In this week's podcast, Dr. Ricky Jones calls out modern efforts to roll back Civil Rights gains. The discussion highlights the systematic underfunding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the use of anti-affirmative action and anti-DEI movements to restrict Black student access and support at predominantly white institutions. 

We discuss how the real value of education is not economic profit, but rather its power to create critically thinking individuals who are capable of examining and challenging the society in which they live. 

The segment concludes with a consensus that the current lack of critical thinking, fueled by miseducation, is allowing the media to manipulate the masses.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This episode of Shelley's Plumbline explores the question of what we, as Black men and a people, have done wrong in the ongoing struggle for equality? 

Stewart frames this introspection with painful memories of childhood segregation and being told he was "wrong" simply because of his color. Dr. Jones refines the query into two parts: "What is wrong with blackness" that the country treats Black people the way it does, and what tactical mistakes have been made in addressing these issues, such as the push for integration or traditional politics. 

Shelley also recounts his experience as a broadcaster confronting racism, often facing criticism from others in the Black community who accused him of "stirring up trouble" or being wrong for speaking his mind.

The conversation emphasizes the critical difference between external criticism and self-critique, with Dr. Jones warning against the narcissism of people who only discuss wrongs done to them, not wrongs they have committed. 

Stewart shares a powerful personal story illustrating his decades-long commitment to justice: he was so disturbed by a white preacher using the radio airwaves to promote segregation, arguing that "black birds and white birds" don't fly together, that he eventually bought the station to take the message off the air.

 The co-hosts connect this generational struggle to modern challenges, noting that the community solidarity seen in the Civil Rights era has fractured, attributing the decline in part to Black people buying "lock, stock, and barrel into American individualism."

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week on Shelley's Plumbline, we look into the true meaning of war, questioning the moral center of American conflicts, and suggesting that the biggest challenge today is simply survival in America. 

The discussion exposes America's "masterful lie" of liberty and justice for all, highlighting the historical and ongoing racial injustice faced by Black veterans returning from conflicts. 

The speakers assert that white supremacy has created a generation unaware that America is currently losing a race war. Listen as the hosts warn that the failure of leaders to confront these terrifying realities is a danger we can no longer afford to deny, leading to the philosophical question: "If you knew better, would you do better?"

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this week's podcast, we continue our interview featuring Candis Bonner, a top writer for the major magazine Black Radio Exclusive.

We focus on the history and evolution of the Black radio industry. Bonner explains that Black radio was not homogeneous across the US, and her publication was often ahead of the curve in predicting music trends because it was dedicated to the industry when general trades neglected it. 

We discuss the historical power of influential local Black radio personalities, who could previously mobilize thousands of people for community action. However, this local power ultimately diminished because syndicated shows, driven by money, diluted the influence of these strong local voices.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week's podcast features guest Candis Bonner, who shares a conversation about lifelong friendship and the evolution of Black media.

Friendship Loss and Reunion
We discuss the pain of losing friends and the rarity of true friendship. Shelley recounts the emotional reunion with his lifelong friend, Jimmy, after 10 years of separation following his homelessness at age 7.

Black Radio Industry History
Candis Bonner, Jimmy’s daughter, shares stories of her career path from Michigan State to a top writer for Black Radio Exclusive in Los Angeles. The episode discusses that syndicated shows, driven by money, ultimately dilute the power of influential local Black radio personalities who could mobilize cities.

Current State of Black Media
Shelley and Candis Bonner agree that effective Black-owned media is virtually nonexistent today because Black-owned media cannot secure financial support or advertising from the business community. Ricky Jones expressed concern that the ongoing struggle is terrifying due to the absolute collapse of Black institutions and shrinking attention spans in younger adults.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week's episode of Shelley's Plumbline explores the opposition to Human Rights progress, including the anti-DEI movement and the inaction of the Black bourgeoisie, prompting a call for a desperate resurgence of the movement for freedom. 

Shelley and Ricky emphasize the crucial role of education, advocating for widespread reading and critical thinking as a necessary exercise to counter the shallowness of social media content. 

Shelley recounts a striking personal story about openly engaging with members of the Ku Klux Klan in their hometown.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week Shelley's Plumbline covers a debate on the Black Church's role in community unity and institutional strength, questioning if its historical influence on the community and youth still remains strong today. 

Shelley shares his concern about whether Black institutions like the church that once helped navigate racial struggles have weakened in that role. 

The discussion then addresses the ongoing fight for equality, emphasizing that awareness and responsibility are needed to address current racial conditions.

Support the show

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

The week's discussion centers on the pursuit of power, with Ricky and Shelley questioning the sustainability of the integration model and discussing the need for new political approaches, including "voluntary separation." 

We pay tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, remembering his dedication to "Education, hope, and the continuous fight for equality and power. 

Finally, we offer a critique of "late-stage capitalism" in America, which Ricky Jones argues is causing the economic collapse of institutions due to concentrated capital and systemic exploitation.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this episode, we dive into the pivotal moments that shaped our world—from the blackouts and segregation of the 1940s and post-war era, to the political earthquakes of Maynard Jackson’s and Coleman Young’s mayoral elections in Atlanta and Detroit. We compare the struggles for equality faced by figures like Reverend Jesse Jackson with the modern-day battles for DEI, ultimately asking: Is the core struggle still simply the fight for power and against "anti-blackness" in a system of "late-stage capitalism"?

Let's get started.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This episode concludes a four-part series on Dr. Carter G. Woodson and centers on the loss of the Black Old Guard, specifically honoring Reverend Jesse Jackson. A key point of discussion was the denial of Reverend Jackson lying in honor at the state capital, which the hosts connected to a broader historical erasure and ongoing attacks on education and historical acknowledgment. 

The hosts emphasized that confronting and learning from painful history, citing the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) Moment, is crucial for future progress. Finally, the conversation critiqued the negative impact of capitalism on higher education, arguing that the focus on "job-ready" students produces individuals who lack critical thinking skills.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week's episode continues our Black History Month series on Dr. Carter G. Woodson, whose rejection of the NAACP begs the question: Does the influence of funding to Black movements trigger the need for a "leadership audit" within Black organizations? 

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week's episode continues the focus on the life and ideology of Dr. Carter G. Woodson as part of a four-part Black History Month series. We open by marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of Negro History Week and re-ask Woodson’s provocative question from the 1940s: "Do we deserve to celebrate right now?" Woodson opined that celebration was unwarranted if Black people had not studied their history and contemporary situation to better understand what is really happening today.

