Archive for May, 2005

Mansbach/Crowe

Tuesday, May 17th, 2005

Angry Black White Boy: As a young boy in the 1980s, Macon Detornay becomes fascinated by hip-hop music. And although he is a white boy from the suburbs of Boston, he comes of age immersed in and politicized by hip-hop culture. By the time he’s a taxicab driver in New York City, Macon is enraged by white privilege, and he turns that rage against his white passengers. Host Melinda Penkava talks with hip-hop emcee, poet, and author Adam Mansbach about his newest novel, “Angry Black White Boy” (Three Rivers Press/2005). (25:00)

Thomas Rain Crowe: Twenty-five years ago, writer Thomas Rain Crowe returned home to the mountains of western North Carolina. He lived on land borrowed from a friend and survived for four years on only what he could grow and barter. Host Melinda Penkava talks with Thomas Rain Crowe about his experiences with solitude and survival. His book is called “Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods” (University of Georgia Press/2005). (22:00)

Mansbach
Crowe

School (De)Consolidation

Monday, May 16th, 2005

What’s best for North Carolina’s school children — bigger, consolidated districts or smaller, locally controlled districts? As some citizens push to break up or deconsolidate the Charlotte Mecklenburg school system, others work to combine or consolidate the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Orange County systems. Who wins and who loses? Is this about budgets or test scores? Host Rusty Jacobs speaks with Representative John Rhodes of Mecklenburg County, Lindalyn Kakadelis, director of the North Carolina Educational Alliance, John Poteat of Public School Forum, and Kathy Christie, vice president of research and information of the Education Commission of the States about the ideal size of school districts. Listener Call-In. (59:00)

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Commencement

Friday, May 13th, 2005

North Carolina colleges and universities are graduating seniors… and students across the state are hearing commencement speeches. Host Melinda Penkava leads a conversation about the art, and business, of the commencement speech. While some schools reach –and pay– for the biggest names, others select speakers from among faculty or alums. We’ll hear past speeches from North Carolina colleges and universities, and look at the speaker selection process. Guests include: Ted Fiske, former education editor at the New York Times and author of “The Fiske Guide To Getting Into The Right College”; Steve Allred, executive associate provost, UNC-Chapel Hill; and Rob Painter, graduating senior at Duke University. Listener Call-In. (59:00)

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Family Violence/Spring Wings

Thursday, May 12th, 2005

Family Violence: Last year, North Carolina lawmakers passed into law House Bill 1354. Hailed as monumental domestic violence legislation, the law addressed everything from issues of training for law enforcement to providing legal representation for victims. Five months into the new law, state legislators have introduced another: The Domestic Violence Victims’ Empowerment Act, which would help victims of domestic violence obtain temporary permits for concealed handguns. Host Melinda Penkava leads a discussion about family violence in North Carolina — what’s being done to protect the victims, to prevent more violence from occuring, and is it enough? Guests include Leslie Starsoneck of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina and Dr. Desmond Runyan, medical director of the Center for Child and Family Health. Listener Call-In. (40:00)

Spring Wings: Breeding birds, blooming orchids and butterflies… We look ahead to a weekend of activities at the Spring Wings festival in Eastern North Carolina. Host Melinda Penkava talks with Ann Marie Salewski about the Owl Prowl and night tour planned on the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. (7:30)

Family Violence
Spring Wings

BRAC

Wednesday, May 11th, 2005

The Pentagon is set to release its list of recommended base closures anytime between now and May 16. North Carolina towns such as Havelock, Goldsboro and Fayetteville depend heavily on military bases for jobs and spending. According to one state-commissioned study, the military generates $18 billion a year for North Carolina’s economy. As the state awaits word on BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) host Melinda Penkava leads a discussion about the possible effects of base closures. Guests include: North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Beverly Purdue; and David Sorenson, author of “Shutting Down the Cold War: The Politics of Military Base Closures”. Listener Call-In. (59:00)

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