Podcast appearances and mentions of Donovan X Ramsey

Today's episode is about When Crack Was King with author Donovan X. Ramsey. It's a book about the crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s. It is arguably the least examined crisis in American history and how it impacted the lives of four individuals, Elgin Swift, son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a “crack house”; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict, and a sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, former mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and lastly, Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Donovan X. Ramsey is a journalist, author, and an indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America. Ramsey's writing career has been focused entirely on amplifying the remarkable unheard stories of Black America. He believes in people-first narratives that center individuals and communities—not just issues.  

This week on Black and Published, Nikesha speaks with Donovan X. Ramsey, author of the book, When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. The book, which was long listed for a National Book Award, is a work of narrative nonfiction exploring how Black America survived the crack epidemic. The book is born out of Donovan's work as a journalist and a Demos Emerging Voices Fellow. In our conversation, Donovan explains why giving context to what happened to Black people and the Black community during the crack epidemic is part of his God given purpose. Plus, the spiritual message he received about his writing that guides his career And, why he say the right substance at the wrong time can make us repeat the drug history we've already lived. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

Notes and Links to Theresa Rundstedtler's Work        For Episode 212, Pete welcomes Theresa Rundstedtler, and the two discuss, among other things, her early love of sports and reading, her work as a Raptors dancer, and the ways in which her voracious reading gave rise to her further exploring sports and race, as well as salient themes like free agency, racist stereotypes and white paternalism and intriguing people like Simon Gourdine and Connie Hawkins and Wali Jones from the 1970s era of the NBA.     Theresa Runstedtler, PhD is an award-winning scholar of African American history whose research focuses on the intersection of race, masculinity, labor, and sport. Her most recent book, Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA (Bold Type Books, 2023), examines how Black players transformed the professional hoops game, both on and off the court, in the 1970s. She is also the author of Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner: Boxing in the Shadow of the Global Color Line (UC Press, 2012), a transnational biography that explores the first African American world heavyweight champion's legacy as a Black sporting hero and anti-colonial icon in places as far-flung as Sydney, London, Cape Town, Manila, Paris, Havana, and Mexico City. Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner won the 2013 Phillis Wheatley Book Prize from the Northeast Black Studies Association. Runstedtler has written for Time.com and the LA Review of Books, and shared her expertise on the History Channel, Al Jazeera America, Vox.com, NPR, and international radio outlets including the BBC and CBC. Originally from Ontario, Canada, she is a professor at American University and lives in Baltimore with her husband and son.     Theresa's Website   Buy Black Ball   Black Ball Review from Los Angeles Review of Books At about 2:35, Theresa discusses her appearance on The History Channel in discussing Jack Johnson's    At about 4:35, Theresa discusses her childhood sporting career, especially her time in figure skating and dance   At about 7:15, Theresa discusses her reading interests growing up    At about 10:30, Theresa discusses her time working as a dancer for the Toronto Raptors   At about 14:00, Theresa talks about what she saw during her years the lives of so many involved with the NBA on a regular basis   At about 15:15, Theresa discusses her reading and writing interests and the ways in which she became a historian    At about 18:00, Theresa explains how and why she got into writing about sport    At about 18:50, Pete notes multiple parallels between the book and today's world and sporting world, and Thersa follows up by talking about how she found people in some ways more open to talking about race through sports    At about 24:35, The two talk about a pivotal and faulty newspaper story by Chris Cobbs, and Theresa explains why she chose to start the book referencing it   At about 28:20, Pete cites Donovan X. Ramsey's research on an erroneous story that exacerbated views on the crack epidemic   At about 29:00, Theresa discusses seeds for her book, especially her research into Len Bias' death and how he became a “symbol of a greater moral panic”    At about 31:20, Pete alludes to Maurice Stokes' mistreatment and the early days of player labor organization   At about 32:10, Theresa responds to Pete's question and lays out why the 70s of the NBA has been “overlooked”   At about 33:05-35:20, Theresa talks about the book as a sort of redress   At about 35:40, The two discuss the difference between the “cultural associations” of fighting in 1970s   At about 36:30, Pete details the book's first part involving monopoly, and he and Theresa discuss Connie Hawkins' importance in the time period and beyond; Theresa gives background on seeds for the book coming upon her connecting Hawkins and Colin Kaepernick's stories   At about 40:40, Spencer Haywood is referenced, and Theresa expands on his story, especially his connection to players' right and the ABA/MBA merger   At about 47:20, Pete references the clash between conservative sportswriters of the early 1970s and socially active and aware players like Wali Jones and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, especially with regards to flimsy investigations regarding drug use in the NBA    At about 53:25, Pete cites advancements for Black coaches like K.C. Jones and Lenny Wilkens and Theresa discusses the ways in which the coaches were judged differently and how they were calm and collected as a rule   At about 55:30, Theresa expounds upon early Black coaches and their often “democratic” ways of coaching in opposition to some of the archetypal drill sergeant-type coaches   At about 57:25, Theresa details the intriguing story of Simon Gourdine and speculates on reasons why he was turned down for NBA Commissioner and what might have been…   At about 1:00:25, The two discuss thoughts of the time and as the years have gone on regarding players like Kermit Washington and Bernard King   At about 1:01:30, Pete asks Theresa about ending the book with an Epilogue revolving around Larry Bird and Magic Johnson's impacts   At about 1:05:50, Theresa talks about exciting future projects   At about 1:06:40, Theresa recommends Jumpman by Johnny Smith and The Cap by Joshua Mendelsohn      You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I'm @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I'm @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you're checking out this episode.    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    NEW MERCH! You can browse and buy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChillsatWillPodcast    This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I'd love for your help in promoting what I'm convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.    Please tune in for Episode 213 with Andrew Porter, the author of, among other work, the short story collection The Theory of Light and Matter, which won the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction, and the short story collection The Disappeared, published in April 2023.    The episode will air on November 21.