Ricky discusses the historical necessity and proliferation of Black organizations post-1865, following emancipation. These groups, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the Niagara Movement, the NAACP, and the Urban League, were established as collective tools to ensure the well-being of Black men, women, and children against white supremacy, post-Reconstruction backlash, and challenges like Plessy v. Ferguson. 

The episode covers the historical friction among Black leaders and discusses Woodson's split with the NAACP in 1915. Woodson found the Washington D.C. branch, led by Archer Grimkey, to be "too moderate." After Grimkey refused his proposals to expand the branch’s operations, Woodson left, declaring, "I am a radical. I am ready to act if I can find brave men to help me."

Bringing the conversation to the modern day, the hosts cited recent brazen examples of racism and questioned the preparedness of contemporary Black organizations, including fraternities, sororities, the Black church, the NAACP, and the Urban League. 

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this special Black History Month episode of Shelley's Plumbline, executive producer Mark Jamroz and host Dr. Ricky Jones—son of the Radio Hall of Famer Shelley Stewart—share a conversation on Carter G. Woodson and the origins of Black History Month. 

The core of the conversation focuses on the legacy of Carter G. Woodson and the founding of Negro History Week, with Jones detailing Woodson's academic journey and his concerns about the miseducation of Black people. 

The episode ultimately challenges listeners to do their homework. Black people do not currently "deserve to celebrate" Black History Month and must commit to serious study and organization to earn the right to celebrate in 2027.

Are you ready to celebrate? Tune in and let us know.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

We join the nation in mourning the loss of civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin, who passed away on January 13, 2026, at the age of 86. In her honor, we are rebroadcasting this interview with her sister, Gloria Laster, originally broadcast on December 2, 2025.

The discussion centers on the overlooked role of Colvin, the 15-year-old arrested nine months before Rosa Parks for the same act of defiance.

 Laster recounts how Colvin was a plaintiff in the successful Browder v. Gale Supreme Court case that desegregated transportation but was intentionally excluded from the movement's public narrative.

The conversation details the factors that led organizers, including the NAACP, to choose Rosa Parks as the face of the movement. Unlike Colvin, Parks' adult status and "respectable" image were considered more palatable, while Colvin was sidelined due to her youth, dark skin tone, poor family background, and rumors of pregnancy (later clarified as having occurred after her arrest). The episode stresses that the initial idea for the bus boycott was driven by women whose efforts were later minimized when male leaders, including Martin Luther King, took over.

Shelley and Ricky Jones reflect on the ultimate disregard shown to many women of the movement, including Colvin and other plaintiffs like Mary Louise Smith and Aurelia Browder. They discuss how both Colvin and Rosa Parks were poorly treated by the male-dominated leadership, with Parks ultimately dying poor while their male counterparts gained prestigious positions. The episode sets the stage for a promised follow-up program, "Whatever Happened to Rosa Parks," to shed light on her struggles in the years after the Civil Rights Act.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Join Shelley's Plumbline for this powerful year-end recap, reflecting on the most impactful conversations of 2025, a year marked by the addition of co-host Dr. Ricky Jones. 

Jones’s arrival brought a new voice of depth and truth that resonated profoundly with listeners. The year’s second most downloaded episode, "Finding My Father," featured the emotional and deeply personal story that revealed Dr. Shelley Stewart is the father of Dr. Ricky Jones, a testament to the podcast's commitment to honesty and personal connection.

The discussions this year consistently moved beyond surface-level answers to confront tough questions about our culture and history. The podcast tackled the unfulfilled dream of Martin Luther King.

The episode “Racism Today” became the most downloaded of the year, examining how old policies are simply being “re-enacted” through new "code words" like the attack on DEI. The year also featured vital insights from guests like Marlon Keller on the importance of fatherhood, artist Erica Chisholm on using creativity to "speak truth to power," and Elijah Davis on sharing generational knowledge.

The episode honors the unsung heroes of history and celebrates a broadcasting giant. Gloria Laster, the sister of Claudette Colvin, offered a critical correction to the historical narrative, clarifying that her sister was not pregnant at the time of her famous bus protest. 

Finally, the year culminated with the well-deserved induction of Dr. Shelley Stewart into the Radio Hall of Fame, a milestone affirming his six-decade-plus career as an entertainer and an on-air voice of the Civil Rights movement across the Southeast. 

Looking ahead to 2026, we will stay curious, listen with empathy, speak with courage, and continue the journey to find the line that leads to the truth.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hello, Plumbliners!

Shelley, Mark and Ricky are going to take a break going into the holiday season. So today, we (re)present the most downloaded Plumbline episode of 2025, titled "Racism Today."

In this episode, Shelley, Mark and Ricky Jones launch into a powerful discussion on the enduring struggle against racism, arguing that while overt segregation is gone, it has transformed, with terms like DEI serving as "code words" for veiled racist policies. They explore the historical context of white supremacy, citing Abraham Lincoln's views on racial inequality, and stress the urgent need for continued, honest conversation about justice. The episode also covers modern dangers to society like greed and anti-intellectualism, and examines intra-racial dynamics and miseducation within the Black community. Listen, learn and share your thoughts.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, Shelley and Ricky focus their discussion on the ongoing disregard for both Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks after the bus boycott, noting Parks' financial struggles and the general minimization of women's contributions by male movement leaders. 

Shelley and Ricky share a broader contemporary critique, lamenting the societal decline in critical thinking and sacrifice, and analyzing how modern oppressive systems have adapted to be less overt but more dangerous. The Plumbline concludes by encouraging listeners to reflect on the history of Colvin and Parks to assess the current status of the Black community and the importance of thought and communication.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This episode of Shelley's Plumline, explores the 70th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott with special guest Gloria Laster, the older sister of Claudette Colvin. The discussion centers on the overlooked role of Colvin, the 15-year-old arrested nine months before Rosa Parks for the same act of defiance.

 Laster recounts how Colvin was a plaintiff in the successful Browder v. Gale Supreme Court case that desegregated transportation but was intentionally excluded from the movement's public narrative.

The conversation details the factors that led organizers, including the NAACP, to choose Rosa Parks as the movement's face. Unlike Colvin, Parks' adult status and "respectable" image were considered more palatable, while Colvin was sidelined due to her youth, dark skin tone, poor family background, and rumors of pregnancy (later clarified as having occurred after her arrest). The episode stresses that the initial idea for the bus boycott was driven by women whose efforts were later minimized when male leaders, including Martin Luther King, took over.

