The Parley in All Blue with Mark Dawson

Ep 55 - Chad Williams - WEB DuBois and Black America in The First World War

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 1 Jun 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Mark is diving into the life of WEB DuBois with the author of the new book, The Wounded World: W. E. B. Du Bois and the First World War, Chad Williams.

Chad Williams is the Samuel J. and Augusta Spector Professor of History and African and African American Studies at Brandeis University. Chad earned a BA with honors in History and African American Studies from UCLA, and received both his MA and Ph.D. in History from Princeton University. He specializes in African American and modern United States History, African American military history, the World War I era and African American intellectual history.

His first book, Torchbearers of Democracy: African American Soldiers in the World War I Era, was published in 2010 by the University of North Carolina Press.

Tune in today!

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/markdawson

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIn: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 54 - Tara Green - Love Activism and The Respectable Life of Alice Dunbar Nelson

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 25 May 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Mark is talking with Dr. Tara T. Green about respectable life of Alice Dunbar Nelson.

Dr. Tara T. Green is CLASS Distinguished Professor and Chair of African American Studies at the University of Houston. She is the author and editor of six books. She has most recently published Love, Activism and The Respectable Life of Alice Dunbar-Nelson (Bloomsbury), which was named a Prose Award Finalist in the Biography/Autobiography Category by the Association of American Publishers. And, See Me Naked: Black Women Defining Pleasure During the Interwar Era (Rutgers UP). She will be reading an excerpt from See Me Naked.

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/markdawson

Connect with Mark Dawson:

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LinkedIn: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 53 - Sekou Franklin - The Fight for Democracy in Tennessee and America

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 11 May 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Today, Mark and Dr. Sekou Franklin discuss Tennessee's recent political spotlight after the General Assembly voted to expel three of its members, who were leading a protest against gun control laws after a mass shooting in Nashville.

This episode highlights the rarity of expulsion and the possible racism involved in the expulsion of two black representatives, while a white representative was not expelled. Dr. Franklin also points out that political activity by conservative legislatures in the states is a battleground for maintaining or rolling back civil rights, labor rights, women's rights, LGBTQ rights, and all gains made toward democracy.

Dr. Sekou Franklin, a professor of political science at Middle Tennessee State University. He talks about the drivers of polarization, tactics used by black lawmakers facing conservative super majorities, and the importance of engaging in state and local politics.

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/markdawson

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIn: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 52 - Doug Swanson - Cult of Glory: The Bold and Brutal History of The Texas Rangers

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 4 May 2023 03:00:00 +0000

The Texas Rangers are celebrating their 200th year, and are widely known as a rugged and upright law enforcement agency that symbolizes Texas. However, the book "Cult of Glory: The Bold and Brutal History of the Texas Rangers" presents a more ruthless, racist, and barbarous history of the organization, and highlights their close ties to moneyed groups and powerful politicians. This book challenges the widely held view of the Texas Rangers and prompts important conversations about their role in law enforcement.

The guest today is Doug J. Swanson. Doug is a veteran investigative reporter and editor. He has written five novels and two non-fiction books. His most recent book is Cult of Glory: The Bold and Brutal History of the Texas Rangers, published in 2020 by Viking. Doug was for many years an investigative reporter and editor at The Dallas Morning News and was twice named the newspaper reporter of the year in Texas.

He is currently a research associate professor in the English Department writing program at the University of Pittsburgh. Before joining Pitt in 2016, he taught journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Texas.

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/markdawson

Connect with Mark Dawson:

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Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 51 - Dr. Gay Byron - Christianity's African Roots in Ethiopia

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Mark had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Gay Byron about Christianity in Ethiopia and its deep roots on the African continent. Dr. Byron explained that Ethiopia has a unique history with Christianity, being one of the first nations in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion in the 4th century. Overall, this was a fascinating conversation that shed light on the deep roots of Christianity in Ethiopia and Africa, as well as the ongoing importance of Christianity in contemporary African society.

Gay L. Byron is a Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC. Her scholarship focuses on the origins of Christianity in ancient Ethiopia, cultural and womanist readings of Scripture, and race and ethnicity in early Christian writings. She is the author of Symbolic Blackness and Ethnic Difference in Early Christian Literature, co-editor (with Vanessa Lovelace) of Womanist Interpretations of the Bible: Expanding the Discourse, and most recently co-editor (with Hugh R. Page Jr.) of Black Scholars Matter: Visions, Struggles, and Hopes in Africana Biblical Studies. Her current book project focuses on Ethiopian manuscripts and early Christianity. Dr. Byron is also an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has preached and led workshops for a variety of denominations and local churches.

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/markdawson

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIn: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 50 - Dr. Wendy Gaudin - What Louisiana's Creole's can tell us about race, power and a the browning of America

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 07:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parlay in All Blue Power history and culture collide. And yes, we're gonna talk about voting because voting is the first step. It is an essential tool for building wealth and obtaining and retaining power in the United States. The voting power of black people now is under attack. It is being attacked by Republican legislatures in the states of Louisiana and Alabama.

Mark is talking with Dr. Wendy Gaudin about Louisiana's Creole people, the history, the culture, and about how assertive use of political power can inform black people of today on how to build coalitions across racial and ethnic lines to ensure that we are not erased historically or politically.

Dr. Wendy A. Gaudin is an essayist, a beadwork, a poet, an American historian, and the proud descendant of Louisiana Creoles who migrated to California. Her training as a historian took place at California State University, Louisiana State University, and New York University.

Her nonfiction writing delves into the themes of race and belonging, skin color and ancestry, colonialism and family narratives, migration, oral history, hybridity, and Louisiana. Her publications appear in North American Review, Indiana Review, Puerto Del Sol, the Rappahannock Review, the New Orleans Review, New South Journal, and the About Place Journal.

She is currently writing an autoethnography of her family, her life, and her fieldwork in Creole Louisiana. A history professor at the Xavier University of Louisiana, Gaudin divides her time between New Orleans and the Acadiana prairie.

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/markdawson

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIn: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 49 - Anna Wolfe - Mississippi's Welfare Scandal

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Mark is talking with Anna Wolfe about Mississippi's Welfare Scandal.

Anna Wolfe is an investigative reporter for Mississippi Today, a nonprofit newsroom founded in 2016. Her coverage of poverty, public assistance and debtors prisons has received national recognition, including the Goldsmith Prize, the Collier Prize and the National Press Foundation’s Poverty and Inequality Award.

Before joining the staff at Mississippi Today, she held several beats at Mississippi’s statewide newspaper, the Clarion Ledger, where she covered city hall and reported award-winning stories about medical billing and hunger in the Mississippi Delta. Born and raised in Washington State, Wolfe attended Mississippi State University and has lived in Jackson, Mississippi since graduating in 2014.

Tune in to hear an in-depth discussion about the welfare scandal, how it started, who’s involved, and how this has affected the residents of Mississippi.

