Espresso Talk Today
We invite you for a quick uncommon conversation that will challenge everything you think!
Fighting Harvard University for Slave Photos
For more than 200 years, Harvard University has been profiting from the photos of an enslaved man (named "Renty") and his daughter. Their descendants want the photos returned. Many …
Espresso Talk Today Opening Trailer
Introducing Espresso Talk Today--an exciting place for an uncommon conversation! The sibling team of Doug and Robin Lofton--both historians, writers, …
Celebrating African American Holidays
There are holidays focused on African American history and culture that are exclusively celebrated in the United States. Many people are unfamiliar …
Veganism in the Black Community 1
What is veganism? Is it more than a plant-based diet? Learn the basics of veganism and its special place in the African American and global Black communities. This is a 2-part series.
Veganism in the Black Community 2
Many in the mainstream vegan movement only focus on protecting animals. However, others believe that ALL oppression is wrong and that the vegan …
Universal Health Care in the United States
In this first episode about universal health care, Doug and Robin introduce the problems of health care in the United States. What are some of the major problems that Americans face …
How the Motion Picture Academy Overlooks Black Talent
The Academy Award is one of the most prestigious awards in the motion picture industry. Yet African Americans--with our growing representation in the industry--have not been fairly or …
Universal Health Care 2: The Walking Uninsured
The United States is the only high-income country that does not provide health care to its citizens and residents as a human right. As a result, more …
A Most Shocking and Inhumane Form of Discrimination
The health care system in the United States is marked by racial discrimination and bias. From the Reconstruction Era until the present, African Americans have experienced racial …
Why the Sun Never Sets on Black History
Yes, Black History Month comes only once per year. From the special museum and library exhibits to the musical and cultural festivals, Black History …
The Surprising Life of Harriet Tubman
What do you know about Harriet Tubman? Yes, she was a courageous conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping hundreds of enslaved Africans to escape to freedom. But her courage, skills, …
How White People Can Fight for Racial Justice
How can White people fight for racial justice and equality for African Americans and other people of color? Co-hosts Doug and Robin discuss this …
The Hidden Truth about Race, Veganism, Health Care and More
Do environmental issues have unique consequences for African American and Indigenous communities? What special issues do Black vegans encounter? Will …
Suppressing the Vote: An American Tale I
The right to vote is deeply entrenched in the United States. Or is it? President Barack Obama shockingly stated that the United States is the only liberal democracy that makes it more …
Suppressing the Vote: An American Tale II
The right to vote is deeply entrenched in the United States. But, today, many people rightly question this belief. President Barack Obama shockingly stated that the United States is the …
The Untold History of African American Presidential Candidates
Do you know how many African Americans have run for President of the United States? The history books are filled with the names and stories of White men (and a few White women) who have run …
COVID-19: The Dangers of Being Black, Poor, and Medically Needy
COVID-19 has been called "the Great Equalizer" because of its lethal attacks on people of all races, genders, and economic backgrounds. Yet African Americans are disproportionately affected …
COVID-19: The Great Revealer of Inequality, Injustice, and Insensitivity
Is COVID-19 the "Great Equalizer"? A more accurate description is that COVID-19 is the "Great Revealer." This lethal virus is revealing inequality and injustice at every level of American …
Do You Have the Right to Vote?
Does the U.S. Constitution guarantee the right to vote? Most Americans answer a proud and resounding "Yes!" Unfortunately, this answer is wrong. The Constitution does not guarantee the …
Folktales: The Forgotten Literature
People read different kinds of modern or classic fiction. Others read modern or historical nonfiction, essays, or articles. However, there is one type of fiction that is often overlooked …
A Sideways View of Life: The Transformative Power of Poetry
Pulitzer Prize winner, Bob Dylan once said, "The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it." The same can apply to people after …
Promoting Good Mental Health in the Black Community
May is Mental Health Awareness Month--and the timing is perfect. Stress levels are running very high as the nation deals with the Covid-19 lockdown as well as the easing of lockdown …
Meditation to Fight Race-based Stress and Anxiety
The Covid-19 pandemic. Police Violence. White supremacy and terror. Dehumanizing behavior. Systemic racism. Everywhere. Every day. African Americans …
Separate and NOT Equal: COVID in Europe and America
COVID-19 has been called the "Great Equalizer." This statement has certainly been proven untrue between individuals and among the different economic, racial, and ethnic segments of society. …
Gratitude Meditations for Juneteenth and Beyond
The Covid-19 pandemic. Police Violence. White supremacy and terror. Dehumanizing events. Micro-aggressions. Systemic racism. Everywhere. Every day. …
A Nigerian Fable on Gratitude
Gratitude can be taught and learned in different ways. "The Hunter and the Antelope" is a fable from Nigeria in which different animals teach the importance of gratitude to a crocodile. The …
All Oppression is Wrong: The Neglected Struggles of the Black LGBTQ Community
We are celebrating Pride Month. Pride Month is so important because it acknowledges huge change for the LGBT+ community, as well as the wider societal implications. This is positive and …
Who are America's Black Founders?
America's original Founders--Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, and others--were revolutionaries and resisters. They created a new nation but also a new …
How the Black Lives Matter Movement Began and Why
Since George Floyd's murder, Black Lives Matter has received a lot of attention from many sources: media, politicians, athletes, and ordinary people. …
How to Decolonize Educational Systems Now
Systemic racism is widely recognized and is (finally) being fought and dismantled. Around the world, people are protesting against racism and racial …
The Growing Controversy of Wearing Masks to Stop Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has a new star on the scene: the mask. In the midst of fear and isolation during the lockdown as well as people wondering who …
How Elder Law Protects and Empowers Senior Citizens
The fastest-growing demographic worldwide is the senior population. People are living longer and more are staying healthy as they age. Yet …
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