Shelley and Ricky Jones reflect on the ultimate disregard shown to many women of the movement, including Colvin and other plaintiffs like Mary Louise Smith and Aurelia Browder. They discuss how both Colvin and Rosa Parks were poorly treated by the male-dominated leadership, with Parks ultimately dying poor while their male counterparts gained prestigious positions. The episode sets the stage for a promised follow-up program, "Whatever Happened to Rosa Parks," to shed light on her struggles in the years after the Civil Rights Act.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this episode, Shelley and Ricky discuss the key role that Shelley played in the Children's March. The scene is Birmingham, Alabama, April and May of 1963.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s advisors had deliberately chosen the city to confront the notoriously violent Police Commissioner, Bull Connor. Shelley recounts advising King to leave the pulpit and engage directly with the people on the street, which helped build community support. The planning for the march was highly secretive, with Shelley devising a strategy to communicate with children across schools, by playing Joe Turner’s record, “Shake, Rattle and Roll" during Shelley's radio show. He would follow up the song by saying there's going to be a “picnic in the park,” as the signal for the children to gather.

The execution of the March quickly escalated into a national crisis. On May 2, 1963, the first day of the march, over 600 children were arrested. On the second day, Bull Connor’s decision to use fire hoses and police dogs against more than 1,000 children provoked an overwhelming response from the parents, who then joined the movement. Shelley shares that Bull Connor was entirely overwhelmed, leading to the situation being “too far gone,” which ultimately prompted the intervention of President John F. Kennedy. The group emphasized the importance of preserving this history, particularly the role of the "foot soldiers" who are often forgotten in the crusade for human rights.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this episode, Shelley recounts his conflicts with the Ku Klux Klan in Birmingham in the 1950s, intensified by his refusal to adhere to segregated customs in local stores. Shelley reveals that many Klan members were police officers and local business owners. His activism escalated on his WEDR radio show, where he publicly discussed the segregated city, education, and incidents of violence and bombing that major white papers omitted. This defiance resulted in death threats from the Klan and pressure on the station owner. Encounters included the KKK painting graffiti on the radio station in 1958 and a confrontation at an integrated dance club in 1960.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week, Shelley chats once again with Dr. Ricky Jones, Professor of Pan-African Studies at the University of Louisville. Dr. Jones highlights W.E.B. Du Bois's views on broad educational access for African Americans and critiques the negative impact of integration on Black education. 

Shelley and Dr. Jones explore the historical context of Black education and media, the loss of community control, and the challenges within predominantly white institutions.

The discussion also touched upon the "Yankelovich report" and "strategic concealment," the "black tax" and dreaming beyond employment, and the persistent challenges of racism in America. 

Shelley and Dr Jones highlight the importance of economic responsibility and education within the Black community, discussing challenges in business and community development, and debating the feasibility of achieving systemic change versus individual successes.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

 What’s education got to do with it? Everything. But in a system built to hold us back, education isn’t even the top concern—discrimination is. In this bold and necessary conversation, Dr. Stewart sits down with Attorney Tom Larkin to unpack the roots of educational inequality, the legacy of slavery, and the power of putting fat in the game.

 Listen to this episode of Shelley’s Plumbline—where truth, love, and agitation meet.

 Featuring: Attorney Tom Larkin

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

🔥 “People who are in control of the country because of racial stratification want to stay in control by keeping people stupid about the country’s history.” — Dr. Ricky Jones

In this compelling episode of Shelley’s Plumbline, Dr. Jones calls out the deliberate silence around slavery and America’s original sins — the genocide of Native Americans and the enslavement of Black people. He and Dr. Stewart ask the hard questions: Why are so many still afraid to confront this history? And what is the cost of pretending it didn’t happen?

🧠 Truth-telling isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s revolutionary.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and all major platforms.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week on Shelley’s Plumbline… a revelation that changes everything.

Dr. Ricky Jones has spent his life speaking truth to power. But in this episode, he shares a truth of his own—one that’s raw, personal, and decades in the making.

For the first time publicly, Ricky reveals the identity of his father.
That man… is Dr. Shelley Stewart.

Yes—our Shelley.
Human Rights icon. Radio legend.
And the father Ricky never knew.

What happens when two men—strangers by circumstance, bound by blood—sit face-to-face for the first time?

You’ll want to hear this. The letter Ricky shared with our very own, Dr. Shelley Stewart, over 20 years ago. 

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 his inner circle to beware of the tactics external forces would use to break the movement apart after he was gone.

In today's episode, Shalley takes another look at his interview with Hosea Williams. As a member of the King's inner circle, Hosea Williams served as the advance man, organizing some of the most important events in the movement. Williams traveled to cities throughout the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers, paving the way for appearances by King, Jesse Jackson, and Andrew Young. Williams and John Lewis led the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.

This episode features an interview from September of 1994 with Shelley Stewart and Hosea Williams. Hosea reveals the dire warning King had for the members of his inner circle.

Was Hosea Williams right? Did the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Become a Nightmare? Listen and let us know what you think.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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!

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 he was well-known. Stay tuned and learn more about Shelley’s ongoing struggle for equality and human rights.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 segregation and fails to fully integrate it into the mainstream curriculum. Ending Black History Month could be beneficial, as it would emphasize that Black history is an integral part of American history that should be incorporated into educational curricula throughout the year.

Today, we rebroadcast a podcast we first released in April of 2023. The podcast features an interview with Dr. Horace Huntley in February 1991 and suggests that by ending Black History Month, we might celebrate Black culture and history throughout the year.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 celebration, we’re going to rebroadcast one of the Plumbline’s most popular podcasts. It’s about Hate Crimes, featuring Rodney Max. It seems this message is as important today as it ever has been. Stay tuned, and Happy Heavenly Birthday to Jerome Stewart.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 #MLK that Shelley had forgotten about. 

These are speeches MLK made in Birmingham! Why are they rare? Because for his protection and to keep Bull Conner guessing, Dr. King would often show up to churches unannounced to make speeches. 

Shelley Stewart was in attendance recording the choir when Dr. King showed up. They left the recorder running when he made these speeches. You can hear them both in this week's podcast.

Very timely given that September 15 is the anniversary of bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.

In Season 3, Shelley sets the record straight on the "Movement" and how only the media called it the "Civil Rights Movement." It was, and is, a Movement for the freedom of all people.

Please listen, and if you are so moved, share it with others.

#civilrightsmovement #shelleysplumbline #humanrights

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 his inner circle to beware of the tactics external forces would use to break the movement apart after he was gone.

As a member of the King's inner circle, Hosea Williams served as the advance man, organizing some of the most important events in the movement. Williams traveled to cities throughout the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers, paving the way for appearances by King, Jesse Jackson, and Andrew Young. Williams and John Lewis led the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.

