It's Personal with Dr. J

In Washington, DC alone, we've seen three separate incidents where nooses have been found. The most shocking of all is that one was found inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture. We are revisiting our conversation with founding director of the museum, Lonnie Bunch.

An eye-opening conversation between two people who understand economics and care for people who are not part of the top 1%, for whom Trump's budget was written. Larry Mishel, the president of the Economic Policy Institute and Dr. J dissect the current economic crisis for middle and lower class workers in the United States and the fallacy of Trickle Down Economics.

This is a fascinating conversation with behind the scenes stories rarely told of the sometimes tense dynamic between President John F. Kennedy and the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. You think you know about the struggle for civil rights, but until you hear this highly informed and engaging conversation between Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Steven Livingston, you are missing the foundation of the relationship between JFK and MLK, upon which much of the Civil Rights story was built.

Kristen Clarke, the president & executive director of the national Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, breaks down the tremendous challenges we face to protect our Civil Rights under the current administration. Ms. Clarke tells Dr. J that our democracy will be in far worse shape in four years if we don't take strong action now to protect our rights.

The gender divide separates women from higher paying jobs. When you look at jobs involving STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) the gap widens further. Dr. J. talks with Julie Kantor from Two Mentors about how mentorship and sponsorship can help women advance in more lucrative careers.

Which weapon does a police officer grab: a taser or a revolver? The answer, with deadly consequences, frequently depends on race and unconscious bias. Howard Ross, one of the preeminent thought leaders on identifying and addressing unconscious bias, speaks with Dr. J about the Jungian reactions to the Obama presidency and how it has given rise to the age of Trump.

Jack Hunter used to hide behind the Confederate flag to speak as the Southern Avenger. Dylann Roof's mass murder of African Americans at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church opened Hunter's eyes. Dr. J, a Black Activist, and Jack Hunter, a Conservative Libertarian, discuss the possibilty of real change and Hunter's story of admission and contrition.

Paul Altidor, the Haitian Ambassador to the United States talks with Dr. J about the myths and and the real challenges facing the world's first Black republic.

Large profitable federal contractors not only pay poverty wages, they also steal from their employees. Joseph Geevarghese, the Director of Good Jobs Nation talks with Dr. J about the federal government's role in keeping 20 million employees below the poverty line by not holding federal contractors accountable.

Stacey Patton escaped from an abusive childhood living with her adopted parents, to become a highly successful journalist and educator. Ms. Patton is the author of Spare the Kids: Why Whupping Children Won’t Save Black America. In a candid and revealing conversation with Dr. J, Stacey recounts her painful early years and the connection between enslavement and abusive corporal punishment. Stacey holds out hope for breaking the cycle of violence that has become prevalent in Black parenting in America.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer is one of the most aggressive and deadliest forms of cancer that disproportionately affects African-American women. Ricki Fairley, the founder of DOVE Marketing, learned she had to purge the cancers in her body and in her life to survive. Ricki tells Dr. J her amazing story of resilience and transformation that led her to become cancer-free.

Sophia Nelson dives into her background as a proud patriotic black woman who is a life-long member of the Republican Party. Dr. J and Sophia explore the strange and unsettling times we live in as both Democrats and Republicans under the Trump administration. Together, they try to answer why the divide has grown so wide and how our government is stalemated.

In this episode of It's Personal, Dr. J. talks to March of Dimes CEO Stacey Stewart about the historic mission of the March of Dimes, their work today to prevent premature birth and birth defects, and the need for health care for everyone, especially mothers and children. They also talk about how Stacey, a seasoned non-profit executive, balances work, family, travel and her commute between DC and New York, and how she plans to move March of Dimes forward in the next five years.

Dr. J sits down with Renaissance Man Andy Shallal, whose activism is fueled by his love of his adopted country, the United States. Born In Iraq, Andy came to the United States seeking refuge and soon learned that patriotism means standing up for what is right, even when your country is wrong.

Lonnie Bunch and Dr. J share the personal stories, challenges, and triumphs of bringing the Culture and History of the African-American people to the Smithsonian.