Wed, 25 June 2008  June 25th Update:
More opinion about my appearance at the Talkers Magazine New Media
Seminar and the Talk Radio & Race panel. The woman who wrote the
piece is a right leaning talk show host who totally missed the point
about how advertising dollars are spent or rather not spent on Black or
urban radio. That point was made clearly by myself and several
other panelist. Black radio wouldn't exist if it were not making somebody some money. But, while Black folks spend billions of dollars as consumers, urban radio doesn't garner the kind of quality advertising buys that other radio formats do. When the advertisers stop seeing Black, perhaps urban and talk radio can see more green. To suggest that I was taking a swipe at Talkers Magazine and the New Media Seminar is ludicrous. I was a guest of Michael Harrison and being a properly brought up child, I learned early on not insult my host. And in this instance, I certainly had no reason to. What the writer ignored, was that I said, if you walk through the lobby of the convention center, the only faces on the cardboard cutouts of the sponsored or syndicated on-air talent were white faces. That was just a fact. In addition, you could count on one hand the number of African-American women in attendance. I know because I made a point of meeting each of them. Black radio has always had an element of social consciousness about it. The issues haven't changed much, but the delivery system has. Syndicated radio has changed how, not just the Black community, but all communities get its news and information. BET failed at providing news to the Black community, NPR has taken several stabs at news delivered by a Black hosts but not necessarily Black news. There was Ed Gordon, then Tavis Smiley, who left NPR and is still as popular as ever and now Michel Martin's Tell Me More. I wish for the day when there is no such thing as "Black talk radio." I hope I can provide that kind of show for a radio station here in the Nation's Capital and even land my own syndication deal where I can be heard across the country. But let's be real, there are issues for us, about us, caused by us and imposed on us that don't get addressed on mainstream talk radio but should. My own show covers a wide range of issues that are not necessarily about the Black and minority communities but affect us profoundly and to a greater degree than the rest of the population. I look forward to the day when talk radio conversation and discussion about black people or issues does not become a commentary on "nappy headed hoes." Sunny Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 10:21 AM Comments[0] |
Mon, 18 December 2006 Hello Everyone, Thanks for joining me again. Thanks again to the many, students and faculty at colleges and universities across the country that listen to The ABW with Sunny James: Vanguard University, Cleveland State University, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, the University of Illinois, Western Kentucky University, Western Illinois and Carleton College. The list continues to grow and I sent out an audio thank you to many more schools. There will be no "Short Takes" for Show #24. Instead I have provided a year-end list of issues that have stayed with me this year and like the ghost of Christmas' past, I'm sure, will visit me into 2007. The elections, starvation and negelect in Africa, the celebrity-obsessed masses, racism, a former president's plagiarism and yes, even cheerleaders' uniforms have pissed me off this year. Last month I attended an outreach program at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting which was designed to support the 2007 PBS airing of "Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhyms." This meeting brought together many outreach and support groups for women, youth and homosexual/transgendered communities and others from across the country who are looking for some common ground and understanding of the images and politics of hip-hop music. If you would like to know who in your area is participating in this outreach, please drop an email and I'll get you the info. My personal belief is that if you listen to and watch hip-hop videos, if you love hip-hop or hate it, you need to understand the real politics and money that is driving this genre of the music industry. Check show #20 for some background on the very dynamic, African-American director whose love of hip-hop and need for answers drove him to create this compelling documentary. Update December 24: See The New York Times article about Byron Hurt and Hip-Hop: Beyond Beat and Rhymes. Closing out the year, kismet was doing was kismet does, as I was putting the finishing touches on Show #24, TIME Magazine named me "Person of the Year." Well, you too are a "Person on the Year." So here's a year-end toast to all of us who upload or download and believe in the media by and for the masses. Here's to me and my enduring strength and here's to you my listeners for finding what I do worth listening to. Happy/Merry (fill in the blank) and a PEACEFUL NEW YEAR to us ALL! NEWS FOR SHOW #24
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 3:35 PM Comments[2] |