This episode features an interview from September of 1994 with Shelley Stewart and Hosea Williams. Hosea reveals the dire warning King had for the members of his inner circle.

Was Hosea Williams right? Did the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Become a Nightmare? Listen and let us know what you think.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 Plumblines.

To date, we have published 87 podcasts. While most of our fans are in the US, Shelley’s Plumbline has a global reach with downloads in Singapore, Asia, Europe, and Africa.

When it comes to subject matter, some of our most popular podcasts have been about Internalized Racism, Hate Crimes, the interview with Hosea Williams, The Rare Speeches of Dr King, and the stories of Shelley’s life in music and the Chitlin' Circuit.

So today, to kick off the New Year in style, we’re going to rebroadcast the episode of The Last Interview with Eddie Kendricks, the lead singer for The Temptations.

Happy New Year, Plumbliners! Let’s make it our best ever.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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. Today, Shelley takes a look at the continuing impact of that strategy on the world.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 community worked together to help each other grow and prosper.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 equality and human rights in the United States.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this week’s episode, Shelley explains the real meaning behind equality. Plus, he shares some stores from early in his career, including an encounter with the Ku Klux Klan. Stay tuned.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, Shelley continues sharing anecdotes from his life. This week, he tells us about the time he was arrested when he took a job in Jackson, Mississippi.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this week’s episode, Shelley recalls how he evolved from his role beyond an on-air personality, developing the key relationships that set the foundation for his future as a businessman.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 he was well-known. Stay tuned and learn more about Shelley’s ongoing struggle for equality and human rights.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Shelley's popularity is growing in strength and numbers as his fresh style and approach pays off as begins to dominate the airwaves in Birmingham, Alabama in the mid-1950s.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

As we celebrate Shelley’s 90th birthday this week, Shelley shares an episode in his life that marks the birth of Shelley “The Playboy.” It was while he was in the Air Force that Shelley first began to develop his well-known radio persona. Stay tuned.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this week’s episode, Shelley talks about a daring escape where Shelley recused his brothers Sam and Dave from a plantation in Mississippi.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

As we continue our march towards Shelley’s 90th birthday, Shelley shares some stories about his first experience with journalism, public speaking and broadcasting. He shares how he ran into some trouble with one of the gangs at high school and how he had a second reunion with his oldest brother, Bubba.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

As we enter September and get closer to Shelley’s 90th birthday celebration, we explore the ironic challenges Shelley faced. He lived with an aunt and uncle who continually tried to discourage him from getting an education. Stay tuned and learn how he persevered.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Did you know when Shelley was growing up, he thought his name was Shurley? Stay tuned and learn how Shelley learned his name was Shelley.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

We continue sharing the story of Shelley’s life as we get closer to the celebration of his 90th birthday in September. In this week’s episode, Shelley describes life after he is taken back to his Aunt Mamie and Uncle Henry’s house.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

So far, we’ve followed Shelley from living on a screened-in porch to living in a horse stable with his brother Bubba and then to the basement of Clyde Smith’s home. In today’s episode, Shelley talks about the year 1947 and how it changed everything.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this week’s episode, Shelley discusses how there were two curriculums. The one he was taught in the negro school, and the one he shared with Mary Sue Smith, Clyde Smith’s daughter. Even though she was a polio victim she somehow got a hold of books and magazines from the white school and shared them with Shelley. Listen to find out how Shelley learned about both black and white cultures in Birmingham, Alabama in the mid-40s.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hey, Plumbliners. Yes, we received all your texts and emails telling us that we missed an episode last Wednesday.

Thanks for noticing. You’re right. We didn’t publish last Wednesday, but that’s because we held off this week’s episode to release a very special edition of Shelley’s Plumbline.

Today is Sunday, August 4, 2024. It is exactly 85 years to the day that Mattie C Stewart passed away. Shelley was just 5 years old when he saw his father murder his mother. Who would have thought in 1939 that 85 years later, Shelley would pay tribute to his mother on a podcast. Mattie C, with love and gratitude, we dedicate this episode to you.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this episode, Shelley continues sharing the profound influence that Clyde Smith had on his life while he was growing up in segregated Birmingham. Mr. Smith, a white man, took Shelley into his home when he was a young child. 

Mr. Smith taught Shelley some key secrets to life and that to be respected, one had to give respect first. 

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this week’s episode, we continue sharing Shelley’s life story a decade at a time leading up to his 90th birthday. 

Today, Shelley tells us about his life with the Smith family, how he lived in a basement and continued his studies at Irondale Elementary.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today we continue telling Shelley’s life story, one decade at a time. Let’s head out to the back porch and head back to the 1930s and 40s in Birmingham, Alabama and talk about Shelley’s life with the Smith family.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hello, Plumbliners, and welcome to Season 7 of Shelley’s Plumbline. 

So Shelley and I looked at the calendar, and we realized that by the time we finish this season, we will be close to Shelley’s 90th birthday. So, in season seven, we will take you to the back porch and take you through Shelley’s life, one decade at a time. Today, we’ll look at Shelley’s life in the 30s. 

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hey, Plumbliners. In the year 2000, Shelley gave a speech at AH Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, on the occasion of the school’s 100th anniversary. This is the very same school that Shelley graduated from. This is the school where Shelley began his career in journalism, broadcasting, and performing. Today we feature a recording of that speech.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In 1993, Shelley hosted the Shelley Stewart Show, Survival in the 90s. It was a talk show on television that ran for 13 episodes. Today, we feature the audio from an extraordinary episode that featured a conversation with three very different people on the same stage.

The discussion featured Lamarse Washington, Executive Director of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, William Muhammad, Minister of Nation of Islam and on the other end of the spectrum, William Burchfield, Grand Titan of Alabama for the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.

Can you imagine a more diverse group in one place? We believe that you’ll discover the topics between then and today are not that different. But we wonder, could people of such diverse opinions share a stage with civility and respect today? Stay tuned…

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hey, Plumbliners. This is Mark Jamroz, producer of Sheley’s Plumbline. Today, Shelley and I sit down for another edition of the “Back Porch.” Think of it as “Shelley Unplugged” as we discuss a few of our experiences learning about race and racism. Then we touch upon the topic of happiness. Stayed tuned. I think you’re really going to like it.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, Shelley takes on the tough topic of black participation in politics as he interviews Raynard Jackson. At the time of the interview in 1998, Mr Jackson was Chairman of the Americans for a Brighter Future and an outspoken black Republican.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, Shelley shares an interview with Birmingham resident Karen Ameen.

