September 19, 2025 • 59 mins
This week on the Black Perspective, Misty Jordan sits down with Grammy Award-winning singer Montell Jordan, who opens up about his journey as a prostate cancer survivor.
Esther Dillard speaks with Satori Shakoor, a powerhouse storyteller from Detroit, about her bold new one-woman show, "Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale." Kevin Brown catches up with fashion designer Miguel Wilson to talk about his annual Soul Symphony Weekend, happening September 19–21 in Atlanta.
Teri McCready kicks off a two-part series on Black authors, titled "Reading the Room." This week, she highlights author Darius Myers.
And Doug Davis closes the show with a conversation with Keith Robinson, one of the stars of a hit Black soap opera that’s capturing the attention of households across the country.
Listen now!
Esther Dillard speaks with Satori Shakoor, a powerhouse storyteller from Detroit, about her bold new one-woman show, "Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale." Kevin Brown catches up with fashion designer Miguel Wilson to talk about his annual Soul Symphony Weekend, happening September 19–21 in Atlanta.
Teri McCready kicks off a two-part series on Black authors, titled "Reading the Room." This week, she highlights author Darius Myers.
And Doug Davis closes the show with a conversation with Keith Robinson, one of the stars of a hit Black soap opera that’s capturing the attention of households across the country.
Listen now!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Sunday, September fourteenth, and on today's show, mister Jordan
sits down with Grammy Award winning singer Montell Jordan to
discuss Montell's journey as a prostate cancer survivor. She's a
powerhouse storyteller and a creative force from Detroit with her
new bold one woman show, Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale.
Terry McCready talks to Arthur Darius Miles in a new
(00:22):
series called Reading the Room. Kevin Brown speaks with Miguel
Wilson of Miguel Wilson Collection and his annual Soul Symphony
Weekend September nineteenth to twenty first in Atlanta. And Doug
Davis speaks to one of the stars of the hit
black soap opera that's making a lot of noise in
the households of black women across the country. These stories
and more are coming your way on today's program, Welcome
(00:44):
to the Black Perspective. I'm your host, Mike Island.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Welcome to the Black Perspective, a weekly community affairs program
on the Black Information Network featuring interviews and discussions on
issues important to the black community.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Good Sunday, Everyone, and welcome to the Black perspective. September
is Prostate canmi U Awareness Month. Prostate cancer affects one
in eight men. However, Black men are seventy percent more
likely to be diagnosed and twice as likely to die
from the disease. Zero Prostate Cancer is the nation's leading
prostate cancer organization. They're on a mission to save lives
(01:16):
through awareness, education and support. Misty Jordan sat down with
Grammy Award winning singer Montel Jordan at zero's Blitz the
Barriers event in Atlanta last week to discuss Montel's journey
as a prostate cancer.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Survivors joining me the Black Information Network, we have, mister
Montel Jordan, how are you.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
I'm doing great and I'm with my cousins.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yes, I know right, it's family, so you know it's
gonna be good.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
So it is September, which is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Yes,
and thank you for sharing your story, being brave enough
to share your story. And I want to not talk
to you a little bit more about your journey. So
where did prostate cancer become? Where was your awareness for
the first time? Was it a blood test for feeling sick?
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I never felt sick. To this day, I've never felt sick.
I've never felt anything, and I think that's that is
the savagery of prostate cancer. It's not like you feel
a certain way, you know, maybe going to the restroom
a little more at night or something like that was
maybe an indicator, you know, but I'd naturally thought, oh,
(02:23):
as you get older, you pere at night, you know.
But ultimately having what was seemed like it was an
enlarged prostate, I went in because I get checked yearly,
and so you know, from the time I was about
forty one forty two years old, I just normally would
go and have yearly physicals, which is why I advocate
(02:44):
for early detection, because early detection saves lives. And from
that standpoint, years and years and years went by. I've
been at the to me, the peak of health. And
then last January, my PSA levels had spiked and so
the annal or rectal check was now I've done that
(03:06):
every year for a decade, but that didn't show anything.
It was my PSA level that alerted that there was
something happening with my prostate. So literally I had a
record of for ten years. You know, PSA at three
point one. He is a at three point three, three
point four, three point nine, four point zero, four point two. Like,
(03:30):
it was just these gradual, tiny increases that if you're
below six, nobody raises an eyebrow. And by the time
I had gotten to like five point nine, it was like, okay,
we need to watch this, you know. And then the
next year it went from five point nine to six
point nine, and then right before I opted to have surgery,
it went from six point nine to seven point nine.
(03:51):
And so it was just like increasing extremely pass which
is why we chose the radical prosetectomy surgery for our
for our procedure.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
So the numbers gradually.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
My father, my grandfather died of prostate cancer, and so
my father talks to me about his numbers. It's a
conversation he and I have often. Yeah, And so he
talks about the numbers going from two when he was,
you know, younger, to then five, and so the numbers,
according to him, kind of go up a little bit
gradually anyway, with age. Yes, And so at what point
(04:23):
for you were you thinking maybe this might be a
little bit more.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Yeah, Well, if I'm honest, you know, anything that was
beneath six, it was never on my radar. It was
always if you keep you know, it's almost like if
when it comes to diabetes, like there's this place where
you're pre diabetic. And I can remember there was a
time was like, hey, you your levels are getting up
(04:49):
there you're pre diabetic. I want okay, let me make
my changes, and so I ran more. It decreased salt
intake director Gallon of why I did all that, and
it's like, oh, everything leveled out, everything was was great again.
So I went from being pre diabetic to not pre diabetic,
and so that was fantastic. And so I never thought
about prostate cancer. I never thought, oh I had an
(05:09):
uncle that had prostate cancer. Oh I had another uncle
that had prostate cancer. Oh I had a grandmother that
had a doublemoseectomy. Like, it doesn't register until it applies
to you. And that's the biggest challenge about people going
to get check and early detection and screening and all
of that, because until it happens to you, it's like
it's not happening. And that's not how cancer functions. That's
(05:32):
not what cancer does. Cancer does what it does when
you don't know what it's doing. And that's why it is.
It can be as destructive because of people not being
aware or even feeling a certain way that gives awe, hey,
something isn't right. A lot of times there is no
indicator that something is wrong.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
So talk to me about the day that you walked
into the doctor's office. They sat you down and said, Montel,
you have cancer. Yeah, what was that day?
Speaker 6 (06:05):
Like?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
What were your feelings, what were your thoughts? Were you alone?
Speaker 7 (06:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (06:09):
I was alone when I went. My wife is normally
with me, you know, and all of the stuff that
we do and that we do together as a family.
But this was a routine check, like I would go
get checked regularly anyway. And so when I went from
getting checked to okay, let's now go and see your
urologists and get checked. There when they did the scans
(06:31):
and things like that to get some scans for it,
that's when they saw what they saw. And so when
I sat down with him, and it was great bedside manner.
It doesn't matter how the person says it, you know,
in the beautiful sweet tone or with violence, like, it
doesn't matter when you hear that, you know it was
an it was hey, So you know, we saw some things.
(06:56):
It's cancer. We pretty much have determined that's what it is,
and here's what it is. But it's very early on
and everything else with wan mom my mom after that,
because you know, when he said it's cancer, I'm like this, yeah,
this is not possible. And immediately I'm like, how do
I tell my wife this?
Speaker 8 (07:14):
You know?
Speaker 4 (07:15):
And that was probably the first thing that I was
processing because the challenge I think with cancer, especially if
you have people that you love that are close to you,
is if I didn't tell anybody or just chose to
try and keep it, and you know, you feel like
(07:36):
when you share it, it's almost like you are giving
it to someone else. And so I didn't want. I
didn't need my wife to carry cancer. I needed my
wife to help carry me. And that's the challenge that
when I tell my family, when I tell my kids,
when I tell my twelve year old, I don't tell
(07:57):
them with the desire for them to carry cancer as well.
I tell them with the desire I need you to
carry dad through the process. And when you I think
us making that distinction allows our family to better navigate.
You know what we can handle, what God handles, and
then you know how we process it. You know along
(08:19):
the journey.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Okay, talk to me about steps to move forward. So
this is preventable. Yeah, prostate cancer is not a death sentence.
Talk to me about that.
Speaker 9 (08:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
When prostate cancers detected early, it's ninety nine percent treatable. Treatable.
For me, it was early detection. It helped save my life.
And then continued going to get checks and regular scheduled
screenings and checkups or whatever showed that there was actually
something there nine months afterwards that we need to go
(08:54):
back and we need to take care of that. And
so the journey for me continue. Use but September his
Prostate cancer Awareness Month. Zero Cancer is looking to help
save one hundred thousand men's lives over the next ten
years by I think twenty thirty five. I want to
try and exponentially challenge that number and make it a
(09:16):
bigger number, because I think I have a voice, have
some influence, and it's important to help save the lives
of men who if they say one in every eight
men will be detected with prostate in their lifetime, and
seventy percent of that is our African American men and
black men are twice as likely to die from it.
(09:36):
I'm trying to preserve family legacy and help us take
care of our family legacies better, and early detection is
definitely a key to doing that.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Montel Jordan, thank you so much for joining the Black
Information Network. I appreciate you continue success and we're wishing
you the best health.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Thank you, cousin, Thank you, Mistery. Montel Jordan is currently
making a documentary about his battle with prostate cancer as
he balances his career and family life. If you are
someone you know would like more information about getting tested
for prostate cancer, or you want to get involved with
Zero's mission, visit their website at zero cancer dot org.
(10:14):
You can follow Misty and submit story ideas to her
on Instagram at Misty Jradio. Terry mccreedy is here with
her new series Reading the Room, where she talks to authors.
Speaker 10 (10:25):
This week, she talks to.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Author Darius Myers about his Black Camelot series.
Speaker 11 (10:29):
Reading the Room on the Black Information Network and I
am especially excited to be speaking with the author of
the Black Camelot book series today. Darius Myers, thanks for
joining us today, Darius.
Speaker 8 (10:42):
Terry, thank you so much for having me. This is
a real privilege in the honor I'm glad to be here.
Speaker 12 (10:47):
It is a pleasure, Darius.
Speaker 11 (10:49):
And so just to offer a bit of a preamble
to this absolutely stunning, consumptuous collection of yours.
Speaker 12 (10:57):
The series centers around Lens.
Speaker 11 (11:00):
There's intrigue and power, It's New York edginess. It's pretty
a little something for everybody. Obviously, there's racism all dripping
in suspense. So tell us more about what exactly sparked
your inspiration and take us through the storytelling and writing process.
Speaker 8 (11:20):
Sure, sure, Well, Like as I've come to know, most
writers have ideas, they just don't have that moment, and
I've had several moments. I am a representative of the
(11:42):
characters that I've created in this series. And one of
the themes that I started with that really kind of led
to the to the entire series was me being an executive,
a media executive on the sales and marketing side at
(12:03):
Tier one best in class, world class companies. And I
was always the only black person and quite honestly the
only person of color in the room. And so at
(12:25):
one point I decided I was running a really huge
piece of business or categories of business at Gannett USA. Today,
Superstar blah blah blah. But it was a burnout job,
and I decided that I was going to just walk away.
(12:47):
But I was a journalism major, and I always fancied
myself as a writer who just kind of sold out
to be a businessman. And so as a law I
decided to apply two top three or four business schools
(13:11):
and if I would get into one, I would I would,
I would just ponder it and see. And so I
ended up getting accepted to the Kellogg School at Northwestern,
which is the number one marketing MBA program in the world,
(13:33):
and at that time was ranked and it's always been
a top five school, but it was ranked number one
or forever for about six seven years straight down. I
know you did this at a lot, but you can.
Speaker 11 (13:49):
First of all, I have to say, Darius, I love
how you invoked the plan B business man.
Speaker 8 (13:57):
Options down so as I did me because they knew
what I was doing. All to me was the publisher topics.
