Search Results

< Back At Age 88, Birmingham Radio Legend Shelley Stewart: ‘I Ain’t Tired Yet Jamaica Harris Bowser For The Birmingham Times Feb 1, 2023 It’s an unseasonably warm January morning, and Dr. Shelley Stewart is sitting in his home office in Shelby County, Alabama. At first glance, the space looks like an ordinary room with books on shelves, papers on a desk, and a file cabinet against a wall. But this room holds a wealth of mementos that demonstrate why Stewart is an icon in Birmingham and beyond. Shelley “The Playboy” Stewart was the radio voice for the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, became co-owner of the city’s WATV-AM, and co-founded o2ideas, an award-winning full-service advertising agency based in the Magic City. To many, Stewart is a Civil Rights Foot Soldier and radio great. But Stewart, who spent his childhood living in basements and barns, doesn’t see himself that way. “I’m that same little homeless street kid even to this day—no more, no less,” said Stewart, 88. Read More Previous Article Next Article

< Back Winnowed by the Hardships of His Youth, This Top Ad Executive is Now an Advocate for Keeping Kids in Schoollogy can help curb attention disorders Karim Shamsi-Basha for American Essence Jul 18, 2022 Shelley Stewart was 6 years old when he watched his alcoholic father, Huell Jerome Sr., kill his mother, Mattie C., at their Rosedale home in Alabama. This was back in 1939, and there was never an investigation. Shelley ran away shortly after and became homeless. A family took him in to live in their basement, and he remained in school at Rosedale Elementary. Mamie Foster, his first-grade teacher, told him what would turn his life around: “If you learn how to read, you can be anything you want to be.” Shelley did well in school and became a successful radio DJ, hanging out with BB King, Nat King Cole, and Odis Redding. During the ’60s, the outspoken radio star became a target for the KKK. They spray-painted his studio with death threats, but Shelley continued the fight. In 1967, his friend Cy Steiner asked him to partner with him. They started O2ideas, which became one of the leading advertising agencies in the country. Read More Previous Article Next Article

< Back Unsung Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement Brian Jewell Mar 4, 2023 Born in the early 1930s in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Shelley Stewart became a major voice in the fight for civil rights. When Stewart was a teenager, his gift for speaking earned him a spot as a radio talk show host, incredibly, for that time in history, at a white-owned station. Yet his popularity continued to grow, landing him gigs as a disc jockey and an emcee for other stations and at popular event venues in the Birmingham area and further afield. Stewart eventually became co-owner of station WATV-AM, and in the 1960s during the height of the civil rights movement, he used his platform and influence to support numerous activists and equal rights causes. Read More Previous Article Next Article

Wild Spirit Client: Matthew Wagner Year: 2023 This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. To manage all your collections, click on the Content Manager button in the Add panel on the left. Previous Next

Wix Forum is no longer available This application has been discontinued. If you need community app use Wix Groups.