Sat, 28 October 2006 Hello Everyone, Thanks for joining me again. I hope I have provided something in this show that will spark your interest. As usual I need to thank my listeners for their interest, but this week a special thank you goes to the many, students and faculty at colleges and universities across the country and yes around the world that listen to The ABW with Sunny James. As I go down the list of downloads, just this morning, the Department of Defense Dependents School, European Region had checked in, so had the U.S. Military Academy and Hampton University. The list goes on and I sent out an audio thank you to many more schools. Show #23 -- SHORT TAKES -- 1. Enough already with the main stream media attempts at making Barack Obama the Great Black--or is that--Democratic Hope and the salvation of Black folks far and near. I don't care how many covers he's on. Great life story, but he just isn't ready to lead this country. And why are so many voices, who readily admit to his inexperience,talking the loudest about a presidential run? U.S. News and World Report and Newsweek
2. The Tennessee senate race. No video clip here. Funky, Foul and Nasty, or can I just say Republican? Harold Ford--Quality race run by quality politician. Can he be the first African-American elected to the Senate since Reconstruction? Newsweek 3. White women and their love of little Black African children. Just NOT African American children. Where's the love? The WEEK NEWS FOR SHOW #23
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 4:27 PM Comments[0] |
Tue, 10 October 2006 Hello Everyone-- This Small Voice In the Nation's Capital has a request. The time has come to ask my loyal listeners and subscribers for their help in continuing to do what I do. I could use your help to keep The ABW Show growing and thriving. I do this show because I see a void that needs to be filled. I believe that people need to be more informed. Particularly people of color. Please visit The ABW site and make a PayPal donation to The Angry Black Woman Show with Sunny James. It's fast, it's easy and any amount really helps. Thank you. Show #22
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 11:22 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 26 August 2006 Hello Everyone-- Show #21
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 4:38 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 12 August 2006 Hello Everyone-- As I take my leave for now, please pay particular attention to The ABW Rant. I have included several links to information that I think is relevant to you as a listener trying to get and stay informed and to me as I try to fill a void. The quanity, quality and value of news and information provided to the African American community, no matter how you cut it, is shrinking. Just this morning, Monday, August 14, in the St. Petersburg Times', Eric Deggans, reports on another PBS program supposedly for us that is failing or soon will. I don't believe that the host in question was suspect, just the way PBS has chosen to produce the program that leaves something to be desired. As George Curry of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service put it, "it's the bland leading the bland." Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 10:01 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 15 July 2006 Hello Everyone-- After the rains, the heat desended on the Nation's Capital. So instead of drowning, Washingtonians are melting. But this is normal for July in the Nation's Capital. Thank you for joining me and making The Angry Black Woman Show with Sunny James #19 a part of your summer listening. As I have advised before, please check out the donnie l. betts documentary "Music Is My Life, Politics My Mistresss, The Story of Oscar Brown, Jr." Mr. Betts is self-distributing this DVD and it is well worth the price. www.musicismylife.info. And if you're interested in Mr. Betts other endeavours you can visit www.nocredits.com. I hope you all are finding the PDF links helpful. Unfortunately, there is one article that I was not able to immediately get into PDF format and the magazine is not readily available on your news stand. That is the article titled "The Greatest 20th-Century Donor You've Never Heard Of." It's the story of Julius Rosenwald's philanthropic work with Booker T. Washington to build schools throughout the south. Please look for it in the next day or so. I promise to get it to you--very interesting reading! (update: The abovementioned article is now available at theabw.net) So, have a tall, cold glass of iced tea (you can be sure I am) or just think cool thoughts and be sure to join me again. Show #19 -- Welcome and shout out to new listeners from Historically Black Universities and others -- NAACP Still Fighting? USA Today's Julianne Malveaux says maybe GET IT! -- Voting Rights Act--Still Necessary GET IT! -- Barack Obama, the Congressional Black Caucus and Gerrymandering. The Economist says Black Politicians Can't Stand the Heat GET IT! -- The World Where Honor is More Important Than A Woman's Life GET IT! -- Hip-Hop and Oprah GET IT! and GET IT! -- Thousand Seek Aristide's Return to Haiti -- HIV Testing for All? GET IT! -- Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald, What a Partnership GET IT! Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 8:20 PM Comments[1] |
