Real Black News

On this final episode of Season 7, world-renowned hip-hop historian, educator, and author Toni Blackman breaks down the spiritual history of hip-hop as told in her book, "Wisdom of the Cypher." Weaving in ancient history, religion, and global studies, Toni shares passionate insights from over two decades of organizing cyphers worldwide, through her travels to over 50 countries, where she describes...

Ep. 150 of Real Black News features Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Trymaine Lee discussing his book, A Thousand Ways to Die: The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America  a work that merges memoir with reporting to examine how systemic racism, historical trauma, and gun violence impact Black life. Inspired by his own 38-year-old heart attack, he explores the emotional, physical, and ances...

Ep. 149 of Real Black News, hosted by Raqiyah Mays, features updates on the ICE protests in Minnesota, the shocking arrests of journalists for reporting on these protests, the 100-year anniversary of Black History Month, and an interview with author and former journalist Amy Dubois Barnett, who made history as the first Black woman to helm a mainstream U.S. Magazine. She discusses her debut novel...

On this special, first episode of 2026, psychotherapist Dr. Camille Banks-Lee shares tips on setting morning boundaries, intentions, and why she recommends using AI for therapy.

Episode 147 of Real Black News, hosted by Raqiyah Mays, features legendary hip-hop MC Dana Dane taking a nostalgic trip discussing his career, coming up with Slick Rick, the highs and lows of fame, and eventually pivoting to film and moving to Rwanda. Other topics include good news from Palm Springs, Guinea, Washington, DC, Tulsa, and more of the top 5 Black news stories from around the world. Fol...

Ep. 146 of Real Black News, hosted by Raqiyah Mays, features an intimate discussion with writer and comedian Daheli Hall about her award-winning one-woman show and documentary SPADURA, where she opens up about her struggles with infertility and the courage to publicly share it. News stories this episode highlight Black excellence in NYC, Taiwan, Kenya, and Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Season 7 premiere of Real Black News features Showrunner Selywn Seyfu Hinds, the creator of the Hulu limited series: Washington Black, an epic adventure co-starring Emmy-Winner Sterling K. Brown about a genius boy who escapes slavery to become a globetrotting scientist. Selwyn discusses the modern-day attempts at erasing black history, survivor's remorse of Black creatives, his learning lesson...

Episode 144 pops up for Men's Mental Health Month spotlighting Anti-Violence Ventures, a non-profit dedicated to helping young Black men stop the cycle of violence. Special guests Ajamn Johnson and George Granberry, III break down the group's work with Black teenagers dealing with violence in their homes, communities, and the world. Other topics discussed include the nationwide protests against IC...

Ep. 143 of Real Black News with Raqiyah Mays features 5 empowering Black news stories from South Central LA, Egypt, Philly, The UK, and South Sudan.  In celebration of Women's History Month, lawyer and immigrant rights activist Rebecca Alemayehu joins the podcast to share her work as the first Black attorney on the ground at the US-Mexico border helping Black asylum seekers and children in detenti...

In this first episode (and therapy session) of 2025, psychotherapist Dr. Camille Banks Lee provides critical tips for supporting children, adults, and all affected – physically and emotionally - by the trauma of the LA Wildfires. Other topics discussed: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the ceasefire in Gaza. #MLKDay 

Ep. 141, The Black Friday Episode of Real Black News, hosted by Raqiyah Mays, pops up to reclaim the day after Thanksgiving dedicated to shopping and flips it to dedicate it to Black businesses and funding.

Ep. 140 of Real Black News features the New York Times Bestselling author of the sci-fi novel Blood at the Root LaDarrion Williams. Known as the "Black Harry Potter," Blood at the Root hit the NY Times Bestseller list in the Spring of 2024 and stayed as Audible's #1 audiobook for multiple weeks this summer. As he works on the sequel, Williams joins the podcast to discuss the process that led him t...

  Ep.139 marks the Season 6 premiere of Real Black News. Host Raqiyah Mays digs into P. Diddy's legal drama, Suge Knight's reaction, Eric Adams' indictment, Trump voters, and five empowering Black news stories from Wales, Oklahoma, Zanzibar, Washington, DC, and Cote d'Ivoire.