Season 8: SEASON 8: EPISODE 1 The Immigration Story of George Sarris. SEASON 8: EPISODE 2 George Subira: Teaching Black People to Sell. SEASON 8: EPISODE 3 The Legend of Willie Lynch. SEASON 8: EPISODE 4 Ezekwa Abdullah Discusses Willie Lynch in the Late 90s. SEASON 8: EPISODE 5 "The Colored Doctor," Dr Cashen. SEASON 8: EPISODE 6 The Last Interview with Eddie Kendricks [Rebroadcast]. SEASON 8: EPISODE 7 Internalized Racism [Rebroadcast]. SEASON 8: EPISODE 8 Interview with Hosea Williams: Did the Dream of Dr King Become a Nightmare [Rebroadcast]. SEASON 8: EPISODE 9 Rare Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King [Rebroadcast]. SEASON 8: EPISODE 10 Hate Crimes [Rebroadcast]. SEASON 8: EPISODE 11 Shelley Reflects on Black History Month and Racism[Rebroadcast]. SEASON 8: EPISODE 12 The Back Porch: Race, Racism and Happiness [Rebroadcast]. SEASON 8: EPISODE 13 Should We End Black History Month? [Rebroadcast]. Click An Icon Below To Listen To Shelley's Plumbline Learn More Book For Speaking Engagements

Internalized racism refers to the subtle yet pervasive ways in which individuals from marginalized racial or ethnic groups internalize negative societal messages about their own race or ethnicity. It can manifest in self-hatred, low self-esteem, and a distorted self-perception. ​ In this episode of Shelley's Plumbline, Dr. Shelley Stewart discusses the pervasive problem of internalized racism with Brother Ezekweh. Episode #1: Internalized Racism Internalized racism refers to the subtle yet pervasive ways in which individuals from marginalized racial or ethnic groups internalize negative societal messages about their own race or ethnicity. It can manifest in self-hatred, low self-esteem, and a distorted self-perception. Internalized racism can also result in individuals adopting harmful stereotypes and beliefs about their own racial group, leading to self-limiting behaviors and perpetuating systemic racism. Overcoming internalized racism requires self-awareness, education, and conscious efforts to challenge and reject negative societal messages, and embrace positive aspects of one's cultural heritage. It is a complex and ongoing process that necessitates collective efforts to combat racism at both individual and societal levels. This episode of Shelley's Plumbline discusses the pervasive problem of internalized racism with Brother Ezekweh. View Episode 1 Details & Resources Click An Icon Below To Listen To Podcast Dive Deeper PBS THAT GOT WEIRD: A True Story of Internalized Racism Episode 3 Jo points out that racism and microaggressions don’t always come from white people – internalized racism is real and harmful. Whether within her own community or in inner-city youth, Jo talks about her opinions and experiences with internalized racism, the way we process racism, and how to be better than our mistakes. Watch Video Racial Equity Tools Internalized Racism Donna Bivens provides this definition of internalized racism in her chapter from Flipping the Script: White Privilege and Community Building on “What Is Internalized Racism? ”: “As people of color are victimized by racism, we internalize it. That is, we develop ideas, beliefs, actions and behaviors that support or collude with racism. This internalized racism has its own systemic reality and its own negative consequences in the lives and communities of people of color. More than just a consequence of racism, then, internalized racism is a systemic oppression in reaction to racism that has a life of its own. In other words, just as there is a system in place that reinforces the power and expands the privilege of white people, there is a system in place that actively d [...] Explore Racial Equity Tools SAGE Journals The Associations Between Internalized Racism, Racial Identity, and Psychological Distress Internalized racism, or the acceptance of negative stereotypes about one’s own racial group, is associated with psychological distress; yet, few studies have explored the longitudinal impact of internalized racism on the psychological well-being of African American emerging adults. Furthermore, racial identity’s role as a protective factor in the context of internalized racism remains unclear. This study examined the longitudinal impact of internalized racism on psychological distress ... Read Research Ted Talk Black Self, White World: Lessons on internalized racism | Jabari Lyles | TEDxTysonsSalon Community leader, activist and educator Jabari Lyles discusses his personal journey to understanding and loving himself as a black man, in spite of growing up among a predominantly white community. Jabari Lyles is an educator, nonprofit leader and community leader in Baltimore, Maryland. His work focuses on positive outcomes for youth and the LGBTQ community, especially LGBTQ youth of color. He is currently Director of the Maryland chapter of GLSEN, the leading national organization championing LGBTQ issues in K-12 schools. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx Listen Now