Katie and Yves are joined by journalist and author of “When Crack Was King,” Donovan X. Ramsey. They discuss his new book, the media's role in exacerbating the devastating effects of crack, how hip-hop artists memorialized the early days of crack in their rhymes, and the unhinged PSAs put out during the crack era. (Ahem, looking at the Partnership for a Drug Free America PSA: “Make no mistake — drug abuse is the new slavery.”) Follow Donovan on X and Instagram @DonovanXRamsey Follow us on Instagram @onthemeshow Email us at hello@ontheme.showSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's September 14th. This day in 1986, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan gave a prime-time television address about drugs, drug policy, and crack cocaine. Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by journalist Donovan X Ramsey to talk about why both Reagans took part in the address, the media-savvy narratives that emerged in the “Just Say No” era, and the real victims of drug abuse who were left behind. Donovan's new book is When Crack Was King — buy it now, or check out the audio book! Sign up for our newsletter! We'll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories. If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our website: ThisDayPod.com Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Our website is thisdaypod.com Follow us on social @thisdaypod Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia

To understand what's behind existing wealth and opportunity gaps, history is sometimes our greatest teacher. But chances are when we think of the crack era, our minds go to how it was depicted in the media or political campaigns and policing in the 1980s and 1990s. Do we really know the individuals who suffered and what happened to them? And while people suffered, who profited? How do the failures of that epidemic continue to haunt and hold back our plight against drugs, as well as social justice and wealth equality today? Donovan Ramsey is our guest and the author of the new, acclaimed book WHEN CRACK WAS KING: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. (This episode aired originally on July 31). Subscribe to Farnoosh's newsletter Get $300 in bonuses when you pre-order A Healthy State of Panic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ruling classes didn't build those cages to stay empty.

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/drugs-addiction-and-recovery

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The crack epidemic has had seismic impact on American culture, from music to TV and film. This week, Brittany Luse talks to Donovan X. Ramsey, author of When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era, about why pop culture can't let go of the "crack fiend" or the drug dealing anti-hero. They discuss how both those tropes miss some very big marks, where the stereotypes originated and who tried to set the record straight.You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at ibam@npr.org.

What do you think of when you hear the term, “crack cocaine?” The drug is at the heart of an epidemic in the 1980's that destroyed lives. But for writer Donovan X. Ramsey, a lot of our assumptions and understandings about this era are actually mistruths. So he wrote When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era.  He tells Kai that the full truth reveals, “how deep the harm goes in America when it comes to anti-Blackness.” Send us your song for our summer playlist! What's a song that represents your personal diaspora story? Go to notesfromamerica.org and click on the “RECORD” button to leave a voice note with your answer. Tell us the name of that song and the artist, and a 1-minute story that goes along with it. We'll gather all of the songs and your stories in a Spotify playlist that we'll update all summer.  Tell us what you think. Instagram and Twitter: @noteswithkai. Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or going to Instagram and clicking on the link in our bio. “Notes from America” airs live on Sunday evenings at 6pm ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts. Tune into the show on Sunday nights via the stream on notesfromamerica.org or on WNYC's YouTube channel.

