WFHB FireHouse Broadcasting

Dr. Marc Lamont Hill is considered one of the country's leading intellectuals of the hip-hop generation. Hill joins us by phone to discuss hip-hop culture and its impact on the African-American community and mainstream America. Dr. Hill presents a lecture in Bloomington Wednesday February 10 at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall at the Indiana Memorial Union. Also in this program: the second in a special four-part series of our black history segment "Dark Past Bright Future" brings you oral histories from elder African-Americans recalling the days of segregation in Bloomington. This week's segment features an interview with Betty Newman on social life in local black culture during the years of segregation. Our featured musical selection is the underground hip-hop track "Sphere of Hip-Hop" by Mars ILL, an emcee/DJ hip-hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia. As always, Bring It On!

On the first day of Black History Month we welcome two familiar voices to discuss local events celebrating African-American history and culture. Local BHM committee members Beverly Calender Anderson, director of Bloomington’s Office for Safe and Civil Cities and Doris Sims, assistant director of the City's Housing and Neighborhood Development, join us live in the studio. For the sixth year the city of Bloomington is hosting "Black History Month - Bloomington Style" with a kickoff event February 4th discussing media portrayals of African-Americans. Hear all about ways to celebrate and embrace black culture in Bloomington. Also in this program: the first in a special four-part series of our black history segment "Dark Past Bright Future" brings you oral histories from elder African-Americans recalling the days of segregation in Bloomington. The first segment features an interview with Rose Durson.

With last Monday's observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the official start of Black History Month one week away, now is an excellent time to look at statistics regarding African Americans in the United States. The Indiana Business Research Center in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business offers an in-depth snapshot. We look at African-American statistical measures in population trends, education, voting patterns, income and poverty, and jobs and business with Tanya Hall, analyst at the IBRC. Also in this program, we examine racial disparities in education and employment on a new edition of “Our America”, commentaries on black politics by Indiana University professor Khalil Muhammad. Our featured musical artist is the late Luther Vandross, who sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards during his career. As always, Bring It On!

We look forward to next week's celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with two organizers of local events. Eric Love and David Hummons, members of this year’s MLK celebration committee, share their excitement over this year's theme, "Now is the Time: Making Real the Promise". This year's very special guest of honor is Reverend Jesse Jackson! Also in this program: a new edition of our wellness segment "My Health Matters", recently revived thanks to a partnership with Bloomington Hospital, reveals that obesity is more prevalent in African-Americans than other racial groups. Our featured musical artist is Mint Condition, a group that easily traverses diverse musical styles, able to play anything from jazz and R&B to rock and funk. As always, Bring It On! features regional and national news and a regional calendar highlighting events relevant to the local African-American community. Hosted by Clarence Boone and Cornelius Wright.

Our crew gathers 'round the table to celebrate the holiday season by sharing our family memories and traditions. What are some of your favorite holiday comfort foods? Favorite songs? How has church or your religious practices and traditions influenced your connections to the season? Hosts Jim Sims and Beverly Calender-Anderson, music director Tyren Edenburgh, commentator Cornelius Wright, and producer Clarence Boone reflect on their favorite aspects of holiday celebrations in a very lively program. We also feature Christmas music you won't hear on commercial radio - funkster Bootsy Collins reinvents "Silent Night", and Clarence Carter is your "Back Door Santa". Also in this program: our savvy sistah Leila Randle offers tips for a holiday party that won't break the bank on a New Year's edition of "HomeGurl Shopping", an advice column from one black woman trying to survive in a tough economy. As always, Bring It On!

We discuss the healthcare reform proposals under scrutiny in Washington with a look at how the reform packages serve the needs of African-Americans and other minority populations. Our booked guest Congressman Baron Hill had to cancel in order to chair a committee meeting, and so we welcome his communications director Katie Moreau and legislative assistant Joel Bailey. Get straight talk on the core elements comprising the Affordable Health Care for America Act (the House version of the reform bill) as we ask questions and dispel myths about healthcare reform. Also in this program: Liz Mitchell explores racism and segregation in the early days of Indiana University on a new edition of "Dark Past, Bright Future". Our featured musical track is a smooth R&B version of "The Christmas Song" by Will Downing. As always Bring It On! features regional and national headline news and a regional calendar highlighting events relevant to the local African-American community.

Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Health Department, joins us for frank talk on the H1N1 flu, which the World Health Organization has declared a global pandemic. Dr. Caine discusses efforts to vaccinate against the spread of H1N1 in at-risk populations and minorities. Also in this program: perfect for the holiday season our featured musical track is "Be Thankful for What You Got", an urban classic sampled many times by the hip-hop industry. One-hit wonder William DeVaughn wrote the song in 1972 and was paid $900 to record it. The record sold nearly two million copies on its release in spring 1974. Financial correspondent Kevin Osborne talks about identity theft and phishing on a new edition of "Compound Interest". As always Bring It On! features regional and national headline news and a regional calendar highlighting events relevant to the local African-American community. Hosted by Beverly Calender-Anderson and Jim Sims.

Mayor Mark Kruzan joins Clarence Boone and Jim Sims to discuss diversity and inclusiveness efforts in the city of Bloomington. The health care debate and affordable housing are also on this evening's agenda. Also in this program: Khalil Muhammad makes his debut as a correspondent on "Politics 101" with a commentary on race in the Age of Obama. Our featured musical artist is Fred Hammond with a track from his album "Somethin' 'Bout Love". As always Bring It On! features regional and national headline news and a regional calendar highlighting events relevant to the local African-American community. Hosted by Jim Sims and Beverly Calender-Anderson with help from Clarence Boone.

Breaking news: Jesse Jackson will be the keynote guest at this year's local Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration! City special projects coordinator Craig Brenner joins us in the studio to talk about this year's celebration, the annual "A Day On! Not a Day Off" service project campaign and the grants available to local organizations who want to host volunteer service projects, nominations for the MLK Legacy Award, and the youth web design contest. Also in this program: our savvy sistah Leila Randle offers gifts of advice on a Christmas edition of "HomeGurl Shopping", featuring tips from one black woman trying to survive in today's challenging economy. Our featured musical artist is soulful R&B songstress Ledisi, with a track from her new album "Turn Me Loose" produced by Raphael Saddiq, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. As always Bring It On! features regional and national headline news and a regional calendar highlighting events relevant to the local African-American community.

Music by black artists is often stereotypically regarded as being limited to blues, gospel, and hip-hop. "Reclaiming the Right to Rock: Black Experiences in Rock Music" is a conference this weekend in Bloomington bringing together black rock musicians from different generations and regions with music critics and scholars to discuss the socio-political history, development and future of black rock. The conference also celebrates the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Black Rock Coalition, founded to create a united atmosphere for the maximum exposure and acceptance of black alternative music. Conference organizer and director of the Indiana University Archives of African-American Music Portia Maultsby joins us to talk about the conference and its core issues. We also hear music clips from some of the conference's featured artists.