He said, I know what you're doing. I know you'll
leave for a while, but you got to come back
to work somewhere, so give us some consideration. And so
I did. And when I was coming back to interview
(14:21):
for jobs, or what role I would take. I had
eventually ended up working at Fortune and running a marketing team.
I had to come back to New York to meet
with this woman at an ad agency to see if
I could help her figure out stuff and essentially be
(14:45):
the liaison between Time Ink and her and Sports Illustrated
was a Time Warner property and Fortune was a Time
Warner property. Well, Terry, the woman made me wait five
out wait five hours to meet with her, and and honestly,
(15:07):
I was, I was, I was. I was like, you know, Darius,
you've been doing this for a while. You know what
you're doing. The reason that you're sitting here waiting for
this woman and Time Warners has been recruiting you for
(15:28):
two years. Essentially my entire time in business school is
because you got a decent name, and so I, you know,
I was like, I don't think this is where my
future lives. So that was thirty years ago, and at
(15:48):
that time, I just well, I was flying back on
a plane and those characters in the first book in
the series, the Publishers, the level that we're birthed on
a playing rock. I put the book down, I put
it down. I was just gradually or slowly writing it,
(16:10):
and I was busy just managing my career. Here I
can talk more and more and more about it, but
I only be too long winded. I know you have
listeners here, so I don't only be too long winded
with that explanation.
Speaker 11 (16:27):
Your books, your book Sterious, are certainly progressive in the stories,
in the story making lacks at the centerpiece of this narrative,
and uniquely right now, it seems like, at least in
recent pop culture, we're seeing more of that idea. And
I look at as an example, Ralph Laurence Okluffs. I
(16:48):
don't know if you saw that fashion spread last season
that featured the prominence and wealth and black elegance of
these families in the Inkwell, so I felt like this
was an insightful vignette of black American life. It's contemporary
America that we just don't see enough, nearly enough in
(17:09):
the spotlight, if at all. And so your books, to
me are kind of an extension of that where people
are looking at, hey, wow, there are black people like
this in America owning media empires as opposed to being
you know, the exception. Now it's more like the rule.
Speaker 8 (17:28):
You know, I wanted to bring attention to those kinds
of characters and those kinds of humans, because we are
there and they are there. But I didn't want it
to be done and to amplify and over the top
(17:53):
way this eliteness that escapes and the opportunity that escapes
a lot of people who look like us, because navigating
through these landmines are are very very very difficult. And
(18:18):
as an example of such, or as representative of such,
you can see just how few people make it to
you know, the C suite, right and and it very
much looks like a pyramid. In any industry, there are
a lot of people who may get entry level, mid
(18:39):
level management roles and as they as you move to
the top levels, it gets it gets harder and harder.
So I really wanted my characters to to to focus
on their accountability and responsibility of such. So, for example,
(19:00):
in my second in the second novel Black Camelots Dawn,
where they were they they are named got Them's Black Camelots?
Speaker 12 (19:12):
Are you talking about Madam hot Temper Darius.
Speaker 8 (19:15):
Madam hot Temper. Madam Hot Temper is is my girl,
But no, it's not her, It's it's uh because she's
she's an interesting one. She she comes back, she comes
back to to to got them after after serving a
jail sentence because because her husband was a bit of
(19:40):
a cat, uh, and so she catches him prowling in
a place that he wasn't supposed to be and and
so so she ends up going away upstate as as
we would say in most places, uh, for some confinement
for a few years. But but she comes back and
(20:04):
her true character and her and her warm and pleasant
and dear personality is revealed. But she's a beauty, she's fetching,
she's smart, she's she's as as the young ones would say,
she's all that very much.
Speaker 9 (20:26):
So.
Speaker 8 (20:27):
But but but in the in the second book, they
convince the head of the Harris Simmons media company to
start a living will to support black colleges and black causes.
And so that's their life's work, right, That's supposed to
be their responsibility. It's going out and changing the world.
(20:52):
So these are really mindful characters who know what they're
supposed to do, now, you know.
Speaker 9 (21:04):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (21:04):
And and this would not be a spoiler alert because
I like this part of the works when they are
also made members of and this is fiction, right, so
you know, getting beyond sort of like the the you know,
(21:24):
the ink Well stories or the sag Harbor pieces of
of you know, black exceptionalism and elitness. This is fiction, right,
so you know, the moment they are named white black Camelots,
white supremacists say there's no such thing as black royalty,
(21:45):
and they set their mind, and they come from all over.
It's it's a call to action by white supremacist groups
to end the era of Black Camelot. So they come
to got them set on the demise of Donald Alexander,
Kwame Mills and Samantha Rivers, the three black Camelot people.
(22:08):
And but the black Camelots have a pre protector and
he admissed them as the first three people of color
into the world's most powerful secret society strength and of go.
Speaker 12 (22:27):
Ahead, no, no, go ahead, go ahead, finish your thought.
Speaker 8 (22:32):
So so they are admitted into the world's most secret,
powerful secret society that protects them against the attacks of
of of their you know, aggressives, their attackers.
Speaker 11 (22:43):
I feel like with the white supremacists parachuting in to
cause trouble, that piece feels very non fiction y for fiction.
Speaker 8 (22:58):
Well I'm in fiction, but we are inspired by by
what we see, right, So yes, yes, and I thank
you for saying that. I think that that's a very
relevant contrast of truth, you know, as we as we
(23:22):
see it, as we understand it, and as we process it.
So thank you for.
Speaker 12 (23:27):
That, of course.
Speaker 11 (23:28):
And on that note, just to have a little bit
of fun, I wondered, and all of it's in all
of their complexities with your characters, you know, the Dawns,
the Madam hot Tempers, Donald Alexander, Teddy Walker.
Speaker 12 (23:44):
I won't tell anyone, but who really was your favorite character?
Speaker 7 (23:47):
And why?
Speaker 8 (23:48):
Oh you know, listen, listen to listen everyone. Women all
see themselves as as one of the four women of
(24:13):
Black Camelot or key Woman. So there's Carrie Sinclair, who's
a beautiful, beautiful former investment bank account photographer. There's Michelle
Nubonni who who is a kind ofist. It is Daniel
(24:35):
Jackson who is a supermodel, and then there's my Adam
hot Temper, and there are a couple of others, but
those are the kind of the four four. And it's
interesting to see people say most people say that they
are Carrie Sinclair. I'm Carrie Sinclair. You wrote you were
(24:59):
thinking about me when you created Carrie sinclaird I'm like,
what really have the Scooby Boys work? So so yeah,
it's it's Uh. I get that more. I get that
more than than than anything. But all the characters, the
(25:20):
key characters are inspired by people that that I know,
so I have lived, uh and and a close comparable
the life of say Donald and Quan and Kwame Donald.
(25:43):
Alexander is named after my favorite uncle Donald and my
grandfather Alexander. So so I did a little thing like that,
you know, I would name characters after after after people
that were friends. Uh. Aquami Mills is named after my
(26:07):
life time friend, childhood friend, uh Steve Mills, who was
was was a top executive and in the n b
A and and uh president of the New York Knicks
for for a long time. You know. The bankers are
(26:30):
inspired by friends of mine from you know, Morgan Stanley
and and and places like that, and and so so
I pulled from from this this world that that I
was privileged to to to to just be in the
(26:51):
room with for for a long long time. And again uh,
having Chops as a riot and just being cognizant of
where I was. I was creating. I was creating a
bank of memories that that I would just call on
(27:15):
when when when I was in when I was in
you know, when I was writing, and I will tell
you that that when when COVID came around, I had
the first book done, uh before COVID. And and when
(27:38):
when COVID came around, and I was locked on lockdown
just like everyone else, that's you know, I was. I
was in a very very very you know, rapid fire
writing phase where where I just was just churning, churning
these books out, one after another, one after another. And
(28:00):
because and I'm going to talk about the business side
of this for a second, because the world had shut down,
and and bookstores weren't they were closed, and and it
was it was you know, you could you could put
(28:21):
your books on Amazon, but you couldn't really be out
there as a as an independent writer, uh, you know,
doing your thing selling being a huckster. I found myself
with with being okay with that, just turning the workout
(28:44):
and then feeling like I could just turn to my
to to my marketing experience and my brand management experience
and and figure out you know that part that part later, uh,
and That's kind of where I'm at now is telling
(29:05):
the world about the Black Camelots and how we uh
brought this you know, this product suite together.
Speaker 11 (29:17):
Well, Darius, as a singular sensation, as you are in
the publishing world, you know, chief cook.
Speaker 12 (29:23):
And bottle washer, you're doing it all.
Speaker 11 (29:26):
What is it like, you know, doing the writing and
you know, first draft, second draft, as we know, you know,
being a prolific author is nectar of the gods for
a writer. And then you factor in, you know, the
exponential impact leading into the next one, the next book.
(29:46):
How is it creating the art of the cliffhanger? How
do you do that?
Speaker 8 (29:52):
Well, you know, the the the first book.
Speaker 12 (30:00):
Was probably.
Speaker 8 (30:03):
Probably the batcliffhanger, like solving the crime but then leaving
the door open for what's next.
Speaker 11 (30:13):
We've been speaking with Darius Meyer's, author of the Black
Camelot book series. His books are available at Barndonoble dot
com and Bookshop dot org, or by visiting your local
Barndon Noble bookstore. Next week, we'll come back with more
reading the Room right here on the Black Information Network
with author and children's book illustrator Jerry Kraft. I'm Terry McCready.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Thanks, Terry and Darius. Next up, we're diving into a
subject that touches millions of women but often stays hidden
in silence, menopause. And who better to bring that conversation
to the stage than s Tory Shakur. She's a powerhouse
storyteller and creative force from Detroit, Esther Dillard sat down
with her to talk about her bold one woman show,
(30:56):
Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale.
Speaker 13 (31:00):
That conversation, I didn't know what was happening to me.
I didn't recognize myself. I was having heart palpitations, night sweats,
mood swings, hot flashes.
Speaker 6 (31:11):
In this edition of The Color Between the Lines, I'm
joined by the dynamic So Tori Shakour. She's a twenty
seventeen Kresky Literary Arts Fellow, storyteller, artists, and social entrepreneur
who's been breaking creative ground for decades. Her career took
off as a recording artist and one of George Clinton's
brides of Funkenstein, touring with Parliament Funkadelic. Since then, she's
(31:34):
worn many hats. Actor, comedian, television comedy writer, and founder
of the award winning Secret Society of twisted storytellers.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
Now she's taking the.
Speaker 6 (31:44):
Stage with a funny and bold one woman show called
Confessions of a Menopausal fem Fatale, bringing humor, honesty, and
storytelling brilliance to a topic women are finally speaking openly
about menopause.
Speaker 7 (31:57):
Here's a short climp say, ah.
Speaker 5 (32:02):
Don't know, don't feel like me.
Speaker 14 (32:05):
One minute I'm laughing, the next I'm crying. Cramp so
bad they make me vomit, and I'm a cushion. Cushion
buckets of blood, night sweats and tears. My bit sheets
look like a crime scene. Mama.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
Now that you've got a chance to listen to a
little bit of her shell, let's jump into the conversation.
For those who are just discovering your work, how would
you describe Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale in your
own words?
Speaker 13 (32:35):
Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale is a story about
my twelve year journey through menopause, but it also flashes
back to my childhood when my mother was going through menopause.
It flashes back to when I became a mother and
(32:56):
the challenges motherhood brought me. It looked set me taking
ownership for my life and doing what I wanted to do,
eventually having a purpose and a mission. But it's it's
my personal story, but it's really the fulfillment of a
(33:17):
promise I made to my younger self when I was
forty five and just noticing the first symptoms of perimenopause,
which threw me for a loop. I didn't know what
was happening to me. I didn't recognize myself. I was
having heart palpitations, night sweats, moods, swings, hot flashes, insomnia,
(33:38):
and I just it just you know, you live forty
five years and you think you know who you are,
and then all of a sudden, boom, it's a monkey
wrench is thrown in there, and it's like, really, well, really,
who am I? And so it's basically me taking a
journey through all of the questions of who am I,
through different stages of my life and finally coming to
(34:02):
an understanding because I'm still growing and creating that this
is who I am. I'm who I say I am.