To understand what's behind existing wealth and opportunity gaps, history is sometimes our greatest teacher. But chances are when we think of the crack era, our minds go to how it was depicted in the media or political campaigns and policing in the 1980s and 1990s. Do we really know the individuals who suffered and what happened to them? And while people suffered, who profited? How do the failures of that epidemic continue to haunt and hold back our plight against drugs, as well as social justice and wealth equality today? Donovan Ramsey is our guest and the author of the new, acclaimed book WHEN CRACK WAS KING: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Maris Review, Maris talks with Donovan X. Ramsey about his new book, When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era, out now from One World Books. Donovan X. Ramsey is a journalist, author, and voice on issues of race, politics, and patterns of power in America. His reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ, Ebony, and Essence. He has been a staff reporter at the Los Angeles Times, NewsOne, and theGrio and has served as an editor at The Marshall Project and Complex. Ramsey holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Morehouse College. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donovan X. Ramsey is a journalist and author who writes about issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America. His reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among other outlets and he's been a staff reporter at the Los Angeles Times, NewsOne, and theGrio. He just released to much critical acclaim his debut book When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era, which explores how Black America survived the crack epidemic. Join us for this extremely important, riveting conversation which explores the origins of the crack epidemic of the 1980's and early 90's; the "war on drugs" and "just say no" era; criminal injustice and racism; the current opioid and fentanyl crisis; and more. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Timothy Olyphant is best known for portraying lawmen in cowboy hats. He reprises the role of U.S. marshal Raylan Givens in the eight-part sequel, Justified: City Primeval, based on Elmore Leonard's novel. He also played Sheriff Seth Bullock in Deadwood."We won't heal until we make sense of the crack epidemic," Donovan X. Ramsey says. His book, When Crack Was King, examines the drug's destructive path through the Black community.

Timothy Olyphant is best known for portraying lawmen in cowboy hats. He reprises the role of U.S. marshal Raylan Givens in the eight-part sequel, Justified: City Primeval, based on Elmore Leonard's novel. He also played Sheriff Seth Bullock in Deadwood."We won't heal until we make sense of the crack epidemic," Donovan X. Ramsey says. His book, When Crack Was King, examines the drug's destructive path through the Black community.

In his new nonfiction book, When Crack Was King, Donovan X. Ramsey explores how the crack cocaine epidemic of the '80s and '90s shaped people, neighborhoods and entire communities, particularly for Black and low-income folks. He writes portraits of those who struggled with addiction, those who sold the drug, and those who tackled policy and decriminalization. In today's episode, Ramsey tells NPR's Ayesha Rascoe why he wanted to dispel the myth of the "superpredator," and how societal views on addiction changed once people of color were no longer the face of it.