Today Shelley shares an interview from 1995 with Ezekwa Abdullah. Ezekwa argues that Blacks still repress themselves and suffer a form of psychological slavery in the collective subconscious psyche because attitudes of repression have been preserved and passed from one generation to the next. The ghost of the plantation exists today because not enough has been done to condemn this point of view. Slavery: A difficult topic of conversation The problem is, no one likes to talk about slavery. For blacks descended from slaves, the subject evokes feelings of shame and embarrassment associated with the degradations of slavery. For whites whose ancestry makes them complicit, there are feelings of guilt about a system that is incongruent with the with the democratic ideals on which this country was founded. It may be easier to allow everyone to remain in their comfort zone. But today as the US faces what would appear to be an epidemic of race-based attacks committed by whites, it is time to examine how our history of racism affects the mental health of African Americans as well as that of whites. - Brian Snyder/Reuters Season Two: Episode 10 The Plantation Ghost Today Shelley shares an interview from 1995 with Ezekwa Abdullah. Ezekwa argues that Blacks still repress themselves and suffer a form of psychological slavery in the collective subconscious psyche because attitudes of repression have been preserved and passed from one generation to the next. The ghost of the plantation exists today because not enough has been done to condemn this point of view. Click An Icon Below To Listen To Shelley's Plumbline Podcast Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn . Relevant Videos The Psychological Residuals of Slavery (Length 2:06) Psychotherapy.net Dr. Na'im Akbar - An Aware Profile (Length 58:46) WSRE PBS (Pensacola, FL) Host DeeDee Sharp interviews clinical psychologist, educator and author Dr. Na'im Akbar. Essence Magazine proclaimed him as one of the world's preeminent psychologists and a pioneer in the development of an African-centered approach to modern psychology. Dr. Akbar has served as associate professor at Norfolk State University, was chairman of Morehouse College's Psychology Department and is currently on the faculty of the Department of Psychology at Florida State University. He has served on numerous boards, including the National Association of Black Psychologists, and also served as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Black Psychology. He was the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Scholar Award. He has been written about in numerous national and international publications & magazines, and has been interviewed on numerous TV shows, including Tony Brown's Journal, The Geraldo Show and the Oprah Winfrey Show. Want to learn more about Dr. Na'im Akbar? Na'im Akbar is a clinical psychologist well known for his Afrocentric approach to psychology. He is a distinguished scholar, public speaker, and author. Akbar entered the world of Black psychology in the 1960s, as the Black Power Movement was gaining momentum. Watch Shifting the Paradigm Part 1& 2 Click Here To Watch Part 1 Click Here To Watch Part 2 Psychological Slavery Full Episode | American Black Journal (Length 28:46) Detroit Public TV Key Moments 3:33 Generation by Generation Slavery Taught 4:34 You have to Maintain a Dual Consciousness 8:14 Work Ethic 11:24 Phone Lines 12:07 Africa 13:47 Racial Balance 14:11 Psychological Slavery 23:15 The Black Power the Black Pride Movement 27:12 Light Skin Versus Dark Skin Forgiveness and grace are, indeed, hallmarks of the Black Church. Since slavery, the church has been a formidable force for the survival of blacks in an America still grappling with the residual effects of white supremacy. This was eloquently illustrated in the aftermath of the Charleston church massacre. Americans rightly stood in awe of the bereaved families’ laudable demonstration of God’s grace in action. But what about the psychic toll that these acts of forgiveness exact? Learn More African Americans experience much higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and negative health outcomes compared to Whites in the US. Michael J Halloran writes that the intergenerational cultural trauma caused by 300 years of slavery – alongside poor economic circumstances and social prejudice – has led to the poor state of physical, psychological and social health among African Americans. Learn More The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration is situated on a site in Montgomery where Black people were forced to labor in