Truth & Reconciliation

Interview with Hon. Popo Molefe, an illustrious South African and other guests in memory of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Africa's giant and author of "No Future Without Forgiveness," Archbishop Desmond Tutu. This special episode celebrates the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu who died on December 26th at age 90. Hon. Molefe worked closely with Archbishop Tutu in the struggle to liberate South Africa. In this delightful interview, Molefe reflects on Tutu's unparalleled accomplishments and speaks candidly about South Africa's present and future.

I remember my writing workshop professor saying, "If you're not going to tell the whole truth, don't be a writer because your lies would begin to have holes you can't plug".  This episode reveals without plan my bottled up emotions about living in America and how the system is set up to make black people fail and how we keep rising in spite of the challenges. 

"We have been the backbone of the democratic party. We supported you 96% in every election, it's time for a black woman to get a strong position," said my long time friend and mentor Deborah Pointer joining me on the this episode. 

Deborah Pointer is a Peabody award winner and an NAACP image award winner for Russell Simmons Def Poetry which she co-founded and executive produced on HBO. She has spent most of her career in higher education as Associate Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid at Cornell University, Director of Admissions at Columbia University School of Engineering and Director of Financial Aid at Downstate Medical Center. Deb is committed to access and opportunities for low income students and creating opportunities in the performing arts. 

This week on Waljamaha Community Radio with Malam Labaran Charles Cooper, Chairman of the United African Coalition, (UNAC) and Executive Director Bukola Shonuga are calling on the African community in New York to Get Out The Vote and not underestimate how crucial one vote is in this most consequential 2020 election. 

Most members of the African community in America pay taxes but don't participate in civic engagement and don't vote. They believe their votes don't count leaving their decision power to others. "UNAC's goal is to change this misconception and educate and mobilize African immigrants to vote in every election and make their voices heard, " said Charles Cooper. 

“I have struggled with the challenges of what it means to be a black woman who went to one of the best universities to secure my phd and then I’m teaching at the City University of New York . . . I’m accomplished, I’m comfortable materially, I live in a nice place but "America will never let you forget that you’re not from here,"” said Dr. Mojúbàolú Olufúnké Okome is an International Political Economist whose regional specialization is on the African continent.

Educated at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Long Island University, New York, and Columbia University, New York. She’s a Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College, CUNY.

This series provides a rare insight on the experiences and perspectives of African professionals in America.

Journalist/Blogger, activist, public speaker, GLORIA DULAN-WILSON joins T&R for a riveting-pull no punches discussion on the powerful role of black women in America, a recap of the First Lady Michelle Obama's gut-punch speech at the Dem National Convention followed by Kamala Harris' ready-on-day-one acceptance speech as VP on Joe Biden's ticket.

Gloria is a graduate of Lincoln University, PA,  (Emerita Class of 1967) also the alma mater of Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria and Kwame Nkrumah the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana. An activist since the age of 10, Gloria has participated in sit-ins, kneel-ins, marches, pickets,  of the 50s and 60s.    She was among the first youth to help Black people vote for the very first time after President Johnson passed the Voters' Rights Act of 1964.

Is there an advantage to identifying as black instead of African? Professor Milton Allimadi, a Ugandan-American and an adjunct professor of African History at John Jay College of the City University of New York (CUNY) speaks to how crucial it is to preserve the African culture. He said most of his students, first-generation American are amazed to learn about slavery for the first time in his class. Why are these  historical facts on the enslavement of Africans in America omitted from primary and secondary school curricular in America and Africa? How does the divide and rule mechanism pits Africans against black Americans? Listen and learn. . .

Milton Allimadi is a Ugandan-American, an adjunct professor of African History at John Jay College of the City University of New York (CUNY) and the publisher of New York City-based Black Star News, a Pan-African media outlet. He joins the conversation this week on how cultural identity  impacts race and racism in America.

Diaspora Africans identity is informed by their cultural background and respective countries of origin, hence they identify as Gambian, Liberian, Malian, Ghanaian, Nigerian and so on. But when they arrive in America, they're forced to identify first as black. It is in America that most African immigrants first experience racism without even recognizing it. And it takes a long while for some to be able to discern the covert-coded language of racism. . .  in other words, how can one take offense to something you don't understand.  

Diaspora Africans identity is informed by their cultural background and respective countries of origin, hence they identify as Gambian, Liberian, Malian, Ghanaian, Nigerian and so on. But when they arrive in America, they're forced to identify first as black. It is in America that most African immigrants first experience racism without even recognizing it. And it takes a long while for some to be able to discern the covert-coded language of racism. . .  in other words, how can one take offense to something you don't understand.  This week's episode explores the intersection of cultural Identity and racism with Charles Cooper, a Liberian-American professional and a recognized leader in the African Diaspora community.

Without candid conversations on systemic racism in America and its multigenerational impact on Black Americans across social, political and economic spectrum, the Center Cannot Hold. This program Truth and Reconciliation aims to dive in deep, provoke and confront the bitter truth on slavery and racism in America. The show will present the perspectives of African immigrants' experiences and interactions with Black Americans.  Most importantly, the program's main object is to interrogate the divide and conquer strategy employed by colonialists to divide Africa and its people and how this strategy continues to impact markedly, the interactions between Africans on the continent and Africans that were forced into slavery.

Imam Awal Ayub speaks about tapping Faith & Spirituality to ride the storm during COVID-19 lockdown.

This episode continues discussion with spiritual leaders to enlighten our audience on Islam teachings during the month of Ramadan vis-a-vis the unprecedented challenges and complications created by COVID-19. . .

This episode on COVID-19 examines the challenges posed by COVID-19 during the Holy month of Ramadan. Muslims are obligated to fast throughout the month of Ramadan which falls on April/May 2020, right in "the eye of the storm of COVID-19." The African immigrants muslim community in New York struggle with the tenets of Islam during crisis. Like most New Yorkers Many have lost loved ones to COVID-19, many are still sick or overwhelmed, having losing their jobs, confined at home indefinitely with several family members, taking care of their elderly etc. All these factors make Ramadan a challenge for many.  WalJamaha invites religious leaders to weigh in. . .