Journalist Donovan X. Ramsey joins us to talk about his illuminating narrative nonfiction book When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. Donovan explains exactly what crack is, talks about the disparities in crack sentencing, and the ways the media and rap music influenced the era.The Stacks Book Club selection for July is Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. We will discuss the book on July 26th with Joel Christian Gill.You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/07/19/ep-276-donovan-x-ramseyEpisode TranscriptConnect with Donovan: Instagram | Twitter | WebsiteConnect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | SubscribeSUPPORT THE STACKSJoin The Stacks Pack on PatreonTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week's sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Notes and Links to Donovan X. Ramsey's Work    For Episode 192, Pete welcomes Donovan X. Ramsey, and the two discuss, among other things, his early relationship with language, formative and transformative writers like bell hooks, Zora Neale Hurston, Phillip Roth, Colson Whitehead, and the inimitable Toni Morrison, connotations and legal policies that are products of the mythmaking and propagandizing of the “crack era,” the emblematic stories of the people followed in Donovan's book, historical precedent for the over policing and oppression of Black people in the US, and optimism and pessimism to be seen in the stories of the crack era and of today.      Donovan X. Ramsey is a journalist, author, and an indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America. His reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among other outlets. He has been a staff reporter at the Los Angeles Times, NewsOne, and theGrio. He has served as an editor at The Marshall Project and Complex. Ramsey's writing career has been focused entirely on amplifying the remarkable unheard stories of Black America. He believes in people-first narratives that center individuals and communities—not just issues. His memorable magazine work includes profiles of Deion Sanders, Killer Mike, and Bubba Wallace for GQ; and Bryan Stevenson and Ibram Kendi for WSJ Magazine. Ramsey is the author of When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era, a work of narrative nonfiction exploring how Black America survived the crack epidemic for One World, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House, the world's largest trade book publisher. He was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He holds degrees from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he concentrated in magazine journalism, and Morehouse College, a historically black college in Atlanta. Today, he calls Los Angeles home.     Buy When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era   Donovan's Website   Review in The New York Times of When Crack Was King   Interview with The Los Angeles Times about When Crack Was King At about 2:55, Donovan gives background on his early reading and writing life   At about 6:00, Donovan and Pete fanboy over Toni Morrison, who Donovan calls “the greatest to ever do it”   At about 7:30, Donovan discusses his love of Phillip Roth's work, as well as that of Zora Neale Hurston and Colston Whitehead's work   At about 9:50, Donovan talks about ideas of representation and how he was taken care of intellectually   At about 12:30, Donovan references current writers who thrill and challenge him, including Colson Whitehead, Mat Johnson, and Stephen King, whose cover of It inspired the cover for When Crack Was King   At about 14:30, Donovan responds to Pete's questions about long form versus “longer form” and how he dove into the research   At about 17:50, Donovan cites jazz as a must when he's writing   At about 19:00, Pete points to “crack era laws” Donovan references that seemed to be seeds for the book, and Donovan responds by mentioning Isabel Wilkerson's The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration as an important “seed” for the book   At about 23:00, Donovan talks about the connotations that come with the word “crackhead,” as well as government and official language that served to dehumanize drug users and Black Americans    At about 26:20, Pete compliments and notes about a “good historical revision” in use of language that is not dehumanizing    At about 27:10, Pete marks the book's eight-part structure    At about 28:30, Pete points out the book's interesting and necessary historical background that is provided   At about 29:05, Donovan responds to Pete's asking about Nixon's “War on Drugs” and the preceding and succeeding years in drug and policing policies; he specifically speaks about Nixon's “Southern Strategy”    ***At about 33:10, The two discuss connections between events charted in the book with events of today and lament how, since history is cyclical,” there is little   At about 34:20, Pete and Donovan discuss the “inconsistent[cy}” in the US government's and society's view of drugs and punishment    At about 38:15, Donovan explains the Richard Pryor story and Lenny Bias' tragic death in the context of mythmaking and propaganda around crack cocaine   At about 40:10, The newspaper article “Jimmy's World” and the almost unbelievable circus around it is discussed    At about 44:20, “Gabo” weighs in on “Jimmy's World!”   At about 44:45, Donovan charts the historical consequences of racist tropes regarding drugs and their supposed transference of superhuman qualities for Blacks and other people of color   At about 47:25, The two discuss Kurt Schmoke's turn towards the decriminalization of drugs    At about 52:00, Donovan reflects on the economic ties between so much of society and the “War   At about 53:15, The two discuss the Democrats' emphasis on “tough on crime” in the crack era and beyond, as well as the need for making things right now, with the adjustment of laws and redress of past wrongs   At about 57:20, Pete discusses the importance of Dre Dre and other hip musicians as part of bringing the crack era to an end, as well as communities standing up to bring use down   At about 58:40, Donovan talks about pessimism that came after finishing the book in 2020, including the case of young Black men being barred from selling water in Atlanta    At about 1:02:25, Pete highlights the power of the individual stories in the book, including a beautiful andeote involving Shawn-Coach McCray   At about 1:04:00, Donovan responds to Pete's questions about any optimism he feels in examining the individual stories of Shawn, Lennie, Elgin, Kurt, and others   At about 1:06:50, Donovan talks about exciting upcoming projects, including podcast potential    At about 1:08:00, Donovan shouts out Reparations Club in Los Angeles, For Keeps Bookstore in Atlanta, and McNally Jackson Books in New York as good places to buy his book, as well as his social media/contact info    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I'm @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I'm @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you're checking out this episode.    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    NEW MERCH! You can browse and buy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChillsatWillPodcast    This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I'd love for your help in promoting what I'm convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com. Check out the next episode with Ethan Chatagnier, which airs today, July 18.    Ethan is the author of Singer Distance, a novel lauded by NPR Books and The Millions. His short fiction has appeared in a variety of literary journals including the Kenyon Review Online and he has won a Pushcart Prize and been listed as notable in the Best American Short Stories.     Again, the episode with Ethan will air today, July 18.  

“When people think of the crack epidemic, they think of crime,” the journalist Donovan X. Ramsey tells David Remnick. “But they don't necessarily know the ways that it impacted the most vulnerable—the ways that it changed the lives of people who sold it, who were addicted to it, who loved people who sold it or were addicted to it.” Ramsey's new book, “When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era,” weaves the stories of four people who survived the epidemic into a historical analysis of how crack led to the erosion of dozens of American cities—but also of how the crack epidemic eventually ended. “I didn't know what life was like before crack,” Ramsey, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1987, says. “I wanted to understand the ways that it shaped our society.”

