Before You Go

Stanley Nelson appears as a guest on Before You Go during a career milestone:  Oscar nominee. After decades of directing historical documentaries illuminating African American history through compelling interviews and a library of rare footage, Nelson, an award-winning filmmaker, made it to the big stage. Though he, co-director Traci A. Curry and his team with Firelight Media did not take the Oscar this year, he says it was truly "an honor to be nominated" and Before You Go hosts Nicole and Bryant were honored to discuss his Oscar nominated project, Attica.

Laurens Grant (American Experience:  Jesse Owens), an award-winning filmmaker herself, has produced a number of Stanley Nelson's films. Grant joins the conversation and describes behind-the-scenes adventures that occur when getting the story.

It's an exciting hour--especially since the hosts appeared Live on the mic in the KBLA Talk 1580 studios.

Special thanks to KBLA Talk 1580's Miles Low.

In 1970, Black Theatre Troupe founder Helen K. Mason launched the oldest Black theatre organization in the Southwest Region of the United States while in Phoenix, AZ. She was 60 years old at the time and ready for retirement, but the neighborhood children told her performing plays was what they wished to do. The theatre still exists with a thriving season under Executive Director David Hemphill. He joins the show to reflect on her legacy. A treasured archive from Bryant's road trip from San Diego to Phoenix that captured his Grandmother's story in her own words via cassette tape, sets the scene.

This episode first aired on KBLA Talk 1580.

Former Mayor Lelia Foley-Davis made history with her election  to office while a single mother of five on welfare. Her "common sense" degree enabled her leadership skills to help put Taft, OK on the map and made the three Presidents she personally met during her lifetime pay attention.

Yet even as a woman in a top position of authority she found she had to fend off corruption and personal attacks--and from an unlikely antagonist, Redd Foxx. Her story of their encounter is filled with twists, turns, and gunfire! 

During the time spent with hosts Nicole Franklin and Bryant Monteilh, Ms. Foley-Davis' story takes a poignant turn which results in public plea for assistance from this history maker who continues to champion her community.

If you would like to help, please visit our website, BeforeYouGo.TV. We thank you for your generosity. We thank you for listening.

This episode first aired on KBLA Talk 1580 in Los Angeles.

Raheemah Raheem, possibly the second most famous resident of Turner Station, Maryland next to Henrietta Lacks, shares her poetry and a revealing story about a life-changing choice she had to make as a 17-year-old mother who lived in New York City at the time. Her daughter Trudy Reed joins hosts Nicole Franklin and Bryant Monteilh for a chat about abandonment, forgiveness, and faith.

And, for those who remember, how would you rate the selection of "the switch"?

This episode first aired on KBLA Talk 1580 in Los Angeles.

In this postcard from Oklahoma, we meet Cedric Johnson, the first African American to represent the State of Oklahoma at a Democratic National Convention. Since this was 2016,  Mr. Johnson, who had been a Republican earlier in life, was well into his 80s when he was asked to take on this role. And why not? He had a stellar career as teacher and principal in Muskogee, spending a significant amount of his life as both a student and educator at the historic Manual Training High School.  He has a lot to teach us about the rich history of the numerous African American towns in his beloved state. While getting to know Mr. Johnson--especially through the memories of former student Linda Taylor-Vaughn who joins the chat--it is not a surprise that this is a man, a total gentleman, who at one time owned a ranch with sixty horses and cows under his care. During this tour through a life well-lived, we are in good hands. 

This interview first aired on KBLA Talk 1580 in Los Angeles.

Before You Go hosts Nicole Franklin and Bryant Monteilh take A Rewind In Time with more of Bryant's treasured archives--this time while on assignment with WVON in Chicago. At the feet of the 30ft Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial statue on display in Washington DC, Bryant's microphone captured the memories of Andrew Young, Rev Jesse Jackson, Dr Joseph Lowery, Rev. Otis Moss, Jr., educator Erma Williams and other visitors. It is the riveting testimony from the witness, Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles, that provides a rare account of those final moments of Dr. King's life--from before The Mountaintop speech till his assassination in Memphis on the balcony where he decided to linger a little longer before going to dinner with friends.

This episode first aired on KBLA Talk 1580 in Los Angeles.

Host Bryant Monteilh takes listeners for A Rewind In Time with this candid 2004 interview of Southern Christian Leadership co-founder Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. 