I define myself. I don't take my cues from society
or the prescription society has for me. I don't perform
for different lenses out there, and I don't have to
(34:23):
meet the expectations of those lenses or those things that
people expect of women. But basically it's my stand to
talk about things women don't talk about because we were
trained to have shame around the natural growth, progression, bodily functions,
(34:43):
and biological journey that we are destined to take as women.
And if we live long enough, and are lucky enough
to live long enough, we will enter this stage of
life and we do not have to be afraid of
the symptoms because we have activism around in creating doctors
(35:04):
who know about this. I'm part of the Michigan Women's
Commission here, and the Michigan Women's Commission is something Governor
Gretchen Whitmore and Cheryl Bergman we started. I mean it
started in twenty twenty three. They invited me to come
and speak about menopause at their lunchtime panel, and two
(35:24):
hundred and fifty people showed up. They wanted to talk
about minopause because it was a workplace issue, it was
a DEI issue, and so we started to talk about
it and since then there have been such a surge
of interest that they that I was invited to the
Governor's mansion with halle Berry, and so they had a
panel of researchers, doctors answering questions. And so they're going
(35:48):
across the state of Michigan raising awareness and fundraising to
get legislation that will help women get healthcare and also
to be a demonstrate LEADLeadership in this area so other
states can do the same thing. Because we represent women
in some states of menopause represent the largest demographic in
(36:11):
the United States. And even though my film is has educational,
entertainment and otherwise value, we are not talking about pharmaceuticals
that I leave that to the doctors, and I leave
that to women to demand that from their doctors and
encourage doctors to take on getting more than one hour
(36:36):
training in menopause because we know we're dis managing every
area as a female, their studies aren't done on us,
and if we're women of color, even less it's done.
So I'm just here to advocate, and I'm here as
an activist and I'm here as another woman, and I'm
here because I want to be part of a community
(36:57):
that's aware of what it is that we can be
of support to each other, but more than that, not
be afraid to talk about it. If it ages us,
so we can let our husbands, our significant others, our children,
our co workers, our employees, our employers because we're in
very powerful positions. Look at you, look at the governor,
(37:17):
look at women running for the presidency of the United States,
all in some stage of menopause. So we are here powerfully,
and we might as well get all of those things
under our awareness so that we can be responsible and
can be as and we can be as much as
we can be.
Speaker 15 (37:38):
You talked about silence and shame, and I was really
inspired by how you took in this subject, which often
is associated with silence and shame, and you moved humor
and boldness with storytelling. What inspired you to tackle this
in that way with.
Speaker 13 (38:00):
Humor and boldness. I think it's because I am a
stand up comedian. I do see the world. I do
see funny, and it is funny. If you can, if
you have a sense of humor, you know, and if
you can have that muscle investment in yourself bold you
(38:25):
have to be bold to bust a myth, to break
through taboos, to challenge the world to see you differently,
to say, hey, let's not be silent, let's talk about it.
Speaker 8 (38:38):
What is aging.
Speaker 12 (38:39):
Does it have to.
Speaker 13 (38:40):
Be something that we want to hide or something that
we want to be proud of because we're not our
we're not our mothers, and we're not our grandmothers. I
have no idea how old you are. I could say
you're anywhere between thirty five and fifty. Okay, who knows.
We're still beautiful, we're still relevant. But if we're not perky,
juicy and can pump out babies, then somehow we're sidelined,
(39:04):
not by ourselves but by a society. It says it's
time for you to go to go sideline yourself because
the younger women are more or more relevant, and they're
more important to us. But we are in a unique
position to reach back and tell our daughters and our granddaughters,
this is what's ahead, this is what's can look forward to.
(39:26):
This is who you get to say you, This is
who you get to define yourself as. And so we
need that, we need us, We need every one of
these stages to be to show up who we are
so that we can evolve more quickly.
Speaker 6 (39:43):
I really connected with a lot of the fun parts
of your story, and I'm just wondering when I was
watching it Were there any parts of the journey that
we're especially hard to but necessary, you know, to.
Speaker 12 (39:54):
Share on stage?
Speaker 15 (39:56):
Was there something that you had a difficulty just sharing
with the audience.
Speaker 6 (40:03):
You can hear her answer and the rest of that
interview on the Color Between the Lines podcast on iHeartRadio,
YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
I'm Ester Dillard, thanks to Tori Shakura and Esther Dillard.
Kevin Brown sits down with Miguel Wilson of the mcguil
Wilson Collection as he prepares for his big Soul Symphony Weekend,
which includes a golf and polo event, black tie event,
and more, September nineteenth to twenty first in Atlanta. Kevin,
take it away.
Speaker 10 (40:29):
I'm Kevin Brown on the Black Perspective, and today we're
joined by Miguel Wilson, the creative force behind the Soul
Symphony Weekend, happening in Atlanta, Georgia September nineteenth through the
twenty first. This is one of the biggest weekends in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mister Wilson, thank you for joining us on the Black Perspective.
Speaker 9 (40:47):
How are you, hey, kem Thank you so much for
having me. Man'm excited to be here.
Speaker 10 (40:51):
Yeah, this is an incredible weekend. Before we get into
the specific so let's talk about how people can have
access to these incredible events. You have lined up the
Soul Symphony Golf Outing, which happens on September nineteen, the
Welcome Party also on the nineteenth, the Black Tie Soul
Symphony on the twentieth, and the Atlanta Polo Party September
(41:13):
twenty first. How do we access tickets for these events?
Speaker 16 (41:16):
An easy way to do it would be to go
to my Instagram page Miguel Wilson Collection, and I have
the link for tickets in my bio, or you can
go to Fashion and Polo Classic dot com that takes
there as well.
Speaker 10 (41:30):
You have made an interesting transition from being one of
the top creative folks in the fashion industry to this weekend.
How did you get started with Soul Symphony Weekend?
Speaker 16 (41:43):
So Soul Symphony Weekend is the new addition to my events.
I've been doing the Atlanta Fashion and Polo Classic for
seven years, and I just changed the concept around and
changed the name. This year, eighth year doing it. It's
still with the Polo, still black tied parties. Just came
(42:05):
with a new fresh concept and idea. The idea of
this soul symphony. You know, I thought about like when
Isaac Hayes and Barry White used to perform with these
just behind them. That's always I was always fascinated by that,
So I wanted to kind of recreate a modern day
look on that. So having full venues and having people
(42:27):
dress up and black tie attire. You know, although our
men have to wear white dinner jackets and lays to
wear black counts. So just creates an atmosphere of luxury
and it's just beautiful.
Speaker 10 (42:38):
There's also gourmet food, signature cocktails, live music, and equestrian exhibitions.
How did the polo part of this weekend come together
for you?
Speaker 16 (42:48):
Well, you know, it was a marriage between my passions.
So it started out with Atlanta Fashion and Polo Classic,
where I married polo, which I'm an avid polo player,
and fashion as a fashion designer. So I wanted to
create an event that celebrated both but on a luxury
level and also focused around black culture.
Speaker 9 (43:12):
You know, I thought, I saw, I guess a.
Speaker 16 (43:16):
Problem if you will, where polo is not something that's
common in our culture and most people would never get
the opportunity to be exposed to it.
Speaker 9 (43:25):
So I wanted to create an event.
Speaker 16 (43:28):
To expose it to our culture, but in a way
that they would feel comfortable.
Speaker 9 (43:32):
So with the music, the food.
Speaker 16 (43:35):
The attire and just you know, it's a celebration of
African American culture.
Speaker 9 (43:39):
But with polo.
Speaker 10 (43:41):
How did you get started in polo?
Speaker 16 (43:44):
You know, as a kid, I rode horses and fell
in level horses young. But as an adult I was
always curious about even amongst equestrian sports, polo seemed to
be exclusive or you know something and that wasn't obtainable,
a lot of barriers around it, and just out of curiosity,
(44:07):
you know, I invested in taking some polo lessons one
day and twenty years later, I'm still playing now doing
polo events. One of the other reasons why I created
the event was to raise money for our foundation, which
as Rytai Olympics. We helped get underprivileged kids from early
our kids into polo, and in twenty nineteen we started
(44:32):
the Morehouse Polo team, which is the first HBCU polo team,
and this year we have two historic occasions for our
polo events. We have the best Academy Polo team which
is the first black high school polo team consist of
all black boys from eleven to fourteen year olds. And
we have a team coming from the UK playing so
(44:55):
international match with them against Europe versus some friends and
I ers in the USA.
Speaker 9 (45:02):
Wow.
Speaker 10 (45:02):
Although it seems like a great event geared towards adults,
the underlying reason that all of this is happening is
that that benefits the children, and that's a great thing.
Once again, we are speaking with Miguel Wilson and this
big Soul Symphony Weekend happens in Atlanta, Georgia from the
nineteenth to the twenty first of September, in which the
(45:25):
Soul Symphony, golf outing, the welcome party, the black Tie
Soul Symphony which happens on the twentieth, and then the
Atlanta Polo Party happens on September twenty first. All of
the information is available at the website Miguel Wilson Collection.
Talk about the history of polo and the attire that
(45:45):
people could expect to see all around them when they
attend the polo match.
Speaker 9 (45:48):
So Oh Weekend, I have specific attire.
Speaker 16 (45:53):
This Soul Symphony is part of the Black Tie Experience
collection I've created, and it's all around creating these black
tie events. But all the men must wear white dinner
jackets and the ladies wear black counts, and you'd be surprised,
I think, you know, you think that just having everyone
wear white dinner jackets would be limiting, but you get
(46:16):
so much creativity and you get to see so many
people dressed in uh even inspired uh formal wear.
Speaker 9 (46:24):
It's just amazing to see.
Speaker 16 (46:25):
But it's also just a beautiful sight when you see
the esthetically the venue as well as.
Speaker 9 (46:30):
The people dressed beautifully like them.
Speaker 16 (46:33):
Sunday we have the Polo Match and that as a
derby style party, so you know, typically guys gonna wear
linen or seersucker suits with hats, Ladies that wear you know,
sun dresses and fascinator hats and things of that nature.
Speaker 9 (46:50):
So it's definitely a trust affair the whole Again.
Speaker 10 (46:55):
We're talking about the Soul Symphony weekend that's happening in Atlanta,
Georgia September nightnineteenth through the twenty first for the Soul Symphony,
golf outing, the welcome party, the black tie Soul Symphony,
and the Atlanta Polo Party. Sounds like an incredible event
and the fact that you are able to pull this
off for seven years to benefit kids. Miguel Wilson. Yeah,
(47:19):
and I'm sure you get a kick out of us
seeing these young kids on these horses.
Speaker 16 (47:23):
You know, that's what makes it all worthwhile. I mean, today,
when I finished this, I need to go practice. I'm
seeing practice again today and just seeing these kids actually
do it. They come from, you know, a place where
horses and polo is not a part of their life
or anywhere around them. So this is definitely something through
the foundation and only the found that they would even
(47:45):
be able to have the opportunity, and also the sacrifice
they make to do it is enormous.
Speaker 9 (47:51):
You know, the.
Speaker 16 (47:52):
Polo fields are over an hour away and the parents
must you know, probably drive them by hour and a
half practice. Then they spent another two hours there and
then another a half back, so you figure that's probably
about four hours five hours of time that they have
to commit to to practice at least once a week.
(48:13):
So it's not an easy thing for them, but they
love it and the parents are supportives, and that's what
makes all the difference.
Speaker 10 (48:20):
Let's get in trouble here. Who are the best riders
that you're dealing with boys or girls.
Speaker 9 (48:24):
So my high school team is all boys anyway, so
that made it easy. It's easy. Okay, yeah, all boys.
