Colors: A Dialogue on Race in America
Society & Culture
About
Colors is the 2025 winner of the Belva Davis Award, presented by the SAG-AFTRA American Scene Awards. Colors is a frank discussion about race. Join JJ Green, who is black and guests of different racial backgrounds as they discuss the challenges the nation faces as it struggles to heal and make meaningful changes for racial equality. It's a safe, non-judgmental, apolitical space to discuss race. Join us.
Episodes
- Remembering Cuba:The Story of Roxy Lohuis and her life in Florida
Roxy, who points out that she is Cuban, not Cuban-American, grew up in New York and New Jersey. But she, like most Cubans, she says, ended up in South Florida because she was drawn there. As she's grown and thrived there, she says it's imp…
- From Memphis to Washington: Dina Curtis on Memory, Race, and America’s New Struggle
In this episode of Colors: A Dialogue on Race in America , Dina Curtis traces her family’s journey from Mound Bayou, Mississippi, the oldest continuously all-Black town in the U.S. and the civil rights legacy of Memphis to her adult life i…
- Seattle’s Leadership Test: Mayor Katie Wilson and Communities of Color
Naomi Ishisaka, columnist with The Seattle Times breaks down her sit-down with Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, offering a clear look at how the city’s leadership is navigating public safety, inequality, and community demands. The conversation…
- 241 | The Voices That Built Us: Confronting Power, Memory, and the Ancestors We Choose
In this episode, JJ Green speaks with William H. Lamar IV, pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church and author of Ancestors , about how the past continues to shape power, identity, and decision-making today. Lamar makes a…
- 240 | Inside the Coverage of Race in America
Melissa Hellmann, senior reporter on the Guardian US's race and equity team joins us to update us on the top stories related to race in U.S., her travels and her career. And she's give us some thoughts about race in America, right now. Twe…
- 239 | Mahogany Books — Joy, Resistance, and the Power of Being Seen
Mahogany Books was built on a simple but urgent idea: make Black books accessible—no matter where you live. For Derrick and Ramunda, that mission is personal. From growing up near Tulsa’s historic Black Wall Street without ever being taugh…
- 238 | Victoria Sanchez: Journalism, Identity, and the Responsibility to Tell the Whole Story
A substitute teacher once told her, “You’re in charge.” Years later, Victoria Sanchez reflects on heritage, newsroom bias, disinformation, and the duty to elevate every voice in America’s story. From a high school broadcast class to anchor…
- 237 | The Noise War How to Find the Truth When Everything Is Lying to You
We are living through the most aggressive information war in history—and most people don’t even know they’re in it. It impacts people of all races, ages, identities and persuasions. The Noise War Handbook, written by Colors host J.J. Green…
- 236 | 400 Years Forward: Dr. Wanda Tucker’s Journey Home
In this episode, Dr. Wanda Tucker shares her extraordinary story as a direct descendant of the first African child born in the English colonies. From Hampton University to Angola, she retraces her family’s path from enslavement to resilien…
- The Hate-Symbol Reversal That Shook Up the Military
The U.S. Coast Guard has walked back a contentious policy change on hate symbols after public reporting revealed an internal draft that softened restrictions on displaying swastikas and nooses. Veterans, Jewish organizations, and members o…
- Colors Wins the Belva Belva Davis Award from SAG-AFTRA's American Scene Awards
We go behind the scenes. In this special episode of Colors: A Dialogue on Race in America , we reflect on an extraordinary milestone—winning the 2025 Belva Davis News and Broadcast Award from SAG-AFTRA's American Scene Awards. Born from he…
- 233 | Targeted at Home: Natasha Ghoneim on Race, Roots, and Resilience
When veteran international journalist Natasha Ghoneim returned to Iowa City, the town where she grew up as “the little brown girl,” she didn’t expect to be reminded what that label still meant. But at a neighborhood gas station, a simple m…
- 232 | UNDER THE GUN: The Albany Park Encounter
Illinois State Representative Hoan Huynh says on October 21, 2025, he was surrounded by six armed federal agents in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood after he tried to warn his community about a possible ICE raid. What happened next has s…
- 231 | Tortured Justice: The Burge Legacy
For more than two decades, a shadow hung over Chicago’s South Side; a police commander named John Burge and his so-called “midnight crew.” Their legacy: more than 110 Black men tortured into confessions, decades stolen, and a city complici…
- 230 | Two Classes of Americans: Texas State House Rep. Gene Wu speaks out on Texas SB-17
We’re joined by Texas State Representative Gene Wu, Minority Leader and Chair of the Democratic Caucus. In his thirteenth year in the House, Wu is sounding the alarm on Texas Senate Bill 17, a new law he says revives “anti‑alien land” rest…
- 229 | "Plain Jayne", Extraordinary Life: A Conversation with Jayne Kennedy - Part Two