Mon, 26 June 2006 Hello Everyone-- Contrary to news reports, There is some interesting news items included in this show. And I hope you've noticed the links that appear after certain news items. After considerable thought, I decided to include the links to certain stories. I didn't want my listeners to have to go in search of information that I had readily at my fingertips. But as I learned early on in this process, the Great and Wonderful Internet is indeed fallible. So if the links seem to be out to lunch and not working at some point just know I tried. In most cases I will include PDF files which should open automatically in Adobe Acrobat or the Acrobat reader. I will be making gradual changes to the site to create what I had envisioned from the beginning. I hope you bear with me while I make these changes and try to make The ABW's site more functional, helpful and interactive. So, while you're cruising down the
Just those words alone make being an ABW so much fun. Show #18
See ya next time, Sunny Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 4:41 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 17 June 2006 Hello-- The summer weather is upon us here in Washington, DC. While I welcome the down time for the kids, I'm not looking forward to preparation of 3 meals everyday, constant bickering about who watching what on TV and how do I make my own comittment to The Angry Black Woman Show work while the kids are out of school. I'll keep you posted as the time passes. As I was preparing for this show the grand jury decided not to indict Representative Cynthia McKinney. Hopefully, it will be the last I speak of it. If any of my listeners know whether "The Diary of A Tired Black Man" has a release date, I like to get that information. Right now it's just a cute 3 minute trailer and as a friend of mine says "the truth [about these issues] lies somewhere in the middle."
Show #17
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 3:13 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 10 June 2006 Hello to All-- SURPRISE! I'm back. Thanks for joining me again so quickly. I always said that I wanted to do this program weekly. But with so many issue swirling during the winter and early spring it was a lofty goal. But my most immediate difficulties have passed and while I know others lurk just around the bend, I hope I meet them with as much fortitude and positive energy as I met my challenges with last winter. There are several items that I want to draw your attention to once again or if you haven't listened to the program yet. Please read "Upward Mortality" by Kai Wright. The article can be found in the June edition of Mother Jones magazine or at Kaiwright.com. Also, make an effort to read the series in The Washington Post on "Being a Black Man." Please look out for Music is My Muse, Politics My Mistress; The Story of Oscar Brown, Jr. directed by Donnie L. Betts. If you're in the Washington, DC area, stop by the Mocha Hut on U Street to check out local photograper, Douglas Turner's pictures of the Galopogos Islands. And don't forget to get a bite to eat! That's all for now. I hope to join you again by Father's Day. If I don't, #16 is for black men everywhere. Please take care of yourselves. Show Notes #16
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 9:11 PM Comments[0] |
Wed, 31 May 2006
To you folks that thought me disrespectful of black preachers and the black church--get over it. Maybe you're too afraid to ask where your dollars are going--apparently, to lot'o life size posters and cut outs. Perhaps when you're ready to buy a home in the next millennium, when housing prices drop below 700K for a 1 bedroom/half bath, you can ask, "Pastor, can you spare a dime?" If anyone is wondering about my all out girly issues at the end of the show--you know, the make up and hair bit at the end--don't panic. Just something a bit light, it's summer after all and ABWs everywhere have these issues. When I designed the logo for the show last year, I immediately started calling it the "angry hair" logo (you know, black women and hair issue--inseparable). I didn't realize then how that sentiment would come full circle and who the messenger would be (you have to listen to find out). So here's to summer, being hot, sweat, bad nappy hair, good nappy hair, loose, swayin' in the breeze linen drapped over swayin' in the breeze hips of all shapes and sizes. Let the sounds of Corey Harris waft through your space, take a long drink from a very tall, very cold glass of iced tea and STAY COOL! Show #15
