Listening to Black Voices

Francina Hollaway on Growing Up in Segregated Florida and Integrating Her Elementary School

Throughout her education, Hollaway focused on excelling at math. "Writing can be critiqued because it's subjective," she explains. "But in math, there’s only one right answer.”

06/12/2023 By Heather Dunhill

Q & A

Author Alvin Hall on the Green Book and the History of Black Resistance

Hall shares a deeply researched journey inspired by the historical Green Book traveler’s guide for Black Americans during the Jim Crow era.

05/31/2023 By Heather Dunhill

Listening to Black Voices

Longtime Educator Dr. Caryl J. Sheffield on the Power of Culturally Sensitive Teaching

Sheffield, a retired professor, also shares the story of her paternal grandfather, Caesar Sheffield, who was lynched in the early 1900s, and how his death resonated in her family.

05/09/2023 By Heather Dunhill

Listening to Black Voices

David Wilkins on Reconstruction, Reparation and Black Excellence

“Some people don’t want that history to be taught. It challenges the myth they like to maintain."

04/10/2023 By Heather Dunhill

Listening to Black Voices

Longtime Human Resources Executive Mirian Graddick-Weir on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The daughter of a former nun and NASA's director of education, Graddick-Weir was most recently executive vice-president of HR at Merck.

03/13/2023 By Heather Dunhill

Black History in Song

Charlayne Hunter-Gault to Narrate Florida's Premier of "The Children's March"

The piece tells the story of a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.

02/24/2023 By Staff

Listening to Black Voices

Dr. Janjay Gehndyu on Emotional Intelligence and the Power of Education

Gehndyu is the former principal of Visible Men Academy.

02/06/2023 By Heather Dunhill

Listening to Black Voices

Tomeika Hunter-Koski on Serving in the Army, Education and Her Charitable Work in Africa

“For decades, Black people have been told to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps when too many of us don’t have boots—and the powers that be continue to systemically keep the boots out of reach."

01/11/2023 By Heather Dunhill

On the Radio

Activist Demetrius Jifunza Will Discuss Amendment 4, Voting Rights With Legal Aid of Manasota

Jifunza was instrumental in the passage of Amendment 4, which restores voting rights to more than 1 million people in Florida previously convicted of felonies.

12/19/2022 By Staff

Listening to Black Voices

Rev. Larry Green Sr. on the Church's Role in the Black Community and the Hope in Helping Others

"Allowing people to express their anger, frustration and/or sadness can help them find comfort and strength."

12/19/2022 By Heather Dunhill

Listening to Black Voices

Charlayne Hunter-Gault on Her New Book and 50 Years of Reporting on Black Life

"We must learn to talk to people who don’t agree with us, which is a challenge these days. Communication is the essence of our existence. In so many ways, this is how we will open doors.”

11/07/2022 By Heather Dunhill

Civil Rights

Recent Voter Fraud Arrests Threaten to Keep People Away From the Polls

Critics say the arrest of 20 former felons for voting could have a chilling effect on turnout this year.

11/01/2022 By Isaac Eger

In the Key of Gifting

A Sarasota Grand Piano Finds a New Home in a Historic Mississippi Church

Anonymous donors gifted their mint-condition piano to the church, which hosted civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson.

10/17/2022 By Kim Doleatto

On the ballot

Local Officials Want to Make It Harder for Citizens to Change the County Charter

To draw attention to the issue, County Commission candidate Mike Cosentino wore a cowboy hat, a muscle-padded suit and a cape to a public hearing on the topic.

07/13/2022 By Isaac Eger

Listening to Black Voices

Dr. Janet Taylor on Generational Trauma and How Racism Affects Mental Health

"Silence and inaction are damaging. We are not in a position within America and within our communities to be inactive or inattentive."

06/13/2022 By Heather Dunhill

Listening to Black Voices

Entrepreneur Lillian Lambert on Being the First Black Woman to Graduate from Harvard Business School

"In my class of about 800 students, 18 were women and six were Black: five men and me."

05/10/2022 By Heather Dunhill

Listening to Black Voices

Former J&J Executive Marilyn Thompson on Diversity, Inclusion and Corporate Culture

Marilyn Thompson also weighs in on the Will Smith/Chris Rock altercation and its broader implications for the Black Community.

04/12/2022 By Heather Dunhill

Listening to Black Voices

Attorney E. Keith DuBose on Why Sarasota Needs More Black Lawyers

"As a nation, we have become so polarized that it seems the goal is to make others wrong instead of realizing what’s right. We need common voices right now."

02/08/2022 By Heather Dunhill

If at First You Don't Succeed

The Sarasota County Commission Wants a Do-Over on Single-Member Districts

Voters are again being asked to decide whether Sarasota County Commissioners should be elected by the residents of their district or by the county as a whole.

02/08/2022 By Elizabeth Djinis

First Person

'Listening to Black Voices' Shares Stories of Black Life in Sarasota-Manatee

The series reveals the obstacles and triumphs of navigating a nation that continues to struggle with racism and inequality.

01/14/2022