The Show featured a discussion about the death of civil rights icon, Rosa Parks, the upcoming Mayoral race in NYC, the recent indictment of a high level Washington insider in the Bush Administration and Part 2 of Domestic Violence in the Black and Latino community.
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November 6, 2005
The Show discusses the upcoming NYC Mayoral Election and the NJ Gobernatorial Election. Guests include Democratic candidate Freddy Ferrer and representatives from Mayor Bloomberg's campaign. A lively and colorful discussion on the election and its implications for the minority community NYC and in NJ.
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November 13, 2005
The Show takes a hard look at the election results in the Mayoral Election in New York City and precisely why Mayor Bloomberg won and why Democratic challenger Freddy Ferrer lost. In the second hour, the discussion shifts to: (1) The young teenage girl from Alabama, Natalie Holloway, who turned up missing in the Aruba in May 2005 and the media's obsession with her and other young missing girls and not young girls of color and (2) Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome and the book of the same title by Dr. Joy DeGruy Leary, Professor of Sociology at Oregon State University
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November 20, 2006
Bob Slade's return to the Show after his recent kidney transplant. As always, Bob talked about his return and thanked the audience for their get well wishes and urged the audience to think about becoming organ donors in the future since minorities are disproportionately affected by diseases that ravage their bodies. The Show focused on the recent debate between Republicans and Democrats in Congress over the call for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. The hosts talked with Congressman Gregory Meeks of Brooklyn and the Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network regarding their reaction to the debate in Congress over the war. Numerous callers expressed their point of view about the debate. The Show next featured a discussion about the upcoming 13th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival in NYC beginning on Friday, November 25, 2005 and ending on December 11, 2005, and the state of black films in America with famed cultural commentator and filmmaker, Nelson George and other guests.
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November 27, 2005
The OpenLine Crew pays tribute to Ron Daniels, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and longtime community activist on the national scene, as he gets ready to retire from his position with the CCR. A number of community activists, national leaders and listeners call into the Show to add their words of appreciation and tribute to Ron Daniels,including Jesse Jackson and Sonja Sanchez.
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December 4 , 2005
The hosts "bounce around" on a number of issues in the news, including: Winner of boxing match between: Taylor vs. Hopkins II , the death of Police Officer Dillion Stewart killed this week in Brooklyn, the pending execution Stanley “Tookie” Williams by the state of California and the requests that Gov. Schwartznegger grant clemency to Tookie, Oprah's apparent "makeup" with TV host Dave Letterman and her opening of the Broadway play “the Color Purple” and the jury verdict of "not guilty" for the Irv & Chris “Gotti” Lorenzo, the founders of hip hop label, Murder Inc., on laundering mountains of drug money for a drug kingpin. The hosts talked with Roger Toussaint, President of TWU-Local 100 about the contract talks and the possibility of a transit strike on 12/15.
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December 11, 2005
The hosts pay tribute and talk about the life and times of famed comedian Richard Pryor on his death and take phone calls from the audience on his death. A fascinating and interesting discussion about the importance of Pryor in cultural milieu.
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December 18 , 2005
The OpenLine hosts talk with Linda Dunham, an owner and operator of a local McDonald's, about the Ron McDonald Scholarship Fund sponsored by owner / operators of McDonalds and the availability of scholarships for worthy students. The hosts bounce aroung on issues in the news and open the phone lines for the audience to tell them what is on their minds.
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January 8, 2006
On the first show in the new year, the hosts pay tribute to R&B legend Lou Rawls on his death. The hosts also talk about sports on the Show: The Zab Judah vs. Carolos Baldomir fight and promoter Don King; Jets coach Herman Edwards leaves the Jets for the Kansas City Chiefs; and the NY Giants' prospects for victory over the Carolina Panthers. Rev. Al Sharpton chimes in to talk about his upcoming Martin Luther KIng Breakfast on January 16, 2006, at the New Canaan Baptist Church in Harlem. The hosts next open the phone lines to hear what the audience has to say about some of the issues in the news this week, including the stroke suffered by Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the brewing Jack Abramoff bribery scandal in Washington and the upcoming Supreme Court nomination hearing of Judge Samuel Alito.
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January 15 , 2006
The OpenLine crew opens the show with a look back at the life and times of Martin Luther King as the nation gets ready to celebrate the national holiday honoring his birthday. The Open Line hosts next examine the recent and tragic death of Nixmary Brown, the 7 year young girl who died at the hands of her stepfather and the neglect of numerous child welfare agencies. The Crew asks the tough questions about this death. They talk with two city councilmen about the conduct of the children's services agency in NYC and asks the audience to respond more directly when they observe children being abused. The crew next talks about the lack of significant people of color in technology and science professions. The crew interviews outgoing Attorney General Peter Havey about his tenure as the first African American AG in New Jersey's history.
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January 22 , 2006
The OpenLine crew pays tribute to the one and only Wilson Pickett who died on Thursday, January 19, 2006. The crew talks Wilson Pickett's daughter, Saphane, and his sons, Michael and Marvin. The family shares their memories of the great Wilson Pickett with the audience and the Open Line hosts. After that tribute to Pickett, the OpenLine hosts have a conversation with legendary actor and performer, Harry Belafonte, about his life and times. A fascinating and engaging discussion for the entire show.