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 5:23 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 22 April 2006 Hello to All-- I am pleased to join you all again. I've struggled with the issues that are a part of Show #14 for some time. I hope that there is something there to make you think. I will forgo any reiterating of the show here, so give a listen and as always I would love to hear from you. Show #14 --Viewer mail from New York, Texas and Caracas See ya next time, Sunny.--Blacks and Immigration --Mexicans Turn Their Backs on May 1 --Interview with DC's former Assistant Police Chief, Ronald C. Monroe on Cynthia McKinney and being "uppity" --The ABW rants about the state of Black America. What's a Covenant Anyway? --Line up Behind Farrakhan, Sharpton and Smiley? --Why Can't the Congressional Black Caucus Get it Up? --The lighter side of New Orleans has its say --Spoiled kids and iPods and Sweet 16 ain't what it used to be (I know, nothing is) --Ebony Eyes, Ebony Lies and Who are the 100+ Most Influencial Black Americans Smiling At? --Mega churches; the money goes in there and comes out where? --New take on a favorite song, The Soul of a Man CORRECTION The article titled "The Business of Faith" was incorrectly attributed to Ebony magazine. It appears in the May Black Enterprise. Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 11:00 PM Comments[0] |
Wed, 29 March 2006 Hello to All-- Thank you for joining me again for Show #13. Spring has arrived and I wish it brought a lightening of my spirits. But alas, it hasn't. President Bush has pissed me off just as much as people who sit by and allow his brand of anything goes politics and policies. So much for spring. The US immigrant population marches in the streets, the French youth riot in the street and Americans continue to sit on their overly rotound, expanding-by-the-minute, massive, arses getting fatter and driving bigger cars in the street. What's wrong with this picture? Show #13 --A special thank you to Cathy Hughes of Radio-One for her support --An extra special thank you to the women and men at Fort Leonard Wood --Bush Pisses off The Angry Black Woman, Not Prudent --Immigration American Style? --Censure Who? --ColorLines Found and Crossed --Poor Folks=Limited Assets and Ecomomic Injustice --H&R Block Takes Poor Folks for a Ride --The NAACP's Crisis, Worth a Long Look for Black Farmers and A New Anacostia Museum --The Coked Up President, Bolivia is High on Morales --Claude Allen, What a Shame, What the Hell Happened? --Charles Taylor, When Will He Pay? --Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Takes on the Nation's Capital --Atlanta's Cell Phones Picks Pockets
See ya' next time, Sunny! Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 6:00 AM Comments[0] |
Sun, 12 March 2006 Show #12
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 5:51 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 18 February 2006 Hello to all-- Show #11
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 6:19 PM Comments[0] |
Fri, 10 February 2006  Hello All-- Wow, how time flies when you're having fun. I hope you enjoy this extended, celebratory #10. Thanks to my subscribers and listeners who have made this such a fun thing to do. Show #10
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 2:13 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 28 January 2006  So, folks--Thanks for checking in. I know that I said there would be a show earlier this week, but personal events and just being overbooked kept this show from finding its way to you. In addition to my own issues this week a friend's father died. To my friend Georgia, you helped me through a very tough time last year. You shared your own ups and downs with kids and ex husbands. As I have said to you before, you got me through many days that I thought I just wasn't going to make it through. The last time I saw you was over the Christmas holidays at Clay's party. What a good time I had with you. I'm glad that there are women on the planet like you. Be easy on yourself and take your time to heal. Also on friday night, I entertained several girlfriends at my home (as we have done for the last year or so). As luck (bad) would have it my ex showed up at the door, unannounced, having problems with the female child, which he apparently could not handle on his own. First of all, to my friend Joelle, please don't beat yourself up because you answered the door. You had no way of knowing what was lurking on the other side. We were all expecting more revelers. To Gina W., who hung with me through the tears (which had nothing to do with the ex) and until 2 a.m. and to Gina G. thanks for always warming my home and really working at maintaining our friendship. To Michelle G. and Sharia D., sorry you couldn't make it this time. Your spirits were missed (and, yes, we talked about you both real bad.) Show #9:
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 8:41 PM Comments[3] |
Sat, 21 January 2006 Hello to All-- Its just about 3am and I've just finished #8. After procrastinating and juggling kid's schedules all week, I recorded the show and ran out the door to do something even more fun than this podcast--I drove to the motorcycle show in Baltimore. I want a Harley Sportster so badly, I'll have to mortgage one of the kids by the spring to afford one. The kids and I and a friend had dinner in Baltimore's little Italy. It wasn't until I returned that I added music and posted the show. As I finish this process with the writing of the show notes, I realize how much I love doing this. I hope I keep you interested and listening. Next week, no kids, so, look for a show earlier in the week.