The interview took place in 1996, shortly after Ms. Ameen published the book Freeborn Slave, Diary of a Black Man in the South. 

The book is a collection of memoirs dictated by her great-grandfather, Jasper Rastus Nall, an individual who was born at the end of the Civil War.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hey, Plumbliners...

Shelley was feeling a bit under the weather this week, so he asked me to find one of your favorite episodes of Shelley's Plumbline and rebroadcast it.

Well, it turns out our very first episode was one of the most popular, and we released it a little over one year ago. Happy Anniversary to us!

Please enjoy -- and be informed! This is a powerful episode about Internalized Racism. 

Enjoy!

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, Shelley shares a very special interview from 1991 with the one-and-only Fred Shuttlesworth.

Reverend Shuttlesworth co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was instrumental in the 1963 Birmingham Campaign with Martin Luther King.

Shuttlesworth participated in the sit-ins against segregated lunch counters in 1960 and took part in the organization and execution of the Freedom Rides in 1961. Shuttlesworth invited the SCLC and MLK to Birmingham in 1963 to lead the campaign to desegregate it through mass demonstrations–what Shuttlesworth called "Project C." The "C" stood for "confrontation".

In 1965, he was active in the Selma Voting Rights Movement and its march from Selma to Montgomery, which led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week’s episode draws on an interview from 1991 with playwright Edward McRay.

He goes deep into the finer points of African culture, history, and the limits of the American educational system. Cultures must share their histories to increase understanding.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today we have a very special edition of Shelley’s Plumbline.

In 2002, Shelley visited two prisons in Alabama and spoke with inmates about their stories and turned it into the documentary Inside Out. And those stories speak for themselves. They are powerful. They are moving. They are profound. Stay tuned.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hello, Plumbliners, and welcome to Season 6 of Shelley’s Plumbline.

Shelley and I have been talking about changing the format of the Plumbline for some time, so we thought today we would give that a try.

We call this format The Back Porch. Think of it as “Shelley Unplugged.”

Today, Shelley and I are going to discuss instinct and the inner voice that guides us through our lives.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

So here we are – another major election is just half a year away.

Today’s podcast features a show from 1996. Stay tuned as Shelley explores the questions that remain the same then as they are today: What do you believe? Who do you support? Who will you vote for?

Your vote is your voice. If you do not speak, someone else will.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, Shelley shares an interview from 1991 with Park Scott, Senior. He discusses the Bahai Faith and how it seeks the oneness of humanity, the elimination of prejudice and a harmony between science and religion.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

By popular demand, Shelley and Teddy Pendergrass continue to share the message: Wake Up, Everybody.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, Shelley shares a simple message. Wake up everybody. It’s time to think ahead. Wake Up, Everybody. The time is now.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, we share Malcolm X's famous Ballots or Bullets address. The message rings true: The key to freedom lies in economic prosperity. Economic opportunity for all is the tide that will lift all boats.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today Shelley celebrates National Women’s Month with some personal reflections on the strong women he has known in his life, from his mother Mattie C whom he saw murdered when he was five years old, to Oprah and Kamala Harris. Stay tuned as we celebrate the power of women.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hey, Plumbliners…

Shelley has been in the hospital the past couple of weeks, so he asked me to rebroadcast a previous episode. I looked back in the archives at one of my favorites. It’s from episode 5 of season 1 and it features an interview with attorney Rodney Max discussing Hate Crimes. Please enjoy. And if you’re so inclined send your thoughts and prayers toShelley at shelley@shelleysplumbline.com

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

As we come to the end of Black History Month, Shelley looks back on the last three episodes and shares his personal insights on the overt and not so overt signs that racism are still evident in America today.

Stay tuned as the plumbline seeks the truth.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today we continue telling more stories of Black history, as we share an excerpt from the recording, “Remembering Slavery: African Americans Talk About Their Personal Experiences of Slavery and Emancipation,” published by The New Press, in conjunction with the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. Stay tuned and you’ll hear the words of actual slaves performed by well-known actors.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hey, Plumbliners. Before we begin with this week’s episode, we’d like to thank you for the emails!

We received an email from a teacher in Washington state. She says, … My class has been learning about the Children's March recently, and one student asked whatever happened to Shelley the Playboy after watching the documentary "Mighty Times." That led us to some internet research, which led to finding this podcast and website. When we discussed what we value enough to risk getting in trouble to defend it, many kids mentioned both Freedom and Music; it's no wonder they find an activist like Mr. Stewart so appealing.” the teacher added “We wanted to say thank you to Mr. Stewart for his work during The Children's March. I want to say, as an educator of color, how thankful and inspired I am by his work and the way he was able to reach children and support them in their activism. …I plan to let my class know about this podcast and might write to you again if they have questions. I'm excited to learn more about this podcast and the other great work Mr. Stewart has done throughout his life, and I'm grateful to my inquisitive students for giving me the start!

Well students in Washington state, Shelley would love to meet with you on a Zoom call sometime. And teacher? Keep up the good work. We love what you’re doing.

Another email from EA says…

Mr. Stewart, thank you for all you have done throughout the years. As a child I listened to you everyday on the radio. I'm 62 years old now ,and one day I would like to meet you.

And JF says

This article of Shelley the Playboy brings memories of my youth. I listen to you everyday growing up. I WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU AND SIT DOWN TO A CUP OF COFFEE.

Well, we’ll work on those meetings. In the meantime, the one and only, one-time Shelley "The Playboy" is still on the air on Shelley’s Plumbline.

Thank you for your messages and words of support!

In this week’s Plumbline features an interview from 1995 with Azikwe Abdullah. Azikwe acknowledges that Nat Turner’s slave rebellion is the one history books talk about, but Azikwe reveals that there were many slave rebellions before that time. Stay tuned as the Plumbline seeks the truth.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Here at the beginning of Black History Month, we welcome you to season 5 of Shelley’s Plumbline. Since it is Black History Month, Shelley and I did some research.  According to a recent article in Axios, “…lawmakers in 30 states have proposed new restrictions during the past year on what schools can teach about the nation's racial history…”

According to the74million.org ...18 (states) have passed laws restricting or banning the teaching of supposed critical race theory…”

So Shelley and I decided, if these states won’t teach Black History, we will. And let us make one thing clear--we do not do this to stir up anger or hatred, because as Dr. King said, “Hate cannot drive out hate.”

We share this message to further understanding among all peoples. Ignoring our history does not make it go away. Appreciating the background of all fosters progress and prosperity for all. There’s your side, there’s my side and some where in the middle, the plumbline finds the truth.