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January 29 , 2006
The OpenLine crew opens the program with a discussion about national black HIV AIDs day with guests L. Joy Williams, the director of the Brooklyn Lives program, and Dee Bailey, Exec. Director of the Black Leadership Commission on Aids in NYC, and its implications for the black community. The fabulous crew of OpenLine next address the following issues:
The recent effort by President Bush to justify his domestic spying program with the National Security Agency with Prof. Tyrone Powers, former FBI agent and terrorist expert.
The OpenLine crew discusses the deaths of fame R&B songwriter and performer Gene McFadden at the age of 56 from liver cancer and legendary tap dancer Fayard Nicholas, part of the famous Nicholas Brothers dance team. McFadden was part of the fame writing team of McFadden & Whitehead who produced and wrote such hits as "Wake Up Everybody" and "Ain't No Stopping Us Now". Nicholas was part of the Nicholas Brothers dance team that inspired the likes of Savion Glover and Gregory Hines. The Nicholas Brothers dance routines are legendary and can be seen in such classic black films as "Stormy Weather" with Lena Horne.
The announcement by Attorney General Elliot Spitzer's that he has selected Senator David Paterson as his Lt. Governor running mate;
The recent NY Knicks sexual harassment suit filed by a former Knick executive against Isaiah Thomas;
The friendly fire shooting of a cop in the Bronx and Oprah's about face on the book "A Million Little Pieces".
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February 5 , 2006
The OpenLine crew opens the program with a discussion about the death of civil rights icon Coretta Scott-King, the wife of Martin Luther King, who died this past week from complications of ovarian cancer in Mexico. The crew looks back on the life and time of Mrs. King and the implications of her death on the civil rights movement in the United States. The audience adds their collective voices to the outpouring of tributes to Mrs. King. In the second hour the crew engages in a fascinating discussion with noted author and professor Dr. Joy DeGruy-Leary about her theory, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome or PTSS, which she believes, explains some of the more destructive and negative behavior traits found in our communities.
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Feburary 12 , 2006
Its snowing outside and the OpenLine Crew is on top of the weather related news of the record snow fall in the tri-state area. The OpenLine crew opens the program with a discussion about the record snowfall --some 26.9 inches of the white stuff -- and they report on church closings and traffic matters and opens the phone lines to the audience to talk about their ordeal with the snow. The crew also talks about the brief appearance of Funk icon Sly Stone, formerly of Sly and The Family Stone, at the Grammy's this past week, reflecting on the greatness of the Sly one. In the second hour the Show hears from MYC Councilman Charles Barron from Brooklyn about his announcement that he will seek election as the Congressman from the 10th Congressional district of Brooklyn, challenger incumbent Congressman Adolphus Towns . The audience also chimes in on Barron's candidacy and its implications for new and younger leadership in our communities.
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February 19, 2006
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February 26 , 2006
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March 5, 2006
The Show opens with a discussion of the annual Baln In Gilead, the effort by the religious community's to address the problem of HIV in the African American communities throughout the country. Founder and CEO of the Baln In Gilead, Pernessa Seele, is the featured guest along with Rev. Stacey Latimer who is living with HIV and is an HIV/AIDS advocate. The Show next turns its attention New Orleans and continuing effort by college students to bring attention to the aftermath of Katrina with a nationwide spring break in the gulf region. In the 11 A.M. hour, the crew talks with noted black pollster, Shawnta Walcott, about the sinking poll numbers for President Bush and VP Cheney and how the numbers impact on U.S. policy.
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March 12, 2006
The Show featured an hour long tribute to famed photographer, film director and cultural icon, Gordon Parks, who died at the age of 93 with the audience paying tribute as well. In the 11 A.M. hour, the OpenLine crew interviews famed CNN anchor of Lou Dobbs Tonight, Lou Dobbs, about his views on the Bush Administration, the withdrawal of the Dubai Port deal and the continuing outsourcing of jobs and money from America, and Dr. Tyrone Powers, former FBI and terrorist expert on the recent effort to isolate Iran because of its continuing effort to build nuclear power plants.
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March 19, 2006
The Show featured a short tributes to (1) "Dr. X" (aka Lumumba Carson), noted rapper from the rap group, The X Clan, who died this past week, with D.J. Cool Clyde; (2) long time news anchor in NYC Bill Beutel of WABC news who also died this past week at his home in North Carolina; and (3) R&B crooner King Floyd who made great music back in the seventies and had one big,"Groove Me" in 1970. The Show also introduced the audience to a young procoious child prodigy, Autumn Ashante, a poet who ignited a firestorm of protests in the Peekskill School District in the 10 A.M. hour. Young Autumn recited two of her poems during the hour ---an electric moment to hear such a young voice recite some very old thoughts. You must her Autumn to believe your ears. In the 11 A.M. hour, the OpenLine crew opens the phone lines to discuss topics of the day and events that unfolded during the week, including: The upcoming mayoral election in Newark, N.J. and Mayor Sharpe James' last minute decision to submit his petitions for re-election (he is still undecided), The second autopsy performed on 14 year old Martin Lee Anderson in Florida, the upcoming mayoral election in New Orleans. A great show.