Here Goes #8
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 2:53 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 14 January 2006 There was news associated with several stories that time just didn't permit me to include. At the top of my list is President Bush's trip to New Orleans on Thursday. This was his first trip to the Gulf Coast in three months. And, what does he say, New Orleans is an attractive tourist destination with "some of the greatest food in the world . . . " Make sure you listen to "Can New Orleans save the soul of its food?" for Bush's comments to ring particularly clear or perhaps wierd, or maybe even odd. The second story that has a postscript for this podcast or perhaps is just getting started is the Washington neighborhood that has hired a laywer to PREVENT a public school from being renovated in their pricey neck of the woods. This story hasn't even begun to fight.
Show #7
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 2:48 AM Comments[0] |
Wed, 4 January 2006 Hello all and Happy New Year! Thank you for listening. My New Year's surprise was an increase in listenership. I am pleased and encouraged that there is an interest in my particular take on news and issues. Keep listening.
Show #6
--Trying to understand Sudan
--Ethiopian Girls and Children, Run or Work
--Cable a la carte
--NEA's Big Bucks
--Public School Bill to Parents: $1500
--No Secret Here: Blacks at Higher Risk in Cancer Care
--Katrina Welcome Mat: Whites Only
--Records' First Years
--Hollywood Spins a Bad Year. Glickman says "Yeah"; USA Today says "Nope"
--They're Lovin' Minorities Now!
--Howz 'Bout a MLK Holiday DVD sale, Y'all?
--DC Style; If You Build it They Will Learn? Not Here.
--Running From DC to PG County Still Doesn't Make You Safe. Now, Where To?
--Limbo, Limbo, Limbo, No More
--Scott Joplin, Still on the Rag
--James Allen's "As a Man Thinketh"
See ya next time, Sunny James Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 8:35 AM Comments[0] |
Thu, 29 December 2005 Hello folks-- For all that were concerned, my toothache and my Percocet-laced voice have passed. Thanks to all who were concerned. Show #5 -- Mother Jones Scolds the Fourth Estate -- Women Can't Win for Trying -- Muslim Woman Takes up a Cross -- Women's Rights in S. Korea Still Wrong -- Abortion, Not Coming to a State Near You -- Ghana, to African Americans, "Come Home" -- French Riots, Mon Dieu! -- Gold Mining, American Style --Xenophobic Immigration Judges -- Ernie Chambers Cornhusker with Flava -- New Orleans, Encore. Article from the Nation and Esquire -- GOP DC to Tickle Your Funny Bone -- Alternative DVD Format Wars -- Fox in a Box -- Zydeco, Creole, and Cajun Music--Who needs hot sauce? See ya next time, Sunny. Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 10:26 PM Comments[0] |
Mon, 26 December 2005 Hello Everyone-- Sorry for the delay with the "show notes." I'll blame the holiday season and one kick-ass toothache. So, to my regular listeners, my apologies. And to new listeners, don't judge me too quickly or harshly! The voice you heard wasn't my own. It belonged to Percocet. It's times like these that I really do ask myself "what the hell am I doing"? So God bless this root canal and on with the delayed "show notes." Show #4 -- Former secy of state comes clean
-- Beantown basement bloodshed
-- 1898 riot repercusstions -- Black leaders up on charges? -- Little-known gov't research, black folks ask, "what else is new?" -- Google now and Alzheimers later -- A Black, working, mother's story, "I'm Every Woman." Coming to a bookstore near you -- Fat kids, oh, no not yours? -- What the hell is "chairitainment" -- Give Kina a listen See ya next time, Sunny! Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 9:40 PM Comments[0] |
Fri, 16 December 2005 Show #3 is in the can. I feel like a woman possessed! I am enjoying this process and medium so much, but I want to try to get into a regular schedule and streamline the process. While I work on show #4, give a listen to show #3.
