In Black America

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents highlights of the Civil Rights Summit marking the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Featured on today’s program are three civil rights legends that looked back at the movement they helped to forge, and how it continues to resonate in America today, while exploring the civil rights issues of the 21st century.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Angela Burt-Murray editorial director of Cocoa Media Group, a new digital media company that launched CocoaFab.com and CocoaFab.TV to feature entertainment, style and original web series for young women of color. 

Prior to launching CMG, she was the editor-in-chief of ESSENCE magazine, where she oversaw the editorial direction for ESSENCE magazine –the premier lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty magazine for African-American women – as well as Essence.com.

 On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Susan D. Carle, professor at American University Washington College of Law and author of ‘Defining The Struggle: National Organizing For Racial Justice 1880 to 1915.’

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with the late William F. “Bill” Williams, former president and co-founder of Glory Foods, Inc.

In 1992, Glory Foods officially launched its line of pre-seasoned canned vegetables with Columbus, Ohio as its test market. Their initial product line of 17 items focused on greens, peas and beans. During the past twenty-two years, Glory has been able to expand its line to offer 85 products, including seasoned canned greens, bagged fresh greens and other vegetables, low sodium products, hot sauces, seasoned cooking bases, and corn bread and muffins. Glory Foods is now available at grocery stores nationwide.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Vern E. Smith, author of ‘The Jones Men.’

When Smith suggested to his editors at Newsweek Magazine that they take a look at the devastating impact of heroin on Detroit’s urban landscape back in the early 70s, he knew it was a subject that would draw attention. But what he could not have fathomed that he would turn the essence of his reporting into a novel, 'The Jones Men,' or that sometime after that a determined producer–and Detroit native Woodie King Jr. – would convince him to write a screenplay based on the book. 

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with the late Robert C. Maynard, journalist, newspaper publisher, editor and former owner of the Oakland (CA) Tribune newspaper.

  Maynard was a charismatic leader who changed the face of American journalism, built a four-decade career on the cornerstones of editorial integrity, community involvement, improved education and the importance of the family. He was the co-founder of the Institute for Journalism Education, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to expanding opportunities for minority journalists at the nation's newspapers.  

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Gospel Recording artist, radio and TV host, Dr. Bobby Jones.

No one has spent more years on cable TV than BET’s Dr. Bobby Jones who has hosted “Bobby Jones Gospel” for thirty-four years. During those years, his show has spotlighted artists as diverse as country stars Loretta Lynn and Barbara Mandrell to R&B icons such as Patti LaBelle and The Whispers. In between, Jones has also hosted the biggest names in gospel music from Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary to Yolanda Adams and Tamela Mann.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents highlights of the LBJ Civil Rights Summit, held this past spring at the LBJ Presidential Library on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin. Featured on today’s program are Hall of Famers Jim Brown and Bill Russell.

In April 2014, the LBJ Presidential Library on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin hosted a Civil Rights Summit to mark the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The summit featured three former presidents and President Obama. It also looked back at the civil rights movement of the 1960’s and looked forward at the civil rights issues still facing America and the world. President Johnson began his quest for a more just and honorable America with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the most transformational civil rights legislation since Reconstruction and a crucial step in the realization of America’s promise.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents highlights of the LBJ Civil Rights Summit, held this past spring at the LBJ Presidential Library on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin. Featured on today’s program are Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis and Grammy Award-winner Mavis Staples.

This past April, the LBJ Presidential Library on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin hosted a Civil Rights Summit to mark the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The summit featured three former presidents and President Obama. It also looked back at the civil rights movement of the 1960s and looked forward at the civil rights issues still facing America and the world.

  On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Chaz Pitts-Kyser, Founder and Managing Editor of and author of Careeranista: The Woman’s Guide to Success After College. 

Just 30 minutes of watching the news is enough to make the average woman graduating from college want to crawl beneath the covers. The headlines always seem to come back to the sluggish economy, high rate of unemployment, fierce competition for jobs, and ultimately, just how unlucky young professionals are for having to build a career amid such misfortune.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Cleveland Pimpton, author of "No One Left To Hate."

Can someone you've never met have an impact on your life? The answer is simply yes. This is the story of two men who share the same first name, but because of fate intervening they never meet. Separated by war and a generation apart, they both do their part to save the lives of their friends and brother in arms.  

 The spirit of one seems to live in the other. Shirley, the true love of one Malcolm and the mother of the other is the conduit that connects them. Journey with us through these pages and see how God can take the tragedies in their lives and turn them into second chances at love and life.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with the late Ron Banks. Banks, singer and a founding member of the Detroit vocal group, which formed in the mid-1960s and continued to play for avid audiences around the country.

Banks’ sweet voice and smooth choreography helped distinguish the Dramatics, particularly in Detroit’s post-Motown scene of the 1970s, when the group enjoyed crossover pop success with songs such as "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” and “In the Rain.”

  On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Dr. John Sibley Butler, Ph.D. Butler holds the J. Marion West Chair in Constructive Capitalism and the Herb Kelleher Chair in Entrepreneurship at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Also, he is director of the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship and a professor of Management and Sociology.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Dr. Monique W. Morris, Ed.D. Co-founder/President of The National Black Women’s Justice Institute, and author of "Black Stats: African Americans by the Numbers in the Twenty-first Century."

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Dr. Monique W. Morris, Ed.D. Co-Founder/President of The National Black Women’s Justice Institute, and author of "Black Stats: African Americans by the Numbers in the Twenty-first Century."

"Black Stats" is a comprehensive guide filled with contemporary facts and figures on African Americans.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Dr. Allison Willis, assistant professor of neurology and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania.

In her study Dr. Willis finds that African Americans with Parkinson’s disease are less likely than Whites with the disease to receive deep brain stimulation surgery to reduce tremors. Parkinson’s disease affects more than 2 million Americans. Deep brain stimulation surgery has been shown to be effective but involves extensive pre-operative testing and may include costs not covered by many insurance plans, including Medicare.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Dr. Quincy T. Mills, Associate Professor of History at Vassar College and author of "Cutting Along the Color Line
: Black Barbers and Barber Shops in America."

Today, black-owned barber shops play a central role in African American public life. The intimacy of commercial grooming encourages both confidentiality and camaraderie, which make the barber shop an important gathering place for African American men to talk freely.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Tracy Randall, Grammy Award nominated singer/songwriter, attorney and cancer survivor.

Randall isn¹t supposed to be here. In 2006, he was diagnosed with leukemia and after aggressive rounds of Chemo and radiation therapy, his doctors gave up and in February 2007 told him to go home and prepare to die. Through pure will, a positive attitude, his faith and alternative medical treatments, he’s still here and still singing.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Frank S. Washington, owner and editor with aboutthatcar.com.

The North American International Auto Show, known to most as the Detroit Auto Show, continues to serve as a barometer for the entire industry. The 2014 Detroit Auto Show was held at the new  Cobo Hall in Detroit.  The showcase took place Jan. 13-26, and featured the unveiling of more than 50 new vehicles from around the world.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Joann Tolbert-Yancy, President & CEO of Jotoski Human Resource Consulting Firm based in Dallas, TX. Her consulting firm specializes in employment law compliance, EEO litigation support, diversity training, and management/employee development.

Tolbert-Yancy has spent over 36 years as a human resource professional for major corporations and government agencies. She has always incorporated positive suggestions and applications to encourage people to better themselves and inspire others. Her personal experiences and philosophies have helped many create their own road map for success.