In Sky Full of Elephants, a year has passed since “The Event,” where, without warning or known cause, every white person stopped what they were doing, walked to the nearest body of water, and drowned themselves. Charlie Brunton is a Black man rebuilding his life after spending years in prison for a crime he was wrongfully accused of. One day, he receives a phone call from a person whom he has never known existed, his biracial daughter, Sidney.

Cebo Campbell’s unforgettable debut novel beckons readers to embrace its beautiful premise of defiance, and imagine a life where whiteness is no longer the background against which Black people are subjected. In this week’s episode, we are joined in conversation with Cebo Campbell to discuss the conception of his remarkable story, and the importance of taking up space while acknowledging one’s right to experience all things wild and free. Sky Full of Elephants is out in paperback on September 16.

In August 2015, James Dukes, known as IMAKEMADBEATS, introduced the world to a groundbreaking movement in Memphis’ burgeoning hip-hop scene when he founded Unapologetic, a music label that has become the blueprint for building community among all types of creatives.

Going against the grain allowed IMAKEMADBEATS to forge a new path in the music industry reminiscent of the Harlem Renaissance. His work and passion pushed him to stretch his artistic bandwidth in places uncharted by a typical music label. From writing a screenplay for an award-winning short film to composing music for the Ballet Memphis company, IMAKEMADBEATS has shown that there is no limit to his vision for the city he calls home. We commemorate 10 years of Unapologetic by revisiting our conversation from 2022 with IMAKEMADBEATS.

Originally Aired: February 2022

Yuri Kochiyama was a revolutionary! The legacy of her life's work as a civil rights activist has been beautifully documented in a children's picture book written by Kai Naima Williams, Harlem-born poet, artist, and Yuri's great-granddaughter. The Bridges Yuri Built: How Yuri Kochiyama Marched Across Movements walks readers through her origin story of becoming one of the country's most important advocators for Asian American rights.

In our interview with Kai, she pinpoints the early beginnings of Kochiyama's life when her family was imprisoned in the Japanese-American Concentration camps during World World II. This horrific moment in America's history set in motion Kochiyama's push to live a life committed to ensuring the freedom of all minorities through social change. We also talk about Kochiyama's friendship with Malcolm X, and how that relationship encouraged her to become a freedom fighter.