Today’s episode re-broadcasts a 1997 interview with Horace Huntley, former professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences at UAB. He touches on the dangers of cultural annihilation and how that has limited the growth of our country. Stay tuned and learn more.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today we bring Season 4 to an end as we shine the spotlight on the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. James was a controversial character to be sure, but he became good friends with Shelley and always admired Shelley’s belief in the power of education.

When James released the song Don’t Be A Dropout, he couldn’t wait to play it for Shelley and Shelley was one of the first to broadcast it on the air.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Since Shelley was a DJ and radio personality, he was instrumental in helping grow the careers of numerous well-known talented singers and musicians. During Season 4 we have covered stories about many of these musical giants who started as business associates of Shelley’s and blossomed into deep friendships.

We shared stories about BB King, Sam Cooke, and Johnnie Taylor. In episode 3, we talked about how Ray Charles drove a bus around the block in downtown Birmingham. Then, we heard touching stories about Lou Rawls and Bobby “Blue” Bland. And, of course, Shelley told us about his dear friend, Otis Redding.

Today, Shelley brings you more background about an often-overlooked musical talent – but I’ll leave that introduction to Shelley.

Are you ready? No?

Then get ready- because here he comes, the oldest podcaster in the world, Dr. Shelley Stewart!

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

On today’s episode we continue sharing stories from Shelley’s fascinating life in music as he tells us about his personal and professional relationship with Otis Redding.

Otis was a chauffeur for another band when he was discovered during a break at the recording studio in Muscle Shoals. Shelley was fortunate enough to be the first DJ to play Otis’s first recording on the air.

Their friendship grew, and Shelley left Radio for a while to become the PR Director for Otis’s Redwal Music Company in Macon, Georgia.

Stay tuned and learn more stories about the recording career and personal life of “The Big O,” Otis Redding.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hey Plumbliners. The theme of Season 4 has been about Shelley’s life in music. But this week, to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, we’re going to rebroadcast our podcast from Season 1 on Hosea Williams. Hosea Williams was a very close friend and associate of Dr King and was instrumental in organizing the Movement. Please enjoy this special episode.

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 his inner circle to beware of the tactics external forces would use to break the movement apart after he was gone.

As a member of the King's inner circle, Hosea Williams served as the advance man, organizing some of the most important events in the movement. Williams traveled to cities throughout the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers, paving the way for appearances by King, Jesse Jackson, and Andrew Young. Williams and John Lewis led the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.

This episode features an interview from September of 1994 with Shelley Stewart and Hosea Williams. Hosea reveals the dire warning King had for the members of his inner circle.

Was Hosea Williams right? Did the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Become a Nightmare? Listen and let us know what you think.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

On December 1, 2023, Shelley received the Rosa Parks Day Award for Leadership, Commitment to Civil Rights, Voting Rights, and Civic Service.

Rosa Parks Day is December 1st because that was the day, in 1955, when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus.

In today’s podcast, Shelley reflects on the award and on his own notoriety.

Rosa had heard the story of a black boy who had moved the plank dividing the white and black sections of a streetcar. Years later, when Rosa and Shelley met, she learned that Shelley was that young boy.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this week’s episode, we continue exploring Shelley’s friendship with another major blues artist – Bobby “Blue” Bland, or “Blue” as Shelley called him.

Like many blues, soul and R&B artists, Shelley traces Blue’s work back to his Gospel roots. In fact, there are hints of those notes in many of his most popular songs.

Stay tuned and learn how Blue overcame personal obstacles, including illiteracy, to one day find a home in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today we continue to explore Shelley’s life in the music world as we take a look at Lou Rawls.

Lou, like Sam Cooke, was born and raised in the Chicago area and crossed paths with Sam Cooke as they sang in gospel groups before moving into R&B, Jazz, and Soul.

Since Shelley was a popular radio personality, he had a hand in promoting the careers of both Sam and Lou and they became fast friends when they met at performances.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, Shelley talks about his personal and professional friendship with the Philosopher of Soul, otherwise known as Johnnie Taylor.

As the PR director for Redwal Music Company, Shelley had the opportunity to spend time with Johnnie, as well as other music greats on that label, including Otis Redding. We’ll get to Otis in a future podcast.

Both Johnnie and Shelley shared a love of spiritual music, and Johnnie eventually had a successful career singing blues, R&B, and soul. Johnnie confessed to Shelley that, in spite of his musical career, he really wanted to be a disc jockey. He became a DJ known as “The Wailer, Johnnie Taylor” on KKDA in Dallas, Texas. Johnnie passed in the year 2000, just a few months after releasing one of his best-known songs, “Soul Heaven.”

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

We continue to explore Shelley’s life in music, as Shelley shares stories about his relationship with Ray Charles.

Ray is definitely an icon in the blues world, known for his trademark Ray Ban sunglasses. In fact, it’s generally acknowledged that Ray was the first blind musician to wear sunglasses, setting a trend for future musicians. But Ray will be the first to say he never saw his blindness as a handicap.

Many did not know Ray loved to play chess, and he owned his own plane and was fascinated by flying. He was even known to take a turn as a pilot now and then. And in today’s episode, Shelley recalls how Ray drove his own bus around the block in downtown Birmingham on a bet.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Two of the most popular episodes of Shelley’s Plumbline were Episode 1 of Season 2,  "The Final Interview with Eddie Kendricks."  A lot of folks also liked Episode 2 of Season 2 … about Shelley’s life scouting for musical talent on the Chitlin' Circuit.

So to kick off Season Four, we’re going to give you more stories about Shelley’s life in music – this time with his friend, Riley King – or should we say, BB King. Yup, THE BB King.

Stay tuned. Give it a listen. We think you’re going to like it.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today as we continue to explore Shelley’s life in music, we feature a conversation about Sam Cooke, one of Shelley’s dear friends.

In fact, Shelley was so close to him that Sam was the godfather to one of his children.

Aside from being a very good friend, Sam and Shelley shared the same mission: to use the power of music to bring people together. They both played to integrated audiences at a time when that was not acceptable. In fact, it could be dangerous to do that.

Sam was a trailblazer not only with his music, but his approach. He believed the artist should own the rights to their music so he was one of the first to write, produce and distribute his own music.

Sam’s life ended tragically before his time in 1964 when he was shot at a hotel in Los Angeles.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

From time to time, Shelley would conduct an open forum during his show, and listeners would call in. Today’s episode features a discussion from 1996 with Shelley and a listener regarding a speech given by William Raspberry, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the Washington Post. The discussion focuses on how racism is often used as an excuse or crutch against progress.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today we continue our exploration of one of the many organizers in the Movement who had great influence but were not as well-known. This episode features an interview from January of 1998 when Shelley sat down with Tommy Wrenn.