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/markdawson

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIn: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter:

@Iammarkdawson

Ep 48 Re-Release (Ep.28) Backlash and the Religion of Whiteness with Dr. Stephen Finley

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 6 Apr 2023 07:00:00 +0000

On the season finale of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Dr. Stephen Finley who is the inaugural chair of African and African American studies at LSU. Dr. Finely is an associate professor of religious studies at LSU, as well. He's gonna walk us through how religion, the religion of "whiteness" fuels attacks, or the religion of white nationalism and white supremacy fuels attacks like that in Buffalo at Tops grocery store or at the Tree of Life Senegal in Pittsburgh or at the Walmart in El Paso Texas where the mass shooter in that case was specifically looking for Mexicans or Mexican immigrants. Dr. Finley will also discuss what religious studies mean and how it comes into play in today's society.

Highlights from the episode:

Teaching Religious Studies
Defining Whiteness
Religion and the Current State of Society
Critical Race Theory and the School System
The Mission of Turning Point USA

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/markdawson

Connect with Dr. Stephen Finley

Email: scfinley@lsu.edu

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 47 - Vernon Steve Weakley - Jackson State Massacre Part 2 - Standing On The Edge of Madness

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Today is part 2 of the conversation about the shooting that took place at Jackson State in May 1970. We have a very special guest, Vernon Steve Weakley, who is here to give us a firsthand account of what happened that tragic night at Jackson State University.

Vernon is an alumnus of Jackson State University and a graduate of the University of Houston. He was also a member of the Jackson State University, Houston Alumni Chapter.

He is also a legendary member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Jackson State University, Upsilon Epsilon (YE) Chapter, and is currently a member of Beta Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity in Jackson, Ms.

Vernon Steve Weakley is a celebrated author and has made a name for himself in the literary world. He has written several successful books and numerous short stories that have brought him acclaim throughout America.

One of Vernon’s most notable works is his national, non-fictional best-selling book, "Standing at the Edge of Madness." The book delves into the human psyche and explores the depths of the human mind. It has been praised for its insightful analysis and its ability to shed light on complex issues that are often overlooked.

Over the years, Mr. Weakley has tirelessly and successfully worked to advance the cause of the NAACP. For his superb work with the NAACP, he received a meritorious award from that well-known, national civil rights organization.

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/markdawson

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIn: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter:

@Iammarkdawson

Ep 46 - Dr. Nancy Bristow - Jackson State Massacre 1970 Pt. 1, Steeped In The Blood of Racism

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Mark is thrilled to have Dr. Nancy Bristow on the podcast today to discuss her book, "Steeped in the Blood of Racism: Black Power, Law and Order, and the 1970 Shootings at Jackson State College." The book sheds light on the tragedy that occurred on May 14, 1970, at Jackson State University, Mississippi.

Dr. Nancy K. Bristow is a Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Puget Sound, where she also serves on the leadership team of the Race and Pedagogy Institute. She is the author of three books, including Making Men Moral: Social Engineering and the Great War (NYU Press, 1996), American Pandemic: The Lost Worlds of the 1918 Influenza Epidemic (Oxford University Press, 2012) and Steeped in the Blood of Racism: Black Power, Law and Order, and the 1970 Shootings at Jackson State College (Oxford University Press, 2020). Bristow has served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of American History and has offered historical commentary to news outlets ranging from the New York Times and The Nation to PBS and NPR.

Highlights from the episode:

The massacre at Jackson State University on May 14, 1970, in Mississippi
Dr. Nancy Bristow’s book, Steeped in the Blood of Racism: Black Power, Law and Order, and the 1970 Shootings at Jackson State College
Was there Klan infiltration of both the Jackson police and highway patrol?
What was going on in Mississippi around civil rights and black power in the 70s and 80s?
The role of black students in the civil rights movement at Jackson State
The shooting of Ben Brown and the emergence of black power in Mississippi
The impact of desegregation on the campus
What is Clarion-Ledger’s attitude towards civil rights and black power?
How did Dr. Bristow become aware of the shooting at Jackson State?
The current state of Mississippi

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIn: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 45 Dr. Maryemma Graham - The Life of Margaret Walker Alexander

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Our guest this week is Dr. Mary Emma Graham, who's written a thorough, detailed and outstanding biography on the life of Margaret Walker, titled, The House Where My Soul Lives.

Margaret Walker, an award-winning poet, writer, and institution builder, is brought back into the spotlight in the first comprehensive biography of her life. Though she did not label herself as a radical or feminist, Walker embodied the role of a traditional artist and catalyst for societal transformation. She was a prominent figure in American culture throughout the 20th century.

Dr. Maryemma Graham, a native of Augusta, Georgia, is University Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Kansas and Founding Director of the History of Black-Writing (HBW), which she established at the University of Mississippi in 1983. HBW, which has been at the forefront of innovation and change in African American literary history, has led national and international initiatives to promote research, teaching, and public engagement with Black literary studies with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Ford, and Mellon Foundations.

Professor Graham’s 12 books have helped to redefine the field, especially: The Cambridge Companion to the African American Novel and, with Jerry W. Ward, The Cambridge History of African American Literature. On the occasion of the History of Black Writing’s 40th anniversary, and Professor Graham’s retirement from teaching to writing full-time, a cross-generational panel of distinguished scholars gathered at the Modern Language Association’s 2023 conference to celebrate the project’s accomplishments, ongoing significance, and new ventures in archiving, programming, and literary research and expanding the community of digital scholars and practitioners. Professor Graham lives in Lawrence, Kansas and is at work on two new books. www.grahamworks.net.

Highlights from the episode:

Who is Margaret Walker, where she grew up and how that environment shaped her life
The South Side Writers Group and the role Margaret Walker played
What is a protest novel and why is it important?
How Walkers’s poem “For My People” is a journey through history
The three strikes that made Margeret Walker an outlier in the South
Why Margaret Walker did not label herself as a feminism?
What is a race woman and how does that drive Margaret’s work at Jackson State?
Margaret Walker’s return to school and the need for black studies
How does the work at Jackson State come together with Margaret Walker’s work?
The importance of bringing back the lost voices of the lost voices

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/parleyinallblue

Ep 44 SNCC & This Non Violent Stuff Will Get You Killed with Charlie Cobb

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 9 Mar 2023 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Mark is joined by Charlie Cobb to discuss his book, "This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed: How Guns Made the Civil Rights Movement Possible." Charlie discusses how guns were an essential tool for self-defense during the Civil Rights Movement, particularly in the South where white supremacist groups used violence and intimidation to maintain segregation.

Specifically, Mark and Charlie explore the relationship between SNCC and SCLC, the movement of Fannie Lou Hammer, voter registration, the importance of Amzie Moore in organizing, the impact of World War II on the Civil Rights Movement, the significance of literacy and learning in the freedom struggle, and the emergence of Black Power and Black Lives Matter movements.

Highlights from the episode:

The relationship between SNCC and SCLC
The Movement of Fannie Lou Hamer
Votersers registration & the importance of Amzie Moore was to organizing
The impact of World War 2 had on the Civil Rights Movement
Why people kept guns in the South
Why the idea of literacy and learning was essential to freedom
Black Power & Black Lives Matter

Enjoy the show? Support the podcast by buying me a coffee! www.Buymeacoffee.com/parleyinallblue

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Re-Release 43 (Ep. 13) Same Storm, Different Boats with Dr. Na’Taki Osbourne Jelks

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 11:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Parley in All Blue Podcast, Mark sits down with Spellman professor Dr. Na'Taki Osborne Jelks, co-founder of the West Atlanta watershed alliance and who also serves on the EPA's National Environmental Justice Advisory counsel. Today's discussion is about climate change, environmental risk, solutions, and the troubling menace of Urban Heat Islands. The duo also discuss environmental habits and how we can help improve the climate.

