Creative Tension

Are Confederate Monuments and Statues Beautiful or sites of terror? The Charlottesville tragedy has forced us to re-examine their place in modern culture. Elliott Robinson explores the reasons for the Civil War and whether these monuments and statues can be separated from their cause. 

For a visual companion to this episode and links to episode resources, visit creativetension.org. Follow us on Instagram, FB and Pinterest: @creativ...

Confederate Monuments: Are they heritage, history or hate? We get guidance from Dr. Nichole Phillips, Dr. William Cossen and Sara Patenaude. #jimcrow #confederate 

Special Thanks to: 

• Nichole Phillips, PhD - Assistant Professor of Sociology, Religion & Culture at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University
• William Cossen, PhD- Public Historian, Book Review Editor for the Society of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era’s o...

Inspired by the Proctor and Gamble commercial, “The Talk,” we explore the tradition of having, "The Talk" in the African-American community, its roots in Jim Crow segregation and how the past continues to inform the present.

Special Thanks to: 

• Dr. Nichole Phillips, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Religion & Culture at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University
• The John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and A...

I have a cathartic and insightful roundtable discussion with guests Rev. Jennifer Watley Maxell and Rev. Dr. Dominique A. Robinson to discuss P&G’s commercial “The Talk,” the legacy of Jim Crow racial etiquette and its impact on how we were raised, raise children and interact with the world around us.

P&G Commercial “The Talk” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdV2f4jH5YQ

Special Guests: Rev. Jennifer Watley Maxell:Co-Founder of th...

As African American men, how do we live with the legacy of Jim Crow racial etiquette?” I sat down with Dr. Gregory Ellison, Rev. Marvin Bailey and Min. Tavares Stephens to talk about the place of racial etiquette in our current lives and how that legacy has been passed on from generation to generation. 

• P&G Commercial “The Talk” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdV2f4jH5YQ 
• Dr. Gregory Ellison: http://www.fearlessdialogues.co...

The Creative Tension website is HERE!! creativetension.org. creativetension.org is the perfect companion to the Creative Tension podcast. It adds a wonderful visual partner to our audio experience.

We’ve also launched our social media platforms:

• Facebook at www.facebook.com/creativetensionpodcast
• Instagram: @creativetensionpodcast
• Pinterest: @creativetensionpodcast
• Twitter: @createtension

These additions are incredibly t...

Dr. Kimberly Wallace Sanders, Emory Professor and author of Mammy: A Century of Race, Gender and Southern Memory helps us begin our exploration into the long and sordid history of Black caricatures and stereotypes. We'll also listen to first person accounts of how Jim Crow's racial etiquette "rules" and customs helped to further segregationists ideals.

Creative Tension is also made possible thru the cooperation of the John Hope Fra...

Dr. Kimberly Wallace Sanders, Emory Professor and author of Mammy: A Century of Race, Gender and Southern Memory and Skin Deep. Spirit Strong: Critical Essays on the Black Female Body in American Culture helps us begin our 4-part look into the Black Mammy Caricature. Dr. Wallace Sanders provides insight into the history and characteristics of the Mammy caricature. She also explores the relationship between the Mammy caricature and ...

During Oprah Winfrey’s speech as the recipient of the Cecil B. de Mille Award at the 2018 Golden Globes, she mentioned the horrific rape and lack of justice for the late Recy Taylor. Oprah placed the legacy of Jim Crow sexual violence into the #metoo movement and while many applauded her inclusion, so women found it troubling. With the help of the Duke University Behind the Veil Oral History project, we look at Jim Crow sexual viol...

We connect with Dr. Kimberly Wallace Sanders to discuss the “Mammification of a Nation.” Thanks to the Duke Univ. Behind the Veil Project, we also hear 1st hand accounts from women who worked as domestics during Jim Crow. This is part 2 in our 4-part series on the Mammy caricature.

• Skin Deep. Spirit Strong: Critical Essays on the Black Female Body in American Culture: https://www.amazon.com/Skin-Deep-Spirit-Strong-American/dp...

We connect with Dr. Kimberly Wallace Sanders to discuss "Aunt Jemima and Monetizing Mammy.” We explore how Aunt Jemima became a financial juggernaut that shaped the popular image of African American women during Jim Crow. This is part 3 in our 4-part series on the Mammy caricature. 

For a visual companion to this episode and links to episode resources, visit CreativeTension.org. Follow us on Instagram, FB and Pinterest: @creativete...

Season 2 of Creative Tension launches on March 1st!! Listen to Season 1 so you’re up-to-date and ready for an informative and enlightening ride!! Visit us at creativetension.org!

Creative Tension can be found wherever you find your favorite podcasts, so subscribe today!!

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On the heels of a Blackface resurgence in fashion and revelations in the lives of VA Gov. Ralph Northam, Attorney General Mark Herring and others, Creative Tension Host Rev. Elliott Robinson, JD, MDiv and Pellom McDaniels, PhD (Curator, African American Collections, Stuart A. Rose Library at Emory University) explore the history and legacy of Blackface in America. 

For a visual companion to this episode, visit CreativeTension.org. ...

We are joined by Dr. Kimberly Wallace Sanders form Emory University as we explore the mammy caricature in film. We examine Hattie McDaniels’ role as “Mammy,” as well as the movie “The Imitation of Life” and contemporary views regarding the mammy caricature in movies like “The Help” and the Madea franchise.

For a visual companion to this episode, visit CreativeTension.org. Follow us on Instagram...

We speak w/ Jim Crow survivors Elliott Robinson, Jr. and Allen Cromer to explore what it meant to be “banished” from your hometown. We also learn about the random nature of Jim Crow era racial violence and its rigid system of written and unwritten rules.

For a visual companion to this episode, visit CreativeTension.org. Follow us on Instagram, FB and Pinterest: @creativetensionpodcast and Twitt...

We explore the Brute caricature w/ Pellom McDaniels, PhD. We discuss the origins of the caricature, as well as how it’s been shaped and formed by the sport of boxing and the world of sports.

For a visual companion to this episode, visit CreativeTension.org. Follow us on Instagram, FB and Pinterest: @creativetensionpodcast and Twitter @createtension

Until next time, #createtension.

Creative Tension can be found wherever you find you...

Bryan Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative has undertaken a massive soil collection process to honor the lives of men, women and children killed by racial violence. We spend time with Allison Bantimba who heads their Fulton County (GA) Remembrance Coalition and explore both the importance of this ceremony and the transformative impact of remembering on individuals and communities.

For more information of the Fulton County Remembran...

We have an in-depth conversation with Carlton Mackey, Founder of the “Black Men Smile” movement. What started as a counter-narrative to the tropes surrounding images of Black men, has turned into a platform of both liberation and resistance with over 30k followers on Instagram and multiple components including: apparel, workshops, international travel retreats, a mentorship program, art production and more. 

To learn more, visit Bl...

We sit down with Dr. Pellom McDaniels to discuss the history of the “Coon” caricature, from slavery to Stepin Fetchit to JJ from Good Times to modern urban radio. We examine how the Coon continues to shape the way African American men are viewed in the workplace, school and in society.

For a visual companion to this episode, visit CreativeTension.org. Follow us on Instagram, FB and Pinterest: @creativetensionpodcast and Twitter @cr...