Show #3
--Condi pic revisisted
--Newspaper death, No mourners
--The Federalist Society. Farm team for future leaders.
--Education. Boys, minorities, DC schools still falling down--$100 million baseball stadium being built while schools crumble and test score tumble.
--Black, white, purple, green, somewhere, somebody hates you.
--I hate it but, Katrina redeux
--Bolivia OG (that's original gangsta for the uninitiated) leading candidate to become country's president
--If it's Christmas, it must be time for technology stuff
--Ethiopia to Kansas a farmer makes hay or rather teff
--DC art exhibit
--Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama, enough said!!
See ya next time.
Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 10:12 AM Comments[0] |
Sun, 11 December 2005 Well, another fine production from the ABW is floating in cyberspace. It was a tough time between the kids being home and the snow, I just didn't think I'd get this one done.
Show #2 --Viewers question and react to the name of the show --New Orleans, New Orleans, New Orleans--enough already --Women in politics. The President wears a dress. New Liberian president --Kennedy Center Honors. Shoulda, woulda, coulda --Condi Rice. Photographically speaking --Look at the big brain on Roland Fryer --Kids & Money and why mommy and daddy can not save --Billionaire Bob Johnson, What's a BET? --Fat Asses make for difficult poking --Babies and breast: made for one another --Dumb Diocese --Indian women fading away --Blues man Buddy Guy makes Sweet Tea See ya next time, Sunny Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 9:20 PM Comments[0] |
Tue, 6 December 2005 How I Got Here:
After falling in love w/my ipod, I realized it would provide me w/an outlet for my many opinions and moods on about just about everything. So I bought every book about podcasting that I could find and proceeded to pick from each one the info that I needed. Having just walked away from NBC Washington Bureau, and not landed the prized correspondent position that I just knew I was destined to have has brought me here. My craving to step up on any available soapbox is still overwhelming and so here goes.
Show #1 --Mexican court finally says rape by husband is a bad thing --Maryland mom of multiples having hard time thanks to internet asses Where are pro-lifers now? --Rosa Parks is a spinnin' in her grave thanks to nephew who wants a piece of her famous pie --Immigration and "anchor babies" aweigh --Thanks to parents and Victoria's Secret--teenage girls tart it up --Long overdue African American Museum still 10 years and $100 million away. And still no definite site. Pick a place, any place! --Think you know shopping secrets? You can't beat Michael Brim and his advance tips to the Sunday sale circulars --How stupid do the record companies think the american public is? It's a Re-release time of year --Sex talk for toddlers --The Week. I love it --Susan Tedeschi. I love her --HarperCollins heavy-handed photo editing for Good Night Moon. I'll do all again this Friday, December 9 See ya next time, Sunny Category: Show Notes (what the hell am I doing) -- posted at: 7:57 PM Comments[0] |
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The Sunny James Show
A Small Voice In the Nation's Capital! News and issues that you don't get delivered to your front door or tune into at 6 or 11
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