Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms

LWC Studios

This 14-part original series from LWC Studios explores how reparations should be paid and to whom. For all episodes, transcripts and supplemental materials visit StillPayingThePricePod.com. This series was funded by a grant from The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Cover art: "Gemini" by Fitgi Saint-Louis read less

Our Editor's Take

The Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms podcast documents the passionate fight to right the wrongs of history. It starts with the belief that compensation is due to the descendants of enslaved Africans. There is no debate about whether there should be a payment or not. This fourteen-part series asks how the repayment should occur and to whom.

The show's award-winning creators, LWC Studios, produce content about social justice. Each episode shares a story that reveals the impact of slavery on Black Americans. There are discussions on everything from farming to music on the podcast.

The first podcast episode sets the tone for an intriguing series. Arthur Davis died in 1950, but the story of his death has never been straightforward. His grandson, Reginald Crawford, shares his investigations with award-winning journalist Pamela Kirkland. Pamela describes the often un-documented yet brutal history of Abbeville, Alabama. Reginald explains claims that Arthur had died by suicide. These opinions were suspicious, as he had his hands tied behind his back when he died. Reginald's search for answers stemmed from a desire to have Arthur's story remembered. It's a fascinating tale of generational pain and forgotten memories.

The impact of past harms can have a far-reaching effect across all sectors of society. Another podcast episode explores the healthcare system with founder Chanel Porchia-Albert. She explains how the culture of care for Black mothers hasn't changed despite law changes. Chanel also discusses the contribution Black people have made to medical science. This contribution was an involuntary one that has never received recognition.

Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms calls for overdue reparations. Can America ever atone for the acts committed against enslaved Africans? Listeners will learn about a female scientist left out of the Hidden Figures story. Other stories include a civil rights case and the consequences for young boys growing up. Each episode of this limited-episodes series is compelling.

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Introducing -- Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms

Introducing -- Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms

“Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms” is a 14-part series exploring how reparations should be paid and to whom. Original score by Kojin Tashiro. Cover art: "Gemini" by Fitgi Saint-Louis.For more information, all episodes, and transcripts visit StillPayingThePricePod.com.This series was funded by a grant from The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Episodes

Introducing -- Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms

Introducing -- Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms

“Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms” is a 14-part series exploring how reparations should be paid and to whom. Original score by Kojin Tashiro. Cover art: "Gemini" by Fitgi Saint-Louis.For more information, all episodes, and transcripts visit StillPayingThePricePod.com.This series was funded by a grant from The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

EP 1: A Family’s Silent Burden: The Killing of Arthur Davis

EP 1: A Family’s Silent Burden: The Killing of Arthur Davis

Arthur Davis died on June 30, 1950, but the details surrounding his death raised questions about what really happened to him. His story was buried for years, until his grandson started investigating. Through family oral history, neighbor accounts, and troves of documents, Reginald Crawford was finally able to piece together how his grandfather died. Reported by Pamela Kirkland.

EP 2: The Unfinished Story of Alex Manly’s “The Daily Record”

EP 2: The Unfinished Story of Alex Manly’s “The Daily Record”

Wilmington, North Carolina was once home to a thriving middle class Black population. In 1898, the only successful coup d’état in American history put a stop to it. Alex Manly was part of that elite Black community. An editorial he printed in his newspaper, The Daily Record, was the catalyst for the violence, and Manly was run out of town by a group of white supremacists. In this episode, Manly’s grandson, Dr. Lewin Manly talks about what his family is owed for the loss of The Record and how the Manly family could be made whole again. Reported by Pamela Kirkland.

EP 3: A Death Ruled “Justifiable”: The Killing of John Wesley Wilder

EP 3: A Death Ruled “Justifiable”: The Killing of John Wesley Wilder

In July 1965, police officer Edward Nugent encountered John Wesley Wilder, a Black man, outside a cafe in Ruston, Louisiana. Nugent shot Wilder five times, resulting in his death. Local authorities deemed it a justifiable homicide, and subsequent investigations in 1965 did not bring justice or closure to Wilder's family. In 2008, legislation introduced by Congressman John Lewis, gave hope to families seeking justice for racially motivated homicides prior to 1970. Nugent, the shooter, is still alive, and new evidence has emerged. Reporter Ben Greenberg investigates whether justice still possible for John Wesley Wilder and his family. Reported by Ben Greenberg.This episode was produced in partnership with the nonprofit newsroom Type Investigations and with support from the Fund for Investigative Journalism.

