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Spring Fund Drive

The on-air portion of our fund drive has ended, but there's still time to help close the gap in our overall goal by March 31st. If you've yet to donate, please give now! If you've already supported or are a sustaining donor to KBCS, thank you so much!

$110,000 Goal

98.11%

Drive ends: March 31, 2024

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Black Panther Party Women Pt 1

The Black Panther Party was active in Seattle, offering protection and services for the local black community.  Services included a free breakfast program which fed hundreds of children in Seattle, and a free health clinic, today monikered as the Carolyn Downs clinic in Seattle’s Central District.   The women of the Black Panther Party were a force behind the movement.  (more…)

African-American Suffragettes of 1913

What do the recent Women’s Marches and the Women’s Suffrage March of 1913 have in common? Racial controversy.  Listen in on what it took for people with intersectional identities to fight for the right to vote.

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The Man Behind ‘Essence’, the Black Women’s Magazine

Essence is a well-known monthly African American women’s magazine.  What may not be as well-known is the successful black women’s lifestyle publication was founded by four African American men including Edward Lewis.  Edward Lewis was in our studios to share his perspective and experience in starting up, Essence.

Episode 1 – Co-Founder of Essence Magazine,  Edward Lewis talks about the women who influenced him

Episode 2 – Edward Lewis speaks about the power of black women in our society.

Episode 3 – Edward Lewis recounts the challenges he faced in starting up this now successful monthly.

Episode 4 – Edward Lewis, explains how he helped kickstart Latina Magazine with Christy Haubegger. Lewis also talks about the importance of a woman’s magazine that covers all topics including those sometimes considered controversial.

 

Photo:  Courtesy of Essence Magazine

Music: Rushus – modal blues

Producers:  Sonya Green and Ruth Bly

Black Prison Organizing During the Civil Rights Era

Black activism and prison organizing go hand in hand according to University of Washington, Bothell, Professor Dan Berger’s book, Captive Nation: Black Prison Organizing in the Civil Rights Era. In the book, Berger explores how prisoners used jail to shine the light on racial oppression and what it means to be free.  KBCS News Director, Sonya Green sat down with Berger to talk about his new book.

episode 1: Dan Berger explains how the prison organizing and civil rights organizing complemented each other and were a part of each other.

episode 2: The women of the civil rights movement played a key role in exposing the injustices especially the wrongful treatment of those put in jail or imprisoned.  Berger talks about the women who helped change the course of the movement with their actions and words.

episode 3: Author, activist and prisoner, George Jackson greatly influenced the prison reform movement of the civil rights era and today. Jackson’s letters from prison published in, Soledad Brother, put a spotlight on the need for change. Dan Berger explains how Jackson quickly became a leader both in and out of prison.

episode 4: Many notable men of the civil rights movement documented their incarceration and published books detailing their experience. This piece highlights the role of media in telling prisoners’ stories.

episode 5: Today’s Black Lives Matter movement echoes the same sentiment as the civil rights era of the 60s. It also calls for a close look at how the criminal justice system treats African Americans. Dan Berger says society needs to rethink the prison system and policing.

Music by Kevin MacLeod “Good Groove”

Photo by Fiona Dalwood