Speaker 16 (48:32):
But unlike most equestrian sports, which are dominated by women,
females pulled one of the few games that you know,
you probably have more men and it's a path that
isn't frequently taken by us, but create opportunities for them
well beyond you know the school years.
Speaker 10 (48:53):
All right, Well, I tried to get you in trouble
in you and you got out of it.
Speaker 9 (48:57):
You're still safe.
Speaker 10 (48:58):
Good luck this weekend. I really appreciate and if you'd
like more information on Soul Symphony Weekend, please go to
the Instagram page mcgil Wilson Collection and you'll find all
the information you need about the Soul Symphony Weekend. I'm
Kevin Brown on the Black Perspective and now Mike Eiland.
Speaker 1 (49:17):
Thanks Kevin and Miguel. For more information about the Soul
Symphony Weekend, go to Fashion and Poloclassic dot com. Doug
Davis speaks to one of the stars of a hit
black soap opera that's making a lot of noise in
the households of black women. Across the country.
Speaker 2 (49:32):
Doug, Hey, thanks Mike. This is Doug Davis with us
today on the show. Is one of the actors from
the highly acclaimed black soap opera Beyond the Gates, seen
by millions of Black Americans every day on CBS White
Americans Too.
Speaker 7 (49:43):
At Paramount Plus.
Speaker 2 (49:44):
Keith Robinson is back with us, who plays doctor Ted Robinson,
and his new R and B single Forever Bay, pays
homage to his character where he's trying to let his
wife know that she's his Forever Bay. Keith Robinson, Welcome
back to the BIM.
Speaker 5 (49:57):
Brother.
Speaker 2 (49:57):
I know we spoke about about a week ago on
BI in News this hour, so thank you for allowing
me to continue this conversation this Sunday. Brother, So I
want to talk about politics a bit with you, as
our brother Mark Morial, CEO and President of the Urban
League States as well as many of us that Black America.
We're in a state of emergency. We are now seeing
the resurgence of targeted bomb threats at HPCUS, even though
(50:20):
the FBI says they were hoaxes. The National Guard troops
sent to black led cities, that's not a hoax. And
of course the rollback of DEI initiatives and the federal
government which has moved down to the private sector. You know,
black unemployment super low. You know Trump trying to erase
our history in America. I mean, you know, the list
just goes on as a black man, a father, and
a celebrity. What are your thoughts on all this?
Speaker 7 (50:41):
Brother?
Speaker 17 (50:41):
I mean, anytime any part of American history is suppressed,
it's unfortunate. And in a black African American culture is
American culture. So I think that all that we I'm
more of a solution based when it comes to those
types of arguments, and I think shows like Beyond the Gates,
and I think us all individually and collectively and actively
(51:03):
promoting ourselves and making it a point to celebrate our
history and pass it down to our seeds is the
best way to counteract any type of suppression that we
may be feeling from the powers that be, because it's
really about us anyway, we got to do it.
Speaker 5 (51:16):
If we don't do it, nobody else will.
Speaker 17 (51:19):
So I'm proud of Beyond the Gates for being a
part of that movement, and I think it just kind
of just gives us a boost and inspires. Hopefully it
will inspire those watching to, you know, make it a
part of their conversation at the dinner table, make it
a part of their conversation in schools, and whenever we
can speak to those who look like us, who are
(51:39):
younger than us, that are coming through, to give them
a point of reference.
Speaker 5 (51:42):
I think it's our duty of I mean, I think
we got to do it. One by one. Conversations like
this I think are just as important.
Speaker 7 (51:49):
Yes, so.
Speaker 5 (51:51):
I take a blue collar approach.
Speaker 8 (51:52):
To it, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (51:53):
I think we got to do it. They don't talk
about it, and we do.
Speaker 2 (51:56):
That's right, We got that, man, That is so so true.
And you know, back to the industry, you've you know,
obviously seen the shift in the industry right now from
the early two thousand and are there changes in how
black creatives are treated today compared to let's say, twenty
years ago. And then the second part of that question
is are there any black producers writers behind this Beyond
(52:19):
the Gates soap opera?
Speaker 5 (52:20):
Yeah, well, I definitely have seen the shift. I think
it's more welcome.
Speaker 17 (52:24):
I think we have with all the success of successful
projects like The Black Panthers of the World. Beyond the
gates different shows and shows that we are bankable and
we are creative as we all as it's already we
all know.
Speaker 5 (52:37):
I think it has been a shift. I think that we've.
Speaker 17 (52:39):
Come a long way, of course as a long but
I feel like we our show like this might have
had trouble twenty years ago being on the air and
ask for this show. This show is com I mean
front of the camera and back of the camera. Our
crew is predominantly black. Shei the Ducksboro, the creative show
is black. Michael Michelle Van Jon is black.
Speaker 5 (53:00):
So there's a lot.
Speaker 17 (53:01):
I mean, there's cast and crew, grips, camera, people make up.
If you walk in our building, it is predominantly African
American is very multicultural. So I think that's one of
the great things about this production is that it is
those you see in front of the camera and behind
the camera we influence are is a heavy, heavy influence
of African American culture, and I think that's one of
(53:22):
the gifts of the show.
Speaker 2 (53:24):
Right right, So let's talk about your new single, Forever Bay.
You recently called it a time capsule, you know, preserving
a previous relationship from your ex fiance.
Speaker 7 (53:34):
Share with us details about that man.
Speaker 17 (53:36):
No, I wasn't really trying to preserve it that that
relationship is kind of water under the bridge.
Speaker 5 (53:40):
I'm actually have moved on, but the songs.
Speaker 17 (53:42):
Still existed, and I kind of had really even kind
of put it away, kind of like I had no
brilli intention of using it on my new album because
it was so personal. But you know, God has a
different kind of different plan for it, and it kind
of opened up with this new role because this guy
was a strange from his wife and trying to find
a way to win her love back, and what better
(54:03):
way to do that than with so you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (54:06):
Yeah, so let's go ahead and segue into you know,
beyond the Gates Black representation. You know, you're starring in
you know, the first Black Daytimes, you know soap opera
in decades. You know, it's kind of history making. What
does it mean for you to be, you know, part
of a show that centers on black influence, you know,
legacy along with the complexities that go along with it,
(54:27):
per se.
Speaker 5 (54:28):
I mean it means a lot because I mean these types.
Speaker 17 (54:30):
Of images kind of really affected me growing up, seeing
blacks that were doctors and lawyers and had it wasn't
always it wasn't always.
Speaker 5 (54:38):
Good time shout out the good times.
Speaker 17 (54:40):
But I think for someone, for kids that look like me,
that are younger than me, it feels good to be
a part of the movement and part of the inspiration,
part of the good things, the good imagery of African
American culture that we don't always see, especially in daytime.
I think it's a it's groundbreaking in that sense, right
because I remember it had the same I'm hoping.
Speaker 5 (54:59):
It has the same. Fact is it as the Cosby
Show had on us growing up?
Speaker 17 (55:02):
You know, we saw a black doctor, and we saw
a loving family and uh, you know, I don't know
how loving we are, but uh, the affluence and just
just the beautiful shades of of our culture we get
a chance to portray every day. I mean, I'm I'm
all in for it. I'm all for it, but I
think you know, and another another irony you have to
cut you off is uh, Ted's wife on the show
(55:25):
has the same name as my ex wife.
Speaker 5 (55:27):
Uh, the same dynamic as parents.
Speaker 7 (55:31):
Was that intentional?
Speaker 8 (55:33):
No?
Speaker 7 (55:34):
I mean, roll wasn't.
Speaker 17 (55:35):
Even by Maybe maybe it's God's intention, but even I'm
calling this girl's name every day on.
Speaker 8 (55:41):
The show, and that's the same things.
Speaker 17 (55:42):
But my ex fife, I thought, I'm sitting in the
room with the right but I was old kind of bound.
So wow, the same dynamics parents, I have a bit
of strange out we through that process as well.
Speaker 5 (55:55):
So those stakes are.
Speaker 7 (55:56):
Like, okay, gotcha, gotcha.
Speaker 2 (56:00):
So do you feel a responsibility to show up not
just as a recording artist and as an actor, but
it's somewhat of a cultural message, kind of messenger.
Speaker 7 (56:09):
I should say in this moment in time.
Speaker 17 (56:11):
Always, I think anytime you're in front of the camera
as an African American, as a black man.
Speaker 5 (56:17):
You're always being watched and you have a heavy influence.
Speaker 17 (56:19):
So yeah, I feel responsibility to represent those that look
like me and that raise me. So I always carry
that with me, and that inspires me and keeps me
going to make sure I'm always on point whenever I
get opportunities like this to represent to the best of
my ability. So yeah, I think I think any artists
like me would say the same thing.
Speaker 5 (56:38):
Whether you like it or not, there is a responsibility.
Speaker 7 (56:41):
There is a responsibility, that's right. Final question.
Speaker 2 (56:44):
You're hitting the road soon, You're going to some pretty
big cities, Atlanta, La, DC.
Speaker 7 (56:49):
What's the energy like?
Speaker 2 (56:51):
You know, when you connect with your fans face to face,
especially you know Black audience who seen your great you know,
the energy is great.
Speaker 17 (56:57):
I've been doing this about twenty five years, I mean,
from Dream Reals A Fat Hour to Power. I've done
a lot of projects that I've made, some culture March,
but I think this one in particular. Fans feel like
they know you because you're in their home every day, right,
So there's an excitement and there's a familiarity for better
or for worse that you get in the soap world.
Speaker 5 (57:15):
So I think it's been excitement. The energy has been great.
Speaker 17 (57:19):
It's been snowballing as those find out more about it.
I think in every African American household almost there's at
least one person who knows about the show or watches
the show.
Speaker 5 (57:28):
So that's fun.
Speaker 8 (57:29):
Man.
Speaker 17 (57:29):
It's great to do shows and be a part of
projects that are relevant, and this is definitely that. So
I mean we're just doing our part collectively as a
cast and crew to continue to build that excitement so
that we can stay on TV for a little while,
for a long while, that's right. But I mean the exceptions.
The acceptance has been has been overwhelming. It's been great man.
Speaker 7 (57:48):
Man, that's awesome.
Speaker 9 (57:48):
Brother.
Speaker 7 (57:49):
I'm so proud of you, so happy for you man.
Speaker 10 (57:51):
Thank you.
Speaker 7 (57:51):
Any final thoughts.
Speaker 17 (57:53):
Just continue to watch the show, support the show. The
new single Forevery Bay. New single drop today called Foolish Love,
which is all so about my mistress on the show.
A lot of these songs I've written in this new
album are heavily influenced by what I'm playing on TV
right and just you know, like yourself, I think it's
up to us media types to continue to push the
envelope in.
Speaker 5 (58:13):
The right direction.
Speaker 17 (58:14):
So shout out to all the other artists doing the
same thing.
Speaker 7 (58:18):
Keith Robinson, my man.
Speaker 2 (58:20):
He's the actor who stars as Doctor and Ted Robinson
on the hit black soap opera Beyond the Gates. He's
got a new single out too, call Forever Bay, which
is featured on the show, and he's about to drop
a new album as well. But thank you again for
returning to the Black Information Network. We appreciate you sharing
your perspectives. Man, much respect. We'll see you on the
show if you want to stay informed on the issues
(58:41):
that matter most to Black America. Catch the Black Information
Network anytime on the iHeartRadio app or just head to
bionnews dot com for full coverage.
Speaker 7 (58:49):
We're also on social media.
Speaker 2 (58:51):
Follow Black Information Network on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Even
on Blue Sky. You can join the dialogue at black
info Net. I'm Doug Davis from the Black Perspective and
this is the Black Information Network.
Speaker 1 (59:03):
Thanks Doug and Keith, and that's our program for this week.
For more on these stories, listen to the Black Information
Network on the free iHeartRadio app or log onto binnews
dot com for all of the latest news impacting the
black community.
