Real Black News

Ep 114 features Jonathan Solomon, California president of the National African American Gun Association (NAAGA). Along with his wife Geneva, he owns LA's popular spot for Black gun enthusiasts, Redstone Firearms. Jonathan discusses the rising number of black gun owners, the national gun & ammo shortage, double standards, how to have a firearm with a child in the home, & more. Other topics include "Judas & the Black Messiah", the insurrection, the latest on #EndSars, & the top 5 empowering Black news stories of the week.

Episode 113 of Real Black News is all about investing in the community. This week’s “Black Wall Street Report” with former investment banker and CEO of Kids Who Bank, Jatali Bellanton, discusses Gamestop, brokerage firms connected to hate groups, and tips on investing. While author Kerwyn Phillip joins the podcast to talk about his great new book Malik’s First Job: Financial Principles for Teens and how parents can teach their kids about money. Other topics include extremists in the military, books to fight colorism, billion-dollar Black businesses, and more of the top five empowering Black news stories of the week.

Episode 112 of Real Black News features actor Gary Dourdan who talks about starring in his latest movie Redemption Day. He gives advice on being a Black artist, discusses making it through personal struggles, and shares tips on what others can do to make it through too. Other topics include the new Civil War, Black pastors pushing back against White pastors, the NAACP, and more of the top five empowering Black news stories of the week.

Episode 111 of Real Black News breaks down the New Civil War, the Capitol Hill Riots, and how religion is behind White Supremacist plans to take back America violently. This episode breaks down who they are, how they think, and how to be prepared to protect yourself by any means necessary. Two former soldiers join the show to give perspective. Former Army medic and author of Waging Peace, Diana Oestreich, shares how God and guns go hand-in-hand among the Christian Evangelicals who took over the Capitol. While former Navy Officer, personal protection expert, and Fruit of Islam soldier, James Claggion offers a Muslim perspective and crucial tips on protecting yourself during wartime. The episode ends with the premiere of “A Different World,” a new single inspired by the Capitol Hill riots, written and produced by Grammy-winning MC Speech Thomas of Arrested Development.

Episode 110 of Real Black News is the last show of 2020 featuring correspondents from across the world sharing updates on their countries and the outlook for 2021. Journalist Ann Marie Collymore reports from Canada. Podcaster Toby Buckle zooms in from the UK. Photographer Charlene Winfred breaks down Singapore. Travel entrepreneur Rashad McCrorey skypes in from Ghana. And marketing expert Autumn Marie shares her view from Rwanda. Five reports from across the world plus the top five empowering black news stories of the week.

Episode 109 of Real Black News features 2x author Sonia Alleyne discussing her book I Kick Ass at Work: A Strategy Journal for Career Professionals. Sonia shares crucial career tips for 2021 related to everything from salary negotiation and documenting successes, to leaving a job, working in non-diversified spaces, and why professionals should always be looking for the next opportunity. Other topics include billionaire Robert F. Smith, Morgan State, DACA’s first Rhodes Scholar, and more of the top 5 empowering Black news stories of the week.

Episode 108 of Real Black News features French correspondent Epee Dingong reporting on the youth uprising in Paris, France over police brutality and a measure that outlaws filming the police. He also gives an update on the response to COVID-19 and the vaccine in France and the UK. Other topics include the teen who recorded George Floyd’s death, Darnella Frazier, Colin Kaepernick, black business job opportunities from Fortune 500 companies, and more.

Episode 107 of Real Black News features the legendary George C. Wolfe. A five-time Tony Award-winning director and playwright of shows like Jelly’s Last Jam, Bring in Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk, and films such as HBO’s Lackawanna Blues, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, he discusses directing his latest movie "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom" for Netflix produced by Denzel Washington. Wolfe discusses working with Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, their process, how he operates as a director, staying focused during the pandemic, and why he chooses to tell stories about the Black experience. Other topics include defunding the police, rebounding from Prison, Mellody Hobson, Black boy geniuses, and more.

Episode 107 of Real Black News features the legendary George C. Wolfe. A five-time Tony Award-winning director and playwright of shows like Jelly’s Last Jam, Bring in Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk, and films such as  HBO’s Lackawanna Blues, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, he discusses directing his latest movie Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom for Netflix and working with Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman. Wolfe shares their process, how he operates as a director, staying focused during the pandemic, and why he chooses to tell stories about the Black experience. Other topics include defunding the police, rebounding from Prison, and more.  

Episode 106 of Real Black News features Finance Guru Lynnette Khalfani-Cox. Author of fifteen books and the New York Times Besteller Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom, Lynnette shares crucial tips for those at every financial level to manage or grow their money in 2021. She also gives perspective on Biden’s effect on the economy, companies that give to Black entrepreneurs in response to racial reckoning, owning seven homes, and the mindset that has led to the success of her financial education and consulting company TheMoneyCoach.net LLC. Journalist Ronda Racha Penrice shares movies we should be watching from director Steve McQueen and Debbie Allen. Other topics include the connection between good health and HBCUs, Salt-N-Pepa, and more from the top five empowering Black news stories of the week.

