This Week in Black History, Society, and Culture
"This Week in Black History, Society, and Culture" is a monthly podcast produced by Dr. Hettie V. Williams Professor of History in the Department of History and Anthropology at Monmouth University. Williams is the author of several essays, articles, book chapters and the author/editor of seven books. Her research interests include African American intellectual and cultural history, women's history, and race/ethnic studies. She is also the former director of the Trotter Institute for the Study of Black Culture at UMass Boston. Williams periodically interviews scholars, authors, activists, and community leaders on matters related to the history, society, and culture of Black and African American communities in the United States (U.S.) and the world. These podcast episodes are on a variety of subjects including, but not limited to, higher education, economics, criminal justice, reparations, mental health, history, science, gender, popular culture, women, and politics. A new episode will be released monthly on Monday mornings from September to May during each academic term.
Episodes
74 episodes
Barbara Jordan: She Changed the Nation
This week Dr. Hettie V. Williams is in conversation with Dr. Mary Ellen Curtis about her recent book She Changed the Nation: Barbara Jordan’s Life and Legacy in Black Politics (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2025). Williams is a pro...
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Season 7
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Episode 2
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48:47
The Rise and Fall of the House of Diggs
This week Dr. Hettie V. Williams is in conversation with Dr. Marion Orr about his recent book House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America’s Most Consequential Black Congressman, Charles C. Diggs, Jr (University of North Carolina Press...
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Season 7
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Episode 1
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57:52
Women of Color in Academia
This is the finale episode of season 6. In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses women of color in the academy with Drs. Zaneta Rago-Craft and Nicole Pulliam. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history in the Department of...
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Season 6
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Episode 11
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1:07:20
The Black Athlete Revolt: A Conversation with Shaun M. Anderson
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses Black athletes, political protest, and social justice with Shaun M. Anderson. Williams is an Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University located in West Long Branch, New J...
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Season 6
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Episode 10
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54:34
Jumping the Broom: A Conversation with Tyler D. Parry
Season 6, Episode 9In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses the broomstick wedding ritual with Tyler D. Parry. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University located in West Long Branch, Ne...
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Season 6
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Episode 9
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52:32
Origins and Impact of Hip Hop
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses the origins and impact of hip hop with Anwar Uhuru as part of a series of episodes to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monm...
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Season 6
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Episode 8
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1:02:46
The African Presence in Latin American Culture
In this episode Hettie V. Williams discusses the African Presence in Latin America with Luis Mora-Ballesteros. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University. Mora-Ballesteros is Lecturer of Spanish and Liter...
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Season 6
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Episode 7
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41:43
The Golden Age of Hip Hop
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses the Golden Age of Hip Hop in the 1980s and 1990s with Professor Claude Taylor. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University. Taylor is Director for Academic Tra...
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Season 6
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Episode 6
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58:22
Fear of a Black Republic
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses Haiti and Black internationalism with Leslie M. Alexander. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University. Alexander is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor ...
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Season 6
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Episode 5
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1:01:11
Black in Graduate School
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses Black in graduate school with Lauren T. Rorie. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University and Rorie is currently an adjunct professor in the perspectives prog...
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Season 6
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Episode 4
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1:01:35
The Black Church in Film and Culture
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses the Black Church in film and television with Dr. Anwar Uhuru. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University and Uhuru is Assistant Professor in the Department of...
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Season 6
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Episode 3
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58:51
Mentoring and African Culture
In this episode Hettie V. Williams discusses mentoring and the African/African American experience with Julius O. Adekunle. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University and Adekunle is Professor of African ...
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Season 6
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Episode 2
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51:22
Black Men and Policing
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses race, masculinity, Black men, and policing with Dr. Karanja Keita Carroll. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University and Carroll is a Lecturer in Black and L...
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Season 6
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Episode 1
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53:44
Empowering Young Black Males: A Conversation with Vernon Smith
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses empowering young Black males with Dr. Vernon Smith. Williams is an Associate Professor of African American History in the Department of History and Anthropology at Monmouth University and Smith is A...
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Season 5
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Episode 11
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52:54
Race and Gender in Bey's Renaissance: A Conversation with Anwar Uhuru
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses race, gender, and sexuality in Renaissance by Beyonce Knowles with Dr. Anwar Uhuru. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University and Uhuru is Assistant Professo...
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Season 5
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Episode 10
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57:07
This is My Jail: A Conversation with Melanie D. Newport
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses jailing and mass incarceration with Dr. Melanie D. Newport. Williams is Associate Professor of African American History at Monmouth University and Newport is an Assistant Professor of history at the...
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Season 5
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Episode 9
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57:20
Black Music Past and Present: A Conversation with Guthrie Ramsey
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses Black music, culture, and criticism with Dr. Guthrie Ramsey. Williams is Associate Professor of African American History at Monmouth University and Ramsey is Emeritus Professor of Music at the Unive...
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Season 5
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Episode 8
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59:47
Black Women and Roller Skating
In this episode, Hettie. V. Williams discusses Black women and roller skating with Lauren T. Rorie. Williams is Associate Professor of African American History at Monmouth University and Rorie is an Adjunct Instructor in the Interdisciplinary P...
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Season 5
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Episode 7
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44:04
Black Soldiers and their Families During the Civil War Era
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses Black soldiers and families through the Civil War era with Holly A. Pinheiro, Jr. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University and Pinheiro is Assistant Profess...
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Season 5
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Episode 6
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58:03
The Great Migration and Asbury Park
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses a short documentary film on Asbury Park, New Jersey titled “The Great Migration and Asbury Park” with Erin Fleming, and Claude Taylor. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at ...
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Season 5
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Episode 5
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54:12
Masters of Health: Slavery and Racial Thinking in Medical Schools
In this episode Dr. Hettie V. Williams is in conversation with Christopher Willoughby. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history in the Department of History at Monmouth University. Willoughby is a Visiting Assistant Professor...
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Season 5
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Episode 4
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59:32
Black and Asian Solidarity Part II
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses Black and Asian solidarity with Dr. Zaneta Rago-Craft founding Director of the Intercultural Center at Monmouth University. Dr. Z identifies as multiracial and tells us some about her own Asian ance...
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Season 5
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Episode 3
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53:17
Black and Asian Solidarity Part I
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams discusses Black and Asian solidarity with Dr. Rekha Datta. This conversation is a part of a series that will run on This Week over the next season of the show. Williams is Associate Professor of African Ameri...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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1:07:29
Race and Media in Brazil
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams is in discussion with Reighan Gillam about race and media in Brazil. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth University and Gillam is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at ...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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1:01:54
The Criminalization of Black Youth
In this episode, Hettie V. Williams is in discussion with Professor Kristin Henning about the criminalization of Black youth in the U.S. and the juvenile justice system. Williams is Associate Professor of African American history at Monmouth Un...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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53:48