Speaker 7 (59:17):
We would love to hear from.
Speaker 1 (59:18):
You about the Black Perspective. Simply log onto Bion's Talkback
Live feature on the free iHeartRadio app to share your feedback. Also,
be sure to follow us on social media at Black
Information Network and on x and Blue Sky at black
info Net, and make the Black Information Network first on
your car radio or iHeartRadio app pre sets. I'm Mike Island.
Have a great Sunday, and be sure to tune in
(59:39):
next week at this time for another edition of The
Black Perspective Right here on the Black Information Network
It's Sunday, September fourteenth, and on today's show, mister Jordan
sits down with Grammy Award winning singer Montell Jordan to
discuss Montell's journey as a prostate cancer survivor. She's a
powerhouse storyteller and a creative force from Detroit with her
new bold one woman show, Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale.
Terry McCready talks to Arthur Darius Miles in a new
(00:22):
series called Reading the Room. Kevin Brown speaks with Miguel
Wilson of Miguel Wilson Collection and his annual Soul Symphony
Weekend September nineteenth to twenty first in Atlanta. And Doug
Davis speaks to one of the stars of the hit
black soap opera that's making a lot of noise in
the households of black women across the country. These stories
and more are coming your way on today's program, Welcome
(00:44):
to the Black Perspective. I'm your host, Mike Island.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Welcome to the Black Perspective, a weekly community affairs program
on the Black Information Network featuring interviews and discussions on
issues important to the black community.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Good Sunday, Everyone, and welcome to the Black perspective. September
is Prostate canmi U Awareness Month. Prostate cancer affects one
in eight men. However, Black men are seventy percent more
likely to be diagnosed and twice as likely to die
from the disease. Zero Prostate Cancer is the nation's leading
prostate cancer organization. They're on a mission to save lives
(01:16):
through awareness, education and support. Misty Jordan sat down with
Grammy Award winning singer Montel Jordan at zero's Blitz the
Barriers event in Atlanta last week to discuss Montel's journey
as a prostate cancer.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Survivors joining me the Black Information Network, we have, mister
Montel Jordan, how are you.
Speaker 4 (01:35):
I'm doing great and I'm with my cousins.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yes, I know right, it's family, so you know it's
gonna be good.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
So it is September, which is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Yes,
and thank you for sharing your story, being brave enough
to share your story. And I want to not talk
to you a little bit more about your journey. So
where did prostate cancer become? Where was your awareness for
the first time? Was it a blood test for feeling sick?
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I never felt sick. To this day, I've never felt sick.
I've never felt anything, and I think that's that is
the savagery of prostate cancer. It's not like you feel
a certain way, you know, maybe going to the restroom
a little more at night or something like that was
maybe an indicator, you know, but I'd naturally thought, oh,
(02:23):
as you get older, you pere at night, you know.
But ultimately having what was seemed like it was an
enlarged prostate, I went in because I get checked yearly,
and so you know, from the time I was about
forty one forty two years old, I just normally would
go and have yearly physicals, which is why I advocate
(02:44):
for early detection, because early detection saves lives. And from
that standpoint, years and years and years went by. I've
been at the to me, the peak of health. And
then last January, my PSA levels had spiked and so
the annal or rectal check was now I've done that
(03:06):
every year for a decade, but that didn't show anything.
It was my PSA level that alerted that there was
something happening with my prostate. So literally I had a
record of for ten years. You know, PSA at three
point one. He is a at three point three, three
point four, three point nine, four point zero, four point two. Like,
(03:30):
it was just these gradual, tiny increases that if you're
below six, nobody raises an eyebrow. And by the time
I had gotten to like five point nine, it was like, okay,
we need to watch this, you know. And then the
next year it went from five point nine to six
point nine, and then right before I opted to have surgery,
it went from six point nine to seven point nine.
(03:51):
And so it was just like increasing extremely pass which
is why we chose the radical prosetectomy surgery for our
for our procedure.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
So the numbers gradually.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
My father, my grandfather died of prostate cancer, and so
my father talks to me about his numbers. It's a
conversation he and I have often. Yeah, And so he
talks about the numbers going from two when he was,
you know, younger, to then five, and so the numbers,
according to him, kind of go up a little bit
gradually anyway, with age. Yes, And so at what point
(04:23):
for you were you thinking maybe this might be a
little bit more.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Yeah, Well, if I'm honest, you know, anything that was
beneath six, it was never on my radar. It was
always if you keep you know, it's almost like if
when it comes to diabetes, like there's this place where
you're pre diabetic. And I can remember there was a
time was like, hey, you your levels are getting up
(04:49):
there you're pre diabetic. I want okay, let me make
my changes, and so I ran more. It decreased salt
intake director Gallon of why I did all that, and
it's like, oh, everything leveled out, everything was was great again.
So I went from being pre diabetic to not pre diabetic,
and so that was fantastic. And so I never thought
about prostate cancer. I never thought, oh I had an
(05:09):
uncle that had prostate cancer. Oh I had another uncle
that had prostate cancer. Oh I had a grandmother that
had a doublemoseectomy. Like, it doesn't register until it applies
to you. And that's the biggest challenge about people going
to get check and early detection and screening and all
of that, because until it happens to you, it's like
it's not happening. And that's not how cancer functions. That's
(05:32):
not what cancer does. Cancer does what it does when
you don't know what it's doing. And that's why it is.
It can be as destructive because of people not being
aware or even feeling a certain way that gives awe, hey,
something isn't right. A lot of times there is no
indicator that something is wrong.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
So talk to me about the day that you walked
into the doctor's office. They sat you down and said, Montel,
you have cancer. Yeah, what was that day?
Speaker 6 (06:05):
Like?
Speaker 3 (06:05):
What were your feelings, what were your thoughts? Were you alone?
Speaker 7 (06:09):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (06:09):
I was alone when I went. My wife is normally
with me, you know, and all of the stuff that
we do and that we do together as a family.
But this was a routine check, like I would go
get checked regularly anyway. And so when I went from
getting checked to okay, let's now go and see your
urologists and get checked. There when they did the scans
(06:31):
and things like that to get some scans for it,
that's when they saw what they saw. And so when
I sat down with him, and it was great bedside manner.
It doesn't matter how the person says it, you know,
in the beautiful sweet tone or with violence, like, it
doesn't matter when you hear that, you know it was
an it was hey, So you know, we saw some things.
(06:56):
It's cancer. We pretty much have determined that's what it is,
and here's what it is. But it's very early on
and everything else with wan mom my mom after that,
because you know, when he said it's cancer, I'm like this, yeah,
this is not possible. And immediately I'm like, how do
I tell my wife this?
Speaker 8 (07:14):
You know?
Speaker 4 (07:15):
And that was probably the first thing that I was
processing because the challenge I think with cancer, especially if
you have people that you love that are close to you,
is if I didn't tell anybody or just chose to
try and keep it, and you know, you feel like
(07:36):
when you share it, it's almost like you are giving
it to someone else. And so I didn't want. I
didn't need my wife to carry cancer. I needed my
wife to help carry me. And that's the challenge that
when I tell my family, when I tell my kids,
when I tell my twelve year old, I don't tell
(07:57):
them with the desire for them to carry cancer as well.
I tell them with the desire I need you to
carry dad through the process. And when you I think
us making that distinction allows our family to better navigate.
You know what we can handle, what God handles, and
then you know how we process it. You know along
(08:19):
the journey.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Okay, talk to me about steps to move forward. So
this is preventable. Yeah, prostate cancer is not a death sentence.
Talk to me about that.
Speaker 9 (08:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
When prostate cancers detected early, it's ninety nine percent treatable. Treatable.
For me, it was early detection. It helped save my life.
And then continued going to get checks and regular scheduled
screenings and checkups or whatever showed that there was actually
something there nine months afterwards that we need to go
(08:54):
back and we need to take care of that. And
so the journey for me continue. Use but September his
Prostate cancer Awareness Month. Zero Cancer is looking to help
save one hundred thousand men's lives over the next ten
years by I think twenty thirty five. I want to
try and exponentially challenge that number and make it a
(09:16):
bigger number, because I think I have a voice, have
some influence, and it's important to help save the lives
of men who if they say one in every eight
men will be detected with prostate in their lifetime, and
seventy percent of that is our African American men and
black men are twice as likely to die from it.
(09:36):
I'm trying to preserve family legacy and help us take
care of our family legacies better, and early detection is
definitely a key to doing that.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Montel Jordan, thank you so much for joining the Black
Information Network. I appreciate you continue success and we're wishing
you the best health.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Thank you, cousin, Thank you, Mistery. Montel Jordan is currently
making a documentary about his battle with prostate cancer as
he balances his career and family life. If you are
someone you know would like more information about getting tested
for prostate cancer, or you want to get involved with
Zero's mission, visit their website at zero cancer dot org.
(10:14):
You can follow Misty and submit story ideas to her
on Instagram at Misty Jradio. Terry mccreedy is here with
her new series Reading the Room, where she talks to authors.
Speaker 10 (10:25):
This week, she talks to.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Author Darius Myers about his Black Camelot series.
Speaker 11 (10:29):
Reading the Room on the Black Information Network and I
am especially excited to be speaking with the author of
the Black Camelot book series today. Darius Myers, thanks for
joining us today, Darius.
Speaker 8 (10:42):
Terry, thank you so much for having me. This is
a real privilege in the honor I'm glad to be here.
Speaker 12 (10:47):
It is a pleasure, Darius.
Speaker 11 (10:49):
And so just to offer a bit of a preamble
to this absolutely stunning, consumptuous collection of yours.
Speaker 12 (10:57):
The series centers around Lens.
Speaker 11 (11:00):
There's intrigue and power, It's New York edginess. It's pretty
a little something for everybody. Obviously, there's racism all dripping
in suspense. So tell us more about what exactly sparked
your inspiration and take us through the storytelling and writing process.
Speaker 8 (11:20):
Sure, sure, Well, Like as I've come to know, most
writers have ideas, they just don't have that moment, and
I've had several moments. I am a representative of the
(11:42):
characters that I've created in this series. And one of
the themes that I started with that really kind of led
to the to the entire series was me being an executive,
a media executive on the sales and marketing side at
(12:03):
Tier one best in class, world class companies. And I
was always the only black person and quite honestly the
only person of color in the room. And so at
(12:25):
one point I decided I was running a really huge
piece of business or categories of business at Gannett USA. Today,
Superstar blah blah blah. But it was a burnout job,
and I decided that I was going to just walk away.
(12:47):
But I was a journalism major, and I always fancied
myself as a writer who just kind of sold out
to be a businessman. And so as a law I
decided to apply two top three or four business schools
(13:11):
and if I would get into one, I would I would,
I would just ponder it and see. And so I
ended up getting accepted to the Kellogg School at Northwestern,
which is the number one marketing MBA program in the world,
(13:33):
and at that time was ranked and it's always been
a top five school, but it was ranked number one
or forever for about six seven years straight down. I
know you did this at a lot, but you can.
Speaker 11 (13:49):
First of all, I have to say, Darius, I love
how you invoked the plan B business man.
Speaker 8 (13:57):
Options down so as I did me because they knew
what I was doing. All to me was the publisher topics.
He said, I know what you're doing. I know you'll
leave for a while, but you got to come back
to work somewhere, so give us some consideration. And so
I did. And when I was coming back to interview
(14:21):
for jobs, or what role I would take. I had
eventually ended up working at Fortune and running a marketing team.