bondage. Blocks from one of the most prominent slave auction spaces in America, the Legacy Museum is steps away from the rail station where tens of thousands of Black people were trafficked during the 19th century. Watch Now The purpose of this research investigation is to explore cultural trauma theory on African American young adult development. Cultural trauma theory asserts the adverse cross-cultural encounter, North American slavery, reproduces intergenerational psychosocial legacies for contemporary African Americans. Accordingly, cultural trauma theory is used to explore with African American young adults three "slave" legacies: ethnic identity formation, perceptions of racism, and racial socialization experiences. A qualitative case study approach is used for (N=26) participants enrolled in either college or a GED program. Each young adult participates in either an individual or focus group interview. To aid in data triangulation, older African American adults (N=7) are also interviewed. Learn More Relevant Books In this book you will learn how to break the chains of your mental slavery by ordering this new book by one of the world's outstanding experts on the African-American mind. View More Are African-Americans still slaves? Why can't Black folks get together? What is the psychological consequence for Blacks and Whites of picturing God as a Caucasian? Learn to break the chains of your mental slavery with this new book by one of the world's outstanding experts on the African-American mind. View More This collection of essays surveys the practices, behaviors, and beliefs that developed during slavery in the Western Hemisphere, and the lingering psychological consequences that continue to impact the descendants of enslaved Africans today. The psychological legacies of slavery highlighted in this volume were found independently in Brazil, the U.S., Belize, Jamaica, Colombia, Haiti, and Martinique. They are color prejudice, self and community disdain, denial of trauma, black-on-black violence, survival crime, child beating, underlying African spirituality, and use of music and dance as community psychotherapy. The effects on descendants of slave owners include a belief in white supremacy, dehumanization of self and others, gun violence, and more. Essays also offer solutions for dealing with this vast psychological legacy. View More Through stories (including their own), interviews, and analysis of the most recent data available, Dr. Alvin Poussaint and journalist Amy Alexander offer a groundbreaking look at ’posttraumatic slavery syndrome,’ the unique physical and emotional perils for black people that are the legacy of slavery and persistent racism. They examine the historical, cultural, and social factors that make many blacks reluctant to seek health care, and cite ways that everyone from the layperson to the health care provider can help. View More Upload

Today’s episode of Shelley’s Plumbline features an interview from 1989 with Orlando Jones, a one-time track star at the University of Alabama. Orlando shares his story of how he went from running on a track as an All-American scholarship athlete to running drugs across the border in Mexico, eventually getting caught and landing in prison. He shares his message in the hope that others might avoid his fate. Season Two: Episode 07 From Running Track to Running Drugs: An Interview with Orlando Jones Today’s episode of Shelley’s Plumbline features an interview from 1989 with Orlando Jones, a one-time track star at the University of Alabama. Orlando shares his story of how he went from running on a track as an All-American scholarship athlete to running drugs across the border in Mexico, eventually getting caught and landing in prison. He shares his message in the hope that others might avoid his fate. "Nobody makes it alone." - Oprah Winfrey Click An Icon Below To Listen To Shelley's Plumbline Podcast Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn . Listen To Similar Podcast Episodes Now! SEASON ONE: EPISODE 7 Teenage Gangs In 1989, two gang members from the Birmingham area approached Shelley and asked to be on his show, "Open Mic." They wanted to share their experiences about the myths and realities of gang life and share their regrets over the youth they lost while acting as members of a gang. Ironically, the mother of one of the gang members heard her son on the show and came in the following morning to share her feelings and warnings with other parents. While the nature of gang life has changed between 1989 and 2023, there are a surprising number of things that are still in common. In fact, you might be surprised to discover the backgrounds of many gang members are not what you think. View Episode 7 Details & Resources SEASON ONE: EPISODE 8: Part 2 of Stories From Teenage