Brooklyn, USA

Black History Month 2018 was one for the books. We saw millions of fans celebrate #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay on Superbowl Sunday, Sade announce her first musical release in seven years for the Ava Duvernay-directed A Wrinkle In Time, the Obama presidential portraits unveiled, and The Golden State Warriors opt out of the traditional White House visit to instead take a group of students to the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture. We even saw a Black Lives Matter flag raised over a high school in Vermont, and of course Black Panther burn up the box office, smashing records along the way. We spent the month honoring the past, present, and future of Blackness in Brooklyn. We got a lesson on jazz great Betty Carter’s legacy from some of her contemporaries and closest friends. We joined a book club that celebrates black literature and womanhood. And we followed a group of students from Brooklyn all the way to Wakanda. #BlackHistory, #BlackFuture, #BlackExcellence. Say it loud in Brooklyn, USA. ••• Brooklyn, USA is produced by Sachar Mathias and Emily Boghossian. Thanks to Gail Boyd, Ora Harris, Carmen Lundy, Marc Cary, Charenee Wade, Shannon Effinger and Kuye Youngblood for telling Betty Carter’s story, and to Keisha "TK" Dutes and the Bondfire Radio family for mixing the piece. For more information on Betty Carter and Jazz Ahead, visit www.kennedycenter.org Thanks to Primos Cobb and the 7th graders at Exceed Charter School for letting us tag along, and to Frederick T. Joseph for starting the #BlackPantherChallenge. That story was produced by Emily Boghossian and Khyriel Palmer. Thanks to Glory Edim and all of the Well Read Black Girls who took time out of the festival to share their experiences with us. For more information on the book club visit www.wellreadblackgirl.com, and make sure to pick up the upcoming anthology, "Well Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves" when it comes out this fall. This episode featured music from the de Wolfe music library. If you like what you hear, think we got something wrong or just want to get in touch, you can leave us a comment, tweet us at BRIC RADIO or leave a message at (347) 504-0801. For more information on this and all BRIC Radio podcasts, visit ww.bricartsmedia.org/radio.

Read the transcript: https://rb.gy/jsm2te

The conversations around sexual assault, harassment, and inequality that started last year continued into this one, amid half-baked apologies and the constant, widespread undermining of women’s rights and interests. Less than a day into 2018, actresses and activists teamed up to declare that the clock had run out on toxic masculinity. Two days later, Tina Smith was sworn into office, bringing the number of women currently serving in the Senate to a record-breaking 22. Meanwhile, women all over the world are gearing up to celebrate the anniversary of last year’s march by making this year’s march even bigger. Today — like everyday — we’re celebrating women. First, we’ll hear the story of an activist, survivor and community organizer who finds her voice and the courage to help other women find theirs. Then, we’ll tag along with two recent transplants as they get to know Brooklyn and the women who shaped it with the help of an unconventional guide. And finally, we’ll talk to two artists, each creating work that reflects their culture and borrows from it’s past. New year, new you, girls rule and boys drool. Time’s Up in Brooklyn, USA. ••• Brooklyn, USA is produced and edited by Sachar Mathias and Emily Boghossian, with help from Ariana Rosas. Thanks to Hira Nabi and Paola Messina for helping us decipher the She Map. Their story featured June Jordan reading her "Poem About My Rights" as recorded on March 31, 1992, at an Academy of American Poets reading held at the French Institute, Alliance Française, in New York City; as well as a reading of Jordan’s 1974 "Poem About Police Violence" by Moriah Hope Thomas. It also featured original music by Imaad Manzar, and is the first of many trips along the She Map that Hira and Paola plan on taking. Thanks to Jocelyn Arem and Jessica Thompson of Arbo Radiko for sitting down with Martha Redbone and Jaishri Abichandani. You can hear more from Arbo Radiko by visiting www.arboradiko.com. And thanks to Tarana Burke for sitting down with Ro Johnson and for saying #MeToo. This episode featured music from the de Wolfe and Cueniverse music libraries and original music by Imaad Manzar and Martha Redbone. If you like what you hear, think we got something wrong or just want to get in touch, you can leave us a comment, tweet us at BRIC RADIO or leave a message at (347) 504-0801. For more information on this and all BRIC Radio podcasts, visit ww.bricartsmedia.org/radio.

