I SEE U

Convict leasing , a gruesome practice that started in 1867, was highly profitable for states across the South and for the families who owned plantations. It was a time when Sugar Land, Texas was known to carry a network of sugar cane farms and state-sanctioned labor camps after the abolition of slavery. It also wasn’t uncommon for Black men to be arrested for often times bogus or trumped up charge...

Scholars have labeled the  Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921  as one of the most horrific incidents of racial violence in U.S. history. But why has that history remained under wraps for so long? Historian  Dr. Karlos Hill  of the University of Oklahoma; and  Scott Ellsworth , author of “The Ground Breaking,” shed light on the disaster. And with this racial attack as a backdrop, host Eddie Robinson  chat...

As the nation continues to mourn those killed in a violent elementary school shooting , teachers in classrooms across Texas are saying, ‘enough is enough.’ Reports of a teacher shortage continue to dominate local and regional headlines. One Houston-area union leader put it best—as fresh faces of new teachers enter classrooms through the front door, more and more seasoned, veteran educators are sta...

Lou Weaver is a queer, transgender man who grew up in Colorado, but now lives in Houston as a much sought-after speaker for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans community. After his transition from female to a man, Weaver discovered something about himself that shook him to his core: White male privilege! Join I SEE U Host Eddie Robinson for an insightful look at what it really means to be transge...

As we approach another anniversary of Houstonian George Floyd’s death , I SEE U examines company and organizational initiatives that had been triggered once calls for racial justice and global protests erupted two years ago. But are employers today fully committed to these measures of growth? Experts say many companies are simply checking boxes and have no real intentions of undergoing major, mean...

Interdisciplinary scholar and curator Laura Marshall Clark has maintained a love for the arts, a thirst for the humanities, along with a passion for literature and Native American history throughout her life. But what happens when you embrace and infuse religion into those interests? And with religion and spirituality playing such key roles in Native American art , why does she still feel intimida...

Convict leasing , a gruesome practice that started in 1867, was highly profitable for states across the South and for the families who owned plantations. It was a time when Sugar Land, Texas was known to carry a network of sugar cane farms and state-sanctioned labor camps after the abolition of slavery. It also wasn't uncommon for Black men to be arrested for often times bogus or trumped up charge...

Dr. Victoria Massie is a professor of anthropology at Rice University . This fall, she’s introducing students to a new course that explores concepts and theories related to Black women’s lived experiences and how those narratives help shape discussions around race and gender. Interestingly enough, Dr. Massie’s late grandfather, Dr. Samuel Massie , was a renowned chemist who worked as a technician...

Only a few descendants of West African slaves remain on a coastal Georgia portion of land called, Sapelo Island . In the early 1800s, ancestors of the Gullah Geechee community were brought to these barrier islands along the nation’s southeast Atlantic coast to work on plantations. These slaves acquired land on the island – but decades later, that ownership is almost diminished. Many of the residen...

Blacks have historically been portrayed in films as pimps, hustlers, prostitutes, maids, gang-bangers, drug addicts, alcoholics, junkies and crime-ridden thieves. Though filmmakers would describe these roles as simply reflecting life’s realities in technicolor. But were these depictions, subconsciously, impacting the essence of Black creativity, culture and identity for decades to come? Join I SEE...

His father, born into slavery, had become one of the first African American millionaires in the United States. His mother, though devoted to Black civil rights, was a renowned actress and had kept her racial background a secret. And in 1897, Alonzo and Adrienne Herndon had a son – their only child – named Norris Herndon , who would become the second President, inherited by his father, of the histo...

Join us for a special ENCORE presentation of an I SEE U episode featuring Oscar-nominated actress, Aunjanue Ellis . The veteran actor has been working in the film and television industry for three decades and she’s finally receiving recognition from the Academy in the category for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the mother of Venus and Serena Williams in the movie, KING RICHARD – which was...