Gang Members & Drug Dealers Series Today’s episode reaches back to 1986 and was part of a series of interviews Shelley did on Open Mic with drug dealers and youth gangs. This individual had a promising career as a backup drummer for the well-known blues musician Bobby “Blue” Bland. Unfortunately, the lure of easy money pulled him into the world of dealing cocaine, Although he didn’t start dealing drugs until he was 44 years old. He shares stories about how, at that time, cocaine was cut with laxatives and even embalming fluid, and how the cutting agents were often more dangerous than the drug itself. He finishes his story by recounting the death of his cousin and fiance at the hands of three drug users. Stay tuned and learn from his life as we continue this series on youth gangs and drug dealers. View Episode 8 Details & Resources SEASON ONE: EPISODE 9: Part 3 of Stories From Teenage Gang Members & Drug Dealers Series This episode concludes our series on youth gangs and drug dealers with an interview of a young man who began dealing drugs at the age of 16. He was brought into a gang at the age of 10 and exposed to the life of a drug dealer. During that time, he’d seen fellow gang members killed and maimed. He even shares a harrowing description of mutilation that happened to a fellow gang member. Listener discretion is advised. He finally realizes what he missed and what he lost, and he shares a message with other young people. View Episode 9 Details & Resources Shelley Stewart_InsideOut Clip Play Video InsideOut Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close Order A Copy Of InsideOut Today! Shop Now Prisoners Have A Message To Our Youth Play Video All Videos Shelley's Plumbline It's More Than Just A Podcast Upload

Season 1: SEASON 1: EPISODE 1 Internalized Racism SEASON 1: EPISODE 2 Should We End Black History Month? SEASON 1: EPISODE 3 Did Dr. M. L. King's Dream Become A Nightmare? SEASON 1: EPISODE 4 Homelessness SEASON 1: EPISODE 5 Hate Crimes SEASON 1: EPISODE 6 Is There A Need For HBCUs? SEASON 1: EPISODE 7 Youth Gangs & Drug Dealers SEASON 1: EPISODE 8 Youth Gangs & Drug Dealers Part 2 SEASON 1: EPISODE 9 Youth Gangs & Drug Dealers Part 3 SEASON 1: EPISODE 10 Interview With Jim Porter, Former NRA President Click An Icon Below To Listen To Shelley's Plumbline Learn More Book For Speaking Engagements EMAIL: CORLETTE@SHELLEYSPLUMBLINE.COM PR & PODCAST ENQUIRIES BUSINESS & SPEAKING ENQUIRIES PRESS EVENTS

Today, Shelley reaches back into his archive to an interview with Mariam McClendon. They discuss colorism, that is, the differences in perception between light- and dark-complected blacks and the challenges darker-complected blacks encounter – even from members of their own race. Even though the interview is from 1991, the problem of colorism still exists today, hindering relationships and opportunities among blacks. Season Two: Episode 08 The Persistent Problem of Colorism Today, Shelley reaches back into his archive to an interview with Mariam McClendon. They discuss colorism, that is, the differences in perception between light- and dark-complected blacks and the challenges darker-complected blacks encounter – even from members of their own race. Even though the interview is from 1991, the problem of colorism still exists today, hindering relationships and opportunities among blacks. Click An Icon Below To Listen To Shelley's Plumbline Podcast Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn . The death of George Floyd last year has shone a spotlight on what it means to be Black, and especially, to be dark-skinned in America. Special correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro has our report from Minnesota, home to a growing population of African and other immigrants. It is part of our continuing series "Race Matters", and Fred’s series, "Agents for Change." Watch Now In this extended interview from Roots, Race & Culture, Danor and Lonzo continue their conversation about colorism with University of Utah professor Edmund Fong and current student Darienne Debrule. The group explores how colorism differs among varying ethnic groups, and how you can help combat colorism in your own community. Watch Now CNN's Anderson Cooper highlights a project that reveals how children view racial beliefs, attitudes and preferences . Study shows black and white children are biased toward lighter skin. Test aimed to re-create landmark Doll Test from 1940s. Watch Now When Chika Okoro read the casting call for one of her favorite films, she noticed that actresses with darker skin were assigned lesser roles —prompting her to address a phenomenon she'd experienced all her life: colorism. In this eye-opening talk, Okoro shares coping strategies along with steps that could help eliminate this insidious and destructive mindset of