Sometimes, Donna & Jonathan need a vacation too. Re-sharing a popular episode from April 2023.

Music is instrumental, pun intended, for many of us in the Black Community - Donna & Jonathan are no exception. From childhood artistry to a now multi-platinum singer-songwriter, Cameron Forbes joins the Now We Know podcast for an episode on the joys, the struggles and the triumphs of building his music career in LA over the last decade. Cameron details how he remains true to himself in keeping the love for music and not becoming jaded in a world that wasn't created for the faint of heart.

How has the world of TikTok and plagiarism impacted the music industry? Are artists having greater control over their creations or will AI totally change the game?

Instagram:

@CameronForbes

www.cameronforbes.com

EP - Back to Me

@DonnaJaneen

Sources:

⁠https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/celebrating-black-music-month#:~:text=The%20earliest%20form%20of%20black,defining%20the%20hardships%20of%20slavery⁠.

⁠https://www.npr.org/2021/06/30/1011901555/radio-diaries-harry-pace-and-the-rise-and-fall-of-black-swan-records⁠

⁠https://soundbetter.com/profiles/21436-cameron-forbes⁠

#blackartistry #blackmusic

Without trailblazers Iike Ida B. Wells; truly, where would we be? In a time when truth needed to be told more than ever, Ida fearlessly paved the way to help eradicate injustices.

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML8XiKVStWQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62eH6TNP72E

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/ida-b-wells-barnett

Now You Know:

https://instituteforpr.org/pioneer-inez-kaiser/

Instagram:

@DonnaJaneen

Would you believe of over 3,100 Oscar winners, only 60 have been black? It shouldn't be as surprising considering the inception of the Oscars, but here we are.

Instagram:

@DonnaJaeen

Resources:

https://www.wionews.com/photos/oscars-history-1923-2023-did-you-know-only-six-black-actors-have-won-best-actor-award-so-far-570496

https://www.netflix.com/title/81577005

#oscars #winners

The depths, intricacies and beauty of Afrofuturism have been practiced in more ways than Donna & Jonathan realized in their own lives. Discovering more of the definitions and applications has brought a new level of appreciation for the movement as well as creators in the space. 

How do you feel you apply Afrofuturism in your life?

Resources:

https://www.pbs.org/video/afrofuturism-i8qu2w/ https://www.pbs.org/video/afrofantastic-n5yggg/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWl-u2AN478&t=1140s

Now You Know:

https://www.jackieormes.com/

Instagram:

@DonnaJaeen

#afrofuturism #blackhistory

Kicking off the 4th season of Now We Know with an episode easy like Sunday morning. Donna & Jonathan discuss the making of, hits from and modern time influence from Motown - one of the biggest record labels with an iconic sound our parents, and our parents parents, know all too well and love dearly. As soon as that first 8 count hits, you know exactly what song is about to grace your ears. What are some of your favorite Motown hits/artists?

Sources:

Hitsville the Making of Motown (2019) https://vimeo.com/419289693

https://www.motownmuseum.org/

https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/women-motown

Now You Know:

Dawn Richard https://www.dawnrichard.io/

Instagram:

@DonnaJaneen

#motown #music #billboards

In this episode of Now We Know, Jonathan and Donna discuss the origins of Kwanzaa, the meaning of the holiday, and their personal connections or disconnections with the annual celebration.

What are your connections with Kwanzaa? Did your family celebrate growing up or into adulthood?

However you celebrate this holiday season, we hope it's a beautiful and memorable one.

Resources:

The History of Kwanzaa

The Black Candle

The Seven Principles

Maulana Karenga

Now You Know:

Childish Children's Apparel

Instagram:

@DonnaJaneen

#Kwanzaa #holidays #blackhistoryisamericanhistory #blackhistory

York, who also unwillingly was brought on the Lewis & Clark Expedition by his enslaver, Clark, has a story that not only varies historian by historian but also did not include full truths of what he experienced. York traveled nearly 8,000 miles cross country with the promise of freedom and land, only for neither to occur.

Sacagawea, in a similar, if not more heartbreaking story, was all of 12 years old when she was sold to be married, pregnant, and set off on the expedition - giving birth while on the trek. Listen in for more detail on these untold or not widely known histories of York & Sacagawea.

Sources:

York and Sacagawea - Lewis & Clark expedition

https://www.nebraskastudies.org/en/1800-1849/the-louisiana-purchase/african-american-sacagawea-contributions/

Searching for York - Oregon Public Broadcasting Documentaryhttps://youtu.be/1-s9CzF3kAI?si=hfcIuenPHObcBYgQ

https://www.nps.gov/lecl/faqs.htm#:~:text=Q%3A%20What%20is%20the%20Lewis,near%20present%20day%20Astoria%2C%20Oregon.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sacagawea

https://www.nps.gov/lecl/york.htm#:~:text=A%20fronteirsman%2C%20hunter%2C%20and%20the,his%20payment%20and%20his%20freedom.

MMIW.orghttps://mmiwusa.org/

Instagram:

@DonnaJaneen

Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas seem like two sides of a coin, that's because they are. Thurgood being the first black person on the supreme court paved an incredible path for Clarence and Ketanji Jackson to come.

On this episode, Donna & Jonathan discuss the forging of Thurgood's path and the complexities of his successor after deciding to retire.

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUEphTDzy2g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS10t_vgkZQ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJuRx1wARUk 

https://www.oyez.org/justices/ketanji_brown_jackson 
https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/red-scare

#supremecourt #scotus #justices