With his #1 New York Times bestseller "HOW THE WORD IS PASSED: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America," CLINT SMITH takes us to the marrow of who we are as a nation, what we’ve done, where we’ve been, what must change, why, and—if we listen we are brave enough to take the journey—how.

Clint Smith, author, HOW THE WORD IS PASSED

THE JANUS ADAMS SHOW: #DangerousWomen. 
What happens when a male congressman feels so threatened by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez―a powerful woman doing the job she was elected to do―that he verbally assaults her in the most sexist and racist of terms.

#DangerousWomen: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Voter suppression.  What’s at stake? With Republican-led state legislatures enacting laws designed to disfranchise Black and Brown voters, what impact will this surge have on our legal system? juries? convictions? fundamental human rights?  Civil Rights Attorney DeWitt Lacy of California on the current political climate: justice, injustice, policing, voting rights—and wrongs.  And, as always: where do we go from here?

DeWitt Lacy, Civil Rights Attorney

On this episode of "The Janus Adams Show": The Sister Days Mother/Daughter* Sistafest (Part 1).  Five guests gather in celebration of women and our lives: Elle Cole, MaryAnne Howland, Irma McClaurin, Dakota Nelson, and Deborah Payton-Jones.

The Sister Days Mother/Daughter Sistafest, PT1

On this episode of "The Janus Adams Show": The Sister Days Mother/Daughter* Sistafest (Part 2). Five guests gather in celebration of women and our lives: Elle Cole, MaryAnne Howland, Irma McClaurin, Dakota Nelson, and Deborah Payton-Jones.

The Sister Days Mother/Daughter Sistafest, PT2

Meet "Philly" Walls: poet, photographer, and “multidisciplinary artist.  She is curator and creator of the digital installation, THE MUSEUM OF BLACK JOY——a “borderless refuge for the observation, cultivation, celebration, and preservation of Black joy.”  

What does Black Joy mean and why do we need a museum for it?  That’s the question that propels this interview with Andrea “Philly” Walls through uncharted waters to unexpected depths as she spirits us from the inspired works of the Harlem Renaissance to the Black Arts Movement; from Philadelphia’s 1985 MOVE massacre to life's everyday moments, the African American hymn-turned-anthem, “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired,” and beyond.

Andrea 'Philly' Walls, THE MUSEUM OF BLACK JOY

As US government-backed Dakota Access Pipeline proponents wreaked havoc on Indigenous peoples, their lands, sensibilities, and on Nature herself, First Nations (Mexica and Otomi) documentary photographer, cinematographer, and film director, Josué Rivas was on the scene as witness and participant; demonstrator and Water Protector.   The experience endangered his life.  It also marked what he calls his “year of awakening.”   

He’s since received the FotoEvidence Book Award with World Press Photo for STANDING STRONG, his stunning and haunting photographic account of the events at Standing Rock.

Josue Rivas, STANDING ROCK STANDING STRONG

With pushback on immigration policies being shaped by White supremacist legacies, what is the United States' vision for the future?  What can——and must——each of us do today to ensure the well-being of a multiracial tomorrow? 

Confronting the racist legacy of US immigration policy with our guest, REECE JONES Guggenheim Fellow, political geographer, and author of the books, WHITE BORDERS and NOBODY IS PROTECTED.  And, as always, where do we go from here?

Reece Jones, WHITE BORDERS | NOBODY IS PROTECTED

This “Janus Adams Show” Special features TEAM DREAM—a documentary film short about two elite swimmers (Ann Smith, 82, and Madeline Murphy Rabb, 76) and their journey to the National Senior Games.  A serious contender in the run-up to awards season, this little star of a film flares with unexpected brilliance—capturing imaginations and challenging long-standing assumptions about Black people, swimming, history, current realities, the surprising facts of life (and death), and joy—“Black joy.”  Guests: athletes Rabb and Smith, filmmaker Luchina Fisher, and historian Kevin Dawson. 

The film TEAM DREAM was made possible by the Queen Collective—an initiative begun by executive producer Queen Latifah and Procter & Gamble—to create opportunities for women filmmakers of color to tell their stories by providing access to mentorship, production support, and distribution.

TEAM DREAM: A Janus Adams special

Journey to the Cradle of Civilization, as master photographer, CHESTER HIGGINS, JR. shares stories from his fifty-year pilgrimage through the ancient roots of modern-day faith.

