Black Voices on the Hill

Ms. Angela Rye on Action Items in Black America + Young People: “I’m following the young people…Why are movements often led by college students? They have the luxury and privilege of not being bought yet.” Listen in as political strategist, communicator, lawyer, and ESPN Correspondent talks with host, Daniel James II, about being a CNN political analyst at the height of the fake news era, and how...

Adigun on His Cancer Survival: “That entire period was definitely a challenging period for me…the thing I held onto was throughout all of it…I was optimistic. There was light somewhere in [that battle].” Listen in as Adigun Olusola, a Cornell engineering student discusses with Daniel James II, about his assessments on the Baltimore Bridge collapse, its impact, his aspirations toward engineering co...

Ashley Acosta on the origins of her legal passion: “I’ve know I wanted to be a lawyer since I was like 6 years old…I have always been passionate about making a difference, and I knew wanted to do that in the legal world…especially coming from a low-income, immigrant background.” Listen to Ashley, a recent Cornell alum, chat with Daniel James II about her Afro-Latina roots, her New York upbringing,...

Darius Scott on why he advocates for neurological healthcare: “There is a health disparity in terms of neurologic healthcare access for black and hispanic people...it is a big part of what I want to do in my career to advocate and increase the utilization of neurologic resources and care so it’s more accessible and affordable for lower-income communities.” Listen in as Darius and Daniel James II d...

Nathan Eyasu on why the Caleb Foundation is important to him: “When you really think about it, these kids are no different from me and you. They were born into a situation that they cannot control and the only difference between me and them is luck. How fair is it for me to be placed in the US, see this, and go back to my home and just not do anything about it?” Join your new co-host Erica Yirenky...

Jeremy Gouraige on his skills he utilized during small business pro bono consulting: "Research and analytical skills along with communication because it's us providing our work to them, so the better of a communicator you are, the more effective your advice is going to be because your clients are going to be able to understand you more." Listen to Jeremy Gouraige speak with Daniel James II about h...

Tony on Under-Represented Minorities in Computing at Cornell (URMC): “It was a great place to be around other black and Latinx people like me doing what I wanted to do and seeing that they are able to achieve these massive goals with companies with massive names like Google and Facebook.” Listen to Tony chat with Daniel James II about his and his family’s love of music, his mother’s immigration st...

Yasmin on mental health stigmas: “As black students and as black women, we’re taught that we need to be better than our white counterparts. We need to be resilient and strong. We need to be everything they are as far as grades, AND some. We can never show any signs of weakness. And I think that’s where that stigma comes along with mental health, and I think the first step is a willingness to speak...

“That’s what ultimately drives my passion… wanting to create change me, for the people around me, and for the people I care about.” Listen to Lassan’s conversation with Daniel James II about being from Mali, growing up Harlem and understanding its place as a black cultural center, his experience between public schools and a charter school, education as a chance to nurture people and their passions...

“Fast forward to George Floyd, where the officers did nothing . And people said, ‘wait a minute, wasn’t an officer fired for doing something ?’ …Now, they have 2020 vision.” Cariol Horne was a police officer in Buffalo in 2006 when she witnessed a fellow police officer attacking a handcuffed black man, and she was fired for intervening. The firing was reversed in 2020 and the governor issued a for...

Where did Richmond discover his love for fashion? "I think part of being African, at least with my parents, is presenting yourself to the best of your abilities. From a young age I was always well-dressed, wearing my little suit, little ties, things like that. I think people were gassing my head up!" Richmond Addae is a junior in the ILR School chatting with Daniel James II about self-care shoppin...

“Sometimes students ask me what was Malcolm’s biggest accomplishment… Malcolm’s biggest accomplishment was turning negroes into black people. There’s no legislation— he burrowed into your soul and your psyche and gave you a reason to live.” Dr. Peniel Joseph is a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and you may be familiar with his analysis of race relations with Don Lemon on CNN. Liste...

What is a brave space? “It’s not protecting you from challenge, but it’s giving the space to be able to overcome challenges and overcome barriers with support, community, affirmation, and feedback.” Cornell Dean of Students Marla Love is working to advocate for an inclusive Cornell student experience. Listen to her conversation with Daniel James II about her path to a career in student affairs, th...

