Advertise on podcast: I SEE U with Eddie Robinson

Ibram X. Kendi is a National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author who has dedicated his life to educating all Americans, from grade school to adults, on the unvarnished history of the United States. His latest release, Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers, is a middle-grade offering for the critically acclaimed Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo,” written by the legendary writer, anthropologist and folklorist, Zora Neale Hurston. The book tells the story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last-known survivors of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade who shared his story with Hurston in 1927. Kendi tells I SEE U that it’s more important than ever for young people to understand slavery and its origins, particularly when book bans targeting writers of color are on the rise. Join us as I SEE U travels to the downtown Houston Public Library where host Eddie Robinson chats unguarded with one of the most sought-after historians in the country, Ibram X. Kendi. The author of the award-winning Stamped From the Beginning — now a Netflix documentary — chronicles the creation of racist ideas and myths which were used to codify discriminatory policies that have affected inequalities in everything from health to wealth in America.

Are concepts of race and racism so embedded in our culture, that kids as young as 3 have a racial identity? How do environment and family dynamics impact a child’s perceived sense of self? These were just some of the questions a husband-and-wife team of psychologists asked during their groundbreaking investigation of the racial formation of young Black children. During the 1940s, Kenneth and Mamie Clark recorded the negative impacts of segregation through a series of studies and experiments which came to be known as the “Doll Tests.” A student would choose between a Black doll and a White one when asked a series of questions, like “Which doll is the good doll?” or “which doll is the pretty doll?” Most Black children chose White dolls, and to the dismay of the Clarks, some students were upset and felt devastated after having to identify with the doll they had previously labeled as bad or ugly.   I SEE U host Eddie Robinson candidly chats with acclaimed author, Tim Spofford, about his latest book, What the Children Told Us: The Untold Story of the Famous “Doll Test” and the Black Psychologists Who Changed the World. Spofford, who grew up in an all-white mill town in upstate New York, shares his thoughts on why he felt the need to tell the full story of this pioneering couple – whose research, scholarship and activism played a critical role in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which declared the infamous “separate but equal” doctrine unconstitutional. He also offers up insight on how today’s generation of children would perform if given the same doll tests from back in the day.

Racism is deeply complex and multifaceted, especially when a historically marginalized group can experience discrimination while simultaneously be discriminatory. Take for instance, the gunman who committed the 2023 mass shooting at an outlet mall some 25 miles north of Dallas; the arsonist who set fire to a mosque in Victoria, Texas; or the former national chairman of the right-wing extremist group, known as the Proud Boys, and his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The perpetrators who carried out these tragic events were all Latino. What do U think would draw Latinos to harbor white supremacist views and why do U think extremist groups are, in turn, embracing them? Join us as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson sits down with acclaimed author, Tanya Katerí Hernández, for a provocative conversation that examines racial beliefs in the Latino community. Her latest book, Racial Innocence: Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality, explores the challenges and complexities associated with race, skin color, stereotypes and cultural symbols that inform the interactions and prejudices of Latinos in the United States. The Fordham University Professor of Law unpacks a misconception that Latinos could be exempt from experiencing racism or discrimination because of their background or ethnicity. Plus, she shares her vulnerabilities in how colorism plays out in her own family. As a Latino, and a Black woman with a leadership role in academia, Hernández also touches on the recent controversies at major universities, where Black women accused of being ‘diversity hires’ with radical race agendas are being pushed out of the workforce. Does she fear for her own job given her focus on race and the law?