discrimination. Watch Now When I began teaching in Boston, I was struck by how often students of color referred to each other as “light-skinned” or “dark-skinned.” Almost daily, I witnessed high school students identify, categorize and stereotype their peers based on skin tone. Having grown up African American in Louisiana, I was used to white people’s ideas of white superiority and even those “colorstruck” black people who preferred lighter skin. But I did not expect that so many young people of diverse ethnicities—including Dominicans, Puerto Ricans and Cape Verdeans—would actively engage in everyday forms of skin-color bias Read more Coloism Toolik Colorism is an insidious, globally prevalent bias that deeply impacts the lives and livelihoods of darker-skinned women. The term refers not only to the preference for lighter skin between different racial and ethnic communities, but also within those communities. Colorism is an enduring vestige of colonialism and white dominance around the globe and disproportionately harms women of color. Inclusive leaders must work to prevent women of color from experiencing colorism at work — and make sure they don’t leave. The author presents three ways to disrupt colorism in the workplace. Read More Every year, Hollywood inevitably comes under criticism for its lack of racial diversity. But another lesser-known yet still pervasive problem also resurfaces: the lack of diversity in skin tone. It happened again with “In the Heights,” a big-budget film based on the musical created by Lin-Manuel Miranda, which was called out this week for its dearth of dark-skinned, Black Latinos in leading roles. Colorism — or discrimination against darker-skinned people within their same ethnic group — lurks deep among pretty much all communities with varying levels of melanin. But it doesn’t get talked about, and that could be a setback for the racial justice efforts that intensified after the police killing of George Floyd last year. Read more Upload

Listen to Season 2 Now We've got new content for you every Wednesday. Make sure you subscribe! Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn . SEASON TWO: EPISODE 10 The Plantation Ghost Today Shelley shares an interview from 1995 with Ezekwa Abdullah. Ezekwa argues that Blacks still repress themselves and suffer a form of psychological slavery in the collective subconscious psyche because attitudes of repression have been preserved and passed from one generation to the next. The ghost of the plantation exists today because not enough has been done to condemn this point of view. View Episode 10 Details & Resources Click An Icon Below To Listen To Podcast Recently Aired SEASON TWO: EPISODE 10 The Plantation Ghost Today Shelley shares an interview from 1995 with Ezekwa Abdullah. Ezekwa argues that Blacks still repress themselves and suffer a form of psychological slavery in the collective subconscious psyche because attitudes of repression have been preserved and passed from one generation to the next. The ghost of the plantation exists today because not enough has been done to condemn this point of view. View Episode 10 Details & Resources SEASON TWO: EPISODE 9 Free By Choice Inmates Share Their Stories Today, Shelley replays an interview from the Free By Choice program, which brought inmates from Alabama prisons on the air to speak openly about their crimes and the decisions which led to them. These Free By Choice inmates had a strong desire to share their stories so their suffering could serve to help others avoid making the same mistakes. View Episode 9 Details & Resources SEASON TWO: EPISODE 8 The Persistent Problem of Colorism Today, Shelley reaches back into his archive to an interview with Mariam McClendon. They discuss colorism, that is, the differences in perception between light- and dark-complected blacks and the challenges darker-complected blacks encounter – even from members of their own race. Even though the interview is from 1991, the problem of colorism still exists today, hindering relationships and opportunities among blacks. View Episode 8 Details & Resources SEASON TWO: EPISODE 7 From Running Track to Running Drugs: An Interview with Orlando Jones Today’s episode of Shelley’s Plumbline features an interview from 1989 with Orlando Jones, a one-time track star at the University of Alabama. Orlando shares his story of how he went from running on a track as an All-American scholarship athlete to running drugs across the border in Mexico, eventually getting caught and landing in prison. He shares his message in the hope that others might avoid his fate. View Episode 7 Details & Resources SEASON TWO: EPISODE 6 Life After Prison:An Interview with Julius Davis Today’s episode features a 1993 interview with Julius Davis, a man who had just spent 19 years in