Active in the movement in both Birmingham and Selma, Wrenn worked as a field staffer for the Dr King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Wrenn would go into towns to set up routes for protest marchers before King would arrive, doing the groundwork to make the event a success.

He expresses his frustration at the lack of support he received and how many people believed in the mission of the movement but stayed in the background.

Even after retiring as a dental technician, he remained active in politics and the movement until his death in 2010.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today’s episode features an interview from 1998 with the author of The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Be Black, Yvonne Willie.

She and Shelley discuss the role of racial identity and self-worth, revealing that internalized racism is a learned behavior.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today we continue to share little-known stories of the struggle during the early 60s with an interview with James Armstrong. He recounts the many artificial obstacles city officials presented him when he attempted to enroll his children in Graymont School in Birmingham, Alabama, at a time when it was segregated. 

He prevailed, however, and his sons Floyd and Dwight were the first students to integrate the school. 

This interview, conducted by Ron January, first aired on Shelley’s program “Open Mic” in 1993.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, we feature an interview with author and historian Dr. Vincent Harding. A social activist, he was perhaps best known for his work with and writings about Martin Luther King Jr., whom Harding knew personally. 

In this episode, Dr Harding sits down with Shelley and talks about not only the Black struggle – but how several different vectors of society then, as now, are engaged in a struggle for freedom.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, we share an interview with Johnny Ford, the first African-American mayor of Tuskegee, Alabama. He served five terms from 1972 to 1996 when he won a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives. He was re-elected mayor of Tuskegee in 2004, and he served until 2008. This interview touches on the issues of gerrymandering and how it unfairly affects the representation of the population.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this episode, Shelley shares an interview from January 1993 with Rev. Nelson H. Smith, also known as "Fireball" Smith. Smith was another unknown yet highly influential foot soldier in the fight for human rights for all, participating in The Movement before the 1960s and marching side by side with Dr. King during the '60s.

Throughout his ministry, Smith preached the importance of higher education, financial management, and economics. He founded the New Pilgrim Credit Union in 1965 and led his church in the development of a bookstore and the New Pilgrim Towers apartments, to name a few of his accomplishments.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Happy 89th Birthday to Shelley Stewart!

Today, we celebrate Shelley's 89th birthday with a recording of a speech Shelley made when he was 63 years old at Friendship Baptist Church.

This Church plays a special role in Shelley's life. As a boy of five, he saw his mother murdered just a few blocks away. In spite of growing up without his parents, he would celebrate his graduation in this same Church. 

Without a doubt, the Friendship Baptist Church has held a special place in Shelley's heart. In today's podcast, he shares a message that he's shared all his life.

A message that tells hard truths but also triumphs love, mutual respect, and human rights for ALL people and that faith is the power that enables the unlikely to accomplish the impossible.

Today's episode is a heartfelt message from Shelley, one of faith. What we know is if you lose faith, you lose all. 

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week, Shelley continues to explore some of the lesser-known yet powerful foot soldiers in the Movement. 

One such person is Yvonne Turner.

Who is Yvonne Turner? Well, well before the Human Rights Movement of the 60s, the true Movement began in the mid-1950s, and people like Yvonne Turner, Georgia Price, and others were instrumental in organizing voter education drives and meetings. Visit shelleysplumbline.com to see one of the voter education documents Yvonne created and shared so Blacks could be prepared to answer questions in order to vote.

She was often referred to as the most loved and hated woman in Birmingham because she helped the Movement so much but also spoke to a truth that many would rather not hear.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

To kick off Season 3 of Shelley's Plumbline, we went through his archives, and Shelley rediscovered some rare recordings of #MLK that he had forgotten about. 

These are speeches MLK made in Birmingham! Why are they rare? Because for his protection and to keep Bull Conner guessing, Dr. King would often show up to churches unannounced to make speeches. 

Shelley Stewart was in attendance recording the choir when Dr. King showed up. They left the recorder running when he made these speeches. You can hear them both in this week's podcast.

Very timely given that September 15 is the anniversary of bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.

In Season 3, Shelley sets the record straight on the "Movement" and how only the media called it the "Civil Rights Movement." It was, and is, a Movement for the freedom of all people.

Please listen, and if you are so moved, share it with others.

#civilrightsmovement #shelleysplumbline #humanrights

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today Shelley shares an interview from 1995 with Ezekwa Abdullah. Ezekwa argues that Blacks still repress themselves and suffer a form of psychological slavery in the collective subconscious psyche because attitudes of repression have been preserved and passed from one generation to the next. The ghost of the plantation exists today because not enough has been done to condemn this point of view.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, Shelley replays an interview from the Free By Choice program, which brought inmates from Alabama prisons on the air to speak openly about their crimes and the decisions which led to them. These Free By Choice inmates had a strong desire to share their stories so their suffering could serve to help others avoid making the same mistakes.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today, Shelley reaches back into his archive to an interview with Mariam McClendon. They discuss colorism, that is, the differences in perception between light- and dark-complected blacks and the challenges darker-complected blacks encounter – even from members of their own race. Even though the interview is from 1991, the problem of colorism still exists today, hindering relationships and opportunities among blacks.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today’s episode of Shelley’s Plumbline features an interview from 1989 with Orlando Jones, a one-time track star at the University of Alabama. Orlando shares his story of how he went from running on a track as an All-American scholarship athlete to running drugs across the border in Mexico, eventually getting caught and landing in prison.

He shares his message in the hope that others might avoid his fate.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today’s episode features a 1993 interview with Julius Davis, a man who had just spent 19 years in prison. At 21 years of age, he had been handed two life sentences for his involvement in two separate murders. Julius discusses how prior to his crimes, he was involved as a positive influence in his community and how two bad decisions led him to prison.

While in prison, however, Julius did not fall victim to negative influences. He created a circle of constructive people who kept their spirits in a positive place and made the best of the prison experience. Listen and hear how he continued his positive influence on the community after his release.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In this episode, Shelley reflects on an interview from 1991 that covers the topic of racial identity. Which is the correct terminology? Black? African-American, People of Color? The interview also discusses class differences among Blacks.
Be advised that this episode contains frank discussions about race and uses the n-word. Listener discretion is advised.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today we continue our exploration of the Evolution of Black Media and the role Black radio stations played during the Civil Rights movement of the 60s.

We explore how the Black population began to look to popular disc jockeys such as Jack Gibson, Gertrude Cooper, Georgie Woods, Martha Jean “the Queen,” and the Plumbline’s very own Shelley “The Playboy” Stewart to hear coded messages regarding protests and demonstrations.