“A lot of people talking about critical theory don’t even know what it is…to be so invested in spreading lies, or trying to shut down the study of black history, or shut down conversations about slavery…unrighteousness will not take us forward. When you have things that have happened in the past, there must be some acknowledgement…” said Dr. Riché Richardson.  This renowned author who has had piec...

“Sometimes I have a hard time saying there should be more [black voices] in the room because I also think more of us should be able to just chill. I know I wouldn’t be who I am today without all of these things that I’ve done, but sometimes I wish I could walk to campus, come back home, watch some TV, make dinner, and go to bed.” Liz Davis-Frost is from Birmingham, Alabama, the daughter of a singl...

“It’s really easy when discussing a case to forget about the impact that it has on people… but I think having those conversations with the black voices in my class brings in context about many disadvantaged communities. I think this has improved everyone’s education.” Niyyah Barber entered Cornell as an ILRie from Texas, and now she is about to graduate from Stanford Law School. Listen to her talk...

“If you have more tools in your toolkit, I feel like meeting someone where they’re at isn’t too much to ask, especially if you know they can’t stretch any further. Just try— that goes a long way. It might not look how you expect it to look, but if someone knows you’re trying, there’s grace to be given.” JeNaye Beavers has not written a self-help book yet, but she might be on her way. Listen to the...

“When people ask me who I am, the first thing I can think of is ‘I am the son of Mercedes and Brian Francis.’ The sacrifices they have made at such a young age [help me] know my ‘why,’ why I wanted to pursue not just criminal law but government in general… I want to take care of people who have been incarcerated because they were forced to take plea bargains because they couldn’t afford to stay in...

“It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized being told I was “pretty for a black girl” wasn’t a compliment the way I thought it was when I was growing up… why can’t I just be pretty? You don’t realize until you get out of that environment [what kind of] impact it can have on you.” Nkili Gause is a scholar hailing from Loris, South Carolina, and is currently a legislative assistant for Rep. Cly...

Khalil on tax-funded magnet schools: "...they give students a huge stratifying advantage for life. I think it’s messed up that because one student can memorize ten history facts and another student can’t, they’re put in these extra rigorous programs… [I think] all learning should be more tailored rather than uniform.” Khalil Greene has a voice to guide a generation. Listen to the first black stude...

“If I would look up extensions or wigs, the first that would come upon in the search would be a white man with a huge afro in a huge 70s costume” said Rumbi concerning what led her to found online beauty supply store, Ethossphere. Listen to this all-new episode as Rumbidzai Mangwende talks to Daniel about her experience as a girl growing up in Baltimore City, coming to Dyson as a transfer student...

Caroline on being a student journalist: “I think the importance behind journalism is making sure a wide range of voices is covered so that…you can get a range of perspectives….because everyone’s truth is different." Caroline Johnson is a senior in the ILR School at Cornell, and a stellar journalist in the making. She serves as senior editor for the Cornell Daily Sun, and co-founded the BIPOC/Relat...

Kareem on Rare Concepts NYC: “I wanted to start something, I wanted to start something of my own. And I think the pandemic was the time… I was like, if I don’t start something now, I’ll never start it.” Kareem Hill is a junior in the Dyson School at Cornell, but he is already an entrepreneur with his own clothing business, Rare Concepts NYC. Listen to his conversation with Daniel James about their...

Welcome to year 2 of Black Voices on the Hill!  “The whole brand of Isaiah E. Scott is birds, art, and culture.” This fall, Cornell has the honor of welcoming the up-and-coming ornithologist Isaiah Scott to the Class of 2025. Listen to his conversation with Daniel James II about his love of wildlife, growing up in Georgia, his parents' support, the disparate impact of climate change on black commu...

“Harvard wasn’t made for people like us— for black people, or for people from the south generally.” Noah Harris is a southern boy from Mississippi, but he's also first black man to be president of Harvard’s undergraduate student body. Listen to his chat with Daniel about mental health and emerging from the pandemic, the endless giving nature of people from Mississippi, the tug of war black people...