By Dr. James Peterson | WURD Radio As we honor Jackie Robinson this month, the irony of this moment could not be sharper—or more sobering. Jackie Robinson, the man who shattered baseball’s color line, is once again caught in the crosshairs of a nation still struggling to reconcile its mythology of meritocracy with its track record of erasure. Earlier this year, the Department of Defense quietly removed information about Robinson’s […]
U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon spoke with Solomon Jones on Wake Up With WURD about The Atlantic editor-in-chief viewing classified war plans that were sent to him hours before they were enacted. Scanlon also talked about the Trump administration's insurrection pardons, attacks on free speech and social security cuts.Jared C. Bass is the senior vice president for education policy at Center for American Progress. He joined Dr. James Peterson on Evening WURDs to […]
Dr. Rosa Clemente is an Afro-Puerto Rican activist and independent journalist. Dr. Rosa joined Dr. James Peterson on Evening WURDs to delve into the relations between Puerto Ricans and Black Americans, while exploring ideas of how to promote solidarity in times of division. Camille Proctor is the founder and executive director of The Color of Autism, a nonprofit she founded in 2009 providing services for African American families with children […]
Dani Fresh / For Spotlight PAChristopher Baxter of Spotlight PAWhen Luen Ng died at 75 after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Northeast Philadelphia, few people outside her family knew her story.But a Spotlight PA investigation revealed something that should concern every Pennsylvanian: for months before her death, the agency tasked with protecting vulnerable older adults failed to act with urgency despite clear warning signs of self-neglect and dementia. […]
Photo Courtesy of MikaV | This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Sharif El-Mekki is the founder of the Center for Black Educator Development. He spoke with Solomon Jones on Wake Up With WURD about what budget cuts to the Education Department could mean for Black children and what Black educators and parents should do. DJ Jazzy Jeff is a legendary DJ and West Philadelphia native. He spoke with Dr. […]
Larry Platt / Philadelphia Citizen Photo courtesy: Chris Mansfield In Philly, it’s been a longstanding challenge, the gulf between one’s national political perspective and the realities on the ground here. To wit: If you’re a proud supporter of the American labor movement — as well you should be — for a long time that meant turning a blind eye to thuggery and shady backroom dealings locally. Or: You may shake your […]
By James Peterson | WURD RadioOver 190 years ago, on a sweltering August evening in 1834, Philadelphia erupted in an episode of violence that would forever shape the history of Black Philadelphia—a riot sparked by a squabble over a merry-go-round. Known in history as the Flying Horses Riot, this explosive moment underscored the deeply entrenched racial tensions of early 19th-century America and also laid bare the complex interplay between leisure, […]
Photo Credit: This image, Bengt Nyman | originally posted to Flickr, then uploaded to Commons - Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license Foreign Policy Analyst Malcolm Nance joined Wake Up With WURD with Solomon Jones to discuss the security implications of the Trump administration's apparent support for Russia in the Ukraine war. Dr. Tukufu Zuberi, professor of Sociology and Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, joined Wake Up With WURD to discuss […]
Keir Bradford-Grey, head of civil rights at Marrone Law Firm, and veteran HR administrator Karla Hill joined Solomon Jones on Wake Up With WURD to discuss the legal and civil rights implications of mass firings under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and focused on the historical role of government employment in providing stability for Black workers and families.Dr. Alpa Patel, co-investigator of the VOICES of Black Women study — an initiative by the […]
Chubby Chicks restaurateur Shakeira Turner says she has endured two months of alleged racial harassment from residents living above her business. Turner joined Wake Up With WURD with Solomon Jones to talk about the aggressions she experienced and the overwhelming support from politicians, influencers, and patrons.Shirley Lee Corsey is the conservator and executive director of the Black-owned Gather Place Museum. Corsey joined Reality Check with Tonya Pendleton to promote an upcoming event […]