Acclaimed lyricist, Fat Tony , has played a significant role in shaping Houston’s rap scene with his unique style of music. Raised in the city’s historic Third Ward, he has family roots in Nigeria – a part of the world where emerging singers and songwriters from the region are finding success on American music charts. Consequently, mainstream pop acts have been taking notice and are quickly jumpin...

Singer/songwriter Alex Isley has music in her DNA. Her dad and uncles together make up the legendary group, The Isley Brothers . Her silky, sweet voice blends perfectly with her colorful melodies and infectious productions. But most commercial radio stations steer clear of her music and prefer to rotate more popular, familiar acts. As a result, Alex has had to rely on cable networks, television se...

Richard Antoine White survived the streets of West Baltimore as a young child and later, transformed his life – with the help of a brass instrument, the tuba! His incredible journey from experiencing homelessness to performing at concert halls across the world has inspired him to write his own memoir— “I’m Possible: A Story of Survival, a Tuba, and the Small Miracle of a Big Dream .” I SEE U Host...

Acclaimed actress, Shalita Grant , suffered severe hair damage and was on the verge of baldness while working for years on the CBS television series, NCIS: New Orleans. After leaving the show, Grant says the emotional trauma she experienced was even more depressing as she grappled with a label of being “too difficult to work with.” In this episode, host Eddie Robinson speaks candidly with Tony-nom...

The film, KING RICHARD , directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green , tells the story of how Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams, was determined to transform their lives into tennis legends. Interestingly enough, Green’s father wanted him to become a professional baseball player. What happens when a father’s dreams are shattered? What if Venus and Serena never achieved stardom as cham...

Critics believe independent writers, reporters, producers and content creators with large digital followers will paint the future of journalism . But with (mis)information so readily available via the internet, will media consumers trust those fresh voices? I SEE U host Eddie Robinson questions whether traditional journalism runs the risk of falling prey to an overwhelming arena of YouTubers, vlog...

ENCANTO is Disney’s first-ever Latinx musical . Critics have largely praised the film for its unique approach to storytelling, diversity in characters and original score which infuses a host of Columbian-rhythmic styles and design. But why has it taken Disney Animation some 60 films in to offer up an opportunity for a Latina to co-direct one of its productions? I SEE U Host  Eddie Robinson has a c...

He’s an original member of the legendary Jackson 5 , who churned out a plethora of hits from the mid-‘60s well into the late ‘80s. One of the brothers of the group, Tito Jackson , remains active in the recording industry. The singer/songwriter and guitarist speaks unguarded with I SEE U  host Eddie Robinson about his relationship with the other siblings in the Jackson family , the racism he and hi...

While medical teams question whether the omicron variant marks a  COVID-19 transition from a pandemic stage to an endemic phase , minorities along with a host of communities of color are seeing disproportionately higher rates of mental health problems. Moreover, disparities exist as it relates to accessibility in mental health care services. Join host  Eddie Robinson  for the second part of our se...

Born in Birmingham, England, CW Network’s Supergirl actor/director David Harewood has seen his career flourish here in the United States. While living in the United Kingdom, the ‘Blood Diamond’ actor had been physically restrained by a half dozen police officers , hospitalized, heavily sedated and transferred to a locked ward after suffering from a severe psychotic breakdown . But Harewood admits...

For decades, members of the Black community and other communities of color have been excluded from owning media broadcast properties. Recent data released by the Federal Communications Commission shows that women and minorities are underrepresented in license ownership, particularly in FM commercial radio stations. Will the FCC ramp up policies and legislation to effectively promote diversity of m...

During the Civil Rights Movement , not only did African-Americans fight for equal protection under the law, but White Americans were also risking their lives in the name of social justice. Some were even murdered for participating in marches and protests aimed at ending segregation and racial discrimination. But in today’s political climate and divisiveness, how come more White Americans prefer to...

To be black and southern is to contend with the embedded legacy of racial terror and grapple with the unique and enduring culture created in its shadow. The term “dirty south” can invoke many images connected to southern agrarian life, but hip-hop artists have transformed it into a banner of pride. Dirty South now represents a short cut for understanding the perspectives of creatives who were rais...