Chester Higgins, SACRED NILE

As the Israel-Hamas War evolves, what is the role of journalists and historians in deciphering the crisis?   As professionals, they are trained to be well-researched, well-sourced, “objective,” and to cover “both sides” of a debate.  But, what of context?   That’s the question when journalist Laura Flanders joins Janus Adams for a rare conversation of this scope and magnitude by two veteran women journalists: one British-American and White, the other Afri-Caribbean-American and Black; both wary of answers, knowing that what the situation calls for is questions—not to mention: critical thinking.

Laura Flanders is the Host and Executive Producer of "The Laura Flanders Show," which airs on PBS stations nationwide. She is an Izzy-Award winning independent journalist, a New York Times bestselling author, and the recipient of the Pat Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women’s Media Center.

LAURA FLANDERS, Journalist

He’s the New York Times bestselling author of "The Black Friend."  A mover and maker, he made the Forbes “30 Under 30” list as Founder of “We Have Stories,” which provides free support to marginalized storytellers and organizations that shift cultural bias toward full inclusion.  His #RentRelief campaign—a COVID19 support effort—raised more than $2 million dollars in aid. 	He created the largest ever GoFundMe campaign: #BlackPantherChallenge; raising over $950,000 and allowing 75,000 children worldwide to see the Black Panther film for free.  He's Frederick Joseph, author of the book, PATRIARCHY BLUES, and my guest on this episode of The Janus Adams Show.

Frederick Joseph, COURAGE TO DREAM

“I see joy is a form of resistance. I see it as a source of power, because it's how we continue to stand on our two feet. Even when we're knocked down, we find that power and a lot of that power is sourced through joy that we create. And the reason why I say that joy is power is because when so much is being stripped of our rights of our voices and all of that. We choose to embody joy, that's a form of taking back our power.”

When Pamela Larde, takes to the air for her talk show and podcast, she's known as “The Joy Whisperer.”  Dr. Pamela Larde, PhD, is also Associate Professor of Leadership and Director of Education at the Institute of Coaching, McLean/Harvard Medical School, Founder of the Academy of Creative Coaching & Tandem Light Press, Joy researcher, mom, and our guest on this week’s show.

Website: www.JanusAdams.com

DR. PAMELA LARDE, The Joy Whisperer

For four decades, Ramon Hervey II has been a manager and publicist to some of the entertainment industry's most famous talents.   Quincy Jones, Bette Midler, Richard Pryor, Vanessa Williams and Muhammad Ali!!  All have sought his counsel in confidence.  He's also the executive producer who brought us the Peabody award-winning documentary, "Chisholm 72, Unbought and Unbossed."    But, what is FAME and why does something as elusive as fame so dominate our media and mental space?  Now, to his credits and our rescue comes his book, "THE FAME GAME: An Insider’s Playbook for Earning Your 15 Minutes.”

RAMON HERVEY II, The Fame Game

SCHOLARS & SCHOLARSHIP.  Guests: Diana Hernandez & Sheila Walker

Coming up on THE JANUS ADAMS SHOW, "Before You Go"--centarians tell stories of a lifetime.  Guests: Producers and Co-Hosts, Nicole Franklin and Bryant Monteilh.

BEFORE YOU GO: Nicole Franklin & Bryant Monteilh (Promo)

Nicole Franklin and Bryant Monteilh are the producers and co-hosts of an extraordinary podcast series, BEFORE YOU GO.  Lurking in the background of that title is the taboo subject of death.  But, “Before You Go” is, without question, about life.  In on-site interviews, here are stories about life and living from the vantage of those who know more about the subject than most of us ever will—centenarians, people who've achieved or are nearing their 100th birthdays. 

What do they have to tell us about living long and living well? What would you want to pass on as your stories of a lifetime?  

BEFORE YOU GO: a 100-year old piano teacher with a current roster of 90 students; a Negro Leagues baseball player turned NASA scientist.  It’s really quite a show.

BEFORE YOU GO, Nicole Franklin & Bryant Monteilh (FULL)

What does it do to you when someone you love is ripped from the family, charged with a crime, wrongfully incarcerated, and – after nearly 25 years, continues to serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole in the infamous Angola prison – a national disgrace – despite evidence of his innocence, and still protesting his innocence?

Deborah G. Plant, author of the book OF GREED AND GLORY: IN PURSUIT OF FREEDOM FOR ALL is my guest today.  

Informed by her own personal experience . . . armed with her skills as a scholar, author, and literary critic with a masters and doctorate in English . . .  

