Mass Incarceration

  • Top 40 Over 40.28: Matana Roberts, Coin Coin Chapter Four: Memphis

    Yes, social media can be a waste of time, and a low self esteem machine. Yes, it facilitates hate and social sniping. But – with a good roster of musical friends it can also introduce you to a lot of great new music – both in the sense of just released, and new-to-you. My latest…

  • Top 40 Over 40.26: Homeboy Sandman & Edan’s “The Gut”

    My favorite track to come out over the past year or so is from the album Humble Pi, which is a collaboration between two great artists, Homeboy Sandman and Edan.   There’s a big contrast here between the discographies of these two guys:  Homeboy Sandman’s been putting out records regularly over the last dozen years,…

  • Durham wins one vs. Mass Incarceration

    Good news is available here via our city’s City Life program about reforms that are working to remove barriers that people who have been involved with the justice system face when looking for work and getting a driver’s license. Congratulations to Outreach Coordinator Chuck Manning Sr. and Team Project Manager Ryan Smith, a former colleague…

  • R.I.P., MCA.1

    I’d like to express my respect for the late MCA’s work by sharing some thoughts his passing brought to mind about an aspect of his life that many of referred to but few focus on at length, which is his interest in and practice of Buddhist teachings.  I didn’t learn about Buddhism from MCA, and…