See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Redemption Song” by Bob Marley and the Wailers is one of the ultimate songs about the Black spirit and the immense determination that has gotten us through life in America. I’m talking about a specifically Black determination that has powered our resistance and carried us through life in America. A sense of Black determination that we hear in Redemption Song as well as Sam Cookie’s “A Change Gonna Come,” Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise,” and Kendrick’s “Alright.” No matter how hard things have been we have always been certain that one day we would overcome.

 Guests:

Roger Steffens, Author, So Much Things to Say

Michael Eric Dyson, Professor, Princeton University

Credits:

Bob Marley and The Wailer's - Redemption Song 

• Writer: Bob Marley
• Label: Tuff Gong & Island Records
• Publisher: Fifty Six Hope Road Music Limited, Primary Wave/Blue Mountain

Sam Cooke - A Change is Gonna Come

• Writer: Sam Cooke
• Label: RCA Victor
• Publisher: Kegs Music Corp. 

Kendrick Lamar - Alright 

• Writer: Kawan Prather, Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell Williams & Sounwave
• Label: Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment & Interscope Records
• Publisher: EMI April Music, New World Music, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music Publishing Group, PECF, BMG Firefly, BMG, Warner/Chappell, Top Dawg Entertainment, Sony/ATV Allegro, In Thee Face Music Publishing, Hard Working Black Folks Publishing, BMG Gold Songs, Beat Bully Productions, More Water From Nazareth & EMI Pop Music Publishing

Still I Rise, Maya Angelou

Yvonne Orji, The Toure Show

#TrumpRally protesters chant "We gonna be alright", Chicago Reader

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“She Works Hard for the Money,” is Donna Summer’s classic that was born when she saw a waitress sleeping during her shift and thought, damn she works hard for the money. In this episode we talk about the birth of the song with Summer’s husband and we talk about Black women’s economic issues and how Black women can accrue more wealth and what society needs to do for Black women and how sisters can get more venture capital funds so they can start and grow their own businesses. 

Guests:

Bruce Sudano, Donna Summer’s Husband  

Omi Bell, CEO, Black Girl Ventures Foundation

Lauren Maillian, CEO, Digital Undivided 

Nina Banks, Professor Bucknell University

Credits:

Donna Summer - MacArthur Park

• Writer: Jimmy Webb
• Label: Casablanca Record and Filmworks Inc.
• Publisher: Canopy Music

Donna Summer - Hot Stuff

• Writer: Keith Forsey, Harold Faltermeyer & Pete Bellotte
• Label: Casablanca Records
• Publisher: Sweet Summer Night Music 

Donna Summer - Bad Girls 

• Writer: Joe Esposito, Edward Hokenson, Bruce Sudano & Donna Summer
• Label: Casablanca Records
• Publisher: Sweet Summer Night Music 

Donna Summer - She Works Hard For the Money 

• Writer: Michael Omartian & Donna Summer
• Label: Casablanca Record and Filmworks Inc.
• Publisher: Phonogram International B.V.

Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nothin Goin On But The Rent 

• Writer: Gwen Guthrie
• Label: Polydor
• Publisher: Universal Polygram International Publishing Inc

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.