I had to come back to New York to meet
with this woman at an ad agency to see if
I could help her figure out stuff and essentially be
(14:45):
the liaison between Time Ink and her and Sports Illustrated
was a Time Warner property and Fortune was a Time
Warner property. Well, Terry, the woman made me wait five
out wait five hours to meet with her, and and honestly,
(15:07):
I was, I was, I was. I was like, you know, Darius,
you've been doing this for a while. You know what
you're doing. The reason that you're sitting here waiting for
this woman and Time Warners has been recruiting you for
(15:28):
two years. Essentially my entire time in business school is
because you got a decent name, and so I, you know,
I was like, I don't think this is where my
future lives. So that was thirty years ago, and at
(15:48):
that time, I just well, I was flying back on
a plane and those characters in the first book in
the series, the Publishers, the level that we're birthed on
a playing rock. I put the book down, I put
it down. I was just gradually or slowly writing it,
(16:10):
and I was busy just managing my career. Here I
can talk more and more and more about it, but
I only be too long winded. I know you have
listeners here, so I don't only be too long winded
with that explanation.
Speaker 11 (16:27):
Your books, your book Sterious, are certainly progressive in the stories,
in the story making lacks at the centerpiece of this narrative,
and uniquely right now, it seems like, at least in
recent pop culture, we're seeing more of that idea. And
I look at as an example, Ralph Laurence Okluffs. I
(16:48):
don't know if you saw that fashion spread last season
that featured the prominence and wealth and black elegance of
these families in the Inkwell, so I felt like this
was an insightful vignette of black American life. It's contemporary
America that we just don't see enough, nearly enough in
(17:09):
the spotlight, if at all. And so your books, to
me are kind of an extension of that where people
are looking at, hey, wow, there are black people like
this in America owning media empires as opposed to being
you know, the exception. Now it's more like the rule.
Speaker 8 (17:28):
You know, I wanted to bring attention to those kinds
of characters and those kinds of humans, because we are
there and they are there. But I didn't want it
to be done and to amplify and over the top
(17:53):
way this eliteness that escapes and the opportunity that escapes
a lot of people who look like us, because navigating
through these landmines are are very very very difficult. And
(18:18):
as an example of such, or as representative of such,
you can see just how few people make it to
you know, the C suite, right and and it very
much looks like a pyramid. In any industry, there are
a lot of people who may get entry level, mid
(18:39):
level management roles and as they as you move to
the top levels, it gets it gets harder and harder.
So I really wanted my characters to to to focus
on their accountability and responsibility of such. So, for example,
(19:00):
in my second in the second novel Black Camelots Dawn,
where they were they they are named got Them's Black Camelots?
Speaker 12 (19:12):
Are you talking about Madam hot Temper Darius.
Speaker 8 (19:15):
Madam hot Temper. Madam Hot Temper is is my girl,
But no, it's not her, It's it's uh because she's
she's an interesting one. She she comes back, she comes
back to to to got them after after serving a
jail sentence because because her husband was a bit of
(19:40):
a cat, uh, and so she catches him prowling in
a place that he wasn't supposed to be and and
so so she ends up going away upstate as as
we would say in most places, uh, for some confinement
for a few years. But but she comes back and
(20:04):
her true character and her and her warm and pleasant
and dear personality is revealed. But she's a beauty, she's fetching,
she's smart, she's she's as as the young ones would say,
she's all that very much.
Speaker 9 (20:26):
So.
Speaker 8 (20:27):
But but but in the in the second book, they
convince the head of the Harris Simmons media company to
start a living will to support black colleges and black causes.
And so that's their life's work, right, That's supposed to
be their responsibility. It's going out and changing the world.
(20:52):
So these are really mindful characters who know what they're
supposed to do, now, you know.
Speaker 9 (21:04):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (21:04):
And and this would not be a spoiler alert because
I like this part of the works when they are
also made members of and this is fiction, right, so
you know, getting beyond sort of like the the you know,
(21:24):
the ink Well stories or the sag Harbor pieces of
of you know, black exceptionalism and elitness. This is fiction, right,
so you know, the moment they are named white black Camelots,
white supremacists say there's no such thing as black royalty,
(21:45):
and they set their mind, and they come from all over.
It's it's a call to action by white supremacist groups
to end the era of Black Camelot. So they come
to got them set on the demise of Donald Alexander,
Kwame Mills and Samantha Rivers, the three black Camelot people.
(22:08):
And but the black Camelots have a pre protector and
he admissed them as the first three people of color
into the world's most powerful secret society strength and of go.
Speaker 12 (22:27):
Ahead, no, no, go ahead, go ahead, finish your thought.
Speaker 8 (22:32):
So so they are admitted into the world's most secret,
powerful secret society that protects them against the attacks of
of of their you know, aggressives, their attackers.
Speaker 11 (22:43):
I feel like with the white supremacists parachuting in to
cause trouble, that piece feels very non fiction y for fiction.
Speaker 8 (22:58):
Well I'm in fiction, but we are inspired by by
what we see, right, So yes, yes, and I thank
you for saying that. I think that that's a very
relevant contrast of truth, you know, as we as we
(23:22):
see it, as we understand it, and as we process it.
So thank you for.
Speaker 12 (23:27):
That, of course.
Speaker 11 (23:28):
And on that note, just to have a little bit
of fun, I wondered, and all of it's in all
of their complexities with your characters, you know, the Dawns,
the Madam hot Tempers, Donald Alexander, Teddy Walker.
Speaker 12 (23:44):
I won't tell anyone, but who really was your favorite character?
Speaker 7 (23:47):
And why?
Speaker 8 (23:48):
Oh you know, listen, listen to listen everyone. Women all
see themselves as as one of the four women of
(24:13):
Black Camelot or key Woman. So there's Carrie Sinclair, who's
a beautiful, beautiful former investment bank account photographer. There's Michelle
Nubonni who who is a kind ofist. It is Daniel
(24:35):
Jackson who is a supermodel, and then there's my Adam
hot Temper, and there are a couple of others, but
those are the kind of the four four. And it's
interesting to see people say most people say that they
are Carrie Sinclair. I'm Carrie Sinclair. You wrote you were
(24:59):
thinking about me when you created Carrie sinclaird I'm like,
what really have the Scooby Boys work? So so yeah,
it's it's Uh. I get that more. I get that
more than than than anything. But all the characters, the
(25:20):
key characters are inspired by people that that I know,
so I have lived, uh and and a close comparable
the life of say Donald and Quan and Kwame Donald.
(25:43):
Alexander is named after my favorite uncle Donald and my
grandfather Alexander. So so I did a little thing like that,
you know, I would name characters after after after people
that were friends. Uh. Aquami Mills is named after my
(26:07):
life time friend, childhood friend, uh Steve Mills, who was
was was a top executive and in the n b
A and and uh president of the New York Knicks
for for a long time. You know. The bankers are
(26:30):
inspired by friends of mine from you know, Morgan Stanley
and and and places like that, and and so so
I pulled from from this this world that that I
was privileged to to to to just be in the
(26:51):
room with for for a long long time. And again uh,
having Chops as a riot and just being cognizant of
where I was. I was creating. I was creating a
bank of memories that that I would just call on
(27:15):
when when when I was in when I was in
you know, when I was writing, and I will tell
you that that when when COVID came around, I had
the first book done, uh before COVID. And and when
(27:38):
when COVID came around, and I was locked on lockdown
just like everyone else, that's you know, I was. I
was in a very very very you know, rapid fire
writing phase where where I just was just churning, churning
these books out, one after another, one after another. And
(28:00):
because and I'm going to talk about the business side
of this for a second, because the world had shut down,
and and bookstores weren't they were closed, and and it
was it was you know, you could you could put
(28:21):
your books on Amazon, but you couldn't really be out
there as a as an independent writer, uh, you know,
doing your thing selling being a huckster. I found myself
with with being okay with that, just turning the workout
(28:44):
and then feeling like I could just turn to my
to to my marketing experience and my brand management experience
and and figure out you know that part that part later, uh,
and That's kind of where I'm at now is telling
(29:05):
the world about the Black Camelots and how we uh
brought this you know, this product suite together.
Speaker 11 (29:17):
Well, Darius, as a singular sensation, as you are in
the publishing world, you know, chief cook.
Speaker 12 (29:23):
And bottle washer, you're doing it all.
Speaker 11 (29:26):
What is it like, you know, doing the writing and
you know, first draft, second draft, as we know, you know,
being a prolific author is nectar of the gods for
a writer. And then you factor in, you know, the
exponential impact leading into the next one, the next book.
(29:46):
How is it creating the art of the cliffhanger? How
do you do that?
Speaker 8 (29:52):
Well, you know, the the the first book.
Speaker 12 (30:00):
Was probably.
Speaker 8 (30:03):
Probably the batcliffhanger, like solving the crime but then leaving
the door open for what's next.
Speaker 11 (30:13):
We've been speaking with Darius Meyer's, author of the Black
Camelot book series. His books are available at Barndonoble dot
com and Bookshop dot org, or by visiting your local
Barndon Noble bookstore. Next week, we'll come back with more
reading the Room right here on the Black Information Network
with author and children's book illustrator Jerry Kraft. I'm Terry McCready.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Thanks, Terry and Darius. Next up, we're diving into a
subject that touches millions of women but often stays hidden
in silence, menopause. And who better to bring that conversation
to the stage than s Tory Shakur. She's a powerhouse
storyteller and creative force from Detroit, Esther Dillard sat down
with her to talk about her bold one woman show,
(30:56):
Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale.
Speaker 13 (31:00):
That conversation, I didn't know what was happening to me.
I didn't recognize myself. I was having heart palpitations, night sweats,
mood swings, hot flashes.
Speaker 6 (31:11):
In this edition of The Color Between the Lines, I'm
joined by the dynamic So Tori Shakour. She's a twenty
seventeen Kresky Literary Arts Fellow, storyteller, artists, and social entrepreneur
who's been breaking creative ground for decades. Her career took
off as a recording artist and one of George Clinton's
brides of Funkenstein, touring with Parliament Funkadelic. Since then, she's
(31:34):
worn many hats. Actor, comedian, television comedy writer, and founder
of the award winning Secret Society of twisted storytellers.
Speaker 5 (31:43):
Now she's taking the.
Speaker 6 (31:44):
Stage with a funny and bold one woman show called
Confessions of a Menopausal fem Fatale, bringing humor, honesty, and
storytelling brilliance to a topic women are finally speaking openly
about menopause.
Speaker 7 (31:57):
Here's a short climp say, ah.
Speaker 5 (32:02):
Don't know, don't feel like me.
Speaker 14 (32:05):
One minute I'm laughing, the next I'm crying. Cramp so
bad they make me vomit, and I'm a cushion. Cushion
buckets of blood, night sweats and tears. My bit sheets
look like a crime scene. Mama.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
Now that you've got a chance to listen to a
little bit of her shell, let's jump into the conversation.
For those who are just discovering your work, how would
you describe Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale in your
own words?
Speaker 13 (32:35):
Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale is a story about
my twelve year journey through menopause, but it also flashes
back to my childhood when my mother was going through menopause.
It flashes back to when I became a mother and
(32:56):
the challenges motherhood brought me. It looked set me taking
ownership for my life and doing what I wanted to do,
eventually having a purpose and a mission. But it's it's
my personal story, but it's really the fulfillment of a
(33:17):
promise I made to my younger self when I was
forty five and just noticing the first symptoms of perimenopause,
which threw me for a loop. I didn't know what
was happening to me. I didn't recognize myself. I was
having heart palpitations, night sweats, moods, swings, hot flashes, insomnia,
(33:38):
and I just it just you know, you live forty
five years and you think you know who you are,
and then all of a sudden, boom, it's a monkey
wrench is thrown in there, and it's like, really, well, really,
who am I? And so it's basically me taking a
journey through all of the questions of who am I,
through different stages of my life and finally coming to
(34:02):
an understanding because I'm still growing and creating that this
is who I am. I'm who I say I am.
I define myself. I don't take my cues from society
or the prescription society has for me. I don't perform
for different lenses out there, and I don't have to
(34:23):
meet the expectations of those lenses or those things that
people expect of women. But basically it's my stand to
talk about things women don't talk about because we were
trained to have shame around the natural growth, progression, bodily functions,
(34:43):
and biological journey that we are destined to take as women.
