“I think that you’ll have taught our history as our armor, that Black people are more than the sum of our traumas or tragedies. That Black history is the way, and a path to look back. I think that we will remember how to be good to each other and how to speak well of each other. Those would be things that I would, if I were teaching 50 years from now and I were to say I was actually in the presence of this giant, I would say that she was so big, but she talked to everybody like they mattered and she gave people their flowers while they’re here.“
Lissa Jones on Charlayne Hunter-Gault

Charlayne Hunter-Gault is an American civil rights activist, journalist and former foreign correspondent for National Public Radio, CNN, and the Public Broadcasting Service. Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes were the first African-American students to attend the University of Georgia. In this episode she and Lissa talk about her life’s work, her philosophy, and her latest book –My People, Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives.
LISTEN
GO DEEPER
Lissa and Hunter-Gault talk about The Children’s March. Learn More.
What was the 1954 Decision? Learn More.
Ms Hunter-Gault talks about Valerie Boyd and her book Wrapped In Rainbows. Who is Valerie Boyd? Learn More.
Reading from My People, Ms Hunter-Gault shares a quote from Labyrinth of Life by Dr. Kenneth Edelin. Who is Dr. Kenneth Edelin? Learn More.
Pig Ear sandwiches? Learn More.





In our first all virtual podcast: our guest arrives from her office in Sarasota, Florida; Lissa from her home office in Minneapolis; supported by Edie and Paul from iDream.tv studios; and Charlayne’s son Chuma from an undisclosed location.