In this week's episode, hosts Tre'vell Anderson and jarrett hill bring you a little something different: an extended discussion on the pros and cons of authoring a book. Our hosts discuss how challenging the writing process really is with FANTI veteran and author of When Crack Was King, Donovan X. Ramsey. The writers get into the nitty gritty of writing a book, covering everything from the brainstorming stage, finding motivation to write consistently, and fighting tooth and nail over book cover art. Then later, Emmy winning director, Nneka Onuorah's latest documentary, Truth Be Told, and more highlights in our DisHonorable Mentions. Mentioned In This EpisodeWhen Crack Was KingHistorically Black PhrasesWe See Each Other: A Black Trans Journey Through TV and Film We See Each Other: The Podcast DIS/Honorable Mentions JhHM: Truth Be Told - Nneka Onuorah's latest, premiering at Outfest July 20thHM: The new (ish) social media app, Spill TAHM: Stealth: A Transmasculine PodcastOur Sponsors This WeekBrooklinenBrooklinen makes shifting seasons something to look forward to. Find everything you need for a home refresh, with award-winning sheets, comforters, and all the accessories in between.And to all the LA folks, you can now shop Brooklinen's sheets, towels and more in person at their Santa Monica store.For a limited time, FANTI listeners will get $20 off plus free shipping on orders of $100 or more by using the code FANTI.  Go ahead and @ usEmail: FANTI@maximumfun.orgIG@FANTIpodcast@Jarrett Hill@rayzon (Tre'vell)Twitter@FANTIpodcast@TreVellAnderson@JarrettHill@vivalapalma(Producer, Palmira Muniz)@Swish (Senior Producer Laura Swisher)Laura Swisher is senior producer Music: Cor.eceGraphics: Ashley NguyenFANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.org

"We won't heal until we make sense of the crack epidemic," Donovan X. Ramsey says. His book, When Crack Was King, examines the drug's destructive path through the Black community.

"We won't heal until we make sense of the crack epidemic," Donovan X. Ramsey says. His book, When Crack Was King, examines the drug's destructive path through the Black community.

