NPR: Tell Me More Is A Great Show!
Last year I discovered NPR Radio one day while surfing the internet. I am impressed. NPR has a better in depth analysis of the news then the mainstream USA media outlets. One show that I listen a lot is called “Tell Me More” hosted by Michel Martin.Michel Martin’s show is broadcast from Monday to Friday on NPR Radio. Michel discusses a lot of issues important to the black community but she also focuses on many issues like self help, health, politics, and entertainment.
Let me just be honest in Canada the radio stations generally ignores black Canadians. There is one black radio station in Toronto but it is total garbage. There is no talk show format on that particular radio station and they focus on a very young demographic. There are some university radio stations in Canada that are kind of interesting.
The only time Canadian radio discusses black people is when something negative occurs. What about regular black people that are making a difference in this world? I like “Tell Me More” because the program does focus on regular black people that are working hard to achieve. “Tell Me More” is wonderful program because Michel discusses black achievement. So often in the media the focus on black people is often from a very myopic and racist perspective. Thank goodness for the internet! I am so happy that I found “Tell Me More” because I want to listen about black issues that are important to me.
One of today’s topics on “Tell Me More” was about Oprah and Bob Johnson the former owner of BET. Ms. Martin and her guest Dr. Juliet Walker discuss Senator Barack Obama and the Oprah connection. Dr. Walker talks about the hypocrisy of some female Oprah fans that don’t want Oprah to support Barack Obama. Ms. Walker makes an excellent point nobody makes a big deal about Barbara Streisand supporting Senator Hillary Clinton.
The second guest Alvin Hall talks about money management. The third guest sociologist Bertrice Berry talks about New Years resolutions. The fourth guest Alice Smith is a promising young African American singer. Alice Smith discusses her debut album “For Lovers Dreamers & Me” was released on a major label Epic records. Smith has a kind of folk rock sound she reminds me of a mixture of Janis Joplin, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Tracy Chapman. Smith is definitely not R&B and this is so refreshing. Smith loves rock and roll and country music. Ms. Smith is breaking boundaries about what people think is “black music”.
The question is will the music industry allow Smith to breakthrough the colour barrier? I find it interesting that white singers such as Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, and Robin Thicke are praised for singing R&B music. I have listened to Winehouse, Stone, and Thicke and they are good singers. There seems to be a fascination in society with white people that can sing so called “black music”. However, when black singers such as Alice Smith and Rissi Palmer are crossing music genres and do not sing “R&B” they don’t receive the same kind of media attention. Why is there a double standard? So whites can appropriate black culture and profit off it but when black artists attempt to do the same thing they are scorned? I don’t get it. Also, will the black media give Alice Smith the support she deserves? I thank Michel for giving Alice Smith an opportunity to showcase her music.
I really like “Tell Me More” because the topics are so diverse and Michel just has a very charismatic, engaging personality she just draws listeners in. If you would like to listen to any of the NPR programs just go to NPR website http://www.npr.org
Link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17759813
Gayblackcanada 
Hmmm. Interesting.
I find it interesting that white singers such as Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, and Robin Thicke are praised for singing R&B music. I have listened to Winehouse, Stone, and Thicke and they are good singers. There seems to be a fascination in society with white people that can sing so called “black music”. However, when black singers such as Alice Smith and Rissi Palmer are cross music genres and do not sing “R&B” they don’t receive the same kind of media attention. Why is there a double standard? So whites can appropriate black culture and profit off it but when black artists attempt to do the same thing they are scorned? I don’t get it.
I wonder how this works. You are right. This is true. I do know that black artists who do “white” music, if you will, I think fall through the cracks. This is probably why I’m unfamiliary with Lenny Kravitz’s music. And too, I’ve not made it a point to listen to his music (but I plan to). But he doesn’t fit on black R&B stations (which I don’t really listen to anymore) and I don’t know if the white rock stations play him. The black stations will play Thicke, Stone (great in concert.) but they won’t play black rock bands. They sho ain’t gonna play a black country artist. I think that’s part of the problem. I dont’ listen to “white” radio but I wonder if they play Lenny Kravitz or if the white country stations will play the new black country artist.
There does seem to be a double standard, though.
I was reading an aritcle a while ago and they were talking about Seal. They called him an R&B singer. They did this because he was black. Seal doens’t even do R&B music (does he). I think he’s a “pop” star. They just lump us all together.
I just thought it was so nice that Michel Martin allowed Alice Smith to showcase her music. Smith is very talented and her music is definitely not R&B. I wonder will Alice Smith get many press in the black media though?
You are so right about the struggles black artists have that cross music genres. The problem for Alice Smith and Rissi Palmer is black radio will not play their music. The reason why is black radio has such a myopic view of what is considered “black music.” The advantage white artists such as Robin Thicke, Amy Winehouse, and Robin Thicke, have is they can acquire more demographics. White R&B singers can get on black and white radio. The mainstream white radio stations that aren’t R&B will play Thicke, Stone, and Winehouse, because they are “popular” but they won’t play Alice Smith or Rissi Palmer. I mean where is Rissi Palmer now?
The only “black” artist I can think of that has crossed genres successfully is Tracy Chapman. Chapman’s market is the mainstream market the black radio and black media ignore Tracy Chapman even though she’s been in the music business for twenty years. Lenny Kravitz does once in a while get on BET but the black market isn’t his market either. Ben Harper and Lenny Kravitz are biracial and their main market is the white mainstream market but they are popular non R&B artists.