Black communities have been disrupted due to the building of highways and roads. Not only disruption but a health impact due to carbon emissions from the cars and different types of air pollution. Black children suffer more from asthma than white children. Communities of color are more inundated with exposure to environmental hazards and stressed than any other community.

Highlights from the episode:

The Effects of Climate Change
Environmental Justice/Injustice
Urban Heat Islands
Health Hazards
Effects from Segregation Impact the Environment

Connect with Dr. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks

LinkedIn: @na-taki-osborne-jelks

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Re-Release 42 (Ep. 14) Born in Blackness with Howard French

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 9 Feb 2023 12:06:39 +0000

On this week's episode of the Parley in All Blue Podcast, Mark sits down with Howard W. French, an author and a professor of journalism at Columbia University. Today's discussion delves deep into Professor French's book: Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War.

Highlights from the episode:

Price of Gold
Mansa Musa
Europe in 1471
The Fort of El Mina
Portugal & West Africa

Resources:

Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 41 Charles Deslones' Revolution; The German Coast Uprising of 1811 with Leon Waters

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 2 Feb 2023 11:55:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Leon A. Waters. Mr. Waters is a New Orleans native, historian, publisher and social activist. Waters attended Xavier University for Business Administration and graduated from St. Augustine High School. He serves as the Board Chairperson of the Louisiana Museum of African American History (LMAAH). He joins us on The Parley in All Blue to walk through America's largest slave rebellion.

Highlights from the episode:

What is the German Coast Rebellion? 6:23
Who is Charles Des Lones? 8:34
The Louisiana Purchase 13:04
The Haitian Revolution 18:48
The Declaration of Rights 33:17

Connect with Leon Waters

Website: www.hiddenhistory.us

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

*Produced by CreativGem Media

Ep. 40 Up Against the Wall, The Making of the Black Panther Party with Curtis Austin

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 11:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Curtis Austin, an associate professor at Arizona State University where he focuses on civil rights and black power movements. This episode advances the history of black empowerment from our previous episode with Taylor Branch, which focused on civil rights. This episode focuses on black power, the Black Power Movement, and the vanguard of the Revolution, which is the Black Panther Party.

Check out: Up Against the Wall: Violence in the Making and Unmaking of the Black Panther Party by Curtis J. Austin

Ted Talk: The Real Story of the Black Panther Party

Highlights from the episode:

What was the Black Panther Party? 4:30
Police Violence, 9:54
Who were the founders of the Black Panther Party? 13:52
The Black Panther Party believed in self defense, 20:35
Robert Williams and his role in the Black Panther Party, 36:10

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 39 America in the King Years with Taylor Branch

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 11:21:17 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Taylor Branch. A native to Atlanta Georgia, Mr. Branch is also a National Book award recipient, author, and Pulitzer Prize winner for his books; America in the King Years ( Parting the waters, Pillar of Fire, and At Canaan's Edge). A trilogy which covers the life of the late great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movement person by person (from 1954-1968). They'll be discussing his book and also the civil rights movement and its importance.

To learn more about Taylor Branch or to purchase any of his books, go to his website https://taylorbranch.com/

Highlights from the episode:

What made you want to take on this topic and this work? (4:45)
Taylor Branch talks about the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) and SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) (10:24)
Bob Moses' (Leader of SNCC) leadership style and his contribution to SNCC and the civil rights movement (15:45)
Violence during the civil rights (27:56)
Lowndes County and some of the leadership involved in the Lowndes County movement. (34:19)
Dr. Martin Luther King as a leader after the Selma to Montgomery march (40:00)
What does it mean for democracy with certain people/groups actively trying to alter and erase history? (46:53)
What type of questions should we be asking Jerry Jones (Owner of the Dallas Cowboys who was pictured standing in a mob during a racial protest to keep black students out of the school during the civil rights era)? (52:47)
Isabel Wilkerson, her writings and contributions (56:07)

Connect with Taylor Branch

Twitter: @taylorbranch

Website: https://taylorbranch.com/

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 38 CXFFEE BLACK, "Coffee with a Black X Please" with Bartholomew Jones

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 11:42:10 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Entrepreneur, and the founder of Cxffeeblack (Coffeeblack), Bartholomew Jones. Bartholomew isn't only an entrepreneur, he's also a hip hop artist and a filmmaker (Cxffeeblack to Africa) which you can check out on his YouTube page. A proud Memphian, who is also a husband, father, and activist, who coined the phrase "Make Coffee Black again." He's also apart of the Anti Gentrification Cxffee Club (AGCC) right there in Memphis Tennessee which is a social experiment based on using history, art, and imagination to shed light on the rich history of coffee in African history with a modern twist.

f you want to learn more about Bartholomew Jones, the Cxffeeblack product or the Anti Gentrification Cxffee Club (AGCC) go to www.Cxffeeblack.com

To watch the Cxffeeblack to Africa documentary check out Bartholomew Jones YouTube page https://youtu.be/uPGlCB-NP4U

Highlights from the episode:

What does the shirt "Make Coffee black again" mean? 4:30
Coffee culture and spirituality in Africa and Ethiopia.11:49
What's the spirit behind the Anti Gentrification Cxffee Club (AGCC)? 18:45
What does it mean to have an all black supply chain and why it is important? 30:15
What does it mean to live well? 36:00

Connect with Bartholomew Jones

Instagram: @abartjones

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 37 Bellevue:The Power of Memory & Agency with Dennis DeShields

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 11:04:44 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Dennis DeShields. Dennis is a fourth-generation descendent of Bellevue, where his father and aunt continue to reside. While visiting his grandparents in the 1980s, Dennis was consistently taken by Bellevue’s location on the Chesapeake, its community spirit, and its history. Eventually, Bellevue became a holiday and weekend retreat for Dennis, his wife Dr. Mary De Shields, and his young family. In 1998 it became their home. Since this time, the De Shields family have become committed to preserving Bellevue’s rich culture and heritage and are leading the effort to establish the Bellevue Passage Museum, a place where this history can be presented to wider audiences and serve as a center of cultural conservation for the community.

Highlights from the episode:

What is Bellevue and why is it important? (3:47)
Dennis DeShields’ personal connection to Bellevue (8:53)
Bellevue Passage Museum (11:36)
Bellevue’s history is under threat of erasure ( 22:17)
Environmental Justice (44:44)

Enjoyed this episode? We want to hear from you!

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 36 Plantation Theory with John Graham Jr.

