Browse shows on: Motor City and Motown
The automobile promoted an industry, a culture, and a complex multicultural community of migrants from the South and immigrants from abroad, a mixture of profit and communitarian ideals that describes Detroit's unique position in the American urban dynamic. These ABJ shows reflect on black Detroit, the automobile as its signature icon, and its modern significance in American life.
Coal Strike (1978)Guests: Helen Huddleston, Burdette Crowe, Len Gross, John Hutchinson, Wayne Busby, Alec Meiklejohn, Kathy Busby, Cecil Roberts, Mike Meares, John Huddleston, Jane English
Host : Ron Scott
Producer : Ron Scott
Duration: 00:26:20
Description: This program is unusual in the Detroit Black Journal series in that it takes on a topic that does not, on the surface, appear to be directly related to Detroit or African Americans. Nevertheless, it shows the scope of the program's interests.
Dave Bing and Earl Graves (1986)Guests: Dave Bing, Earl Graves
Host : Ed Gordon
Producer : Dianne Atkinson-Hudson
Description: The search for economic autonomy and self-determination has long been an important concern in the African American community. This 1986 program explores the state of that search through a discussion between host Ed Gordon and two prominent African American businessmen: Earl Graves, editor and publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine, and Dave Bing, president of Bing Steel and a former member of the Detroit Pistons.
Motown Revue Reunion (1989)Guests: Johnny Bristol, Sylvia Moy, Ian Levine, the Satintone, the Velvelettes
Host : Trudy Gallant
Producer : Tony Mottley
Description: In 1989, a British record producer who had grown up listening to the hits of Detroit's Motown Records during the 1960s decided to bring together many of the old groups together for to make a series of new recordings. In this program, host Trudy Gallant interviews the producer, Ian Levine, and two of the former Motown songwriters - Sylvia Moy and Johnny Bristol - who were involved in the new project.
Detroit Public Housing (1992)Guests: Bob Armstrong, Kevin Fobbs, Keith Butler, Ruth Williams
Host : Cliff Russell
Producer : Carlota Almanza
Duration: 0:28:48
Description: This episode focuses on the problems of public housing in Detroit.
Detroit Auto Industry (1993)Guests: Theresa Jones, Charles Harrell, Mel Farr, Nathan Conyers
Host : Cliff Russell
Producer : Carlota Almanza
Duration: 0:27:56
Description: Originally broadcast in January 1993, the program consists of a roundtable discussion, moderated by host Cliff Russell, between four prominent African American auto dealers from the Detroit area: Mel Farr, a former star athlete with the Detroit Lions, owner of Mel Farr Ford, and chairman of the Black Auto Dealers Association; Charles Harrell, owner of Harrell Chevrolet; Theresa Jones, owner of Northwestern Dodge and former director of nursing at Henry Ford Hospital; and Nathan Conyers, owner of Riverside Ford. This program explores the status and progress of African Americans in the U.S. auto industry as the owners of auto dealerships.
Berry Gordy (1994)Guests: Berry Gordy
Host : Darryl Wood [bio]Darrell Wood hosted the show for ten years from 1988 to 1998 under the title American Black Journal. His shows sought to focus on the skills and talents of many of the nation's leading African-American business people to public television.
Click for full biography
Producer : Tony Mottley
Duration: 0:27:47
Description: Founder of Motown Records, Berry Gordy is a legend in Detroit and around the country. Broadcast in 1994 as part of Gordy's tour to promote his autobiography, "To Be Loved," host Darryl Wood talks with Gordy about the early days of his career.