Read the episode transcript: https://rb.gy/1oronf

The question of which came first between language and music is one that scholars will likely debate forever, but what is indisputable is how intertwined the modes of expression are. In this episode, husband and wife Riva Nyri and Monvelyno, who comprise the musical group Bohio Music, sit down with producer Tadia Toussaint to discuss the complex history of the Haitian Creole language, and how they use music to keep its revolutionary spirit alive. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Tadia Toussaint, Riva Nyri, Monvelyno, Bohi Music, and Siji Awoyinka.

• LINKS:

Tadia Toussaint is a Haitian-American musician and journalist from Brooklyn, NY. Follow her at @tadia._

Bohio Music is the musical project of Haitian musicians Riva Nyri & Monvelyno, and uses music and dance to celebrate and preserve Haitian culture. Follow Riva Nyri, Monvelyno, and Bohi Music on Instagram at @riva.nyri, @monvelyno, and @bohiomusic.
Follow Siji Awoyinka at @sijimusic on Instagram.

The Endangered Language Alliance is a New York City-based nonprofit with a mission to document endangered languages and support linguistic diversity. Explore their interactive language map at www.languagemap.nyc, and donate to ELA at the $50 dollar level to receive a beautiful print copy.

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

• MUSIC and CLIPS

This episode featured clips from Bohio Music, and the Al-Sarah & the Nubatones, and Jomion & Los Uklos live performances on B-Side, produced by BRIC TV.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3Btby6s

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV

The Pulaar Speaking Association on Fulton Street in Bed-Stuy provides the Fulani community in Brooklyn with a space to gather, connect, pray, and preserve their culture and language. Shirin Barghi dropped by after Friday prayers to speak with the association’s president and membership. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Hamel Toure, The Pulaar Speaking Association, Hanif Yazdi, Adriana, Amina, and the Arab American Family Support Center.

• LINKS

The Pulaar Speaking Association is a national nonprofit dedicated to highlighting Fulani culture in the US, and building a strong community that contributes to a better global society. To learn more about the Brooklyn chapter, steam Pulaar Radio, or visit their headquarters at 1171 Fulton Street.

The Arab American Family Support Center is a non-profit organization established in 1994 to provide culturally and linguistically competent, trauma-informed social services to low-income immigrants and refugees in New York City. Working across four priority areas - Prevent, Promote, Get Ready, and Communicate - AAFSC has served 10,000 community members this past year, across 13 physical locations, to achieve their ultimate goal of strengthening families.

The Endangered Language Alliance is a New York City-based nonprofit with a mission to document endangered languages and support linguistic diversity. Explore their interactive language map at www.languagemap.nyc, and donate to ELA at the $50 dollar level to receive a beautiful print copy.

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

• MUSIC and CLIPS
This episode featured clips from the Al-Sarah & the Nubatones, Arooj Aftab, and Adesuwa live performances on B-Side, produced by BRIC TV.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3gDm9C5

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV

For over three thousand years, the Aramaic language has been used throughout Mesopotamia. In Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, a community of Syrian immigrants preserves this ancient language – and a connection to their homeland – through prayer and song. • Brooklyn, USA is produced by Emily Boghossian, Shirin Barghi, Charlie Hoxie, Khyriel Palmer, and Mayumi Sato. If you have something to say and want us to share it on the show, here’s how you can send us a message: https://bit.ly/2Z3pfaW

• Thank you to Professor Geoffrey Khan, Safaa Jalou, Father Gabriel Adde, the St. George Syriac Orthodox Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and Nadège Fleurimond.

• LINKS

Professor Geoffrey Khan studies, teaches, and documents the various dialects of Neo-Aramaic. You can learn more about his work and hear field recordings at https://nena.ames.cam.ac.uk/

Nadège Fleurimond is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, business strategist, and culinary maven from East Flatbush, Brooklyn. She is the author of Taste of Solitude: A Culinary Journal, and Haiti Uncovered: A Regional Adventure Into the Art of Haitian Cuisine.

The Endangered Language Alliance is a New York City-based nonprofit with a mission to document endangered languages and support linguistic diversity. Explore their interactive language map at www.languagemap.nyc, and donate to ELA at the $50 dollar level to receive a beautiful print copy.

Visit us online at bricartsmedia.org/Brooklyn-USA

• MUSIC and CLIPS

“Flowing Gentle” by Erik Wollo, courtesy of De Wolfe Music.

This episode featured clips from the Al-Sarah & the Nubatones, and Jomion & Los Uklos live performances on B-Side, produced by BRIC TV.

• TRANSCRIPT: https://bit.ly/3s1BAKU

• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BRICTV