EP 4: Checks and Royalties: The Unsung Black Roots of American Music

EP 4: Checks and Royalties: The Unsung Black Roots of American Music

This episode explores the historical erasure and appropriation of Black musicians and songwriters. Mark Anthony Neal, Chair of the African & African American Studies Department at Duke University, explains how Black artists were often exploited, denied proper credit, and overshadowed by white artists who covered their songs. It also traces the origins of American music back to the spirituals created by enslaved Africans, the evolution of rhythms in New Orleans, and the influence of genres like jazz, blues, and rock 'n' roll. Despite progress made by labels like Motown, contemporary artists like Kimberly Nichole question whether the industry truly embraces and celebrates Black musicians or simply perpetuates a cycle of erasure and appropriation. Reported by Kojin Tashiro.Follow Mark Anthony Neal on Twitter @NewBlackMan Follow Kimberly Nichole on Twitter @KimNicky.

EP 5: Farming in the U.S. and the Opportunities for Correcting Past Harms

EP 5: Farming in the U.S. and the Opportunities for Correcting Past Harms

John Boyd Jr. is the civil rights leader you’ve never heard of. For decades, he’s been fighting the U.S. government’s discrimination against Black farmers like himself, securing billions for them to keep their lands–and keep the legacy of Black people in agriculture alive. It’s a legacy that traces back to slavery, when Black Americans built the agricultural wealth of the United States.Today, farm workers are predominantly Latino, especially in the West, and are witnesses to their own decades-long history of mobilization for the rights to fair wages and working conditions in the fields. In California, that legacy now includes a booming business of legal cannabis cultivation. This episode explores the throughlines of racism and economic exploitation in agriculture, but also where great opportunity for reconstruction of the industry–and reparations for past harm–can exist, if we know where to look. Reported by Paulina Velasco.Follow John Boyd Jr. on Twitter @JWBoydNBFA.

EP 6: A Black Birth Doula on What Black Mothers Deserve

EP 6: A Black Birth Doula on What Black Mothers Deserve

Chanel Porchia-Albert wants Black mothers to be able to fully center themselves in the joy of childbirth. With Black women facing the highest rate of maternal death, Porchia-Albert explores the issues that have contributed to the abysmal numbers and the reasons behind them. The Founder and Executive Director of Ancient Song Doula services, she discusses the role of birth workers in mitigating healthcare disparities and empowering individuals to make informed choices. Reported by Pamela Kirkland.Follow Chanel on Twitter @ChanelPorchia.

EP 7: Meet Another NASA “Hidden Figure”: Cynthia Vernón, PhD: Mathematician, Microbiologist, and NASA trailblazer

EP 7: Meet Another NASA “Hidden Figure”: Cynthia Vernón, PhD: Mathematician, Microbiologist, and NASA trailblazer

Cynthia Vernón grew up in the segregated South of New Orleans, Louisiana. In the 1960s, after graduating from Xavier University, she applied for a job at NASA’s Data Processing Center in Slidell. She became the first Black employee driving programming for Chrysler’s data engineers. She’d never seen a mainframe computer before, but she studied the manual, just like her colleagues in the Academy Award-winning film, “Hidden Figures.” What’s most astonishing about Vernón’s accomplishment is that her family didn’t know about her trailblazing past until recently. Vernón speaks candidly about her amazing journey and what is owed to those who weren’t afforded the same opportunities. Reported by Juleyka Lantigua.

EP 8: A Father Illustrates “The Talk” and Touches on the Debt Owed to Black Boys

EP 8: A Father Illustrates “The Talk” and Touches on the Debt Owed to Black Boys

Every Black and Brown parent dreads having “the talk” with their children. It is a dreaded right of passage that signals a loss of innocence for their sons in order to protect them from a system that targets them. Darrin Bell is an acclaimed cartoonist, author, and commentator. In his graphic memoir, The Talk, he illustrates his own encounters with racial profiling and discrimination. Bell also gets real about what is owed to Black boys who navigate a world where their lives are constantly at risk. Reported by Juleyka Lantigua.Follow Darrin Bell on Twitter @DarrinBellArt.

EP 9: The Remarkable Journey of Josiah Henson

EP 9: The Remarkable Journey of Josiah Henson

In this episode, Mark Thorne, the Historic Site Manager for the Josiah Henson Museum and Park, explores the life and journey of Reverend Josiah Henson, a remarkable figure in Black history who emerged as one of the great abolitionists of his era. Henson, a contemporary of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, played a significant role in freeing numerous enslaved individuals. Thorne discusses Henson's experiences as an enslaved person on a plantation in Maryland, his struggles to gain freedom, and the challenges he faced along the way. Despite setbacks and betrayals, Henson's unwavering faith and determination led him to fight for his family's freedom all the way to Canada. Reported by Juleyka Lantigua.

