Today · Jonthan Hickson

Do the right thing

October 30, 2021·36 min·3 clips

Hickson questions why Black communities spend trillions but fail to build their own neighborhoods and businesses.

This compilation of late October and early November 2021 Grown Folks Talk installments by Baltimore host Jonathan Hicks begins with a movie that showed a successful female lawyer undermining her boyfriends by providing too much. Hicks asks whether an independent contractor or landscaper in that dynamic feels neglected when his partner sees more potential in him. He then recounts a dream about giving restaurant directions that pivots into a plea for Black Americans to return to the open, welcoming spirit of their forefathers rather than acting like an angry race. On Sunday he reflects on retirement, admitting he didn't prepare as he wanted but feels in a good space, thanking God. On Monday he turns political, noting that America has abused Black people for decades while newcomers arrive and receive opportunities right away. He argues drugs are deliberately sent into Black neighbourhoods, contrasts the 'hip uptown' ghetto of his youth with today's run-down streets and Korean-owned stores, and calls for reinvestment in Black-owned businesses. He touches on the Virginia governor's race and says he will not vote again if Donald Trump is allowed to run, criticising the Republican Party's fear of Trump and Biden's performance. On Wednesday he describes hearing Tupac's 'Keep Ya Head Up' on his drive to work and being caught by the verse about sisters on welfare, which turned him around on rap music despite having disliked Biggie and Tupac at the time. He refuses to use the word ghetto anymore, preferring 'inner city', and reminisces about deacons who would pray and sing in church. On Thursday he talks COVID, admitting he plans to take a booster shot despite initial hesitation, and urges listeners to get tested. He references Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and NBA player Kyrie Irving around vaccine discussion. On Friday he responds to racial discrimination allegations against Phoenix Suns leadership, arguing the NBA only investigates such stories when a once-struggling team starts winning and that workplaces have become so defined people would rather suffer than work. On Saturday he talks about car shopping, naming a Jaguar F-Pace, a small Mercedes, and a Volkswagen ID as options, and laments losing a D.C. property over 30 years ago that he believes could have helped him build generational wealth. He closes with a message about enjoying family and being proud of one's family line.

As heard by us

A rambling but revealing talk about care, pride, family, and what it means to look after the people close to you.

A loose morning monologue moves from a movie to a Tupac verse to a family memory, using those details to turn over pride, care, masculinity, and the duty of looking after people close to home.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want a morning talk that wanders from a movie prompt to bigger questions about relationships, church, and family.

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