This repost of Episode 82 from May 2020, honors the life of hip hop's legendary voice, the late Fatman Scoop. The two-time Grammy-winning MC, radio personality, and legendary hype man passed on August 30, 2024. In this episode recorded on April 30, 2020, during the Covid-19 quarantine, Scoop reflects on life. He discusses his career, kids, divorce, beating diabetes, working with Mariah, Diddy, Mya...

Episode 137 of Real Black News, hosted by Raqiyah Mays, features a conversation about Kamala Harris' run for president and what we stand to lose if Trump wins the election. Five time Emmy-winning actor Wayne Brady joins the podcast to discuss his new show "Wayne Brady: The Family Remix," coming out as pansexual, mental health in the community, and his fight against what it means to be Black.

Episode 136 of Real Black News, hosted by Raqiyah Mays, posts on June 19, Juneteenth 2024, featuring stories about the first HBCU in California, the Ghanaian genius in the Guinness Book of World Records, Lebron James' Akron school milestone, the Mississippi girl saving the world, and more from the top 5 uplifting Black news stories from around the world with newsmakers from the worlds of entertain...

In this Special Edition bonus episiode of Real Black News, one of Hollywood's hottest up-and-coming directors, Stefon Bristol, discusses his new sci-fi movie "Breathe" starring Jennifer Hudson, Milla Jovovich, Common, Quvenzhané Wallis, and Sam Worthington in theaters April 26. He shares details on his training from Spike Lee, the nuances of working with A-list actors, and tips on manuevering Holl...

On Episode 134 host Raqiyah Mays shares the top five empowering Black news stories from around the world including this episode's picks from Cameroon, Morocco, Washington, DC, Ghana, Newark, NJ, and even Dubai. Plus discussions on Wendy Williams, Black Girls Rock, and more.

Pop-up episode 133 of Real Black News, hosted by Raqiyah Mays, brings uplifting news stories about people of African descent from Ghana, Sweden, Brazil, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Queens, New York. Psychotherapist Camille Banks Lee joins the episode to share three tips for staying empowered and manifesting the positive in 2024 and beyond.

Real Black News returns with host Raqiyah Mays after a year-and-a-half hiatus. The pop-up episode features five empowering Black news stories from around the world. #RealBlackNews

Writer and director Reggie Rock Bythewood drops knowledge and discusses everything from his coming-of-age Apple TV show "Swagger" and dedicating his work in film and TV to spotlighting and uplifting the Black community, to learning from Sidney Poitier, elders like James Earl Jones and Harry Belafonte, telling the story of Emmett Till, working with his wife, director Gina Prince Bythewood, teaching...

Episode 130 of Real Black News ends the year and begins 2022 with tips on manifesting and tapping into the moment with Therapist Camille Banks-Lee who gives guidance on everything from how to deal with anxiety and Intuitive eating to adolescent brains and mental health. This is an inspiring free therapy session. Other good news topics include the doula grants to help Black mamas, Black dads taking...

The new season of Real Black News launches with Ep. 129 and the dynamic power couple behind ABFF (The American Black Film Festival), Jeff & Nicole Friday. Celebrating twenty-five years of lifting Black Hollywood, Jeff & Nicole join Real Black News to discuss the history and success that's landed ABFF in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC, finding talent...

Ep 128 of Real Black News features the top five empowering Black news stories of the week and this week's two guests. The first is writer and director Malcolm Lee who discusses his new mega movie Space Jam:  A New Legacy.  He talks the ins and outs of directing for animation, plus his new journey and lessons in television as he writes and produces his upcoming TV show The Best Man: Final Chapters...

Ep 127 of Real Black News features the top five empowering Black news stories of the week and this week's guests: Entrepreneur, commercial real estate investor, and CEO of The Chicago TREND Corporation, Lyneir Richardson, who discusses his work empowering urban retail development via Black and Brown real estate investors. Balancing his mission while working as a professor at Rutgers Business Schoo...