Episode 105 of Real Black News features Black and Native American activist/author, Queen Yonasda, who talks about the Native American vote that helped Biden & Kamala win. She shares an update on the Dakota Access Pipeline,  water protectors who contracted cancer, corporate terrorism, Revolutionary Healing, and her biggest fight as a single mother battling lung cancer. Other topics include Morris Brown University, an update on #EndSARS, the first Black astronaut on SpaceX, and more of the top five empowering Black news stories of the week.

 Episode 104 of Real Black News features a special celebration of Trump’s soon-to-come departure and the historic win of President-elect Joe Biden and the first woman, Black, and South Asian Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Correspondents from across the nation and world chime in from their respective states and countries. Atlanta-based reporter Ronda Racha Penrice discusses Georgia’s turn to blue, the past, and future of her state. While Paris-based journalist Epee Dingong reveals the Parisian outlook on the election and the state of emergency lockdown in France as it currently leads Europe in Covid-19 cases. While Brit Jatali Bellanton shares the outlook from NY and the UK while giving a comprehensive Black Wall Street Report on how Biden’s win will affect your money. Other topics include Black gun clubs created at churches, India’s spiritual response to VP Harris, Africa’s reaction to President Biden, and more of the top five empowering Black news stories of the week.

Episode 103 of Real Black News features hip hop record label legend and co-founder of Ruff Ryders Records Chivon Dean. She thinks back on her time starting the label with her brothers Waah and Dee, provides tips on building a family business and LLC. And she discusses her journey transitioning from hip hop into social services work in the alcohol and substance abuse field along with providing an outlook on DMX’s mental health struggles and status of past and present. Entertainment journalist Ronda Racha Penrice recommends what to watch on TV or VOD to help relieve pandemic boredom. Other topics include Darnella Frazier, Nas’ marijuana legislation stance, Walter Wallace, the latest HBCU lift, the election, and the top 5 empowering Black news stories of the week. Click a link below to listen.  #RealBlackNews

Episode 102 of Real Black News features a talk with Dr. Monique Morris, Author and Executive Producer of the PBS Documentary Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools. Dr. Morris discusses her work, how she’s raised her daughters to have options, and she provides tips for parents on how to work with schools and prepare their children to deal with and overcome bias in school systems – whether virtual or in person. While former investment banker and the CEO of Kids Who Bank, Jatali Bellanton, joins the “The Black Wall Street Report” to share diversified investment advice and predictions based on who wins the election – Biden or Trump. Plus the top 5 Black News stories of the week.

Episode 101 of Real Black News features an intimate conversation with the Rza who reflects on raising his son during the pandemic, lessons learned from fathering multiple children, the future of Wu-Tang: An American Saga, politics, hip hop, and directing his new film Cut Throat City. While civil rights lawyer and president of Democrats for Education Reform, Shavar Jeffries, discusses the Black male vote and the problem behind some brothers not wanting to vote blue. Entertainment journalist Ronda Racha Penrice joins “The Screen Grab” to share new TV shows and films to help relieve pandemic boredom. Plus the top 5 empowering Black news stories of the week. 

Episode 100 of Real Black News features a celebration of listener love, 100 episodes, and a serious conversation with legendary hip hop pioneer and founding member of the first all-female Hip Hop group Mercedes Ladies, Sheri Sher. A sexual assault survivor featured in the movie On the Record, Sheri shares why she didn’t initially come out against Russell Simmons, how she works to heal, the problem with calling the police on Black men, Black girl tears, WAP, and some of the top five black news stories of the week.

Episode 99 of Real Black News features screenwriter and NY Times bestselling author of The Color of Water James McBride whose TV show based on his National Book Award-winning novel The Good Lord Bird premieres on Showtime in October starring Ethan Hawke. McBride discusses the problem with most Hollywood slave narratives, why his story about abolitionist John Brown is different, Breonna Taylor, and how he creatively focuses during times of trauma against Black lives. Journalist Ronda Racha Penrice joins the screengrab to suggest TV shows and new movies to watch to cure Covid boredom. Other topics include the reopening of Eric garner’s case, women’s rights in Botswana, Delaware’s first Muslim elected to office and more.

Episode 98 of Real Black News features Golden Globe-nominated actor and star of Tenet, John David Washington, who shares details of being the first black lead in a Chris Nolan film, acting tips from his parents Pauletta & Denzel Washington, managing asthma and dyslexia, the first time he was called the N-Word, and thoughts on this week’s top 5 black news stories of the week. While former investment banker and the CEO of Kids Who Bank, Jatali Bellanton, joins “The Black Wall Street Report” to share leads on grants and loans for Black Businesses.

Episode 97 of Real Black News features veteran journalist, writer, editor, executive producer, and showrunner of the Lena Horne Prize for Artists Creating Social Impact, Kierna Mayo. She discusses the state of Black media, sexual assault in hip hop, her appearance in the movie On the Record, and the sexuality awakening. Other topics include Chadwick Boseman, All Black Lives Matter, Africa eradicating polio, and more.

Episode 96 of Real Black News features Alabama activist Chikesia Clemons who discusses her run for city council after physically and emotionally surviving the trauma of a viral police assault at Waffle House in Prichard, AL. Chikesia shares how she bounced back, her fitness regime, issues in her community, solutions, advice for assault survivors, and the conversations she’s had with her daughter. Other topics include Jacob Blake, the NBA boycott, March on Washington, reparations rejected, increased black college enrollment, Kentucky protests, free Ivy League help for black businesses, and more.