I just found my new favorite radio feature, called “Barbershop: What’s the Buzz.” It comes courtesy of NPR and Michel Martin every Friday on her mid-talk talk show Tell Me More.There’s nothing like four brothers hanging out at the bastion of masculinity, the barbershop. Let the opinions run. Speak off the top. Say it like you feel it. No reserve no caution, only a atmosphere of respect and fair word play.
The barbershop, where men come for haircuts and shaves. No styles, no curlers - only natural curls (well, for the most part anyway). We’ll do our best to watch our language if ladies or children are present, but the shop is mostly for the men.
Coming up on the election of 1980 I produced a radio story on blacks who didn’t vote. First stop – the barbershop. It was all there. Men who never voted and men who never missed an election. Anger and frustration. Hope and optimism. And total apathy.
Anchored by Jimi Izrael, Ruben Navarrette and a couple of rotating bloggers, these guys tackle topics like Isiah Thomas’ sexual harassment case, Bill Cosby’s book on black responsibility, Bill O’Reilly’s meal at Sylvia’s in Harlem and other newsy fare. It’s a gold mine of new black thought from some strong communicators.
A closing word from Cedric’s character “Eddie” in the 2002 Barbershop:
“There are three things that Black people need to tell the truth about. Number one: Rodney King should've gotten his ass beat for being drunk in a Honda a white part of Los Angeles. Number two: O.J. did it! And number three: Rosa Parks didn't do nuthin' but sit her Black ass down!”
Hey, why do hair professionals have the most jacked up hair? I’m just wonderin’…
Link to “Barbershop: What’s the Buzz" on NPR’s Tell Me More.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14681732
The barbershop, where men come for haircuts and shaves. No styles, no curlers - only natural curls (well, for the most part anyway). We’ll do our best to watch our language if ladies or children are present, but the shop is mostly for the men.
Coming up on the election of 1980 I produced a radio story on blacks who didn’t vote. First stop – the barbershop. It was all there. Men who never voted and men who never missed an election. Anger and frustration. Hope and optimism. And total apathy.
Anchored by Jimi Izrael, Ruben Navarrette and a couple of rotating bloggers, these guys tackle topics like Isiah Thomas’ sexual harassment case, Bill Cosby’s book on black responsibility, Bill O’Reilly’s meal at Sylvia’s in Harlem and other newsy fare. It’s a gold mine of new black thought from some strong communicators.
A closing word from Cedric’s character “Eddie” in the 2002 Barbershop:
“There are three things that Black people need to tell the truth about. Number one: Rodney King should've gotten his ass beat for being drunk in a Honda a white part of Los Angeles. Number two: O.J. did it! And number three: Rosa Parks didn't do nuthin' but sit her Black ass down!”
Hey, why do hair professionals have the most jacked up hair? I’m just wonderin’…
Link to “Barbershop: What’s the Buzz" on NPR’s Tell Me More.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14681732
(photo: 2002, Metro Goldwyn Mayer)
3 comments:
mr. steve chavis! sophie told me about your blog - i am so excited to start reading it! hope all is well with you and the fam that's still at home :) maybe the next time you and shane get together, i could come along too - unless it's strictly boys only :) Talk to you later!
elisa.
Thanks for the mention.
Just a small correction:
Most of the rotating panelists are, in fact, not bloggers, but some form of media professional. They may maintain blogs--like I do--but they aren't bloggers in any conventional sense. I think it's an important distinction.
Holla.
that dude
www.jimiizrael.com
Thanks people! Still getting acclimated to the blogosphere, so I stand corrected. Blogging can be considered a pedestrian enterprise, for sure. (Power to the people, and all that!)
My 18 years as a journalist makes my blog a little more journalistic, I hope. More quotes, links, sources cited, photo credits, etc. In fact, I'd post more often if my posts were shorter, and quicker to the punch.
So, to the working journalists and communicators out there who blog too, I'll endeavor to give you your full props. Maybe "a columnist who blogs," or something like that.
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