YES, this story could happen to anyone, and has too often happened to too many African-American Everymans and Everywomans

Deborah Plant takes moments that can bring you to your knees and gives us a book to bring us to our senses; to a knowledge of what is being done to thousands of people in our name as American citizens.

We close this episode with a profile of Angola Prison, the infamous Louisiana State Penitentiary located on the site of 8,000-acre Angola Plantation—so named for the homeland of people enslaved there.  Clint Smith travelled to the prison to research his #1 New York Times bestseller, "HOW THE WORD IS PASSED: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America."  He spoke about Angola during his visit to the show in 2021.

Deborah G. Plant, OF GREED AND GLORY

Two elite swimmers (Ann Smith, 82, and Madeline Murphy Rabb, 76) journey to the National Senior Games.  TEAM DREAM--a serious contender in the run-up to awards season, this little star of a film flares with unexpected brilliance; capturing imaginations and challenging long-standing assumptions about Black people, swimming, history, current realities, the surprising facts of life (and death), and joy—“Black joy.”  Guests: athletes Rabb and Smith, filmmaker Luchina Fisher, and historian Kevin Dawson. 

This documentary short, TEAM DREAM, was made possible by the Queen Collective—an initiative begun by executive producers Queen Latifah and Procter & Gamble.  Their mission: to create opportunities for women filmmakers of color to tell their stories by providing access to mentorship, production support, and distribution. The film was featured at the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival.

TEAM DREAM

As an artist, Christina Hunt Wood is known for her paintings and printmaking; her “Human Nature” series which merges photography with clay imprints; her “Landscapes” of discarded "road soda" litter; her “Living Archive Project” which rethinks rural tradition through the lens of inclusive representation; and such video project installations as Untitled Interactions, the Manual Project? So, what made her―a Black artist―decide to photograph herself as in blackface?  Christina Hunt Wood is this week’s guest on “The Janus Adams Show.”

CHRISTINA HUNT WOOD, Artist

This week on THE JANUS ADAMS SHOW: “The Dream: Dr. King, Max Roach, and The Freedom NOW Suite.” Honoring the Dream of social justice, the Struggle for human rights, and two birthdays: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15) and the legendary drummer, composer, Jazz pioneer, human rights activist, MacArthur “genius” Award-winner Max Roach (January 8). Roach was married to show host, Janus Adams.  

The show features: excerpts from Roach’s “The Dream” a “duet” for solo drum and Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” oration; excerpts from “WE INSIST! The Freedom NOW Suite”; events at the Library of Congress; and a discussion of the man, his music, and the times in which he lived.

Guests: Brother Ah, Master musician and host of WPFW radio’s “The Collectors” (www.AhNorthern.com) and George Ferencz, pioneering Stage Director (www.GeorgeFerencz.com) 

Hear the show live on WJFF – www.wjffradio.com Saturdays at 4pm.  Subscribe to our podcast (uploaded weekly on Mondays) at: https://soundcloud.com/janusadams/    

The Janus Adams Show, a weekly public radio program, is “a show about race – every race – and courage.”™ To learn more about the show and join the conversation, visit us at: JanusAdams.com.

The Dream: Dr. King, Max Roach, and "WE INSIST! The Freedom NOW Suite"

"Glory Days-in-Concert: A Black History Month Special” 
A tribute to the African American experience in word and song adapted from Janus Adams' live concerts and her book, "Glory Days: 365 Inspired Moments in African-American History." This radio special features the music of a people from the Spirituals to blues, Gospel, Jazz, and HipHop.

Glory Days-In-Concert, Pt. 1 :: Black History Month Tribute in Word and Song

"Glory Days-in-Concert: A Black History Month Special, Part 2” 
A tribute to the African American experience in word and song adapted from Janus Adams' live concerts and her book, "Glory Days: 365 Inspired Moments in African-American History." This radio special features the music of a people from the Spirituals to Blues, Gospel, HipHop, and Jazz.

Hear the show live on WJFF – www.wjffradio.com Saturdays at 4pm. Subscribe to our podcast on SoundCloud (uploaded weekly on Mondays).

The Janus Adams Show, a weekly public radio program, is “a show about race – every race – and courage.”™ Learn more about the show and join the conversation at: JanusAdams.com.

Glory Days-In-Concert, Pt. 2 :: Black History Month Tribute in Word and Song

This week on THE JANUS ADAMS SHOW, we draw inspiration from a Mexican proverb: “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” Our guest is resilience strategist and environmental activist, Pamela Boyce Simms.