prison. At 21 years of age, he had been handed two life sentences for his involvement in two separate murders. Julius discusses how prior to his crimes, he was involved as a positive influence in his community and how two bad decisions led him to prison. While in prison, however, Julius did not fall victim to negative influences. He created a circle of constructive people who kept their spirits in a positive place and made the best of the prison experience. Listen and hear how he continued his positive influence on the community after his release. View Episode 6 Details & Resources SEASON TWO: EPISODE 5 I Love The Skin I'm In In this episode, Shelley reflects on an interview from 1991 that covers the topic of racial identity. Which is the correct terminology? Black? African-American, People of Color? The interview also discusses class differences among Blacks. Be advised that this episode contains frank discussions about race and uses the n-word. Listener discretion is advised. View Episode 5 Details & Resources SEASON TWO: EPISODE 4 The Evolution of Black Media, Part 2 Today we continue exploring the Evolution of Black Media and the role Black radio stations played during the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s. We explore how the Black population began to look to popular disc jockeys such as Jack Gibson, Gertrude Cooper, Georgie Woods, Martha Jean “the Queen,” and the Plumbline’s very own Shelley “The Playboy” Stewart to hear coded messages regarding protests and demonstrations. Black Radio stations gave a voice to Dr. King and other prominent members of the Movement and became the medium of choice for disseminating urgent messages and direction. View Episode 4 Details & Resources SEASON TWO: EPISODE 3 The Evolution of Black Media, Part 1 This week we kick off the first of a two-part series on the Evolution of Black Media. In this episode, Shelley tells us about the early days of Black Media and how much of the entertainment for black audiences was produced by whites. Amos N Andy, for example, a well-known radio sitcom, was produced and performed by two white actors. Shelley recalls how the first black man in radio, Jack Cooper, blazed a trail in 1929, and by the time Shelley created his Playboy persona, he wasn’t interested in entertaining just blacks; he used the power of music to bring people together. View Episode 3 Details & Resources SEASON TWO: EPISODE 2 Finding Musical Talent on the Chitlin' Circuit Today we continue telling the story of Shelley’s life in the world of music as he reflects on his days traveling the south on what was known as the Chitlin' Circuit. As a talent agent for Shelby Singleton Productions, Shelley traveled the Chitlin Circuit searching for talent that played in small towns throughout the South. He would then take the talent to big cities to cut records and get exposure. He discovered Clarence Junior Lewis, who went by the stage name “CL Blast” Shelley discovered Willie Hightower and Johnny Adams. He managed The Dynamic Soul Machine and helped launch the career of JV Jenkins, who performed a moving rendition of Peace in the Valley at the inauguration of Birmingham’s first black mayor, Richard Arrington. Listen in as Shelley shares music, insights, and inside stories about his life on the “Chitlin' Circuit.” View Episode 2 Details & Resources SEASON TWO: EPISODE 1 Eddie Kendricks' Last Interview View Episode 1 Details & Resources Today, we’ll begin an exploration of Shelley’s fascinating life in the music world. Over the course of his career, Shelley worked with many major names in music, such as Jackie Wilso n, Aretha Franklin , Wilson Pickett , and The Temptations . And he became fast friends with musical giants such as Bobby "Blue" Bland , Otis Redding , and Isaac Hayes . We’ll hear a clip of his interview with Eddie Kendricks , a lead singer with The Temptations. The interview traces the evolution of The Temptations, and discusses the surprising strategies of Barry Gordy and Motown Records and how they would manage the careers of groups, giving hit songs to certain groups to increase their popularity and accelerate their careers. Shelley Stewart LISTEN Season One Episode 1: Internalized Racism Season One Episode 2: Did Dr. Martin Luther King's Dream Become A Nightmare? Season One Episode 3: Homelessness Season One Episode 4: Hate Crimes Season One Episode 5: Is There A Need For HBCUs? Season One Episode 6: Should We End Black History Month? Season One Episode 7: Y outh Gangs & Drug Dealers Season One Episode 8: Part 2 Of Youth Gangs & Drug Dealers Season One Episode 9: Part 3 Of Youth Gangs & Drug Dealers Season One Episode 10: Interview With Jim Porter, Former NRA President Listen Upload EMAIL: CORLETTE@SHELLEYSPLUMBLINE.COM PR & PODCAST ENQUIRIES BUSINESS & SPEAKING ENQUIRIES PRESS EVENTS