When a defiant opponent of the apartheid government was assassinated during the Easter weekend in 1993, South Africans were certain that all hell would break loose. The country was slowly moving towards the dismantling of the apartheid system and transition to a true democracy. But the murder of Chris Hani, carried out by a white supremacist in broad daylight, threatened to provoke a civil war and rollback the peace process. Were there other extremists, potentially even members of the government, involved in this plot to rid the nation of Chris Hani, a popular heir apparent to anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela? Rookie journalist Justice Malala was one of the first reporters at the crime scene over three decades ago. His latest book, The Plot to Save South Africa, takes readers on a riveting, nine-day account of what transpired and how a country on the brink survived falling into a civil war. Join us as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with renown political commentator and best-selling author, Justice Malala. The award-winning storyteller will dive deep into how Mandela’s leadership style and his ability to reach out to adversaries ultimately set the stage for a new South Africa. As we continue to highlight untold cultural histories throughout February, Malala will also take a provocative look at how a system that Hani so relentlessly fought for until his death, ironically helped save the life of the assassin who sought to eradicate his life’s work. 

His father, born into slavery, had become one of the first African American millionaires in the United States. His mother, though devoted to Black civil rights, was a renowned actress and had kept her racial background a secret. And in 1897, Alonzo and Adrienne Herndon had a son – their only child – named Norris Herndon, who would become the second President, inherited by his father, of the historic, Black-owned Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Behind the scenes, Norris was a major financier of the Civil Rights Movement and often gave large sums of money to several organizations, community groups and universities. He also lived a very private life and learned to hide his attraction for men. Could his homosexuality be a reason why his story remains unknown to so many people? Join host Eddie Robinson as I SEE U takes an in-depth look at the life of Norris Herndon with insight and perspective from writer/columnist, Ryan Lee and history scholar, Pamela Flores – both based in Atlanta.

Community organizer Daniel Banks describes the aura of a former Ku Klux Klan auditorium in Fort Worth, Texas as having “blood in the bricks.” Banks is involved with a project designed to confront the painful histories of this nation by stimulating dialogue and promoting human rights for all. Built in 1924, the intimidating 22,000-foot, imposing red-brick building once served as headquarters, both for the local chapter of the KKK, and for the entire state of Texas, where they staged marching practices, hosted minstrel shows and gathered frequently to strategize their agenda. Over 100 years later, an alliance of eight organizations will transform this structure into a cultural center and “safe space” for the very communities once terrorized by the KKK. Join us for a provocative conversation with I SEE U host Eddie Robinson as he speaks candidly with Daniel Banks. He’s a founding board member of Transform 1012 N. Main Street, a Texas-based coalition of local arts, grassroots and service organizations that seeks to convert the space into a beacon of truth-telling, healing and liberation. Banks sheds light on how such a monument of hate has remained within blocks to Fort Worth's City Hall until now.

As we honor and pay tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on this national holiday weekend, many Black American parents are taking this opportunity to educate their children—and have THE TALK, an unguarded conversation about racism, discrimination and the richness of Black culture. Those sometimes difficult conversations served as inspiration for children’s book author, Tami Charles – who wrote and used her own New York Times best-selling picture book, “All Because You Matter,” as a springboard to navigate through the intense dialogues she’s had with her son. Join Host Eddie Robinson as he chats candidly with acclaimed writer, Tami Charles. The former New Jersey schoolteacher sheds light on the obstacles she’s experienced as a woman of color who found it even more of a challenge to maneuver through the children’s book industry. Her latest book, “We Are Here,” celebrates the extraordinary history of trailblazers, including Dr. King, who sacrificed their lives in hopes of building a better future for all people.

Whether U are a Republican, a Democrat, or neither, why do U think there still exists such deep divides in this country? Why do we have a never-ending fight for a democracy, that is for everybody? In 1960 at an elementary school in New Orleans, why was there so much hate from outraged protesters, white parents, who were yelling and shouting at a Black six-year-old girl who simply wanted a better future? And just three years ago in Washington, D.C. on the steps of the Capitol, what prompted thousands of angry rioters to call for the Vice President of the United States to be hanged? Join us, as host Eddie Robinson tackles these questions and more with the award-winning historian and author of Civil War by Other Means: America’s Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy, Jeremi Suri. The University of Texas at Austin history professor stops by our I SEE U studios in Houston to explore how decisions made in the wake of the Civil War have culminated into a civil breakdown in equality that continues to unravel the nation’s political infrastructure. He argues that what should have been a moment of national renewal and rehabilitation of freedom for everyone after the Civil War, ultimately fell apart with competing visions of democracy that still linger today. In this Season 5 opener, Suri reveals portions of a remarkable history left untold, biases he’s grappling with personally as well as any possible solutions that can be examined for a country striving to rebuild its own future. 

