Black Issues Forum: 2012-2013

While the Nation reflects this year on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, where do issues around women's rights and gender equality fit in? Dr. Valerie Ann Johnson of Bennett College, the founder of WomenNC Beth Dehghan, and life-long women's and human rights activist Adrienne Witherspoon share their perspectives.

Asheville's YMI Cultural Center celebrates 120 years since it opened in 1893 as The Young Men's Institute. Founded by African Americans Isaac Dickson and Dr. Edward Stephens and funded by George Vanderbilt, it housed a kindergarten, adult schools, a library, drugstore, doctor's offices, swimming pool and more. Historian Dr. Darrin Waters and YMI Director Sharon West share its history.

Urban and community gardening and farming could be a way to provide healthy food alternatives to residents of areas traditionally unfriendly to growing produce and also help overcome issues of food access. The City of Lenoir shares how they made a community gardening program work.

Architects Phil Freelon and Zena Howard are on the design team that's building the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. They and other architects on the FABS "dream team" share the vision behind the design concept.

What kinds of laws governing the use of guns will allow Americans to enjoy their rights and keep everybody safe? Durham City Mayor Bill Bell, Gail Neely with North Carolinians Against Gun Violence, and Sgt. Tivon Howard with the Zebulon Police Department share their experiences and views.

Meet North Carolina jazz and soul recording artist Yolanda Rabun and hear her perform songs from her CD "So Real"..

Alzheimer's Disease is especially hard on the caregiver, and this is oftentimes a close family member. Caregivers not only need to know how to help their loved one but also how to maintain their own health. Scientist Dr. Goldie Byrd of NC A&T, Alzheimer's Advocate Garret Davis, and caregiver Shari Bailey share their expertise, advice, and personal stories.

Chances are, you or someone you know has a child with autism. When a family faces this developmental disability, how do they manage, and how can you be helpful if you're a friend? Former TV anchor Dwayne Ballen shares his journey with his son in a new book titled "journey with Julian" as we learn about the highs and lows of autism.

February 6, 1971, a small grocery store in Wilmington, NC was burned down, and 10 student civil rights protestors, including former NAACP director Dr. Ben Chavis, were falsely accused, unjustly tried and convicted, and incarcerated. Known as the Wilmington 10, their names were finally cleared after a 42 year fight. Dr. Chavis and attorney for the group Irving Joyner share their story.

Program guests say emancipation was more of a process than a proclamation, and freedom is a fundamental American value that we continue to define and aspire to attain for everyone. NC Museum of History Curator Earl Ijames and Director of the NC Freedom Monument project explain as they discuss cooperative events honoring the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

In 1963, Duke University became one of the last major universities to would admit black students as undergraduates. Three of the first five to enter, Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke, Gene Kendall, and Nathaniel B. White, Jr. share their stories

Preview films showing at the 19th Hayti Heritage Film Festival in Durham. Filmaker Eric Barstow discusses his entry "Que Sera El Caribe about Costa Ricans' fight to sae their home, and filmaker Katina Parker shares her own film "Peace Process" about a turning a teen from gang violence, and festival curator Marc Lee talks about other films including Byron Hurt's "Soul Food Junkies." hayti.org.

A 2012 Kellogg Foundation reports shows nearly 2/3 of Black households donate 11 billion dollars every year. Philanthropy expert Darryl Lester, fundraising expert and blogger Gail Perry, and Dr. Deborah Bailey share advice on nonprofit sustainability, giving with social impact, and fundraising.

Part two of a discussion on the School to Prison pipleline taking into consideration the roles of data, racial prejudice, and strategies to turn the tide.

Only two other states in our nation have higher suspension rates than North Carolina, and some say it's one of the biggest contributors to the School to Prison Pipeline. A former teacher, law enforcement officer, and parent share their observations on how this pipeline is created and why so many African American children are funneled into it.

Music for the season featuring North Carolina's own Nnenna Freelon and John Brown. They'll perform for us and talk about their recent Holiday CD collaboration next on Black Issues Forum.

To get a message to young people, Hip Hop and rap music work. Learn how this music changed the life of local rap artist Thomas RaShad Easley and how he's returning the favor and using his administrative position at a university to set people on a right path. RaShad performs in studio, talks about using explicit lyrics in his message, and shares the story of his Christian journey.

The book "Freedom by Fire" North Carolina author Dr. David Cecelski tells the story of Abraham Galloway, a slave who escaped Eastern North Carolina to freedom, served as a spy for the Union Army, and went on to be elected Senator twice. Cecelski gives detailed accounts from the book.

This election season, we've heard much about the plight of the middle class. But what about the plight of the poor? The North Carolina NAACP and 4 other organizations want to make this a national agenda item. Find out what poor people say their needs are through a report on the Truth and Hope Poverty Tour.

Reynolda House Museum provides a rare opportunity to view the works of American artist Romare Bearden, and Winston Salem provides other cultural sites to build a destination weekend focused on African American history and culture.

On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. While many have since celebrated the passage of this law comparing its impact to that of Medicare, efforts to repeal the law continue. Doctors discuss the benefits and costs of Obamacare.

In recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness month, laugh and cry with Anita Woodley, aka MamaJuggs, in her one-woman drama about breast health, hear the latest science on breast health from Surgical Oncologist Dr. Keith Amos, and see how Pretty in Pink celebrates women surviving breast cancer.

Her moniker is "the High Priestess of Soul", and she hails from Tryon, North Carolina. Right now, her story is on display at UNC's Sonja Haynes Stone Center. We'll reveal the name of this artist and more about her extraordinary life from child prodigy to civil rights icon.

State HBCU students & special guests from Demos, CIRCLE, Mobilize.org, SEEN, and Johnson C. Smith U. gather for a two-part discussion on youth political engagement and the top concerns of the millennial generation this election cycle, like student loan debt and high unemployment. Experts lay out the economic landscape for 20- and 30-somethings in part 1 of this college assembly.

State HBCU students & special guests from Demos, CIRCLE, Mobilize.org, SEEN, and Johnson C. Smith U. gather for a two-part discussion on youth political engagement and the top concerns of the millennial generation this election cycle, like student loan debt and high unemployment. Experts lay out the economic landscape for 20- and 30-somethings in part 1 of this college assembly.