In the 1950s and 60s in Birmingham, Alabama, an endorsement from Shuttlesworth's would earn the public's trust when activists came to town to fight for desegregation and voting rights. Shuttlesworth was on the front lines against the Klan and rogue authority figures. He survived two bombings and an incident where he was  fire hosed and hospitalized. In Shuttlesworth's own words he gives behind-the-scenes details of some tense moments when he had to cut his hospital stay short in order to challenge Dr. Martin Luther King and Ralph Abernathy who at one point leaned toward standing down in their demands for change. As Shuttlesworth pointed out quite fervently, thousands of children in Birmingham had already filled the jails in this fight during the historic Children's Crusade of 1963. And the youth along with the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR) had been putting their lives on the line for more than a decade. There would be no backing down--even at the request of President Kennedy.

During a march in Selma just two years later, Shuttlesworth, Dr. King and Abernathy had to make an important decision again while facing down state troopers. The men made a choice while kneeling in prayer. That day went down in history as Turnaround Tuesday.  

Throughout his life, Shuttlesworth stood his ground and prevailed.  The citizens of Birmingham moved the needle toward justice.

This interview first aired on KBLA Talk 1580, Los Angeles, CA

Huntsville Alabama's own Dr. Joseph Lowery sat down with Bryant Monteilh back in 2004 to talk about growing up with a profiling experience that could have tragically changed the course of his life, run ins with the Klan, his encounters with  George Wallace and how Dr. Lowery, a reverend, managed to part "the blue sea."

This episode first aired on KBLA Talk 1580.

Before You Go co-host Nicole Franklin has the honor of inviting her longtime friend  Juanita Smith who shares memories of her composer husband Hale Smith with Bryant Monteilh and the audience. It's a walk through musical history as Hale Smith's work in the genres of classical, jazz and spirituals brought him, Juanita and their family from Cleveland, Ohio to New York City. 

Upon arriving in NYC, Juanita quickly found work at the United Nations and Hale was surrounded by a nucleus of talent which included Kathleen Battle, Randy Weston, Melba Liston, Dizzy Gillespie, Ron Carter, Ahmad Jamal and more.  Juanita is now the publisher of her late husband's spiritual arrangements and because of her impeccable memory, her stories are filled with evidentiary facts and fascinating encounters. 

This episode originally aired on KBLA Talk 1580 in Los Angeles.

The music of Hale Smith heard in this episode may be found here:
 

1) This Little Light Of Mine"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUd7RMPQAxU

Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America This Little Light of Mine (arr. H. Smith) · Icy Rene Simpson I, too ℗ 2012 Longhorn Music Released on: 2012-08-07 Artist: Icy Rene Simpson Artist: Artina McCain Composer: Hale Smith Composer: Traditional
 

2) "Contours" Hale Smith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t1YYuz7DV4&t=83s
 

Hale Smith (1925-2009): Contours, for Orchestra (1960) --- The Louisville Orchestra diretta da Robert Whitney 
 

3) Bess, You is My Woman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Panv8OJjgHk
 

"Bess, You Is My Woman" From the Opera, "Porgy and Bess" Music by George Gershwin Lyrics by Du Bose Heyward and Ira Gershwin Featuring Todd Duncan and Anne Brown Accompanied by the Decca Symphony Orchestra Directed by Alexander Smallens Recorded May 15, 1940 Decca 29069A

 

4) I Love Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8NQgqYoVQ
 

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group I Love Music · Ahmad Jamal Trio The Awakening ℗ 1970 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Released on: 1997-01-01 Producer: Ed Michel Composer: Emil Boyd Composer: Hale Smith 
 

5) I Want to Die Easy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94EwXQTKrlY
 

Anthony Anderson- Baritone 

Michael Crabill- Piano

 

6) I Love Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFk5lKLHMw8

From Hale Smith's tribute concert. T.K. Blue, Saxophone & Flute Carlton Holmes, Piano Corcoran Holt, Bass Alvin Atkinson, Drums Benny Powell, Trombone
 

Staying connected to our seniors and recognizing signs of depression, self-harm, sustained and existing trauma and mental illness is crucial these days, especially while experiencing a global pandemic. Here on Before You Go, we knew it was time to call in an expert. Helena Washington has a Masters of Education, Counseling. She is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (Texas & Ohio), Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) and Master Addiction Counselor (National Certification). Helena shares some practical and essential steps toward mental wellness when it comes to our more seasoned population. Her holistic and collaborative approach to healing stems from her 25 years of experience treating numerous patients from adolescents to seniors in the areas of brain trauma, addiction, mental and emotional health, physical wellness, diversity,  and women’s concerns. 

This episode premiered on January 22, 2022 on KBLA Talk 1580, Los Angeles.