tHE oTHER sOCIETY ePISODE: Interviews with Nnamdi Osuagwu and Losang Samten

This edition of sBADAwEBaUDIO's "tHE oTHER aMERICA fILES" looks at today's social world.

In one segment, online social interaction is explored through the lives of a collection of fictionalized characters suffering from "Facebook addiction."

In another segment, a lay Tibetan monk takes a break from his work on a sand mandala to discuss some of the truths he has devoted years to finding. Some of those truths are represented in the large circular mosaic he has created from grains of sand. In the interview, he talks about good and bad forces: explaining the roots of evil, and affirming that in spite of how things may sometimes appear, the good will always ultimately triumph over the bad.
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In the 21st Century, after about a decade of human involvement in online social networking communities, there has developed such a thing as Facebook Addiction.

Nnamdi Godson Osuagwu wrote a book about it. He fictionalizes that reality and brings it to us in short first person narratives. These short stories beg the question of how close to reality they are. Should we be worried that social interaction between human beings will soon become some odd phenomenom that might have been found in one of those science fiction stories from the 1970s wherein is described a reality in which the only way that people will talk to one another is through technology hidden away in loveless, solitary apartments?

Losang Samten, a lay Tibetan monk, speaks calmly about a world of good and bad forces. As he talks about a few of the truths that he has discovered, he paints a more abstract--or simpler--picture of the world than the one Nnamdi/Osuagwu gave us. Samten's version of the world is one that can be explained using such terms as good and evil. With or without computers, one can conclude, these good or bad forces will forever define this social world on earth.

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The Soy Cafe Conversations: Elaine Mack Interview

In speaking about her new book, Ms. Elaine Mack says: "This book makes a very big promotion for arts in the schools. We must have arts in the schools. What's happened is terrible. What's happened in these last 20, 30 years is terrible. We've got to get music back in the schools. It's humanizing. It makes people feel like they belong."

Beginning a series of cozy conversations at North Philly's Soy Cafe, is this stimulating interview with author and musician Elaine Mack about her new book, "Black Classical Musicians in Philadelphia: Oral Histories Covering Four Generations." She speaks with the Bluesbadawoman, host of "The Other America Files," over dumplings and herbal tea.

The Other Philadelphia Music Scene: South Broad Hip Hop Duo

An interview with Wiki-P and Miles of the Philly-based hip hop duo, South Broad. Toopic discussed: Miles's experiences as a Cambodian-American in the public school system, in the suburbs of Bucks County, and in the Philadelphia hip hop scene; Wiki-P's views on dating white women.

The Other Philadelphia Music Scene: Black Rockers in Philadelphia--PART 2.

Interview with Philadelphia's beloved Black Rocker, DA-1, at the Tritone in Philadelphia

The Other Philadelphia Music Scene: Black Rockers in Philadelphia--PART 1.

The Philadelphia Music Scene: Black Rockers in Philadelphia.

On this show, musician and teacher Art 'n Soul is interviewed about African Americans' connection to the roots of rock music in this country, his experiences as a Black man who loves rock music, and his views on the music scene in Philadelphia.

A White American ex-Police Officer Talks About Racism in the Philadelphia Police Department

An interview with Billy McKenna and Cynthia McKenna regarding the discrimination against African Americans Billy McKenna witnessed while a police officer in Philadelphia.

The Injustices of Philadelphia's Criminal Justice System.

This is an interview with Mark Bailey about his personal experience in Philadelphia's criminal justice system. He provides some disturbing accounts of the lack of adequate counseling sessions with the public defender assigned to his case, the prison abuse by guards in Philadelphia's detention centers, and the long span of time in which individuals are held in police custody before they are given a trial.

tHE aNTI-cASINO cIRCUS

The Other Dating Scene: African American Women Trying to Find A Good Black Man

This is a show about African American romantic relationships between men and women. You'll hear stories from women about their experiences of romantic intimacy with men. The stories represent the hope, the frustration, and the sadness that Black women feel about their romantic relationships with Black men.

We will also listen to excerpts from a recently aired Oprah Winfrey Show which explored the dynamics involved in mating between men and women. Striking in the lack of representation of any perspective from Asian American and Latino women about finding a mate, the show, as many shows in mainstream world of media do, neglected another America--that of non-white women. Although there was slightly more representation given to African American women on the show--by Oprah Winfrey, for instance, and a woman who spoke for less than a minute about the importance of the first kiss to the relationship--the unique issues dealt with by African Americans in their romantic relationships-- which are argued to be tied to a unique history of their experience the United States--was not brought up at all.

Interview with Sister Nefertari about what African American Men Need from African American Women

Sister Nefertari, in an interview for WPEB Radio (88.1 FM) Radio in Philadelphia, shares her views on what African American men need from African American women. She urges women, for instance, to give African American men space when they ask for it, to allow them to stand up for themselves, their family, and their community when they wish, and to listen more than comment when they are expressing themselves about some of the challenges they are facing.

Sister Nefertari hosts the radio show, "Khildren of Southampton" on WURD Radio (900 AM) in Philadlephia on Sunday nights from 7 pm until 8pm. She is the organizer of The Nat Turner Day Weekend Celebration's "The Return of Black Manhood" Conference. For more information about this event, please visit the website, www.OurKos.com, or contact The Khildren of Southampton by phone or email at: 888-817-3235, 215-990-8672, or Building@OurKos.com.

Selections from this interview will be aired on WPEB Radio as part of a special broadcast of sBADAwEB aUDIO's "The Other America Files" dealing with African American Male and Female Relationships. sBADAwEB aUDIO's "The Other America Files" can be heard every Sunday night from 8pm to 9pm, on WPEB Radio, (88.1 FM).

The Other Detroit.

An audio tour of Detroit's other culture. This piece offers listeners a perspective on Detroit that is not often discussed in mainstream media. Learn about: hip hop in Detroit's Mexican Town, the new dance craze in Detroit called "jitting," which grew out of its ghetto tech scene, the graffiti scene in Detroit, and a Detroit Friday night Christian hip hop open mic. All of the above are examples of the creative life blood of Detroit that is making beauty in the midst of the economic depression burdening the city.

Interview with Ellen Somekawa of Asian Americans United (AAU)

An issue not explored a great deal in the media in regards to public school education in this country is the experience of Asian Americans in the nations public schools. Earlier in the month, I had the opportunity to speak with Ellen Somekawa of Asian Americans United--a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization that focuses on issues of social justice for Asian Americans in this country. We discussed the challenges and successes she has experienced in her work through AAU on behalf of Asian American public school students in Philadelphia.

The Q.T. Vietnamese Sandwich Shop

Reporters from the Folk Arts Cultural Treasures Charter School Radio Club made a visit to their local Vietnamese sandwich shop. Learn about the connection between French colonialism and a sandwich and meet owner, Ann, who left her job at a vocational school to run this shop.

The Vietnam Show