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 11:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by John Graham Jr. John is the Vice President of employer brand, diversity & culture at Shaker Recruitment Marketing. John is also an author of the book Plantation Theory: The Black Professional's Struggle between Freedom and Security. In this book John takes the reader through his personal journey,and gives them the accounts of many black professionals in the corporate space and what accountability looks like in those same spaces. John is also a graduate of America's oldest degree granting HBCU Lincoln University. They'll be discussing the promises made by many of the American institutions and companies during the 2020 racial reckoning. Corporate America as a collective, and many individual companies spoke loudly about vowing to do better in its treatment of black employees and the way it engages in the black community/communities that buys its product and services.

To learn more about John Graham or to order a copy of his book: Plantation Theory: The Black Professional's Struggle between Freedom and Security, go to www.plantationtheory.com

Highlights from the episode:

Why did John write his book Plantation Theory? (4:17)
John talks about "Code Switching" and what that means. (10:02)
What does the term"calling in black" mean? (19:50)
Are there consequences for companies that don't meet certain diversity goals? (33:33)
John talks about the oldest degree granting HBCU in the country Lincoln University (48:50)
John talks about the forward from his book by Dr. Joy Degruy and why he wanted her to write it. (56:31)
How has John's book been perceived by black professionals and white corporate leaders? (59:20)

Connect with John Graham Jr.

LinkedIn: @johngrahamcreative

Twitter: @InstaGraham1906

Instagram: @instagraham1906

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 35 Memory & Abolition with Dr. Nicole Truesdell

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 11:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Dr. Nicole Truesdell who is an anthropologist, an abolitionist scholar and teacher who is dedicated to knowledge without borders. Dr. Truesdell has been in some of the top and most respected spaces in the United States. Beloit college, LSU, Brown, Michigan State, the Smithsonian, and more. She joins us for a discussion on how memory, our history, our creativity and our culture can serve to understand, deconstruct and abolish oppressive systems and institutions.

Highlights from the episode:

What's an abolitionist scholar and teacher? How does anthropology help you achieve that goal? (3:15)
What's the first step in abolitionist work? (8:05)
What's your definition of "memory?" How do we use it to free us? (23:28)
How does music/drumming play into memory and abolition? (39:39)
What are your thoughts on the Supreme Court weighing Affirmative Action and higher ed admissions? (1:06:16)

Connect with Dr. Nicole Truesdell

LinkedIn: @drnicoletruesdell

Website: https://www.drnicoletruesdell.com/

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

EP. 34 The Politics of Water - Mississippi Goddamn with Jayme Beasley

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 3 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Jayme Beasley, an instructor at Clark Atlanta to talk about the water crisis in Jackson Mississippi. Jayme is working on her dissertation in water distribution and clean water access. She's been to Morocco, Ghana looking at this issue but she's been acutely aware and focused on the water in Jackson Mississippi. This water crisis won't be resolved without federal, state, and a local, political solution. Today's discussion will go in depth into what can be done and who can fix this issue.

Highlights from the episode:

How Jayme became interested in water and clean water access (8:05)
What are some of the global and national issues around water? (18:32)
Does Jackson Mississippi take advantage of upgrading their water system in the 1970s? (31:23)
The difference between Flint Michigan's water and Jackson Mississippi's water (37:43)
Who's responsible for fixing the water system in Jackson Mississippi? (42:51)
Has Jackson Mississippi presented a plan yet to fix the water? (1:11:24)

Connect with Jayme Beasley

LinkedIn: @jayme-beasley-mpa

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

EP. 33 Black Power in Reconstruction America with Dr. Brian Mitchell

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by historian Dr. Brian Mitchell. He is the director of research and interpretation at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential library and museum where he focuses on reconstruction. Previously, he was a professor at the University of Arkansas Little Rock and he's also written the book; Blood in Their Eyes: The Elaine massacre of 1919, as well as the graphic novel Monumental: Oscar Don and his radical fight and Reconstruction of Louisiana. Today's discussion is all about Reconstruction, an intentionally ignored topic in American history. Now, there's no way a podcast or documentary can take the place of good old fashion studying (especially on a subject as vital as Reconstruction) but Mark and Dr. Mitchell will shed some much needed light on the subject and its importance in not only black American history, but American history as a whole.

Highlights from the episode:

What is Reconstruction and why is it important? (03:43)
Before Lincoln's assassination, had reconstruction already begun? (9:20)
What was happening with black America culturally during this time? (25:02)
Black power during reconstruction (35:52)
The Ku Klux Klan (59:28)

Resources:

Blood in their Eyes and Monumental

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep.32 Quitting & The Great Resignation with Keith Boykin

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark sits down with Keith Boykin, author of the book Quitting: Why I left my job for a life of freedom. Keith is a double ivy league graduate who quit what many would deem a "dream job" working at the White House. Keith is no stranger to quitting jobs to pursue experiences that are important to him and leaving places of employment that are no longer serving him. By doing so, Keith has also authored 6 books, hosted his own talk show, become a noted political commentator, been a producer of TV and film, and traveled the world. Keith's book speaks on the good and bad of quitting your job and place of employment.

Highlights from the episode:

Keith explains why he wasn't surprised by "The Great Resignation" (7:55)
Keith talks about his time in the White House and when he realized it was time for him to leave/quit/resign. (14:48)
Keith talks about his first quitting experience and what he learned. (17:38)
You can quit BUT the bills do not! (20:04)
Keith shares what he learned from his parents as far as guidance, truthfulness, and entrepreneurship when in comes to quitting. (21:40)

Resources:

Quitting: Why I Left My Job to Live a Life of Freedom by: Keith Boykin

Connect with Keith Boykin

Instagram: @keithboykin

Website: https://www.keithboykin.com/

Twitter: @keithboykin

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 31 Under The Skin with Linda Villarosa

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Journalist, editor, educator and author, Linda Villarosa. Linda has delivered a critically important book that is a must read! The title is Under The Skin: The Hidden toll of racism on American lives and on the health of our nation. In this book, Linda describes how and why black Americans live sicker and die quicker and it's not because of race or class, but because of racism. Linda, through numerous amounts of data and the stories of people, lays out in detail how this came to be and some ways forward. As a former writer for Essence and now a writer for the New York times magazine she has reported on many issues and the health of black Americans. Whether it be HIV/AIDS, environmental racism and its effects on health, eugenics, diet Covid, she's been at the forefront of writing and reporting our story in the healthcare system.

Highlights from the episode:

Linda talks about her journey to understanding how racism and health intersect (5:20)
Are black bodies different? Do we have physiological/biological differences that create different health disparities? (10:45)
The Relf Sisters and their story (14:30)
The story of Simone landrum in New Orleans and how unequal treatment in healthcare can really have some some bad outcomes for black folks in particularly for black women (18:35)
Where does the profession of Doula stand? More information about Doulas and Latona Giwa (23:09)

Resources:

Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation

Connect with Linda Villarosa

LinkedIn: @linda-villarosa

Website: https://www.lindavillarosa.com/

Twitter: @lindavillarosa

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 30 2022 Midterm Elections & Black Political Sophistication

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 6 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Highlights from the episode:

Midterm Elections (3:04)
What’s at stake during the elections (7:04)
Thoughts on student loan forgiveness(21:33)
Political Sophistication (26:03)
The importance of voting (33:31)

Connect with Dr. Tammy Greer

LinkedIn: @tammy-greer-ph-d

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 29 The State of Black America with John Moye

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000

We are back for another season of The Parley in All Blue and we are joined by John Moye. John is the Senior director, policy legislative affairs, and Civic engagement of the Urban League of greater Atlanta. We will be discussing the midterms, how some people feel about voting for the lesser of two evils or voting at all, and the whole idea that there's no difference between Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton. We also break down what was on the line then, like the three Supreme Court seats, the passing of the George Floyd police act, the January 6th insurrection at our nation's capital, the racist rally that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia and the responses by different sides, kids in cages, the onslaught of restricting voting measures that has passed in over 30 states and women's reproductive rights. All of these issues were on the line during the election. We also have the midterms coming, so what's at stake? Do you believe everyone should have clean and reliable drinking water? Do you like student loan forgiveness? Do you think that the 1619 project should be a part of schools curriculum or should it be banned?

