Black Voices on the Hill

“Already, being a teenager is rough. Being a black teenager is rough. Being a black teenager in America is rough. Being a black teenager who is low-income in America is rough. I could go on.” This special edition of BVH brings you to Andover Hill with Fredericka Lucas, Emily Ndiokho, Michael Codrington, and Amiri Tulloch. Listen to their conversations with classmate Daniel James II about coming of...

The moment that Colin met jazz: “From the second that I heard the first note of it, I was like, ‘this is the greatest thing ever.’ I wanted to play this music, listen to this music, I want to know more. I was like 8 years old, and it was honestly one of the most significant moments of my life. I was just hooked.” Colin Hancock is a jazz historian and musician, future land-use lawyer with backgroun...

“Being a first-gen student is very lonely if you don’t have other first-gen student [friends]… As much as people want to say, ‘yes I understand your struggle,’ you really don’t understand the first-gen struggle unless you are first-gen.” Self-described Black woman enthusiast and University Student Trustee Selam Woldai joins Daniel James II this week to talk about facing online harassment while on...

Kolby on growing up in Chattanooga, TN and moving to Cornell: “This Cornell bubble… a lot of people don’t understand, don’t realize what’s going on outside of Cornell, outside of this New York area.” ILR Junior, Cornell varsity football player, and YouTuber Kolby McGowan joins Daniel James II this week for a fantastic talk about making the most of covid times, his renewed love of reading, maintain...

“It’s ok to be black and to not be an activist. You can just be black— being black is already hard enough. Sometimes I don’t want to go around telling my story to everyone everyday... I just want to be black and get through the day’s trials. You can just be your best black self.” Alena Reed takes sunshine with her everywhere, even beyond Cornell, to her small fashion clothing business Yellow of th...

“I wanted a place where I could transition into majority white spaces and feel a sense of confidence in myself, so that’s why it was important for me to get into [CBCF]… I could ground my roots, have a network of young Black professionals who I can relate with and think like… and even if I didn’t think like them, I could still find some sort of relation.” Four of Daniel's fellow Congressional Blac...

“I adhere to the basic notion that when the world gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Now, a lot of people will take the lemons in the corner and suck on ‘em.” House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn has represented South Carolina's 6th Congressional District, Daniel's home district, since 1993. Listen to his conversation with Daniel about his stance against defunding the police, his endorsement of Joe B...

The revolution will not be televised, but it might make it to radio.  Cornell and WVBR alum Frank Dawson was part of the Willard Straight Hall takeover and other protests for Black students in the late 60s and early 70s, and now he is an award-winning producer and filmmaker. Listen to his chat with Daniel about growing up in a Manhattan public housing project, being a child of the Civil Rights Mov...

On creating happy music even in the midst of tragedy and racial violence, Paul says, “Our joy is protest.” Paul Russell made $200 on an EP he produced in high school, but only played music as a hobby during his time at Cornell. Now, he's married, living in LA, and producing joyful music. Listen to his conversation with Daniel about remixing music from Hercules , his first gig at a pizza place, res...

“I was born and reared in Marion, South Carolina in 1974. I’m a journalist by trade, and also an educator, and I have a wonderful son named Daniel James II that I absolutely adore.” Daniel, 20 minutes in: “I know you’re a journalist, but I ask the questions here.” Daniel's lovely mother, Angela Crosland joins BVH for the last episode in Women's History month to talk about entering journalism, thei...

How did Tyler begin doing her own hair? "It came out of wanting to switch my hair up often, but not having the means to... So I thought, we’re going to get in a bathrobe, get a comb, some grease, and YouTube and we started there.” Tyler Sturdivant is a Hotelie passionate about event planning, but does not let etiquette or hospitality norms change who she is. She talks to Daniel about hospitality,...

Tyler Correawhite's advice? "Be intentional about what you want to do in this life." ILRies Tyler Correawhite and Tyler Dixon join Daniel James II this week to discuss sexism and racism in the workplace, what Gorilla Glue mishaps say about the unfair beauty standards for Black women, what it really means to "sell out," prioritizing creative solutions over set paths, and more.  Catch Black Voices o...

"I'm resiliently painting my self-portrait." Kambria Lockett, a first-gen senior majoring in sociology, joins Daniel this week to talk about fashion and hair as a language, "checklisting" diversity and inclusion efforts, groupthink, alternative breaks, her faith, and so much more.  Catch Black Voices on the Hill each Friday @2pm on WVBR 93.5 FM.  wvbr.com/blackvoices Instagram: @blackvoicesonthehi...