In Part 2 of our special Colors: A Dialogue on Race in America series, Jayne Kennedy opens up about the most difficult chapter of her life — a season of heartbreak, isolation, and doubt that nearly silenced her. But what makes her story ex…
- 228 | "Plain Jayne", Extraordinary Life: A Conversation with Jayne Kennedy - Part One
Jayne Kennedy is more than a trailblazer—she’s a cultural force who has broken barriers in beauty, sports, television, and film. From Miss Ohio to Hollywood, from Bob Hope’s world tours to making history on The NFL Today , her journey has…
- 227 | Courts, Treaties, and Power — A Conversation with John Echohawk
On this episode of COLORS, we’re joined by John Echohawk—a citizen of the Pawnee Nation and the co-founder/longtime executive director of the Native American Rights Fund, the legal backbone behind hard-won advances in tribal sovereignty, t…
- 226 | "Reclaiming Roots: Darren Brown’s Journey Home"
He was adopted as a baby—his roots, a mystery. Years later, a search began… And what he found changed everything. Darren Brown’s journey into his Native American heritage is raw, real, and unforgettable. And he's back with part two of his…
- 225 | Dr. Dana Williams discusses her new book about Toni Morrison
In this compelling episode, we sit down with literary scholar and author Dana A. Williams to explore her new book, Toni at Random . Best known as a Nobel Prize-winning novelist, Toni Morrison also spent over a decade as a formidable editor…
- 224 | Richard Prince, legendary journalist and DEI advocate
In this episode we talk with newly inducted SPJ Hall of Fame journalist Richard Prince —a legendary voice in American media and a tireless advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. From his groundbreaking column “Journal-isms” to deca…
- 223 | What is... Colors?
Colors: A Dialogue on Race in America is a fearless, deeply human podcast that cuts through noise and cliché to confront the raw realities of race, identity, and power in America. Hosted by veteran journalist JJ Green, Colors blends invest…
- 222 | The 5th Anniversary Show
"Five years ago, America was in anguish. The killing of George Floyd didn’t just break hearts—it broke something deeper. It shattered illusions. It exposed truths that were too often ignored, too easily silenced. Out of that pain, Colors w…
- 221 | Dr. Wayne Curtis "Never Judge a book by its cover"
They say first impressions matter — but they’re not always right. You’ve heard the phrase, “don’t judge a book by its cover,” and it holds true far beyond the pages of a novel. Someone’s appearance, voice, or background might tell part of…
- 220 | Status of Race in America
Susan Goodier, a white female resident of New York and New Mexico is struggling with the resurgence of "racism". So she's taking action. She shares what she's doing to contribute to improving the situation. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Che…
- 219 | The State of Race in America in 2025
Gretchen Sorin is distinguished professor and director of the Cooperstown Graduate Program of the State University of New York and the author of Driving While Black. She has some deep concerns about where America's racial scene is today. T…
- 218 | Anti-DEI Incident at NSA
Larry Pfeiffer, Larry Pfeiffer is the director of the Hayden Center, overseeing its development, operations, and activities. He's a former National Security Agency Executive and talks to us about a very unfortunate anti-DEI incident at NSA…
- 217 | A Call to African American Men
Wade Dugger from the Washington D.C. area, a man of faith, says it's time to put that faith into action as anti-DEI and racist movements and actions spring up. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Check out our partner program on international aff…
- 216 | Remembering Dimitri Sotis
Mike Jakaitis, who like I, knew our colleague, the great WTOP radio news Anchor Dimitri Sotis for more than 30 years, joins us to honor Dimitri. Dimitri was a huge supporter of Colors and appeared on this program. He passed away suddenly o…
- 215 | The Trump Deportation "Round Up"
Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera joins is to put in context the impact the Trump 2.0 deportation efforts is having on people and the country. She is a Professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. Her areas of…
- 214 | The Los Angeles Fires - PART TWO
Filmmaker Pablo Miralles, lost his home in the Eaton. He reflects on what he lost, what he's grateful for, the amazing neighborhood he came from in Altadena. He also shares a great story about his film "Can't We All Get Along", about Rodne…
- 213 | The Los Angeles Fires
Everette Jordan grew up in Altadena, California. He now lives on the east coast, but he's still active in that community and has family there. He talks about the heartbreak, the devastation and the resilience of Altadena. Tweet us at @podc…
- 212 | Immigrantly Media with Saadia Khan
The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. Saadia, founder of Immigrantly media talks to us about why she started the company and what they do. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Check out our partner program on international affairs, Global with JJ Gr…
- 211 | Diane Butts: A Portrait of Success