Highlights from the episode:

What is The State of Black America report? (5:37)
John’s role with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta? (26:13)
Key things that have come through legislation that the Urban League has advocated for that has affected people (33:30)
The water crisis in Mississippi? (40:07)
Governor Kemp vs Stacey Abrams? (53:53)

Resources:

You can go to the The National Urban League website where you'll see a report of the State of Black America at: www.nul.org

Also, for additional information, go to www.Stateofblackamerica.com

Connect with John Moye

LinkedIn: @john-h-moye

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 28 Backlash and the Religion of Whiteness with Dr. Stephen Finley

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 26 May 2022 10:52:41 +0000

Highlights from the episode:

Teaching Religious Studies
Defining Whiteness
Religion and the Current State of Society
Critical Race Theory and the School System
The Mission of Turning Point USA

Connect with Dr. Stephen Finley

Email: scfinley@lsu.edu

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 27 Colonization Has Not Been an Act of Love with Abad Leyva

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 19 May 2022 10:31:16 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Abad Leyva to shine some light on the history and culture of Afro Mexicans, i.e Africans in Mexico during and after Slavery. The Port of Veracruz brought in more enslaved people from Africa through their port than the port of Charleston and Savannah combined. Abad Leyva will speak on his experiences and also the African impact on Mexico during slavery. Abad will also discuss the first time he came to America and what early life was like for him as an Afro Mexican in America.

Highlights from the episode:

Enslaved Africans in Mexico
African Culture in Mexico
Gaspar Yanga
Abad’s journey from Mexico to the U.S.
Cimarrones

Connect with Abad Leyva

TikTok: @tecoanapa

Instagram: @AbadTecoanapa

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 26 Leadership and Economic Justice with Nancy Flake Johnson

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 12 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Nancy Flake Johnson, The CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. She has partnerships with civil rights organizations, corporations, activists, educators, and elected officials. Simply put, Nancy is a bridge builder. Nancy joins us to talk about her work and the work of the Urban League. We'll also discuss her journey and the unique challenges that we face in today's environment and more.

Highlights from the episode:

The National Urban League
The Workforce in Atlanta
Civil Rights Organization
Nancy’s Journey
Your Vote Matters

Connect with Nancy Flake Johnson

Urban League of Greater Atlanta

LinkedIn: @nancy-flake-johnson

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 25 The Deepest South of All with Richard Grant

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 5 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Parley in All Blue Podcast, Mark sits down with Richard Grant to discuss Natchez, Mississippi. Bestselling travel writer Richard Grant “sensitively probes the complex and troubled history of the oldest city on the Mississippi River.” Natchez, Mississippi, once had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in America, and its wealth was built on slavery and cotton. Today it has the greatest concentration of antebellum mansions in the South, and a culture full of unexpected contradictions. Prominent white families dress up in hoopskirts and Confederate uniforms for ritual celebrations of the Old South, yet Natchez is also progressive enough to elect a gay black man for mayor with 91% of the vote. This episode is not one you want to miss.

Highlights from the episode:

Antebellum Homes
Slave trade and Cotton
Nellie Jackson
Racism in the South
Deacons for Defense

Resources:

The Deepest South of All: True Stories from Natchez, Mississippi

Connect with Richard Grant

Website: www.richardgrant.us

Twitter: @richardgrant4

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 24 Rio: Samba and The Cultural Quilombo with Dani Mahmoud

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:30:00 +0000

Continuing our tour of South America, Mark discusses the rich culture of Rio de Janeiro with Dani Mahmoud. Dani is a tourist guide in Rio and takes us on a journey. Mark and Dani discuss how Rio was founded, African influence, the language and religion of Rio and cultural celebrations.

Highlights from the episode:

Quilombo
African Slave Trade
Yoruba Cultural Influence
Little Africa
Samba
Black Consciousness Day

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 23 Salvador Brazil, Africa in the New World with Isaco Costa

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Parley in All Blue Podcast, Mark sits down with Isaco Costa to discuss the African Diaspora and Salvador. Isaco is a tourist guide in Salvador, Bahia and is a specialist in the diversity of historical, cultural, religious and social tourism. Salvador is the capital of Bahia and is known for the Portuguese colonial architecture, Afro-Brazilian culture and a tropical coastline.

Highlights from the episode:

The rich culture of Salvador, Bahia
Bay of All Saints
African influence in Salvador
Sugarcane plantations in Brazil
Michael Jackson

Connect with Isaco Costa

LinkedIn: @isaco-costa

Instagram: @guiaisacosalvadorbahia

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 22 Black Farmers Lives Matter with Kali Holloway

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:30:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Parley in All Blue Podcast, Mark sits down with Kali Holloway. Kali Holloway is a monthly columnist for both The Nation and The Daily Beast. Her writings have also appeared in The Guardian, Salon, TIME, Huffington Post, The National Memo and numerous other outlets. She co-curated the New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art 2017 summer performance and film series “Theater of the Resist.” She is the former Director of the Make it Right Project, a national initiative dedicated to taking down Confederate monuments and telling the truth about history. She also was a Senior Writer and the Associate Editor of Media & Culture at progressive news site AlterNet. Before that, she was a producer on the short film DJ Mojo: Music is Life, a producer and the outreach director on the PBS documentary The New Public; Director of Outreach and Audience Engagement for the HBO documentary Southern Rites and the Emmy-nominated film Brooklyn Castle; and Outreach Consultant on the award-winning documentary The New Black; she is currently producing Sunset and the Mockingbird about jazz pianist Junior Mance.

Highlights from the episode:

Black activism
40 Acres & A Mule
USDA Land Laws
Black Land Ownership
Black Farmers

Resources: How Thousands of Black Farmers Were Forced Off Their Land By: Kali Holloway

Connect with Kali Holloway

LinkedIn: @kali-holloway

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter:

@Iammarkdawson

Ep 21 History and Truth Telling with Dr. D'Andra Orey

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 7 Apr 2022 10:15:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Parley in All Blue Podcast, Mark sits down with Dr. D'Andra O'rey, a professor of political science at Jackson State University to discuss the story behind the book Mississippi Conflict and change, the current environment around the anti-CRT (Critical Race Theory) propaganda and movement, and they'll put it into context of today's political environment, along with some HBCU history. They'll also touch on the history, music, and culture in the state of Mississippi.

