Creative Tension, Season 2 (Elliott Robinson)
With
the tagline "where we give a voice to people in periods of struggle
forgotten by history", the podcast, Creative Tension is reminiscent
of the current affairs and community-focused television shows hosted by Tony
Brown and Gil Noble. "Tony Brown's Journal" and "Like It
Is" were weekly and non-episodic; both shows tackled issues that impacted
the Black community.
Creative Tension - hosted by Reverend Elliott Robinson - takes a similar approach, except it has episodic seasons and is theme-focused.
The theme music is provided by Julian Reid & The JuJu Exchange. Rev. Robinson has an impressive educational background - a Bachelor's degree from SUNY at New Paltz; a Juris Doctorate from Howard University Law School; and Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. To round this out, he has southern roots by way of South Carolina and a New York City upbringing.
These
experiences help him bring a broad lens to topics, in a scholarly and
approachable manner. The first two of three seasons take a close look at
America and "The Jim Crow Years". The podcast premiered in 2017 and
Season 1 is exceptional. I listened but at the time had not begun reviewing
podcasts.
For
Season 2 which started in March 2019 and ended in June 2019, I jotted notes and
am able to give an overview of the topics and featured guests, and a summary of
episodes.
Episode 11.
Blackface - A Racist Practice that Won't
Die; Guest: Pellom McDaniels, PhD
This
timely episode addressed Virginia's Governor Ralph Northam admitting it was him
in blackface at a college fraternity party. He then offered an "unapology",
stating it wasn't me but never offered who the two men were. Obviously someone
with knowledge of the event must have pulled Northam's coat and refreshed his
memory. The question still remains, why did Northam think it was him pictured?
Episode 12.
Mammy, Movies and Madea - The Mammy
Caricature in Film; Guest: Dr. Kimberly Wallace Sanders
This
episode traced the origin of the Mammy caricature from the film "Gone With
The Wind", a role which Hattie McDaniel won the Oscar for Best Supporting
Actress; to its roots in the 1830s novel "Partisan Leader". The
discussion led to an analysis of the 1934 film, "Imitation of Life",
and how the Mammy caricature is now kept alive by black male actors in drag.
Dr.
Sanders closed out the episode with the thought-provoking sentiment, "Sometimes
we see Mammy when she isn't there."
Episode 13.
Banished from Sumter - Run Out of Town
During Jim Crow; Guests: Jim Crow survivors Elliott Robinson, Jr. and Allen
Cromer
This
episode provided first-person accounts of what it was like to live under Jim
Crow. The guests discussed the confrontations they had with whites, and the
written and unwritten rules they had to follow: to not walk alone; not looking
at a white woman; and more.
Episode 14.
The Black Brute Caricature - Black Male
Violence & Athletics; Guest: Pellom McDaniels, PhD
The
episode gave a context for the invention and perpetuation of the brute
caricature. At its core, it justifies the treatment of black men. The imagery
of black men as beasts of burden; not being intellectual; emotionally driven. The
brute is a challenge to white masculinity, and portrayed as desirous of the
white woman, e.g. the character Gus in Birth of a Nation (film).
The
episode provided in-depth examples - everyone and everything from Jack Johnson,
The Mann Act, Vagrancy Laws, Ali vs. Foreman, Mike Tyson and the LeBron James Sports
Illustrated cover picturing him as "King Kong".
Episode 15.
Remembering the Dead: A Conversation with
EJI - Fulton County Remembrance's Allison Bantimba (Guest)
The
episode followed more of an interview format where Allison Bantimba discussed becoming
aware of Bryan Stevenson and his Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). That's what
put her on the path to head the Fulton County (GA) Remembrance Coalition (Soil
Collection) -- The Palmetta Collection.
The
Palmetta Collection is a remembrance for five black men who were lynched, after
being shot to death by white men who ambushed a warehouse where the accused
were being held.
Future
plans include doing a collection for the victims of the Atlanta Race Riots, and
other victims of lynching and racial violence.
Episode 16.
How Can Black Men Reclaim Their Smile? -
A Conversation with Carlton Mackey (Guest)
The
episode highlighted the work being done to change the narrative and how the
simple gesture -- of a smile -- is a form of liberation and resistance. Mr. Mackey
says it's 'not a statement to tell brothers to smile'. Instead it is "what
makes you smile?" He states the most common answer is, "no one has
ever asked me that."
He
views it as part of a larger movement of black folks reclaiming their joy.
Episode 17.
The Coon Caricature: From Stepin'
Fetchit' to Modern Urban Radio; Guest: Dr. Pellom McDaniels
The
episode brought an understanding to the forever topical, political caricature:
The Coon. A summary of the discussion: Started with the 1930s Stepin Fetchit films with Will Rogers
that popularized the coon caricature. The core characteristics were that of a trickster
who is doing one thing while pursuing another, using broken dialect, and
shiftless.
To
counter these stereotypes, there came "John Henryism", as in working
twice as hard, dying in the pathway and never having enjoyed the fruits of
one's labor.
The
coon feeds a particular desire for an audience. An example is J.J. Evans from
the television show, "Good Times". His character lightened the burden,
negotiated a reality where blackness was not valued; and he shielded himself
from that reality. J.J. was deflecting all that was real.
In
modern radio, when there's a duo or trio, there's always a person that plays
the coon caricature. Why is that still appealing to listeners?
This
kind of release is necessary for some folks, provides a release, a space to
laugh. While "we" disagree with what it might perpetuate...we have to
try not to be judgmental. At the same time, we have to realize circumstances
are different and we want to provide opportunities for our children to develop,
and not diminish their humanity.
Episode 18. Watermelon - Why African-Americans Rarely
Eat it in Public
This
episode was a round table discussion: age range of mid-30s to mid-50s, five men
and four women. The topics ranged from: Coon Songs 1800s to 1920s; Coon stereotypes
-- various; including eating chicken and watermelons.
The
core topic was the sociopolitics of eating watermelon. African Americans were
allowed to harvest watermelons for themselves during slavery. It eventually was
used as a food to demonize African Americans.
Do
you eat watermelon on the rind in public? As a form of liberation? As a means
of resistance?
Episode 19.
Reclaiming Rest in a Grind Culture - A
Conversation w/ The Nap Bishop, Tricia Hersey (Guest)
This
episode concluded this season that addressed unconventional forms of resistance.
Ms. Bishop highlighted several transformational views: Lack of sleep is a
racial injustice issue, and rest as a healing portal. Sleep as a way to forget
trauma.
She
states sleep deprivation is linked to the top three causes of death. Black
people have sleep deprivation over
centuries. Their dream space was taken. Grind culture is brainwashing. Being
alive is production. If you can rest, you can get to higher thinking. Capitalism
keeps trying to get you to speed up; they tie it into your worth.
Season 3
is now available on Creative Tension,
with links and access to whichever platform you stream your podcasts.
Recommendation:
HIGHEST
---
Reviewed
by Guichard Cadet
