106: Playing With Dolls, To End Segregation – with journalist Tim Spofford

Arguably, the state of Texas’ most famous death row exoneree, Anthony Charles Graves spent nearly 20 years in prison for a brutal crime that he did not commit, including 12 years on death row — all while receiving two execution dates. Since his release more than a decade ago, Graves has been working extensively with the justice system that mistakenly put him behind bars in the first place! Join us for one of the most riveting episodes of I SEE U, as former inmate Anthony Graves speaks unguardedly with host Eddie Robinson about how he really feels about the state of Texas, his recent in-person interaction with the prosecutor in the case, and what he thinks needs to take place for criminal justice reform in this country.

Media depictions of Black men historically have been centered around not so flattering stereotypes: unintelligent, lazy, prone to violence, hypersexual — and worst of all, criminal and dangerous. When he’s out in public, acclaimed actor Eric Kofi Abrefa tells I SEE U he has to be make himself small and always be conscious of not appearing too aggressive. He’s garnered a growing fanbase because of his breakout role as the villain in the STARZ hit crime-drama series, BMF (Black Mafia Family). He explains that a white actor is given the opportunity to portray any — and every kind of role and the audience ‘won’t bat an eye’ or think twice about that depiction. But when a Black actor walks on stage, without uttering a word or reciting a line of script, he is a “walking political statement.” Does this mindset unknowingly restrict audiences’ thinking of what Black actors can achieve or accomplish?  

  

Join us as host Eddie Robinson chats with the man BMF fans “love to hate:” British/Ghanaian actor, Eric Kofi Abrefa. Star of the biblical comedy epic, The Book of Clarence, Kofi Abrefa shares why he is proud of his Ghanaian ancestry and why he is the biggest promotor of Ghana’s film industry. The London-based actor also reveals details of an upcoming sci-fi Netflix series that will feature an all-Black cast with superhero powers. 

Are concepts of race and racism so embedded in our culture, that kids as young as 3 have a racial identity? How do environment and family dynamics impact a child’s perceived sense of self? These were just some of the questions a husband-and-wife team of psychologists asked during their groundbreaking investigation of the racial formation of young Black children. During the 1940s, Kenneth and Mamie Clark recorded the negative impacts of segregation through a series of studies and experiments which came to be known as the “Doll Tests.” A student would choose between a Black doll and a White one when asked a series of questions, like “Which doll is the good doll?” or “which doll is the pretty doll?” Most Black children chose White dolls, and to the dismay of the Clarks, some students were upset and felt devastated after having to identify with the doll they had previously labeled as bad or ugly.  

I SEE U host Eddie Robinson candidly chats with acclaimed author, Tim Spofford, about his latest book, What the Children Told Us: The Untold Story of the Famous “Doll Test” and the Black Psychologists Who Changed the World. Spofford, who grew up in an all-white mill town in upstate New York, shares his thoughts on why he felt the need to tell the full story of this pioneering couple – whose research, scholarship and activism played a critical role in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which declared the infamous “separate but equal” doctrine unconstitutional. He also offers up insight on how today’s generation of children would perform if given the same doll tests from back in the day.

When a defiant opponent of the apartheid government was assassinated during the Easter weekend in 1993, South Africans were certain that all hell would break loose. The country was slowly moving towards the dismantling of the apartheid system and transition to a true democracy. But the murder of Chris Hani, carried out by a white supremacist in broad daylight, threatened to provoke a civil war and rollback the peace process. Were there other extremists, potentially even members of the government, involved in this plot to rid the nation of Chris Hani, a popular heir apparent to anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela? Rookie journalist Justice Malala was one of the first reporters at the crime scene over three decades ago. His latest book, The Plot to Save South Africa, takes readers on a riveting, nine-day account of what transpired and how a country on the brink survived falling into a civil war. Join us as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with renown political commentator and best-selling author, Justice Malala. The award-winning storyteller will dive deep into how Mandela’s leadership style and his ability to reach out to adversaries ultimately set the stage for a new South Africa. As we continue to highlight untold cultural histories throughout February, Malala will also take a provocative look at how a system that Hani so relentlessly fought for until his death, ironically helped save the life of the assassin who sought to eradicate his life’s work. 

His father, born into slavery, had become one of the first African American millionaires in the United States. His mother, though devoted to Black civil rights, was a renowned actress and had kept her racial background a secret. And in 1897, Alonzo and Adrienne Herndon had a son – their only child – named Norris Herndon, who would become the second President, inherited by his father, of the historic, Black-owned Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Behind the scenes, Norris was a major financier of the Civil Rights Movement and often gave large sums of money to several organizations, community groups and universities. He also lived a very private life and learned to hide his attraction for men. Could his homosexuality be a reason why his story remains unknown to so many people? Join host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U takes an in-depth look at the life of Norris Herndon with insight and perspective from writer/columnist, Ryan Lee and history scholar, Pamela Flores – both based in Atlanta.

Community organizer Daniel Banks describes the aura of a former Ku Klux Klan auditorium in Fort Worth, Texas as having “blood in the bricks.” Banks is involved with a project designed to confront the painful histories of this nation by stimulating dialogue and promoting human rights for all. Built in 1924, the intimidating 22,000-foot, imposing red-brick building once served as headquarters, both for the local chapter of the KKK, and for the entire state of Texas, where they staged marching practices, hosted minstrel shows and gathered frequently to strategize their agenda. Over 100 years later, an alliance of eight organizations will transform this structure into a cultural center and “safe space” for the very communities once terrorized by the KKK. Join us for a provocative conversation with I SEE U host Eddie Robinson as he speaks candidly with Daniel Banks. He’s a founding board member of Transform 1012 N. Main Street, a Texas-based coalition of local arts, grassroots and service organizations that seeks to convert the space into a beacon of truth-telling, healing and liberation. Banks sheds light on how such a monument of hate has remained within blocks to Fort Worth's City Hall until now.

As we honor and pay tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on this national holiday weekend, many Black American parents are taking this opportunity to educate their children—and have THE TALK, an unguarded conversation about racism, discrimination and the richness of Black culture.

Those sometimes difficult conversations served as inspiration for children’s book author, Tami Charles – who wrote and used her own New York Times best-selling picture book, “All Because You Matter,” as a springboard to navigate through the intense dialogues she’s had with her son.

Join Host Eddie Robinson as he chats candidly with acclaimed writer, Tami Charles. The former New Jersey schoolteacher sheds light on the obstacles she’s experienced as a woman of color who found it even more of a challenge to maneuver through the children’s book industry.

Her latest book, “We Are Here,” celebrates the extraordinary history of trailblazers, including Dr. King, who sacrificed their lives in hopes of building a better future for all people.