Highlights from the episode:

What is CRT (Critical Race Theory)
Mississippi Freedom Schools
Mississippi Conflict & Change
Lies that were told in school
Intersectionality

Resources:

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James (Jim) Loewen.

Mississippi Conflict and Change by James Loewen

Connect with Dr. D’Andra Orey

LinkedIn: @b-d-andra-orey

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 20 Choices and values - Transit as a Tool for Human Connections and Equity with Heather Infantry

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of The Parley In All Blue Mark is joined by Heather Infantry. Heather is a foot soldier for Black liberation who pursues passion-driven projects and works with the aim of transformation. She is currently advancing equitable transit-oriented development as a pathway to Black prosperity. Throughout her career Heather has fostered an ongoing curiosity for people, places and ideas at the intersection of culture and equity.

Highlights from the episode:

Transportation and Equity
Transit Oriented Development
Atlanta - MARTA
Transportation during The Pandemic
The Transformation Alliance

Connect with Heather Infantry

LinkedIn: @heatherinfantry

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 19 Dreaming Big and the Creative Power of Your Story with Dr. Lisa Cain

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 10:30:00 +0000

On this week's episode of The Parley In All Blue Mark is joined by Dr. Lisa Cain.

Lisa D. Cain, Ph.D., a graduate of Jackson State Univ. with a B.S.in biology received a Ph.D. in Anatomy at the Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She joined The Univ. of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston faculty in 2017 as Associate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs, and as a Professor in the Dept. of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences. Her involvement in education spans 30 years. She is the recipient of teaching awards and honors, including the UT System Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award (ROTA) and the Dr. Martin Luther King Service Award. She is a Marshall Goldsmith’s Certified Executive Leadership Coach and is an artist who incorporated her love for art into the educational arena.

Highlights from the episode:

Dr. Lisa Cain’s upbringing in Canton, Mississippi
Dr. Lisa Cain’s Career and professional experience
What led Dr. Lisa Cain to start painting
Dr. Lisa Cain’s style of painting
A deeper look into a few of her artwork pieces

Resources:

www.lisacain.org

Connect with Dr. Lisa Cain

LinkedIn: @lisa-cain-ph-d-scc

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 18 The Empire of Mali from Sundiata The Lion King & Mansa Musa The Great with Dr. Emmanuel Nuesiri

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 10:35:00 +0000

On this week's episode of The Parley In All Blue, Mark sits down with Dr. Emanuelle Nuesiri to discuss the empire of Mali.Dr. Emmanuel Nuesiri is the lead Social Science faculty at the African Leadership University (ALU) Mauritius, where he teaches courses in African Studies, Feminist Economics, and Environmental Politics. He holds a PhD from St. Antony's College at the University of Oxford, UK. He has been a research scholar at the Pan-African Institute for Development Buea, Cameroon; Cornell University, USA; University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, USA; and the University of Potsdam, Germany. He has also been a research associate with the Center for African Studies (CAS) at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, a resource person at the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) London and with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UN-ECA) Addis Ababa. Emmanuel is presently the Chair of the Natural Resource Governance Framework (NRGF), a global governance assessment and correspondence instrument being developed by the Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Emmanuel's academic interests span the history of colonialism in Africa, rights-based natural resource governance, global economic development, and the social science of climate change. . We'll also explore Sundiata the Lion King, and Mansa Musa the Great.

Mali is an empire that was founded by Sundiata. This goes back almost a thousand years ago. He defeated the great and mighty empire of Ghana. After Sundiata conquered Ghana, he went on a mission to build the greatest empire ever. The kingdom of Mali had gold. They had developed the technology and wherewithal to mine gold, transport, and sell it/trade gold with their neighbors to the north. The gold that went to North Africa then went to Europe and then it went to China and all other places in between. During this time period, the Kingdom or empires from 1200 through the 1600s about 2/3 of the world's gold came from Mali.

Highlights from the episode:

History of Mali
Sundiata The Lion King
The 9th Mansa: Mansa Musa The Great
Malian Art
Abubakari ll and his voyage

Connect with Dr. Emmanuel Nuesiri

LinkedIn: @emmanuel-nuesiri

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Special Episode: Michelle Duster on the Life and Legacy of Ida B Wells

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 11:00:00 +0000

On this special episode and addition of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by author and professor Michelle Duster, the great granddaughter of the late, great Mrs. Ida B Wells-Barnett. Yes, the one and only Ida B Wells-Barnett, the civil rights leader, author, one of the founders of the NAACP, and Pulitzer Prize recipient. Michelle has written, edited, or contributed to over 16 books; she's also a public historian, speaker, and champion on racial and gender equity. This discussion goes deep into the life of Ida B Wells-Barnett and her impact not only on black history but American history.

Ida was born in 1862 in HollySprings, Mississippi. During the civil war, her parents were enslaved, so the laws at the time meant that Ida would be born into slavery. When the slavery ended in 1865 and slavery became outlawed she was among the first generations of formerly enslaved people to have the opportunity to be educated. She was the oldest of eight children to James and Elizabeth Wells. Her father was a Carpenter and her mother was a cook. Ida and her mother both attended school together. Literacy was banned during slavery so Elizabeth joined Ida in school in order to learn and become as educated as possible. In 1878 at the age of only 16, both of her parents died within a day of each other and one of Ida's siblings died at the same time. That loss of family motivated Ida to keep her family together and raise the rest of her siblings. Reconstruction was a period in America from 1865 to 1877. In 1881 the state of Tennessee started creating "Jim Crow" laws which included separation of public transportation by race. Ida became a co-owner of a newspaper in 1889. In 1891 Ida lost her job for writing about the inequalities in the public schools. After The People's Grocery company lynching, Ida started writing in the newspaper telling black people to boycott the Memphis street cars, white owned business and to relocate from Memphis to Oklahoma. There was a mass exodus because of it. She was invited by Fredrick Douglas to go to Chicago to work on a pamphlet that would be produced at the World's Fair. Ida started the very first kindergarten in Chicago

Highlights from the episode:

The early life and upbringing of Ida B Wells
Life during Reconstruction and the beginning of Jim Crow.
The People's Grocery company lynching
Ida's role in exposing the injustices and mistreatment of black people and black soldiers during the Elaine Arkansas Race riots.
Who is Ferdinand L Barnett?

Connect with Michelle Duster

LinkedIn: @michelle-duster

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter:

@Iammarkdawson

Ep 16 Changing the Continent - African Entrepreneurship with Yacob Berhane

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +0000

On this week's episode of the Parley in All Blue Podcast, Mark sits down with Howard University graduate Yacob Berhane, the cofounder and CEO of Pariti, a venture capitalist platform based in Nairobi that connects founders with investors. If you're on the continent of Africa and are in the tech space or you're in the start up space looking for capital, Pariti is the go to platform to help bring your ideas to life. Mark and Yacob discuss what led Yacob to this point, his upbringing, what Pariti is, its objective, and how the company is trying to help start-ups not only in Kenya, but all over the world.