And if we live long enough, and are lucky enough
to live long enough, we will enter this stage of
life and we do not have to be afraid of
the symptoms because we have activism around in creating doctors
(35:04):
who know about this. I'm part of the Michigan Women's
Commission here, and the Michigan Women's Commission is something Governor
Gretchen Whitmore and Cheryl Bergman we started. I mean it
started in twenty twenty three. They invited me to come
and speak about menopause at their lunchtime panel, and two
(35:24):
hundred and fifty people showed up. They wanted to talk
about minopause because it was a workplace issue, it was
a DEI issue, and so we started to talk about
it and since then there have been such a surge
of interest that they that I was invited to the
Governor's mansion with halle Berry, and so they had a
panel of researchers, doctors answering questions. And so they're going
(35:48):
across the state of Michigan raising awareness and fundraising to
get legislation that will help women get healthcare and also
to be a demonstrate LEADLeadership in this area so other
states can do the same thing. Because we represent women
in some states of menopause represent the largest demographic in
(36:11):
the United States. And even though my film is has educational,
entertainment and otherwise value, we are not talking about pharmaceuticals
that I leave that to the doctors, and I leave
that to women to demand that from their doctors and
encourage doctors to take on getting more than one hour
(36:36):
training in menopause because we know we're dis managing every
area as a female, their studies aren't done on us,
and if we're women of color, even less it's done.
So I'm just here to advocate, and I'm here as
an activist and I'm here as another woman, and I'm
here because I want to be part of a community
(36:57):
that's aware of what it is that we can be
of support to each other, but more than that, not
be afraid to talk about it. If it ages us,
so we can let our husbands, our significant others, our children,
our co workers, our employees, our employers because we're in
very powerful positions. Look at you, look at the governor,
(37:17):
look at women running for the presidency of the United States,
all in some stage of menopause. So we are here powerfully,
and we might as well get all of those things
under our awareness so that we can be responsible and
can be as and we can be as much as
we can be.
Speaker 15 (37:38):
You talked about silence and shame, and I was really
inspired by how you took in this subject, which often
is associated with silence and shame, and you moved humor
and boldness with storytelling. What inspired you to tackle this
in that way with.
Speaker 13 (38:00):
Humor and boldness. I think it's because I am a
stand up comedian. I do see the world. I do
see funny, and it is funny. If you can, if
you have a sense of humor, you know, and if
you can have that muscle investment in yourself bold you
(38:25):
have to be bold to bust a myth, to break
through taboos, to challenge the world to see you differently,
to say, hey, let's not be silent, let's talk about it.
Speaker 8 (38:38):
What is aging.
Speaker 12 (38:39):
Does it have to.
Speaker 13 (38:40):
Be something that we want to hide or something that
we want to be proud of because we're not our
we're not our mothers, and we're not our grandmothers. I
have no idea how old you are. I could say
you're anywhere between thirty five and fifty. Okay, who knows.
We're still beautiful, we're still relevant. But if we're not perky,
juicy and can pump out babies, then somehow we're sidelined,
(39:04):
not by ourselves but by a society. It says it's
time for you to go to go sideline yourself because
the younger women are more or more relevant, and they're
more important to us. But we are in a unique
position to reach back and tell our daughters and our granddaughters,
this is what's ahead, this is what's can look forward to.
(39:26):
This is who you get to say you, This is
who you get to define yourself as. And so we
need that, we need us, We need every one of
these stages to be to show up who we are
so that we can evolve more quickly.
Speaker 6 (39:43):
I really connected with a lot of the fun parts
of your story, and I'm just wondering when I was
watching it Were there any parts of the journey that
we're especially hard to but necessary, you know, to.
Speaker 12 (39:54):
Share on stage?
Speaker 15 (39:56):
Was there something that you had a difficulty just sharing
with the audience.
Speaker 6 (40:03):
You can hear her answer and the rest of that
interview on the Color Between the Lines podcast on iHeartRadio,
YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
I'm Ester Dillard, thanks to Tori Shakura and Esther Dillard.
Kevin Brown sits down with Miguel Wilson of the mcguil
Wilson Collection as he prepares for his big Soul Symphony Weekend,
which includes a golf and polo event, black tie event,
and more, September nineteenth to twenty first in Atlanta. Kevin,
take it away.
Speaker 10 (40:29):
I'm Kevin Brown on the Black Perspective, and today we're
joined by Miguel Wilson, the creative force behind the Soul
Symphony Weekend, happening in Atlanta, Georgia September nineteenth through the
twenty first. This is one of the biggest weekends in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mister Wilson, thank you for joining us on the Black Perspective.
Speaker 9 (40:47):
How are you, hey, kem Thank you so much for
having me. Man'm excited to be here.
Speaker 10 (40:51):
Yeah, this is an incredible weekend. Before we get into
the specific so let's talk about how people can have
access to these incredible events. You have lined up the
Soul Symphony Golf Outing, which happens on September nineteen, the
Welcome Party also on the nineteenth, the Black Tie Soul
Symphony on the twentieth, and the Atlanta Polo Party September
(41:13):
twenty first. How do we access tickets for these events?
Speaker 16 (41:16):
An easy way to do it would be to go
to my Instagram page Miguel Wilson Collection, and I have
the link for tickets in my bio, or you can
go to Fashion and Polo Classic dot com that takes
there as well.
Speaker 10 (41:30):
You have made an interesting transition from being one of
the top creative folks in the fashion industry to this weekend.
How did you get started with Soul Symphony Weekend?
Speaker 16 (41:43):
So Soul Symphony Weekend is the new addition to my events.
I've been doing the Atlanta Fashion and Polo Classic for
seven years, and I just changed the concept around and
changed the name. This year, eighth year doing it. It's
still with the Polo, still black tied parties. Just came
(42:05):
with a new fresh concept and idea. The idea of
this soul symphony. You know, I thought about like when
Isaac Hayes and Barry White used to perform with these
just behind them. That's always I was always fascinated by that,
So I wanted to kind of recreate a modern day
look on that. So having full venues and having people
(42:27):
dress up and black tie attire. You know, although our
men have to wear white dinner jackets and lays to
wear black counts. So just creates an atmosphere of luxury
and it's just beautiful.
Speaker 10 (42:38):
There's also gourmet food, signature cocktails, live music, and equestrian exhibitions.
How did the polo part of this weekend come together
for you?
Speaker 16 (42:48):
Well, you know, it was a marriage between my passions.
So it started out with Atlanta Fashion and Polo Classic,
where I married polo, which I'm an avid polo player,
and fashion as a fashion designer. So I wanted to
create an event that celebrated both but on a luxury
level and also focused around black culture.
Speaker 9 (43:12):
You know, I thought, I saw, I guess a.
Speaker 16 (43:16):
Problem if you will, where polo is not something that's
common in our culture and most people would never get
the opportunity to be exposed to it.
Speaker 9 (43:25):
So I wanted to create an event.
Speaker 16 (43:28):
To expose it to our culture, but in a way
that they would feel comfortable.
Speaker 9 (43:32):
So with the music, the food.
Speaker 16 (43:35):
The attire and just you know, it's a celebration of
African American culture.
Speaker 9 (43:39):
But with polo.
Speaker 10 (43:41):
How did you get started in polo?
Speaker 16 (43:44):
You know, as a kid, I rode horses and fell
in level horses young. But as an adult I was
always curious about even amongst equestrian sports, polo seemed to
be exclusive or you know something and that wasn't obtainable,
a lot of barriers around it, and just out of curiosity,
(44:07):
you know, I invested in taking some polo lessons one
day and twenty years later, I'm still playing now doing
polo events. One of the other reasons why I created
the event was to raise money for our foundation, which
as Rytai Olympics. We helped get underprivileged kids from early
our kids into polo, and in twenty nineteen we started
(44:32):
the Morehouse Polo team, which is the first HBCU polo team,
and this year we have two historic occasions for our
polo events. We have the best Academy Polo team which
is the first black high school polo team consist of
all black boys from eleven to fourteen year olds. And
we have a team coming from the UK playing so
(44:55):
international match with them against Europe versus some friends and
I ers in the USA.
Speaker 9 (45:02):
Wow.
Speaker 10 (45:02):
Although it seems like a great event geared towards adults,
the underlying reason that all of this is happening is
that that benefits the children, and that's a great thing.
Once again, we are speaking with Miguel Wilson and this
big Soul Symphony Weekend happens in Atlanta, Georgia from the
nineteenth to the twenty first of September, in which the
(45:25):
Soul Symphony, golf outing, the welcome party, the black Tie
Soul Symphony which happens on the twentieth, and then the
Atlanta Polo Party happens on September twenty first. All of
the information is available at the website Miguel Wilson Collection.
Talk about the history of polo and the attire that
(45:45):
people could expect to see all around them when they
attend the polo match.
Speaker 9 (45:48):
So Oh Weekend, I have specific attire.
Speaker 16 (45:53):
This Soul Symphony is part of the Black Tie Experience
collection I've created, and it's all around creating these black
tie events. But all the men must wear white dinner
jackets and the ladies wear black counts, and you'd be surprised,
I think, you know, you think that just having everyone
wear white dinner jackets would be limiting, but you get
(46:16):
so much creativity and you get to see so many
people dressed in uh even inspired uh formal wear.
Speaker 9 (46:24):
It's just amazing to see.
Speaker 16 (46:25):
But it's also just a beautiful sight when you see
the esthetically the venue as well as.
Speaker 9 (46:30):
The people dressed beautifully like them.
Speaker 16 (46:33):
Sunday we have the Polo Match and that as a
derby style party, so you know, typically guys gonna wear
linen or seersucker suits with hats, Ladies that wear you know,
sun dresses and fascinator hats and things of that nature.
Speaker 9 (46:50):
So it's definitely a trust affair the whole Again.
Speaker 10 (46:55):
We're talking about the Soul Symphony weekend that's happening in Atlanta,
Georgia September nightnineteenth through the twenty first for the Soul Symphony,
golf outing, the welcome party, the black tie Soul Symphony,
and the Atlanta Polo Party. Sounds like an incredible event
and the fact that you are able to pull this
off for seven years to benefit kids. Miguel Wilson. Yeah,
(47:19):
and I'm sure you get a kick out of us
seeing these young kids on these horses.
Speaker 16 (47:23):
You know, that's what makes it all worthwhile. I mean, today,
when I finished this, I need to go practice. I'm
seeing practice again today and just seeing these kids actually
do it. They come from, you know, a place where
horses and polo is not a part of their life
or anywhere around them. So this is definitely something through
the foundation and only the found that they would even
(47:45):
be able to have the opportunity, and also the sacrifice
they make to do it is enormous.
Speaker 9 (47:51):
You know, the.
Speaker 16 (47:52):
Polo fields are over an hour away and the parents
must you know, probably drive them by hour and a
half practice. Then they spent another two hours there and
then another a half back, so you figure that's probably
about four hours five hours of time that they have
to commit to to practice at least once a week.
(48:13):
So it's not an easy thing for them, but they
love it and the parents are supportives, and that's what
makes all the difference.
Speaker 10 (48:20):
Let's get in trouble here. Who are the best riders
that you're dealing with boys or girls.
Speaker 9 (48:24):
So my high school team is all boys anyway, so
that made it easy. It's easy. Okay, yeah, all boys.
Speaker 16 (48:32):
But unlike most equestrian sports, which are dominated by women,
females pulled one of the few games that you know,
you probably have more men and it's a path that
isn't frequently taken by us, but create opportunities for them
well beyond you know the school years.
Speaker 10 (48:53):
All right, Well, I tried to get you in trouble
in you and you got out of it.
Speaker 9 (48:57):
You're still safe.
Speaker 10 (48:58):
Good luck this weekend. I really appreciate and if you'd
like more information on Soul Symphony Weekend, please go to
the Instagram page mcgil Wilson Collection and you'll find all
the information you need about the Soul Symphony Weekend. I'm
Kevin Brown on the Black Perspective and now Mike Eiland.