Diane is also known as Diane Britt-Smith. You've seen her on television, in fashion magazines and probably on Instagram. She's an amazing storyteller, actor, model and she's really good at it all. She talks to us about her life experience…
- 210 | The election, Kamala Harris and the Black church
Clyde McGrady, National Correspondent on Race with New York Times talks about the impact of the Black church on V.P. Kamala Harris' presidential campaign and vice versa. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Check out our partner program on interna…
- 209 | Jimmy Russell, Gospel musician
Jimmy Russell, an amazingly talented musician originally from Washington, DC talks about his life, career, drumming, singing and the healing force of music. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Check out our partner program on international affair…
- 208 | The quest for dignity and truth for Fortune, an enslaved African-American man
John Mills, President and one of the founders of the Alex Breanne Corporation, rejoins us with an update about efforts to honor the man whose bones have had a major impact on American medicine. But some how we still don't know his first na…
- 207 | The #BlackProstateCancerCheckChallenge
Charles Kwesi Neblett, President of Community Projects Inc. explains what it is and why it's so important to all Black men and their families and friends. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Check out our partner program on international affairs,…
- 206 | Tuskegee Airmen | Yvonne Mcgee talks about her life in the organization
McGee is the daughter of the late Tuskegee Airman, Brigadier General Charles McGee. She talks about his accomplishments and shares how she has made a name for herself in the organization as Co-chair of the Youth in Aviation Program (YIAP)…
- 205 | Lead in the water at schools is a big problem -still.
Silvia Foster Frau, National Investigative Reporter with the Washington Post joins us to discuss her what she reported recently. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Check out our partner program on international affairs, Global with JJ Green on S…
- 204 | The Tuskegee Airmen
101 year old Lt. Col. Shelton "Ivan" Ware, an original member of the famed organization, joins us to discuss his military and Black-American experience. An amazing, funny, very thought provoking interview. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Chec…
- 203 | Race in America through the eyes of a young Black female journalist
Cheyenne Corin, from Philadelphia talks about her challenges as a young female journalist of color and gives some advice to others facing those same challenges. She also talks about family, how she grew up and the impact on her life. Tweet…
- 202 | Race in America and the race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump
Shawn Turner, a former White House staffer and national security professional, discusses race in America during the 2024 Presidential election cycle. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Check out our partner program on international affairs, Glob…
- 201 | What to say to people who say stuff like "the earth is flat"?
I asked Dr. Christopher Paul what to do? He is the Naval Postgraduate School inaugural Chair for Information. He's an expert in countering disinformation and misinformation. He essentially said the first thing to do is meet them where they…
- 200 | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion gains being reversed
Naomi Ishisaka is The Seattle Times ' assistant managing editor for diversity, inclusion and staff development. Her column "One of the biggest myths about racism, revealed" indicates a lot of people think racism is just "history". This is…
- 199 | What triggered the violent protests in Kenya and why the U.S needs to pay attention
Dr. Auma Obama, the founder and chairwoman of the Auma Obama Foundation Sauti Kuu, joins us to explain what happened and why westerners -especially Americans need to may attention. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Check out our partner program…
- 198 | Empowering Asian-American women
Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke is a nationally recognized civil rights leader and a member of USA Today’s Inaugural Leaders of Change. As President & CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS). She joins us…
- 197 | Alarming number of Black males dying in Baltimore's senior homes
Alissa Zhu, of the Baltimore Banner joins us to talk about her and her colleagues story chilling story for the NYT; and why this is happening. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/03/us/baltimore-opioid-epidemic-seniors.html Tweet us at @podcas…
- 196 | Colors is now four years old
We go back to our very 1st episode on June 11th 2020 for perspective on how it all started. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Check out our partner program on international affairs, Global with JJ Green on Substack. Please subscribe. Email us a…
- 195 | Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh
Sabrina Singh talks to Colors about growing up as a 1st generation Indian-American, her background culture and interests. And she talks about one of her favorite things to do. Tweet us at @podcastcolors . Check out our partner program on i…