Adam Gussow talks about his life growing up, his path into music and academia, and his thoughts on race in America. As a blues musician and scholar, Adam offers a unique take on culture and activism. He and host Connie Morgan also discuss the evolving dynamics of interracial relationships, focusing on black women and white men, and how marriage and dating have changed over time. They explore cultural influences, race perceptions, and how it all ties into Adam’s upcoming book.

Show notes:

• My Family and I: A Mississippi Memoir by Adam Gussow
• Adam on YouTube: old channel and newer channel
• Adam’s Harmonica website: ModernBluesHarmonica.com
• satanandadamfilm.com
• The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi by Wright Thompson
• The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride

Michael DC Bowen and Wink Twyman discuss the impact of recent wildfires in California, particularly in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. They dive into the environmental and emotional challenges for residents, as well as the difficulties firefighters face. They also talk about the aftermath of a disaster in Pasadena, touching on housing, leadership, and community recovery. Finally, they explore issues around homelessness, public safety, and mental health, emphasizing the need for better solutions and a more balanced approach to public policy.

Aaron Fenton-Hewitt discusses the impact of his upbringing, the challenges of stereotypes, and the importance of community. The conversation also delves into the complexities of DEI initiatives and social engineering, exploring how these concepts relate to class and opportunity in the media industry.

Show notes:

• Aaron’s “DEI: The Arrogance of Social Engineering” for the Journal of Free Black Thought
• Aaron’s “The Economy of Victimhood” for the Journal of Free Black Thought
• Aaron on X

Ian Rowe shares his journey from his upbringing in Jamaica to becoming a leader in education with host Connie Morgan. He discusses the importance of family structure, the impact of education on identity, and his commitment to improving educational opportunities for all children, particularly in underserved communities. Ian also introduces the 'success sequence' as a framework for young people to avoid poverty and achieve a fulfilling life.

Show notes:

• Ian on X
• Ian’s book: Agency: The Four Point Plan (F.R.E.E.) for ALL Children to Overcome the Victimhood Narrative and Discover Their Pathway to Power (Volume 1)
• Ian’s website: thefreeframework.com
• Vertex Partnership Academies

In this conversation, Michael DC Bowen and Winkfield Twyman Jr. discuss the significance of the New Year, their personal reflections on the holiday, and predictions for the future, particularly regarding the impact of AI on society. They delve into the concept of role models, exploring their influence on personal development and societal expectations, especially within the context of Black America. The dialogue emphasizes the necessity of recognizing authentic figures in history and the dangers of external locus of control, while advocating for a global perspective on identity and citizenship.

In this episode, Kyle Jordan Maxwell shares his journey from posting a black square on social media to questioning the very ideals it symbolized—identity politics and wokeism. He reflects on how he transitioned from following the crowd to thinking critically for himself. What began as a path of self-described ignorance led him to become a self-taught philosophy enthusiast, embracing the realization that, while he doesn't have all the answers, that uncertainty is something to be valued.

Show notes:

• Kyle on X
• Kyle on YouTube
• Kyle on Instagram
• Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design by Stephen C. Meyer

The Free Black Thought Podcast returns with guest Monica Harris. Monica holds a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where she was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Over the course of more than a decade, she held senior roles in business and legal affairs at Walt Disney Television, NBCUniversal Media, and Viacom Media Networks. In 2011, Harris made a bold shift, leaving corporate life behind and relocating with her family to Montana. She is currently the Executive Director of The Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR).

Show notes:

• Illusion of Division by Monica Harris
• Monica on X
• Monica’s Substack
• FAIR

A writer cannot be told what to write. The artist is free do what he has to do. In this end of the year podcast, Michael Bowen and Wink Twyman close out the year with an honest and moving review of Nikki Giovanni (1943-2024). A Native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Giovanni wrote moving poetry about the meaning of Blackness in America. Poems such as Nikka-Rosa struck a chord with Black Americans in the 1970s. Bowen and Twyman come from different places as they grapple with the poetic genius of an Afro-haired militant from a small town in the Tennessee mountains. Does Giovanni get to tell Bowen's story? Twyman's story? Does one have to be black to tell our life story? Bowen opens up about his displeasure with the story told of South Central Los Angeles in Boyz in the Hood. Director and Producer John Singleton got it wrong. Twyman questions why we remember the story of our lives through Giovanni and not other black natives of Knoxville like Twyman's Great Aunt Daisy Kincaid Brown. The episode lays bares our complicated remembrance of the poet Giovanni. A centerpiece of the episode is a stirring conversation for the ages between a young Nikki Giovanni and a wise elder James Baldwin. See the link below.

"and I really hope no white people has cause to write about me because they never understand Black love is Black wealth and they'll probably talk about my hard childhood and never understand that all the while I was quite happy" -- Nikki Giovanni in Nikki-Rosa

Show notes:

• Nikki Giovanni and James Baldwin Conversation
• Nikki-Rosa by Nikki Giovanni