Tangazo

On his campaign website, DeMarco Davidson writes, "I have been blessed to teach & serve in schools and after-school programs, worked for non-profits, organized political campaigns, challenged City & County ballot issues, mentored youth, served behind the scenes in the church & the streets during Ferguson, assisted in creating alternatives to homelessness, and I have been mentored by many of the great leaders of St. Louis. I am not a politician, but I know politics."   Part 1: "Not being a voice for the voiceless - nnmm mmmm. Removing any barriers, any boundaries, any issues that are muting or silencing the voices of the people. To me, that's what being a public servant is."  Who is DeMarco Davidson and why is he running for Congress? (0:00-12:15) Part 2: "'No Child Left Behind,' to me, is the educational equivalent of the crack epidemic. That's how bad that was." To fix education in the 1st Congressional District, Davidson says "We need an entire taskforce" because there are so many interconnecte

The Universal African Peoples Organization (UAPO) was founded as an extension of three major legacies: Those of Marcus Garvey, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the principles identified during Missouri’s first and second Statewide Black Peoples Conventions held in St. Louis, Missouri in 1984 and 1986. Zaki Baruti is the President General of The UAPO, "a progressive business, political, humanitarian, educational and expansive society; founded and advanced by people desiring to work for the general uplifting of people of African descent throughout the world." Here's a look at how the conversation went: Part 1: "I was in a state of shock when nobody stood up." How Baruti came to lead the UAPO and become one of the first black men to run for statewide office in Missouri. (0:00-13:45) Part 2: "A lot of people didn't think Obama could win...  we've got to put those things in context when we don't have faith in our own selves." Lessons from the campaign trail for Baruti and the UAPO. (13:45-23:00) Part 3: "Zaki and

Joe Roddy Jr grew up the son of an Irish political powerbroker in the city of St Louis, but he's spent the last 30 years making a name for himself as the pragmatic Alderman for the 17th Ward, overseeing some of the city's most robust development during his tenure. Here's a look at how the conversation went: Part 1: "When you actually vote on something... suddenly you begin thinking about right and wrong..." Alderman Roddy talks about his father, who he described as the "Last of the Irish Politicians" and how he came to shape himself as a pragmatic mid-town politician. (0:00-15:45) Part 2: "Being biggest isn't always the best." The leader of the 17th ward discusses his views on development, population decline, and how his point of view differs from those of progressive and protest leaders. (15:45-29:40) Part 3: "Anything that we can do to provide a more equal distribution of tax dollars." Roddy likes the sound of everyone paying their fair share to improve the health of the St Louis region overall: City/Count

Eugene Redmond is a poet, professor, educator, and legendary luminarie who has told the story of East St Louis for decades. Laninya Cason served as an associate judge on the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court in Illinois from 2003 to 2015. Dhati Kennedy's family fled the East St Louis Race War, crossing the Mississippi aboard a homemade raft. Kennedy is a percussionist, activist, and educator. His voice and beats serve as the soundtrack to Tangazo. Your host, Hank Thompson, has spent more than 35 years on the air in the St Louis region, covering sports, politics, race, and religion, discussing current events and ensuring that the area's history is shared with the next generation. Here's a look at how the conversation went: Part 1: "Race War", not "Race Riots." Get to know the guests and learn about circumstances that lead to this horrible period in our region's history. (0:00-16:00) Part 2: Phoenix rising. Out of the ashes of this race war, new communities and artists emerged. (16:15-27:30) Part 3: "Black peop