Donovan X. Ramsey is a journalist and author of the new book When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. “I've only ever wanted to write about Black people—and that includes the elements of our lives that are difficult. I've always prided myself on being able to metabolize that information and not really be harmed by it. And this book really taught me that writing and processing is not just something that you do in your head. That the information does go through you as you're trying to make sense of it. And it's not happening to you, right? It's not like a direct form of PTSD that you have, but you do experience some trauma when you open up your imagination in that way.” Show notes: @donovanxramsey donovanxramsey.com Ramsey on Longform Podcast When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World • 2023) 02:00 Ramsey's Los Angeles Times archive 05:00 The Warmth of Other Suns (Isabel Wilkerson • Vintage • 2011) 35:00 "America's ‘crack' plague has roots in Nicaragua war" (Gary Webb • San Jose Mercury News • Aug 1996) 35:00 "Shadowy origins of ‘crack' epidemic" (Gary Webb • San Jose Mercury News • Aug 1996) 35:00 "War on drugs has unequal impact on black Americans" (Gary Webb • San Jose Mercury News • Aug 1996) 45:00 The 1619 Project (Nikole Hannah-Jones et al. • New York Times • 2019) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 191 Notes and Links to Sarah's Work       On Episode 191 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Sarah Fawn Montgomery, and the two discuss, among other things, her early reading and writing, storytelling, growing up in Central California, the ways in which blue-collar Americans have been depicted-or not depicted in literature, and salient themes in her essay collection, like nostalgia, father-daughter relationships, cycles of poverty and violence and trauma, and evolving ideas of home.      Sarah Fawn Montgomery is the author of Halfway from Home (Split/Lip Press, 2022), Quite Mad: An American Pharma Memoir (The Ohio State University Press, 2018) and the poetry chapbooks Regenerate: Poems of Mad Women (Dancing Girl Press, 2017), Leaving Tracks: A Prairie Guide (Finishing Line Press, 2017), and The Astronaut Checks His Watch (Finishing Line Press, 2014). Her work has been listed as notable in Best American Essays many times, and her poetry and prose have appeared in Brevity, Crab Orchard Review, DIAGRAM, Electric Literature, LitHub, New England Review, The Normal School, Passages North, Poetry Foundation, The Rumpus, Southeast Review, Terrain, and numerous other journals and anthologies. She holds an MFA in creative writing from California State University-Fresno and a PhD in English in creative writing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is an Associate Professor at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts.      Buy Halfway from Home: Essays   Sarah's Website   Review of Halfway from Home: Essays from Kirkus Review   Split Rock Review-Review of Halfway from Home   At about 2:20, Sarah talks about her early relationships with reading and writing, and about how she wanted to write stories about often-overlooked working-class people   At about 4:20, Sarah cites some early favorite books and writers, and she analyzes the ways she reads a favorite, Joan Didion, now differently than she did then   At about 7:00, The two discuss class and how it is talked about in our society (or not) and represented in literature    At about 9:00, Sarah discusses how she got excited about writing-she shouts out to a high school teacher who gave a meaningful and transformative journal assignment and invited Sarah to keep writing   At about 13:00, Sarah references nonfiction writers who thrilled her in college-like Audre Lorde, Sandra Cisneros, and Jamaica Kincaid-and thrill her today, like Chen Chen, Ada Limón, Donika Kelly, Saeed Jones, Dorothy Chan, and torrin a. greathouse     At about 14:40, Sarah recounts the genesis of her Halfway From Home collection and answers Pete's questions about making the individual essays cohere   At about 17:40, Pete summarizes the book's first essay and its “dig sites” and focus on her father's whimsy and her love of dirt-it's called “Excavation”    At about 19:00, Sarah speaks to the significance of “excavation” in the first story and beyond   At about 21:00, Pete compliments the story's “imagined ending” and Sarah speaks about its significance and background    At about 23:25, Sarah discusses the power and symbolism of fire and light, cold and darkness, as featured in her book   At about 26:10, The two discuss ideas of homes, serenity, and respite from traumas and chaos   At about 31:30, The two discuss her essay on cartography   At about 35:40, Pete muses   At about 37:00, The history of Sarah's family in mines is discussed, along with the multiple meanings of “descendants”   At about 40:50, Sarah talks about “complicating humanity,” especially with regards to her grandfather and grandmother   At about 42:15, Pete asks about the end of an essay and how Sarah approached its second-person address   At about 44:20, The two discuss nostalgia and its connections to the essays, the intriguing concept of saudade, and nostalgia's history as something to be discouraged   At about 48:35, Pete recounts how nostalgia has informed the podcast's ethos   At about 50:45, Sarah confesses to being “anti-time” (!) and the two reference a classic Saved by the Bell scene   At about 54:45, Cycles of violence as depicted in the essay are examined   At about 56:45, Sarah reflects on how she sees and saw he father throughout her collection and in more recent times   At about 1:01:00, Pete notes the ways in which women in Sarah's family are portrayed in her collection    At about 1:02:30, Pete compliments a beautiful scene with father and daughter and Sarah talks about the nostalgia associated with parents and childhood-Pete    At about 1:04:45, Sarah shares an interesting new project involving combatting ableist writing as default    At about 1:05:50, The two fan boy/girl over Alice Wong's work   At about 1:06:15, Sarah shouts out her publisher Split Lip Press as a place to buy her book   At about 1:06:45, Sarah gives out social media/contact information    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I'm @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I'm @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you're checking out this episode.    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    NEW MERCH! You can browse and buy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChillsatWillPodcast    This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I'd love for your help in promoting what I'm convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.    Please tune in for Episode 192 with Donovan X Ramsey. He is a journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in América; When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era comes out on June 11, i.e. the day this episode with Sarah has been published.  The episode will air on July 18.

Bakari Sellers is joined by journalist and author Donovan X. Ramsey to discuss his new book ‘When Crack Was King' (4:46), the true history of the crack era and the role of the CIA (12:38), and the impact of the war on drugs on the Black community (20:26). Host: Bakari Sellers Guest: Donovan X. Ramsey Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr.  Executive Producer: Jarrod Loadholt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get ready to add a LOT of new titles to your TBR list this summer! Three of the best readers around came on to talk about the book they're extra excited about: Liberty Hardy, senior contributing editor and podcast host at Book Riot, Lupita Aquino, who is on Instagram and Substack as Lupita Reads, and Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast. Head to our website for more info on the books mentioned in today's episode: https://trib.al/QhoRdF0Here are the titles in order of appearance: Rivermouth by Alejandra Oliva Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyahWhen Crack Was King by Donovan X. Ramsey Loot by Tania James Where There Was Fire by John Manuel Arias The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei The Weaver and the Witch Queen by Genevieve Gornichec Raw Dog by Jamie Loftus Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff Happiness Falls by Angie Kim American Whitelash by Wesley Lowery 24 Hours in Charlottesville by Nora Neus The People Who Report More Stress by Alejandro VarelaMy Murder by Katie Williams ]]>