Africa will have the largest youth population by 2050. Yacob co-founded ALN (African Leadership Network) Ventures, a pan-African accelerator which was based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Kenya's major industries include agriculture, mining, energy, manufacturing, and financial services. Pariti’s capital comes from the U.S. Yacob has successfully helped raise $20M+ for startups. Prior to Pariti, Yacob was an investment banking analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and also a brief time with Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Highlights from the episode:

Defining Pariti
The Effects of COVID-19 in Africa
African cuisine: Ethiopian vs Eritrean
Capital and Investors for Pariti
Getting started with Pariti

Resources:

Visit the website: https://www.pariti.io/

Connect with Yacob Berhane

LinkedIn: @yacob-berhane

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 15 Funding Education and Looking for Equitable Outcomes with Dr. Stephen Owens

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Dr Stephen Owens from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute to discuss school funding and its effect on impoverished neighborhoods and students. Dr. Owens is a University of Georgia alumni and is an expert in school funding and budgeting. He breaks down what exactly is going on with the educational system as far as funding and budgeting but especially in low income areas.

America ranks 12th in the world in reference to education. In the state of Georgia 50% of all the school budget comes from the State funds directly from the State. 43% comes from local property taxes and 7% comes from the government (usually it's from a specific grant, i.e low income students, students with disability, etc) In terms of metropolitan areas Atlanta has the largest income disparity and income inequality. The amount of state funding that's gone into student transportation has gone unchanged in the state of Georgia since Bill Clinton was in office. We've cut 10 Billion dollars from public schools since 2003! Georgia is 1 of only 8 states in the union that doesn't give money/funding specifically to educate students in poverty.

Highlights from the episode:

School Funding
Tax Policy
Learning Loss Due to COVID
Limited Resources in the Education System
K-12 Education

Connect with Dr. Stephen Owens

LinkedIn: @stephen-owens

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 14 Born in Blackness with Howard French

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +0000

Highlights from the episode:

Price of Gold
Mansa Musa
Europe in 1471
The Fort of El Mina
Portugal & West Africa

Resources:

Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 13 Same Storm, Different Boats with Dr. Na'Taki Osborne Jelks

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 3 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +0000

Highlights from the episode:

The Effects of Climate Change
Environmental Justice/Injustice
Urban Heat Islands
Health Hazards
Effects of Segregation Impact the Environment

Connect with Dr. Na’Taki Osborne Jelks

LinkedIn: @na-taki-osborne-jelks

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 12 Criminal Justice, Civil Rights and the Importance of Public Defenders with Ilham "Illy" Askia

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:51:33 +0000

On this week's episode of the Parley in All Blue Podcast, Mark sits down with the executive director of Gideon's Promise Ilham "Illy" Askia. Today's discussion focuses on the criminal justice system, what is "Gideon's Promise," how it started and what their mission is along with what services they provide. This highlights American history for ALL it's citizens and how it was changed by one man's letter in 1963 which has benefited and changed the lives of countless Americans of all races, backgrounds, and creeds

Gideon's Promise and their mission is to transform the criminal justice system by building a movement of public defenders who provide EQUAL justice for marginalized communities. Also by trying to change the narrative created about the communities targeted by mass incarceration and the school-to prison pipeline.

Highlights from the episode:

Gideon’s Promise
Criminal Justice System
Public Defenders
Who is Gideon?

Resources:

For more information visit www.gideonspromise.org

Connect with Ilham Askia

Instagram: @illy_askia

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 11 The Red and Green Lines of Housing and Black Wealth with Charlton Hamer

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Charlton Hamer, the Senior Vice President of Habitat Affordable Group. Today's discussion focuses on housing, housing policy, the housing wealth gap between black and white families along with its long history in America.

As a child Charlton was interested in cities and it's architectures along with landmarks but didn't really know how to articulate or express his interest. His father wanted him to be an architect and in order to nurture his interests he gave him literature on architecture. While reading, Charlton saw something that really sparked his interests and that was Urban Planning. Charlton has an undergraduate degree along with a graduate degree in Urban Planning and policy from the University of Illinois. Once he graduated, Charlton wanted to be a municipal planner and his first job was as a comprehensible planner for the city of Gary, Indiana. He later worked for the Chicago housing authority to make a greater and direct impact on housing. Getting frustrated with the politics involved, Charlton later started working in the private sector and has been there ever since.

Highlights from the episode:

Housing Segregation in Chicago
Your Zip Code Matters
The difference between Habitat Affordable Group and Habitat for Humanity
What was The Great Migration?
Redlining

Connect with Charlton Hamer

LinkedIn: @charlton-p-hamer

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 10 Creating A World That Respects Work with Dr. Ira Murray

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 11:02:23 +0000

On this episode of The Parley in All Blue, Mark is joined by Dr. Ira Murray who is the President and CEO of United Way of the Capital Area in Mississippi to discuss the acronym "ALICE" (Asset limited income constrained & employed), its meaning, who makes up ALICE and what can we do to close some of the gaps in reference to ALICE. Dr. Ira also speaks on the statistics behind ALICE and what the data is telling us from a national perspective, while also discussing what are some of the policies and things we can do to improve the problem. ALICE is a new way of defining and understanding the struggles of households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget. For far too many families, the cost of living outpaces what they earn.

Dr. Ira Murray is the President and CEO of United Way of the Capital Area. Dr. Murray received his PhD in Administrative and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and achieved his Masters degree in Community Development from Vanderbilt University which focused on issues of race and equity in urban education, particularly community-based supports for students in urban contexts. Dr. Murray also went to Florida A&M University (FAMU) where he received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Highlights from the episode:

Defining ALICE
Low Income Families and Households
Dr. Murray’s Journey
The ALICE Essential Index
The Pandemic & ALICE

Connect with Dr. Ira Murray

LinkedIn: @iramurray

Resources:

United For Alice

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 09 Healthcare Equity: Seeing Yourself Matters with Dr. Khadeja Johnson

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 6 Jan 2022 11:01:22 +0000

In this episode of the Parley in All Blue, Mark sits down with Dr. Khadeja Johnson a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Education at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Johnson treats patients at Grady Memorial Hospital and is the course director of Fundamentals of Medicine 2, course director of the MD3 Orientation Course, co-course director for Connections: Interprofessional Education at Morehouse School of Medicine, and is a Learning Community mentor. She is committed to serving the underserved and has a passion for medical education.

Highlights from the episode:

Getting Vaccinated
Access to Healthcare
Long-Effects of Covid-19

Connect with Dr. Khadeja Johnson

LinkedIn: @khadeja-johnson

Resources:

My COVID-19 Plea

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 08 Wanting Good Things For All Children with Dr. Rhea Williams Bishop

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the Parley in All Blue, Mark sits down with Dr. Rhea Williams Bishop. Rhea Williams - Bishop is director of Mississippi and New Orleans Programming for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. In this role, she supports the foundation’s efforts to promote thriving children, working families and equitable communities. The Pandemic has affected everyone but none more so than children. Families have been struggling with food, housing, and employment. Children all over the U.S. were required to attend school virtually, resulting in a severe learning loss. Dr. Rhea Williams-Bishop’s philanthropic work has made a tremendous impact on all children.