The Janus Adams Show, a weekly public radio program and podcast, is “a show about race – every race – and courage.”™ Learn more about the show and join the conversation at: JanusAdams.com.

Hear the show live on WJFF – www.wjffradio.com Saturdays at 4pm. Subscribe to our podcast, here at @JanusAdams.

“They Tried to Bury Us. They Didn’t Know We Were Seeds”: Pamela Boyce Simms (FULL SHOW)

This week on THE JANUS ADAMS SHOW: a journey of discovery.  On this UN-declared “International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade,” we pay tribute to the lives and their legacies. 

Seized by the story of the Amistad Rebellion (a major turning point in the history of America, slavery, and human rights worldwide) historian and filmmaker, MARCUS REDIKER made a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage in search of the “Ghosts of Amistad.”   

Hear the show live on WJFF – www.wjffradio.com Saturdays at 4pm.  Subscribe to our podcast (uploaded weekly on Mondays) at: https://soundcloud.com/janusadams/    

The Janus Adams Show, a weekly public radio program and podcast, is “a show about race – every race – and courage.”™ To learn more about the show and join the conversation, visit us at: JanusAdams.com.

Ghosts Of Amistad: Marcus Rediker (FULL SHOW)

We're celebrating Black Music Month (June) with this tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King and drummer/composer Max Roach.  

This episode opens with “The Dream” -- a duet for The Dreamer (Dr. King delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington) and The Drummer (percussionist-composer, human rights activist Max Roach).  Also featured are excerpts from  Roach's masterwork "WE INSIST: The Freedom NOW Suite" with two guests who worked with him and called him friend: musician Brother Ah, and stage director George Ferencz.  Roach was married to show host, Janus Adams.

Hear the show live on WJFF – www.wjffradio.com Saturdays at 4pm. Subscribe to our podcast (uploaded weekly on Mondays) at: soundcloud.com/janusadams/

The Janus Adams Show, a weekly public radio program and podcast, is “a show about race – every race – and courage.”™ To learn more about the show and join the conversation, visit us at: JanusAdams.com.

The Dreamer, The Drummer, The Struggle:  Dr. King, Max Roach,"Freedom NOW" (PROMO)

IN TRIBUTE: MAX ROACH. For the anniversary of his death, 8/16/07, we're commemorating the life and legacy of my late husband, drummer/composer Max Roach with an encore presentation of "The Dreamer, The Drummer, The Struggle: Dr. King, Max Roach, FREEDOM NOW!" 

The show pays tribute to Dr. King's vision, courage, gift of hope, and leadership with “The Dream.” Composed and performed by Max, this duet features his solo drumming and Dr. King's historic "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington. 

Hear selections from Max' masterwork “WE INSIST: The Freedom NOW Suite,” with commentary by two special guests who worked with Max and called him friend: musician Brother Ah and stage director George Ferencz.

IN TRIBUTE: Max Roach

Adventure into the world of publishing with Max Rodriguez--visionary founder of QBR: The Black Book Review. Founded in 1992, QBR is home to the Video Book Channel and the nation's premier African American celebration of books: the Harlem Book Fair--now an annual event on CSPAN's BookTV.

Max Rodriguez: Founder, QBR/Harlem Book Fair (FULL SHOW)

For centuries Handel’s Messiah has inspired people the world over.  Even today, audiences jump to their feet – called to exaltation – by the opening chords of The Hallelujah Chorus.  Then, in 1992, in a stunning re-imagining, an all-star chorus the likes of which was never assembled before or since, recorded A Soulful Celebration; bringing hundreds of years of Black music history to bear on Handel’s masterpiece.  Guest: Darryl Tookes, member of that historic all-star chorus.

"Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration"

You don't have to be a father to be a dad.  And you don't have to be a boy or Black to need (and appreciate) a Black Mitzvah.  MaryAnne Howland, author of the book, “WARRIOR RISING: How Four Men Helped a Boy on His Journey to Manhood” joins us for this timely and unique Father's Day tribute.

MaryAnne Howland, "Warrior Rising: How Four Men Helped a Boy on His Journey to Manhood" (FULL SHOW)

Guest: JULIAN AGYEMAN--scholar, author, educator--re-imagines cities for a brave new world of “Belonging and Becoming.”

Julian Agyeman, BELONGING AND BECOMING

THE JANUS ADAMS SHOW, a weekly public radio program, is show about race and courage.  The show airs and streams live Saturdays at 12:00 noon ET on WJFF -- www.WJFFradio.org.

The Janus Adams Show

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