Episode Summary: In this week's episode, things get real complex and complicado when Jarrett asks the question, can Black people be gentrifiers? To help answer this, and other thorny questions about gentrification, Jarrett and Tre'vell are joined by Atlanta-based commercial real estate developer and broker Robert Myrick and L.A. Times reporter Donovan X. Ramsey. It's a thought-provoking conversation that gets into the history of this process, dissecting why Black and Brown people are the ones to lose when Karen moves into the neighborhood. Episode Notes:Fill up your Thursdays with more of Tre'vell by checking out Crooked Media's “What A Day'' or check out FANTI's Episode 57, titled “Funky Covid-ina (ft. Nurse Alice Benjamin, Dr. Darien Sutton and Bianca Mabute-Louie).” During the Listener Feedback segment, Jarrett mentioned a thoughtful parenting social video that Destiny Bennett shared on her IG @theycallmemamabennett. Lastly, you can learn more about our guests Dr. James Simmons by following him on IG at @askthenp and our guests Donovan X. Ramsey by following him on IG or Twitter at @donovanxramsey. Robert Myrick is about that social media life.  Pass the PopcornOmarion–excuse us–Omicron is taking over, and so we invited Dr. James Simmons on the show to answer all our questions: Is it time to panic? Should we cancel our holiday travel plans? What if we're not boosted? Dr. Simmons provides us with that good, good insight and also explains why South Africa deserves a shout out for letting the world know about Omicron. If you hadn't heard, Dr. Simmons came correct when he explained that it ain't South Africa's mutation, ya'll!DIS/Honorable Mentions HM: “The Great Soul Food Cook-Off” is streaming on Discovery+, and it is a Black cooking and competition show that dives into culture and history that deserves your attention. HM: “Harlem” is a comedy following four Black friends as they do love and work in NYC that combines what viewers loved about Insecure and Sex and the City–or Living Single if you want to keep it Black. Catch it on Amazon Prime.  HM: Mindy Kaling's “The Sex Lives of College Girls” is streaming on HBO Max. This aptly named show details four college roommates love adventures as they dip it and get dipped in New England's Essex College. Black History Is Happening EverydayRobert Gray was apart of one of the first Safe Sex campaigns to travel the world ran by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Read the article, “Poster Boys,” which details Gray's story published by the Bay Area Reporter. Our Sponsors This WeekDipseaFor listeners of the show, Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to Dipseastories.com/Fanti. Go ahead and @ usEmail: FANTI@maximumfun.orgIG@FANTIpodcast@Jarrett Hill@rayzon (Tre'Vell)Twitter@FANTIpodcast@TreVellAnderson@JarrettHill@Swish (Senior Producer Laura Swisher)@Rainewheat (Producer Lorraine Wheat)FANTI is produced and distributed by MaximumFun.orgLaura Swisher is senior producer and Lorraine Wheat is producer. Episode Contributors: Jarrett Hill, Laura Swisher, Tre'Vell Anderson, Lorraine WheatMusic: Cor.eceGraphics: Ashley Nguyen

Donovan X. Ramsey is a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. His work has appeared in GQ, WSJ Magazine, The Atlantic, and many other publications.“I actually got into writing about criminal justice ... because I was curious about Black life. But that meant the only way I was able to do that was I had to kind of do this really often depressing slice of Black life. And there’s so much more. And there’s so much beauty in the lived experiences of Black people. … There are so many stories that just never get told about Black life. One, I have a connection to being a Black person, but then being a Black person who has the benefit of a really good education, and I’ve been given some shots here and there… it feels like a duty. If I’m not going to tell these stories, then who?” Thanks to Mailchimp for sponsoring this week's episode. Show notes: @donovanxramsey donovanxramsey.com 02:00 Exit Scam (Aaron Lammer and Lane Brown • Treats Media • 2021) 02:00 "Gossip Girls, Money Men, and 2 More Podcasts Worth Trying" (Nicholas Quah • Vulture • May 2021) 02:00 Nicholas Quah on Longform Podcast 03:00 70 Over 70 (Max Linsky • Pineapple Street Studios • 2021) 25:00 Ramsey's Atlantic archive 26:00 Ramsey's Ebony archive 26:00 "Motorcycle Club Honors, Assists Soldiers Offering Their Lives Overseas" (Black Enterprise • Nov 2012) 26:00 "Janelle Monáe: The ‘Q.U.E.E.N.’ Speaks [INTERVIEW]" (Ebony • Jul 2013) 29:00 She’s Every Woman: The Power of Black Women in Pop Music (Danyel Smith • Dey Street Books • 2017) 31:00 "Police Reform Is Impossible in America" (Gawker • Feb 2015) 32:00 Ramsey's Demos archive 35:00 Jason Parham on Longform Podcast 40:00 Ramsey's The Marshall Project archive 40:00 Ramsey's Complex archive 45:00 "A Triple Murder, a Broken Family, and the Long Tail of the Crack Era" (Vice • Aug 2016) 47:00 Black Futures (Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham • One World • 2020) 48:00 "Measuring Crack Cocaine and Its Impact" (Roland G. Fryer • Apr 2006) 56:00 "Bryon Stevenson’s Moral Clarity" (WSJ Magazine • Nov 2019) 56:00 "The Political Education of Killer Mike" (GQ • Jul 2020) 62:00 "NASCAR’s Unlikely Activist" (GQ • Aug 2020) 63:00 Ramsey's Los Angeles Times archive See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Randa and Anika chat with Donovan Ramsey about his career as a journalist covering Black stories. Donovan is now covering Black Los Angeles for the LA Times.   To view the resources we talked about in this episode check out our website opportunityunknown.co   Produced by Casey Johnson

