about menstruation and the challenges of being a Black woman entrepreneur pitching to a room full of older men.
The conversation today focuses on infrastructure, interstate highways, and their impact on black communities. Airic Hughes discusses his research on I-630, the auxiliary interstate that runs through the heart of Little Rock and separates the white and nonwhite neighborhoods in the city. Host: Caree Banton Guest: Airic Hughes Producer: Matthew Moore Associate Producer: Sean Shoemaker Undisciplined is a production of KUAF Public Radio.
Undisciplined comes to you live from the Historic St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville. Our panel includes Lowell Taylor, Dustin McGowan, and Suzanne Bridges.
Undisciplined comes to you live from Aki'bart Gallery in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Our panel includes Chris Chaney, Sherry Toliver, Talicia Richardson, John Blue, and Jay Richardson.
On today's episode of Undisciplined, we bring your our live recording from February 8th at Into+View Gallery in Rogers, Arkansas.
Host Caree Banton talks with Dr. Jacquelyn Weirsma-Mosley to helps us understand where our cultural competence sits on the continuum between denial and adaptation.
Undisciplined returns with the launch of season two. Host Caree Banton talks with Dr. Ernest Yufenyuy, a research scientist at the Center for Disease Control, about his research on HIV and AIDS and what that can teach us about the current pandemic of COVID-19.
In the season finale of Undisciplined, we look back on some past conversations about music and its impact on African and African American Studies. Plus, a look ahead at our next season.
Dr. Valandra is a professor of Social Work at the University of Arkansas. She talks about her work breaking the stereotypes of physical and sexual assault, the impact of trauma in multigenerational family settings, and learning to be resilient through coping with past trauma.
Growing up in Little Rock, Warrington Sebree wasn't exactly sure what he wanted to do when he grew up, but he knew where he wanted to go: the University of Arkansas. In this episode, host Dr. Caree Banton turns the tables on her co-host Warrington to talk about growing up in Arkansas, being a part of the 4.4% of black students on the campus, and what compelled him to study African and African American Studies. Now Warrington is in his first year of law school at the HBCU mecca Howard University.
The pivotal players in the Civil Rights movement may not be names we are all familiar with. Ella Baker. Bayard Rustin. And locally, Osyrus Bolly. On today's episode of Undisciplined, we talk about the unseen elements that go into making movements happen, especially on the local level.
Toni Morrison once said, "This is precisely the time when artists got to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal." On today's episode, hosts Caree Banton and Warrington Sebree are joined by Sharon Killian to discuss the impact of art in the Black community. Sharon Killian is president of Art Ventures and an artist herself.
Political science is more than just politics. Nonviolent protesting is not the only option. Hashtags on social media have a global impact. These are just a few of the revelations shared with by our guest on today's episode, Dr. Najja Baptist. Dr. Baptist is a political science professor at the University of Arkansas.
Racial terror and lynchings were not just something that happened in the Delta. RoAnne Elliott, the leader of the Washington County Community Remembrance Project, shares her experience of exploring history—both oral and written—to discover the stories of three enslaved Black men who were lynched and hung in Fayetteville.
Haiti may be considered the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and a country we Americans only hear about when there's a massive earthquake or political turmoil. But Haiti is a nation with tremendous legacy. Haiti was a nation that beat three European empires to become a free nation. Haiti was the first nation to ban slavery. It was the first nation in Latin America and the Caribbean to achieve independence. And so much more. Our guest today is Obed Lamy, a Haitian scholar, journalist, and filmmaker.
On our premiere episode of Undisciplined, we discuss the begininnings and impact of the study of African and African American Studies in higher education. Our guest is Dr. Scot Brown, an associate professor of African American studies and History at the University of California, Los Angeles. We also spend time understanding and discussing critical race theory, and how it is being perceived in our current culture.
Undisciplined is a podcast produced in collaboration with the African and African American Studies program with the University of Arkansas and KUAF Public Radio. Hosted by Dr. Caree Banton, this podcast will push the confines of your traditional academic disciplines and unveil how the objectives of African and African American studies can be found in the everyday if you just look.