Shelley’s Plumbline
In construction, a plumbline is a weight suspended from a string used as a tool to find the true reference line. A plumbline will always find the vertical axis pointing to the center of gravity, ensuring everything is right, justified, and centered.
Pulling from a library of more than 3,000 shows from his storied career in broadcasting, Shelley's Plumbline leads us in a search for the truth, opening the channels of communication and understanding on tough social topics that are as relevant today as they were 40 years ago.
Join us as we explore the past, compare it to today, and craft a better future.
Episodes
104 episodes
Happy Heavenly Birthday to Sam Stewart
April 29 is a special day in Shelley's life. It is the birthday of his younger brother, Sam. Join us as Shelley shares an interview from 1994 with his brother Sam, just two weeks before his passing.
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Season 9
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Episode 9
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38:19
A Reunion with the Son of Mr Clyde
Hey Plumbliners, we’ve often talked about Mr Clyde – the man who took Shelley in when he was living in Stringfellows Stable. Well, a few weeks ago Shelley had a reunion with Mr Clyde’s son. Stay tuned and we’ll tell you all about it.
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Season 9
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Episode 2
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23:09
Shelley's Back!
Hey Plumbliners. Welcome to Season 9 of the Plumbline! Let’s take a walk out to the back porch and hear some of Shelley’s reflections on his 90 years of life. Get ready, Shelley is back!
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Season 9
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Episode 1
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32:08
"The Playboy" Fights for Human Rights (Rebroadcast)
This week, Shelley expands on the story of his growing popularity as a radio personality. He fought for equality in access and pay at the radio stations where he worked. And he shares stories about meeting and working with Dr King well before h...
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Season 8
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Episode 14
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30:44
The Back Porch: Race, Racism and Happiness (Rebroadcast)
Hey Plumbliners, This week, we rebroadcast an episode we first released in June 2024. Shelley and I shared our experiences learning about race and racism. Then, we touched upon the topic of happiness. Stayed tuned. It's worth another listen.
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Season 8
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Episode 13
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25:11
Should We End Black History Month? (Rebroadcast)
Black History Month has been celebrated for decades as a time to honor and recognize the contributions and achievements of Black individuals throughout history. However, some argue that relegating Black history to a single month perpetuates seg...
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Season 8
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Episode 12
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39:16
Shelley Reflects on Black History Month and Racism (Rebroadcast)
Today, we re-share an episode from 2023. Shelley shares his personal insights on the overt and not-so-overt signs that racism is still evident in America today.Stay tuned as the plumbline seeks the truth.
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Season 8
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Episode 11
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27:48
Hate Crimes (Rebroadcast)
Hey Plumbliners. This is Mark Jamroz, producer of Shelley’s Plumbline. Just a few days ago, on January 27th, Shelley and I celebrated what would have been the 93rd birthday of his brother Jerome, affectionally known as Bubba. To continue that c...
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Season 8
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Episode 10
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37:50
Rare Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King (Rebroadcast)
As we continue the retrospective of Shelley's Plumbline, and in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day, we are rebroadcasting an episode from Season 3. They feature some rare recordings of
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Season 8
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Episode 9
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38:32
Interview with Hosea Williams: Did the Dream of Dr King Become a Nightmare? (Rebroadcast)
Dr. King's legacy inspired generations of activists and leaders, and his contributions continue to be recognized and celebrated today as a beacon of hope and progress. But Dr. King had a premonition about his death, and he warned the members of...
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Season 8
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Episode 8
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35:29
Internalized Racism (Rebroadcast)
Hey, Plumbliners. As we rewind through some of our most popular podcasts, we couldn’t overlook our very first. It was published on April 17, 2023. And it’s about Internalized Racism. Take a listen.
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36:55
Rebroadcast of The Last Interview with Eddie Kendricks
Happy New Year, Plumbliners! Welcome to the year 2025!We are planning for great things in this new year, but before we get started, we wanted to look back. So, for the next few weeks, we will be rebroadcasting some of YOUR favorite Plumb...
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Season 8
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Episode 6
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45:50
"The Colored Doctor," Dr Cashen
In this episode, we continue our conversation from last week, when Shelley and Ezekwa discuss the effects of the Willie Lynch letter with Dr Cashen, a one-time candidate for governor of Alabama on the independent ticket.
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Season 8
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Episode 5
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37:47
Ezekwa Abdullah Discusses Willie Lynch in the Late 90s
Today we pick up on the theme of the Willie Lynch letter, but in a different time and place. Stay tuned as we hear an interview from 1997 with Ezekwa Abdullah.
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Season 8
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Episode 4
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48:41
The Legend of Willie Lynch
Whether the Willie Lynch letter is real or not, the content of the message remains very much intact today. Seeding division among an audience is a way to get them fighting amongst themselves, which makes them easier to control from the outside....
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Season 8
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Episode 3
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34:18
George Subira: Teaching Black People to Sell.
Today, Shelley continues his search for the truth on the topic of selling. It is often an occupation that is looked on with disdain, yet nothing can happen without it. Whether it’s an idea or a product, we are all selling something.
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Season 8
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Episode 2
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38:23
The Immigration Story of George Sarris
Today, Shelley shares an interview from 1991 with George Sarris. Mr. Sarris was an immigrant from Greece who eventually developed a small empire of seafood restaurants in and around the Birmingham, Alabama, area. He discusses how the Greek comm...
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Season 8
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Episode 1
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38:07
Charles Gray and the Re-Education of Our Children
This week, Shelley once again shines the light on the importance of education as he shares a recording from 1991 of a speech given by Charles Gray on the Re-Education of our Children.
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Season 7
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Episode 20
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37:54
Bubba's Sacrifice, Georgia Price and Voting Rights
As election week finally rolls around, Shelley recalls the ultimate sacrifice that was made by his bother Jerome in Korea. He also talks about Georgia Price and others who, in the late 50s and mid-60s, paved the way for the movement toward equa...
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34:19