About 2.3 million people are incarcerated in America, but about 6.7 million people are under some form of correctional control. The difference between these two numbers is due to the 4.5 million adults under community supervision, almost twice the number of people who are incarcerated. The two most common types of community supervision? Parole and probation. On this episode of Justice In America, host Josie Duffy Rice and guest host Donovan X. Ramsey explore probation and parole – what they mean, how they work, and how they contribute to mass incarceration. They’re joined by LaTonya Tate, the Founder and Executive Director of Alabama Justice Initiative in Birmingham, Alabama. LaTonya became a parole officer after she was forced to watch her son navigate the criminal justice system.  For more information and show notes please visit theappeal.org

The third season of Justice in America launches February 26. You can find it on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted by Josie Duffy Rice, president of The Appeal, each episode of Justice in America focuses on a different topic in the criminal justice system. Through conversation, storytelling, media, and interviews, the show sheds light on how our system functions, and the ways in which it disproportionately harms poor people and people of color. This season, the show features four guest co-hosts. Let’s meet one of the hosts, Donovan X. Ramsey. For more information and to see Donovan's book recommendation please visit theappeal.org

Justice in America is a podcast for everyone interested in criminal justice reform— from those new to the system to experts who want to know more. Each episode we cover a new criminal justice issue. We explain how it works and look at its impact on people, particularly poor people and people of color. We’ll also interview activists, practitioners, experts, journalists, organizers, and others, to learn. By the end of the episode, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of what drives mass incarceration and what can fix it. Season 3, starts Feb 26, 2020. We'll discuss everything from police accountability, to forensic science, to probation and parole, and we’ll talk to leaders in this field, including those that have been directly impacted.  Host:  Josie Duffy Rice, writer, lawyer, and President of The Appeal, a news outlet that produces original journalism about the criminal justice system. Guest co-hosts: Darnell Moore, author of "No Ashes in the Fire", a critically acclaimed memoir of growing up black and queer in New Jersey. Donovan X. Ramsey, journalist and the author of "When Crack Was King", a forthcoming history of the crack epidemic.  Derecka Purnell, organizer, writer, lawyer, and the Deputy Director of the Spirit of Justice Center. Zak Cheney Rice, journalist at New York Magazine who covers race and politics.

Crown Forum After Dark: Rising Stars in the Media" Presented by the Journalism and Sports Pgm. Guest include: Max Tyler ’13 ESPN the Magazine, Senior Researcher/Writer Jovan Davis ’16 Senior Drama Major Mark Anthony Green ’10 GQ, “Style Guy” Fashion Columnist Donovan X. Ramsey ’10 Free-lance Journalist and Demos Fellow David Jason Trey Dow ’12 CBS 48 Hours, Production Secretary

Today’s guest is my former editorial assistant and right hand guy..Donovan X Ramsey who is now…an accomplished journalist focusing on the topic of black identity, politics and patterns of power in America. His work has appeared in countless top publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, Gawker, Ebony among others.  Donovan X. Ramsey also serves as a fellow at Demos, the New York City-based public-policy think tank where he is currently gearing up to cover race in relation to the 2016 presidential race.  He is also heavily involved in the national movement to reform the criminal justice system. For more information visit www.somoneypodcast.com.