Four of the largest cities in the United States are currently run by African Americans. What do U think this says about our nation when four prominent, elected officials of color have been chosen and trusted to lead four of the biggest metropolitan regions of the country? And out of each of these four mayors: Eric Adams of New York City; Karen Bass of Los Angeles; Brandon Johnson of Chicago; Sylvester Turner is the only top city administrator who still resides in the same community where he grew up—Acres Homes, a sprawling working-class neighborhood in northwest Houston that's predominantly Black. What do U think this says about him and his character? Join us as I SEE U travels to City Hall where host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with the chief executive officer of the city of Houston – Mayor Sylvester Turner. As the former lawyer wraps up his two-term tenure in office, Turner reflects on his life, his career in politics and how his upbringing prepared him to take on persistent issues and majors challenges of a Democratic blue city that's deeply rooted inside a Republican red state. He also candidly reveals the complexities of his relationship with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and why he hasn't directly communicated with him for over two years.

Clean energy researcher Roishetta Ozane is a single mother of six children and lives in a Louisiana town that scientists have called, "the heart of America's climate crisis." With her Lake Charles-area home surrounded by refineries, natural gas facilities and petrochemical plants, her family has been inundated with ‘shelter-in-place' alerts and storm-related emergency alarms throughout their lives. Witnessing so much systemic hardship, Ozane created a mutual aid organization to help communities of color and low-income residents navigate government agencies to obtain relief after disasters strike. And she uses her platform to speak out publicly as an advocate for environmental justice at local forums, municipal hearings and regional climate conferences. But are state juries, industry leaders and agency officials willing to listen and take action? Stay tuned as I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with the founder of The Vessel Project of Louisiana, Roishetta Ozane. She speaks unguarded about her passion to build solidarity around an effort to combat climate change. A survivor of a 17-year abusive relationship, Ozane reminds us that while the industry sector continues to expand, worsening storms and violent hurricanes will repeatedly use this vulnerable Gulf Coast region as target practice.

Six-time Grammy winner and electronic DJ, Sonny Moore, aka Skrillex, recently released a trove of new music after a nearly decade-long hiatus of full-length solo material. Through a mutual friend, the visionary producer was introduced to a Palestinian vocalist by the name of Nai Barghouti – an acclaimed composer and flute player who's notably famous for creating her own signature fusion of jazz and Middle Eastern soundscapes. But what happens when you blend her angelic, and often times, enchanting voice with a pulsating techno beat and rhythmic, percussive claps? Stay tuned as I SEE U host Eddie Robinson chats candidly with renowned singer-songwriter, Nai Barghouti. We explore the meaning behind their collaborative track called, "XENA," including a deep dive into Palestinian folklore and the song's cultural message of empowerment. The instrumentalist also describes her unique vocal style and how she's used one of the most traumatic experiences of her childhood, while living in Jerusalem under military occupation, as inspiration for her remarkable musical career.

Acclaimed lyricist, Fat Tony, has played a significant role in shaping Houston's rap scene with his unique style of music. Raised in the city's historic Third Ward, he has family roots in Nigeria – a part of the world where emerging singers and songwriters from the region are finding success on American music charts. Consequently, mainstream pop acts have been taking notice and are quickly jumping on their cultured bandwagon with featured collaborations. Join I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson for a very candid conversation with master storyteller, Fat Tony, about his music career, the future of hip-hop and how Prince inspires his creativity. The rapper also explains why so many fans of different races and ethnicities gravitate to his music—a notion that tends to ring true for other renown Houston artists and performers.