On starting her blog, Ivy Woman: “I’ve had very strong imposter syndrome since freshman year. It was hard for me to accept that I got into an  Ivy League, that I go to an Ivy League, that I study at an Ivy League— that I’m a black woman at an Ivy League.” Skyla Carmon is a bubbly spirit from Houston with a bright future in clinical psychology. She joins Daniel James II this week to talk about the...

"I know people like to claim that Cornell is a super progressive campus, but Resolution 11 and Resolution 30 really highlighted to people that no, we're not. There are still a lot of people at Cornell that do not want to see black people in a position where they feel comfortable and safe on campus. This is the cost of being black at Cornell."  Cornell Student Assembly Director of Elections Moriah...

“We have an obligation not only to speak truth to power, but to speak hope to the disenfranchised.” Pastor Nathaniel Wright leads Calvary Baptist Church in Ithaca, a spiritual home away from home for many black Cornellians. He joins Daniel this week for a fascinating conversation about the role of church in civil rights movements, political polarization, communities hurt by the pandemic, and racia...

Khary on January 6th: “It’s a moment of cognitive dissonance and denial— it’s condemning rights when they come from black and brown folks over issues of police brutality and oppression. And then this insurrection happens, and on the news I hear the people in power saying that we need unity— where was that [during police brutality protests]?” This week, Daniel and ILRie, athlete, and podcast host K...

Leone on reviving the Caribbean Student Organization: "I'm not tryna be alone on this hill." A Renaissance soul, Cornell track and field athlete Leone Farquharson, joins Daniel this week to talk self-help, Jamaican cooking and culture,  the Caribbean Student Organization, jumps and short sprints, and content creation.  Catch Black Voices on the Hill each Friday @2pm on WVBR 93.5 FM.  wvbr.com/blac...

“Being an athlete, being an entertainer, you speak for people who don’t have a voice. You’re speaking for so many people on the court, but off the court you’re representing yourself, your family, your city, your organization— so many people that, in times like this, kind of rely on you.” NBA G League player and Cornell alum Matt Morgan joins Daniel this week to talk family, playing with heart, rou...

“…I’ve learned how engrained and how deep the wounds have been inflicted on those who are underrepresented in the nation, and this means Black and brown individuals. From now on, I’m going to dedicate myself to dismantling the systems and policies and laws that work to oppress.” Avery Williams is pre-med student and president of the Dauntless Daraka Daad Chapter of the MALlK Fraternity, and he joi...

“I’ve always been more business, entrepreneurial-minded— just a hustler. Beginning in fifth grade, I took a $20 loan from my mom so I could go to the store and buy a pack of fruit snacks that I would resell the next day to my fifth grade buddies. Quickly grew that candy-selling business and repaid my mom.”    BlackGen Capital founder Cheick Camara joins Daniel this week to talk the history of Tuls...

Daniel James II visited with the Narrative for a bonus episode! Keep up with The Narrative's podcasts here .  Catch  Black Voices on the Hill  on air each Friday at 2pm EST on WVBR 93.5 FM, Ithaca's Alternative.  wvbr.com/blackvoices Instagram: @blackvoicesonthehill Music provided by OZSOUND. Channel:  https://goo.gl/qnhQtD.

Catch  Black Voices on the Hill  on air each Friday at 2pm EST on WVBR 93.5 FM, Ithaca's Alternative.  wvbr.com/blackvoices Instagram: @blackvoicesonthehill Music provided by OZSOUND. Channel:  https://goo.gl/qnhQtD.

Catch  Black Voices on the Hill  on air each Friday at 2pm EST on WVBR 93.5 FM, Ithaca's Alternative.  wvbr.com/blackvoices Instagram: @blackvoicesonthehill Music provided by OZSOUND. Channel:  https://goo.gl/qnhQtD.

Future women's rights attorney and advocate Anuli Ononye joins Daniel this week to talk about the meaning of home, majoring in a cultural study, what Kamala Harris means to Black girls, and so much more. Note: Episode was recorded before the election! Daniel and Anuli did not know that Biden & Harris won at the time of recording.  Catch  Black Voices on the Hill  on air each Friday at 2pm EST on W...