Highlights from the episode:

Role Models and Mentoring
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The Impact of the Pandemic on Children and Families
Headstart
Segregation/Desegregation

Connect with Dr. Rhea Williams Bishop

LinkedIn: @rheawilliams-bishop

Resources:

A Chance for Change: Head Start and Mississippi's Black Freedom Struggle By: Crystal R. Sanders

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 07 Startup Life - The Arrow has to be Pulled Back with Jean Pierre Alfred

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 13:01:19 +0000

In this episode of The Parley in all Blue, Mark speaks with Jean Pierre Alfred about how he got started in entrepreneurship, serving in the military, getting into business with his brother and his startup business. Jean Pierre is an entrepreneur and a social media influencer. Mark and Jean Pierre discuss how important it is to get out of your comfort zone. It means different things for different people and for JP that meant going to work at a retail store after graduating college and serving in the military. For my audience out there it could mean going back home to live with your parents so that you can save to buy a home or start a business. At some point in life the arrow has to be pulled back in order to move forward.

Highlights from the episode:

The language of business
Starting an app
The transportation industry
Being Black in the Tech World

Connect with Jean Pierre Alfred

LinkedIn: @jpalfred

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 06 Slavery's Long Afterlife: Race Norming & The NFL with Dr. Tracie Canada

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 9 Dec 2021 11:15:00 +0000

In this episode of The Parley in all Blue, Mark speaks with Dr. Tracie Canada about Race Norming and the NFL. Dr. Tracie is an anthropologist and an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Notre Dame. Her ethnographic research uses sport to theorize race, kinship, gender and the body. Mark and Tracie define race norming, how the players are compensated and answers that complex question of whether the NFL is racist.

Highlights from the episode:

What is Race Norming?
Anti-blackness in college football
The importance of representation
Is the NFL Racist?
Defining Anthropology

Connect with Dr. Tracie Canada:

LinkedIn: @traciecanada

Resources:

The NFL’s Racist ‘Race Norming’ Is an Afterlife of Slavery by Tracie Canada and Chelsey R. Carter

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 05 There's Something New Everyday with William Haley

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Thu, 2 Dec 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Mark and Bill discuss the cultural and historical organization, The Jackie Robinson West Little League, and how it is so much more than baseball. They explore the ins and outs of the League and how important an organization like this is to the Black community. The pandemic affected us all but for Bill, he saw this as an opportunity to tap into his creative side. He started taking pictures on long walks and soon fell in love with photography. Bill shares a few photos he took around the city of Chicago. Each photo tells a story full of history and beauty. There’s something new everyday.

Highlights from the episode:

Jackie Robinson Little League
Staying active during the Pandemic and beyond
Being fully present in the moment
Richard C. Haley Scholarship
Harold’s Fried Chicken

Connect with William Haley:

Instagram: @wil_liamhaley

Youtube: Chicagoland Baseball Chronicles

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep. 04 Trusted Voices with Erin Shirley Orey

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark A Dawson) — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Mark and Erin discuss how public health was affected by the pandemic. They discuss Erin’s father, Dr. Aaron Shirley and the MacArthur Genius Grant. Erin and Mark also talk about healthcare in Mississippi and United Health Care. They explore the hesitancy of getting the vaccine for Covid-19 and how important trusted voices are to the Black community.

Highlights from the episode:

History of public health
Dr. Aaron Shirley
Health Connect Program
Shortage of healthcare providers
The Vaccine for Covid-19

Connect with Erin Shirley Orey:

LinkedIn: Erin Shirley Orey

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson

LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson

Website: www.bentonmuse.com

Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 3: We Have all We Need with Calvin Vismale

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark Dawson, Calvin Vismale) — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Highlights from the episode:

The impact of Morehouse College on Calvin and his community
Stories and details of Black history from a man who was there
Studying finance and making deals in the US economy
The connection between Black economics and Black power
Talent and leadership throughout Black history and today

Connect with Calvin Vismale:

LinkedIn: Calvin Vismale

3E Empire: https://emergingeconomicequityempire.org/

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson
LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson
Website: www.bentonmuse.com
Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 02: Development Without Displacement with Lyneir Richardson

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Lyneir Richardson, Mark Dawson) — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode of The Parley in all Blue, Mark speaks with Lyneir Richardson about building Black wealth. Lyneir is from the Westside of Chicago who leads a life full of family, work, and helping his community wherever he is. Entrepreneurship is in his blood; he now is CEO of The Chicago Trend and shares his inclusive urban development practices with students at Rutgers college.

Mark and Lyneir discuss how Black-owned businesses can gain capital opportunities and why there is a gap in capital for this community. They discuss the difference between bridging the gap between neighborhoods with abundant amenities and ones that have historically been discriminated against, bringing resources and ownership to black people, and if the commitments made by large corporations after the murder of George Floyd have come to fruition. This episode is full of life stories, important perspectives, and positive feelings.

Highlights from the episode:

Building Black wealth through urban development
Seeing value in people and places that other people undervalue
Finding purpose in what you do
The role of elected leaders in understanding the needs of small entrepreneurs

Resources mentioned:

Ep 01: The Voting Green Book

Connect with Lyneir Richardson:
Linkedin: Lyneir Richardson
Twitter: @LyneirRich

Connect with Mark Dawson:
Instagram: @iammarkdawson
LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson
Website: www.bentonmuse.com
Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Ep 01: The Voting Green Book with Helen Butler

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark Dawson, Helene Butler) — Thu, 4 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Mark Dawson’s podcast, The Parley in all Bleu. In this episode, Mark discusses the importance of voting rights with Helen Butler. Helen is the executive director of The People's Agenda, a Georgia-based voter’s rights organization that advocates for voters throughout the state and into the Southeast.

Voter rights are as important as ever as we see changes in public policy. November 2020 had the highest voter turnout and the most engagement of citizens. New laws in Georgia bring oppression to voters with new restrictions reminiscent of Jim Crow laws. Helen and her team make sure every person can easily and comfortably cast their vote and that no discrimination or oppression will keep voters away from the polls.

Highlights from the episode:

Voting rights, specifically in Georgia
Helen’s road to working in public policy
Corruption of local county elections offices
Black women’s critical role in voting rights
How Congress is erasing the progress of voting rights

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The People's Agenda

The Second Mountain by David Brooks

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson
LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson
Website: www.bentonmuse.com
Twitter: @Iammarkdawson

Welcome to The Parley In All Blue with Mark Dawson Podcast

markdawson@bentonmuse.com (Mark Dawson) — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 14:23:33 +0000

Your host, Mark, shares with you what you can expect from The Parley In All Blue Podcast.

This podcast has 4 main pillars: Leadership, History, Culture, and Living Well. In this welcomes message Mark will explain to you what you can expect from each of these pillars.

If you want to know when we will be launching the podcast, connect with Mark on Instagram or LinkedIn, so when we launch the podcast, you will be the first to know.

Connect with Mark Dawson:

Instagram: @iammarkdawson
LinkedIN: @mark-a-dawson
Website: www.bentonmuse.com
Twitter: @Iammarkdawson