EP 10: Mia Anderson's Reflection on Her Ancestor Josiah Henson

EP 10: Mia Anderson's Reflection on Her Ancestor Josiah Henson

Mia Anderson is the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Reverend Josiah Henson. She shares her family's knowledge and admiration for Henson's legacy, which includes helping enslaved individuals escape and establishing the Dawn Settlement, a place where freed Blacks could learn trades and rebuild their lives. She also addresses the controversy surrounding Henson's portrayal in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which misrepresented his story. Anderson highlights the need to correct the false and derogatory usage of the term "Uncle Tom" and emphasizes the true strength, faith, and dedication exhibited by her ancestor. Reported by Juleyka Lantigua.

EP 11: How I Learned My House Was Built on a Former Plantation

EP 11: How I Learned My House Was Built on a Former Plantation

In this episode, series creator and co-editor Juleyka Lantigua, shares a deeply personal and relevant story. While driving through her neighborhood, she notices that street signs have been changed and decides to research the new name, Josiah Henson. She discovers that Josiah Henson was an influential figure in Black history, born into slavery in Maryland, and brought to the plantation that her then home stood on. This realization shakes her to the core as it confronts the tendency to treat slavery as a distant and irrelevant past.

EP 12: The Fight for Eatonville, the First Official Black Town

EP 12: The Fight for Eatonville, the First Official Black Town

Eatonville, Florida was the first Black town in the U.S. to incorporate. Originally thought of as a “test case” to see if Blacks could govern themselves, Eatonville became a model for Black towns that sprung up around the country after the Civil War. The historic legacy of the town now hangs in the balance as development threatens to pave over history. Julian Johnson, founder of 1887 First describes the fight to preserve the town’s rich cultural heritage for future generations and advocating for what is owed to descendants and residents of a town that has long been stifled from reaching its full potential. Reported by Patrice Mosley.You can follow Julian and his group on TikTok @1887First.

EP 13: Is Guaranteed Income a Stepping Stone Towards Reparations?

EP 13: Is Guaranteed Income a Stepping Stone Towards Reparations?

Cities around the country have started piloting guaranteed income programs aimed at addressing income inequality–an issue that disproportionately impacts Black and brown families. In this episode, we explore the policy implications of guaranteed income programs and whether they could function as a bridge to reparations. We hear from Dr. Cheryl Grills, a clinical psychologist and member of California’s Reparations Task Force, Ebony Burroughs, a recipient of a guaranteed income program in Atlanta, Yvette Carnell, president and founder of American Descendents of Slavery (ADOS) Advocacy Foundation, and Afua Atta-Mensah, Chief of Programs for Community Change. Reported by Patrice Mosley.Follow Afua Atta-Mensah on Twitter @AfuaAttaMensah and Yvette Carnell @BreakingBrown.

EP 14: Meeting of the Minds: Josiah Henson, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass in Conversation

EP 14: Meeting of the Minds: Josiah Henson, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass in Conversation

In February 2022, the Josiah Henson Museum and Park partnered with the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Site and the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site to put together a virtual re-enacted first-person conversation between these three historical figures. They discuss early life experiences, how they fought their way to freedom, and their roles in ending slavery—past and present. Re-published with permission from the Josiah Henson Museum and Park. CREDITS: Millicent Sparks as Harriet Tubman; Nathan Richardson as Frederick Douglass and Kelvin Fowler as Josiah Henson; Imani Haynes, Education Program Manager at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park, and moderator of this conversation. Special thanks to Mark Thorne, Josiah Henson Museum and Park Site Manager.

Introducing: 100 Latina Birthdays

Introducing: 100 Latina Birthdays

The health and wellness of Latinas is crucial to the health and wellbeing of the U.S. economy. In 100 Latina Birthdays, an original documentary series from Peabody-nominated LWC Studios, reporters in Chicago investigate the health and lifetime outcomes of Latinas in the United States from birth to age 100. In season 1, the stories that unfold center Latinas during their perinatal journeys, childhood, adolescence, and up until age 20. In episode 1, new parents Wendy Miralda and José Paz are navigating the first year of their daughter Jelyani’s life, in Spanish. Language is key to their connection as a family and as Hondurans living in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood in Waukegan, Illinois. The Paz family never questioned teaching their baby Spanish. But many Latinos in the U.S. grapple with the misconception that doing so could delay their child learning English, or affect their development. There’s also the stigma Latinos face when they don’t teach their children Spanish. Reporter Andrea Flores dives into the research on infant brain development that supports bilingualism, and tackles the harmful misconceptions that divide U.S. Latinos along language lines. For more information, all episodes, and transcripts visit us at 100latinabirthdays.com. Follow us on social media @100latinabirthdays.