Speaker 1 (49:17):
Thanks Kevin and Miguel. For more information about the Soul
Symphony Weekend, go to Fashion and Poloclassic dot com. Doug
Davis speaks to one of the stars of a hit
black soap opera that's making a lot of noise in
the households of black women. Across the country.
Speaker 2 (49:32):
Doug, Hey, thanks Mike. This is Doug Davis with us
today on the show. Is one of the actors from
the highly acclaimed black soap opera Beyond the Gates, seen
by millions of Black Americans every day on CBS White
Americans Too.
Speaker 7 (49:43):
At Paramount Plus.
Speaker 2 (49:44):
Keith Robinson is back with us, who plays doctor Ted Robinson,
and his new R and B single Forever Bay, pays
homage to his character where he's trying to let his
wife know that she's his Forever Bay. Keith Robinson, Welcome
back to the BIM.
Speaker 5 (49:57):
Brother.
Speaker 2 (49:57):
I know we spoke about about a week ago on
BI in News this hour, so thank you for allowing
me to continue this conversation this Sunday. Brother, So I
want to talk about politics a bit with you, as
our brother Mark Morial, CEO and President of the Urban
League States as well as many of us that Black America.
We're in a state of emergency. We are now seeing
the resurgence of targeted bomb threats at HPCUS, even though
(50:20):
the FBI says they were hoaxes. The National Guard troops
sent to black led cities, that's not a hoax. And
of course the rollback of DEI initiatives and the federal
government which has moved down to the private sector. You know,
black unemployment super low. You know Trump trying to erase
our history in America. I mean, you know, the list
just goes on as a black man, a father, and
a celebrity. What are your thoughts on all this?
Speaker 7 (50:41):
Brother?
Speaker 17 (50:41):
I mean, anytime any part of American history is suppressed,
it's unfortunate. And in a black African American culture is
American culture. So I think that all that we I'm
more of a solution based when it comes to those
types of arguments, and I think shows like Beyond the Gates,
and I think us all individually and collectively and actively
(51:03):
promoting ourselves and making it a point to celebrate our
history and pass it down to our seeds is the
best way to counteract any type of suppression that we
may be feeling from the powers that be, because it's
really about us anyway, we got to do it.
Speaker 5 (51:16):
If we don't do it, nobody else will.
Speaker 17 (51:19):
So I'm proud of Beyond the Gates for being a
part of that movement, and I think it just kind
of just gives us a boost and inspires. Hopefully it
will inspire those watching to, you know, make it a
part of their conversation at the dinner table, make it
a part of their conversation in schools, and whenever we
can speak to those who look like us, who are
(51:39):
younger than us, that are coming through, to give them
a point of reference.
Speaker 5 (51:42):
I think it's our duty of I mean, I think
we got to do it. One by one. Conversations like
this I think are just as important.
Speaker 7 (51:49):
Yes, so.
Speaker 5 (51:51):
I take a blue collar approach.
Speaker 8 (51:52):
To it, you know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (51:53):
I think we got to do it. They don't talk
about it, and we do.
Speaker 2 (51:56):
That's right, We got that, man, That is so so true.
And you know, back to the industry, you've you know,
obviously seen the shift in the industry right now from
the early two thousand and are there changes in how
black creatives are treated today compared to let's say, twenty
years ago. And then the second part of that question
is are there any black producers writers behind this Beyond
(52:19):
the Gates soap opera?
Speaker 5 (52:20):
Yeah, well, I definitely have seen the shift. I think
it's more welcome.
Speaker 17 (52:24):
I think we have with all the success of successful
projects like The Black Panthers of the World. Beyond the
gates different shows and shows that we are bankable and
we are creative as we all as it's already we
all know.
Speaker 5 (52:37):
I think it has been a shift. I think that we've.
Speaker 17 (52:39):
Come a long way, of course as a long but
I feel like we our show like this might have
had trouble twenty years ago being on the air and
ask for this show. This show is com I mean
front of the camera and back of the camera. Our
crew is predominantly black. Shei the Ducksboro, the creative show
is black. Michael Michelle Van Jon is black.
Speaker 5 (53:00):
So there's a lot.
Speaker 17 (53:01):
I mean, there's cast and crew, grips, camera, people make up.
If you walk in our building, it is predominantly African
American is very multicultural. So I think that's one of
the great things about this production is that it is
those you see in front of the camera and behind
the camera we influence are is a heavy, heavy influence
of African American culture, and I think that's one of
(53:22):
the gifts of the show.
Speaker 2 (53:24):
Right right, So let's talk about your new single, Forever Bay.
You recently called it a time capsule, you know, preserving
a previous relationship from your ex fiance.
Speaker 7 (53:34):
Share with us details about that man.
Speaker 17 (53:36):
No, I wasn't really trying to preserve it that that
relationship is kind of water under the bridge.
Speaker 5 (53:40):
I'm actually have moved on, but the songs.
Speaker 17 (53:42):
Still existed, and I kind of had really even kind
of put it away, kind of like I had no
brilli intention of using it on my new album because
it was so personal. But you know, God has a
different kind of different plan for it, and it kind
of opened up with this new role because this guy
was a strange from his wife and trying to find
a way to win her love back, and what better
(54:03):
way to do that than with so you know what
I mean.
Speaker 2 (54:06):
Yeah, so let's go ahead and segue into you know,
beyond the Gates Black representation. You know, you're starring in
you know, the first Black Daytimes, you know soap opera
in decades. You know, it's kind of history making. What
does it mean for you to be, you know, part
of a show that centers on black influence, you know,
legacy along with the complexities that go along with it,
(54:27):
per se.
Speaker 5 (54:28):
I mean it means a lot because I mean these types.
Speaker 17 (54:30):
Of images kind of really affected me growing up, seeing
blacks that were doctors and lawyers and had it wasn't
always it wasn't always.
Speaker 5 (54:38):
Good time shout out the good times.
Speaker 17 (54:40):
But I think for someone, for kids that look like me,
that are younger than me, it feels good to be
a part of the movement and part of the inspiration,
part of the good things, the good imagery of African
American culture that we don't always see, especially in daytime.
I think it's a it's groundbreaking in that sense, right
because I remember it had the same I'm hoping.
Speaker 5 (54:59):
It has the same. Fact is it as the Cosby
Show had on us growing up?
Speaker 17 (55:02):
You know, we saw a black doctor, and we saw
a loving family and uh, you know, I don't know
how loving we are, but uh, the affluence and just
just the beautiful shades of of our culture we get
a chance to portray every day. I mean, I'm I'm
all in for it. I'm all for it, but I
think you know, and another another irony you have to
cut you off is uh, Ted's wife on the show
(55:25):
has the same name as my ex wife.
Speaker 5 (55:27):
Uh, the same dynamic as parents.
Speaker 7 (55:31):
Was that intentional?
Speaker 8 (55:33):
No?
Speaker 7 (55:34):
I mean, roll wasn't.
Speaker 17 (55:35):
Even by Maybe maybe it's God's intention, but even I'm
calling this girl's name every day on.
Speaker 8 (55:41):
The show, and that's the same things.
Speaker 17 (55:42):
But my ex fife, I thought, I'm sitting in the
room with the right but I was old kind of bound.
So wow, the same dynamics parents, I have a bit
of strange out we through that process as well.
Speaker 5 (55:55):
So those stakes are.
Speaker 7 (55:56):
Like, okay, gotcha, gotcha.
Speaker 2 (56:00):
So do you feel a responsibility to show up not
just as a recording artist and as an actor, but
it's somewhat of a cultural message, kind of messenger.
Speaker 7 (56:09):
I should say in this moment in time.
Speaker 17 (56:11):
Always, I think anytime you're in front of the camera
as an African American, as a black man.
Speaker 5 (56:17):
You're always being watched and you have a heavy influence.
Speaker 17 (56:19):
So yeah, I feel responsibility to represent those that look
like me and that raise me. So I always carry
that with me, and that inspires me and keeps me
going to make sure I'm always on point whenever I
get opportunities like this to represent to the best of
my ability. So yeah, I think I think any artists
like me would say the same thing.
Speaker 5 (56:38):
Whether you like it or not, there is a responsibility.
Speaker 7 (56:41):
There is a responsibility, that's right. Final question.
Speaker 2 (56:44):
You're hitting the road soon, You're going to some pretty
big cities, Atlanta, La, DC.
Speaker 7 (56:49):
What's the energy like?
Speaker 2 (56:51):
You know, when you connect with your fans face to face,
especially you know Black audience who seen your great you know,
the energy is great.
Speaker 17 (56:57):
I've been doing this about twenty five years, I mean,
from Dream Reals A Fat Hour to Power. I've done
a lot of projects that I've made, some culture March,
but I think this one in particular. Fans feel like
they know you because you're in their home every day, right,
So there's an excitement and there's a familiarity for better
or for worse that you get in the soap world.
Speaker 5 (57:15):
So I think it's been excitement. The energy has been great.
Speaker 17 (57:19):
It's been snowballing as those find out more about it.
I think in every African American household almost there's at
least one person who knows about the show or watches
the show.
Speaker 5 (57:28):
So that's fun.
Speaker 8 (57:29):
Man.
Speaker 17 (57:29):
It's great to do shows and be a part of
projects that are relevant, and this is definitely that. So
I mean we're just doing our part collectively as a
cast and crew to continue to build that excitement so
that we can stay on TV for a little while,
for a long while, that's right. But I mean the exceptions.
The acceptance has been has been overwhelming. It's been great man.
Speaker 7 (57:48):
Man, that's awesome.
Speaker 9 (57:48):
Brother.
Speaker 7 (57:49):
I'm so proud of you, so happy for you man.
Speaker 10 (57:51):
Thank you.
Speaker 7 (57:51):
Any final thoughts.
Speaker 17 (57:53):
Just continue to watch the show, support the show. The
new single Forevery Bay. New single drop today called Foolish Love,
which is all so about my mistress on the show.
A lot of these songs I've written in this new
album are heavily influenced by what I'm playing on TV
right and just you know, like yourself, I think it's
up to us media types to continue to push the
envelope in.
Speaker 5 (58:13):
The right direction.
Speaker 17 (58:14):
So shout out to all the other artists doing the
same thing.
Speaker 7 (58:18):
Keith Robinson, my man.
Speaker 2 (58:20):
He's the actor who stars as Doctor and Ted Robinson
on the hit black soap opera Beyond the Gates. He's
got a new single out too, call Forever Bay, which
is featured on the show, and he's about to drop
a new album as well. But thank you again for
returning to the Black Information Network. We appreciate you sharing
your perspectives. Man, much respect. We'll see you on the
show if you want to stay informed on the issues
(58:41):
that matter most to Black America. Catch the Black Information
Network anytime on the iHeartRadio app or just head to
bionnews dot com for full coverage.
Speaker 7 (58:49):
We're also on social media.
Speaker 2 (58:51):
Follow Black Information Network on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Even
on Blue Sky. You can join the dialogue at black
info Net. I'm Doug Davis from the Black Perspective and
this is the Black Information Network.
Speaker 1 (59:03):
Thanks Doug and Keith, and that's our program for this week.
For more on these stories, listen to the Black Information
Network on the free iHeartRadio app or log onto binnews
dot com for all of the latest news impacting the
black community.
Speaker 7 (59:17):
We would love to hear from.
Speaker 1 (59:18):
You about the Black Perspective. Simply log onto Bion's Talkback
Live feature on the free iHeartRadio app to share your feedback. Also,
be sure to follow us on social media at Black
Information Network and on x and Blue Sky at black
info Net, and make the Black Information Network first on
your car radio or iHeartRadio app pre sets. I'm Mike Island.
Have a great Sunday, and be sure to tune in
(59:39):
next week at this time for another edition of The
Black Perspective Right here on the Black Information Network
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.