This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. concludes his conversation with Dr. Louis Moore, professor of History at Grand Valley State University, co-host of The Black Athlete podcast, and author of The Great Black Hope: Doug Williams, Vince Evans, and the Making of the Black Quarterback, discussing the pioneering African American NFL football players who changed the face of America’s game for generations to come.
Super Bowl
The 2024 Bart Starr Awards (Ep. 22, 2024)
This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents highlights from the Athletes in Action Super Bowl Breakfast, including the presentation of the Bart Starr award for outstanding character and leadership to Minkah Fitzpatrick, and remarks by Mike Tomlin, Tony Dungy, Peyton and Eli Manning, and Mike Singletary.
Bitcoin miners came to rural Texas – and brought disruption with them
Critics say that Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against five Texas cities over marijuana enforcement is all politics – but what does the law say?
In rural Texas, neighbors of bitcoin miners say the noise is causing migraines, sleepless nights and the flight of wildlife.
Texas freelance journalist Tamir Kalifa has won a top national prize for coverage of the shooting in Uvalde. We’ll meet him and hear how he approaches his reporting.
And: How Tex-Mex has become the MVP of the Super Bowl.
Grammys So Black
Confucius and Fresh Interview Austin hip-hop artist Vintage Jay about his upcoming album and his other projects. Then they discuss the recent Grammy Awards, which featured a celebration of 50 years of hip-hop.
You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about the connection between Kanye’s song “Big Brother” and Prince, how Jay-Z ended up on Joe Budden’s “Pump it Up” Remix, why 50 Cent once played the Delco Center in Austin, and more.
Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that concerts, as we know them, may be winding down.
Confucius talks about the upcoming Super Bowl, Biden’s State of the Union address and the recent ice storm in Austin in Confucius Reads the News.
Soy de Tejas art exhibit highlights Latino artists in the Lone Star State
Black lawmakers in the Texas Legislature are pushing colleagues for changes to key Texas laws. Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds, chair of the Black Caucus, joins us to discuss top priorities in the 88th session on issues ranging from criminal justice reform and environmental justice to voting rights.
The Standard’s Kristen Cabrera on an effort in San Antonio to bridge the gap between public art exhibitions and marginalized communities.
And no Texas teams in the Super Bowl, but there are some big reasons for Texas football fans to get excited for Sunday’s big game.
Derrick McCray, pt. 2 (Ep. 22, 2022)
This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. concludes his conversation with Derrick McCray, senior owner and CEO of historic McCray’s Backyard BBQ and Seafood, a family business located in West Palm Beach, Florida since 1934 and now the official barbecue of the Super Bowl.
Derrick McCray, pt. 1 (Ep. 21, 2022)
On this edition of In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. begins a conversation with Derrick McCray, senior owner and CEO of historic McCray’s Backyard BBQ and Seafood, a family business located in West Palm Beach, Florida since 1934 and now the official barbecue of the Super Bowl.
Sports in the Time of COVID
The Winter Olympics are going on — so is the Super Bowl. Some aspects of both of those huge sporting events look very different these days, others look exactly the same. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: February 1, 2022
This year’s first test of the state’s power grid; what to do to prepare for wintry weather on the way. Also, the Texas politician who apparently has his eyes on a 2024 presidential bid…if Donald Trump isn’t running, that is. Plus, what to look for in the upcoming primaries. These stories and more, today on the Texas Standard:
Terrell Davis (Ep. 3, 2021)
This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Terrell Davis, two-time Super Bowl Champion, former National Football League and Super Bowl MVP, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and co-founder of Defy, a CDB-infused sports drink.
Texas Standard: February 6, 2020
The impeachment drama is over… Or is it really? And where does it leave us? We’ll take a look at the implications of the Senate vote for Texas. Plus, a pair of markers erected in Rio Grande City. What they say about an historic workers strike that left a deep impression on the Texas landscape. Plus- how a robot could help save the Gulf of Mexico from the rapidly reproducing Lionfish. And our go-to tech guy on the return of “gaming” the low-tech way. Plus why lots of Texans won’t stop talking about a certain halftime show. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 3, 2020
Bloomberg delivers a surprise in Texas. We’ll look at why the former New York mayor and billionaire is scoring so highly in a new survey. Also, Texans don’t often express an interest in doing things like they do it in California, but firefighters in central Texas are eager to make an exception right now: we’ll hear why. And amid record setting violence in Mexico, reasons for optimism? A security expert in Mexico city says yes. Plus a super bowl win for Texas last night? Maybe more than many in the Lone Star state realize. All those stories and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Long Distance Fan
Do you sometimes feel like a strawberry in a sea of burnt orange? Or a golden nugget in a crowd of blue and silver? That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: February 5, 2018
Botched executions: that’s the claim from the attorneys of the latest man put to death in Texas. We’ll examine the details. Also it’s incredibly delicate work: manufacturing and maintaining the country’s nuclear weapons. Why a new contract could be putting that work at an Amarillo plant at risk. And Mexico’s state owned petroleum company is mired in challenges. We’ll look at why and how it’s affecting the country’s relationship with the US. Plus, in Houston an effort to preserve a bit of Latino history, and a new book preserves the history of Big Spring. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 6, 2017
Her arrest and death made national headlines, but will the Sandra Bland act win the support of Texas lawmakers? We’ll explore. Also with talk of a wall and America first, what started out as boycotts in Mexico may be a new nationalism in the making. Our conversation with a longtime student of Mexican culture and politics. Plus a glut of oil rewriting the rules in the energy capitol: 20 years from now, what’s the future of the energy biz? 5 takeaways from a new prediction. And one and done: straight ticket voting in Texas and the push to pull the plug on an old system. Plus: credit where credit is due. A coaching feat for the ages. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 2, 2017
America First: the rallying cry for the new administration ,and a focus of protests. But are we ready for what might happen beyond our borders? Plus: make new friends and meet new people. What was once the promise of the global coffee house has devolved into name calling and much worse. Is there a way to fix our online conversations? Also a chat with the first openly transgender mayor of Texas. And are you ready for some football? What about on a shorter field? with no kickoffs? And other rule changes? With concussion concerns on the rise, now comes a hail Mary to keep kids in the game. All that and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 6, 2017
The report cards are in —and what do they teach us about the state of Texas public schools? A collision course over the grading system. Also, water closets everywhere, but who gets to use which ones? Texas lawmakers move to regulate public bathrooms a la North Carolina, as business groups warn that the price could be billions of dollars lost. We’ll hear all about it. Plus Texas bankruptcies on the rise. An ominous sign, or a hint that the worst of the oil bust may be behind us? And some new potential challengers to Ted Cruz and the rest of the week in politics plus a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
The 2016 Bart Starr Awards (Ep. 15, 2016)
John L. Hanson presents program highlights and comments from the 29th Annual Super Bowl Breakfast, honoring NFL players who best exemplify outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community.