Black Radio stations gave a voice to Dr. King and other prominent members of the Movement and became the medium of choice for disseminating urgent messages and direction.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This week we kick off the first of a two-part series on the Evolution of Black Media. In this episode, Shelley tells us about the early days of Black Media and how much of the entertainment for black audiences was produced by whites. Amos N Andy, for example, a well-known radio sitcom, was produced and performed by two white actors.

Shelley recalls how the first black man in radio, Jack Cooper, blazed a trail in 1929, and by the time Shelley created his Playboy persona, he wasn’t interested in entertaining just blacks; he used the power of music to bring people together.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today we continue telling the story of Shelley’s life in the world of music as he reflects on his days traveling the south on what was known as the Chitlin' Circuit.

As a talent agent for Shelby Singleton Productions, Shelley traveled the Chitlin Circuit searching for talent that played in small towns throughout the South. He would then take the talent to big cities to cut records and get exposure.

He discovered Clarence Junior Lewis, who went by the stage name “CL Blast”

Shelley discovered Willie Hightower and Johnny Adams. He managed The Dynamic Soul Machine and helped launch the career of JV Jenkins, who performed a moving rendition of Peace in the Valley at the inauguration of Birmingham’s first black mayor, Richard Arrington.

Listen in as Shelley shares music, insights, and inside stories about his life on the “Chitlin' Circuit.”

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Shelley's Life in Music

Today we’ll begin an exploration of Shelley’s fascinating life in the music world. Over the course of his career, Shelley worked with many major names in music, such as Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and The Temptations. And he became fast friends with musical giants such as Bobby "Blue" Bland, Otis Redding, and Isaac Hayes.

Today we’ll hear a clip of his interview with Eddie Kendricks, a lead singer with The Temptations. The interview traces the evolution of The Temptations, and discusses the surprising strategies of Barry Gordy and Motown Records and how they would manage the careers of groups, giving hit songs to certain groups to increase their popularity and accelerate their careers.

Eddie also talks about his youth on the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, and how his life very nearly went in another, darker direction.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Shelley sat down in 1993 for an interview with Jim Porter, a member of the Board of Directors of the NRA. The arguments have not changed for the past 30 years, yet the problem of gun violence persists and, in fact, continues to grow in 2023. Shelley explores the challenges that existed in 1993 and compares them to today.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

This episode concludes our series on youth gangs and drug dealers with an interview of a young man who began dealing drugs at the age of 16.

He was brought into a gang at the age of 10 and exposed to the life of a drug dealer. During that time, he’d seen fellow gang members killed and maimed. He even shares a harrowing description of mutilation that happened to a fellow gang member. Listener discretion is advised.

He finally realizes what he missed and what he lost, and he shares a message for other young people.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Today’s episode reaches back to 1986 and was part of a series of interviews Shelley did on Open Mic with drug dealers and youth gangs.

This individual had a promising career as a backup drummer for the well-known blues musician Bobby “Blue” Bland. 

Unfortunately, the lure of easy money pulled him into the world of dealing cocaine, Although he didn’t start dealing drugs until he was 44 years old.

He shares stories about how, at that time, cocaine was cut with laxatives and even embalming fluid, and how the cutting agents were often more dangerous than the drug itself.

He finishes his story by recounting the death of his cousin and fiance at the hands of three drug users.

Stay tuned and learn from his life as we continue this series on youth gangs and drug dealers.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

In 1989, two gang members from the Birmingham area approached Shelley and asked to be on his show, "Open Mic." They wanted to share their experiences about the myths and realities of gang life and share their regrets over the youth they lost while acting as members of a gang. Ironically, the mother of one of the gang members heard her son on the show and came in the following morning to share her feelings and warnings with other parents.

While the nature of gang life has changed between 1989 and 2023, there are a surprising number of things that are still in common. In fact, you might be surprised to discover the backgrounds of many gang members are not what you think.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have advantages such as fostering a sense of community and pride, providing a supportive environment, and offering diverse faculty and notable alumni. However, HBCUs may also face challenges such as limited resources, stigma, potential limitations in academic programs, and persistent inequalities. Recognizing the strengths and limitations of HBCUs is crucial in promoting access and success for Black students in higher education while addressing the challenges to ensure equitable opportunities for all students, regardless of their race or background.

​In this episode, Shelley replays an interview with Carol Watkins and Leslie Prawl from October of 1991. He covers the pros and cons of HBCUs and shares insights and opinions on their value. Listen and learn more at [link].

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Hate crimes have devastating impacts on individuals, communities, and society and fuel fear, division, and mistrust within communities, contributing to social inequalities and damaging social cohesion. They erode trust in law enforcement and the justice system and have negative implications for economic development. Additionally, hate crimes perpetuate harmful stereotypes and attitudes toward targeted groups. ​

This episode features an interview from March 1993 with Attorney Rodney Max, a member of the Coalition Against Hate Crimes. They discuss the trial of a hate crime killing of a homeless person in Birmingham in 1993. He offers positive solutions to the problem, suggesting, "Before I prejudge you, let me get to know you."

Have a listen and share your thoughts at https://www.shelleysplumbline.com/podcasts

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

Homelessness affects a diverse range of individuals. It is not limited to a particular demographic, but can impact people of different ages, genders, races, and backgrounds. Among those who are homeless are individuals experiencing mental health issues, addiction, domestic violence survivors, veterans, youth, families with children, and individuals facing economic challenges such as unemployment or poverty. Homelessness can also disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Understanding the diverse range of people who experience homelessness is essential in developing effective strategies and policies to address the complex and multifaceted issue of homelessness.

In this episode, Shelley replays an interview from April 6, 1993, where he meets with a former professional football player who has become homeless. WARNING: The episode also features a harrowing excerpt from his memoir, The Road South, which depicts traumatic events and abuse from his youth (listener discretion is advised). The podcast concludes with a powerful lesson Shelley learned in a bar while working in St. Louis as the disc jockey, "Shelley the Playboy." 

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 his inner circle to beware of the tactics external forces would use to break the movement apart after he was gone.

As a member of the King's inner circle, Hosea Williams served as the advance man, organizing some of the most important events in the movement. Williams traveled to cities throughout the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers, paving the way for appearances by King, Jesse Jackson, and Andrew Young. Williams and John Lewis led the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965.

This episode features an interview from September of 1994 with Shelley Stewart and Hosea Williams. Hosea reveals the dire warning King had for the members of his inner circle.

Was Hosea Williams right? Did the Dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Become a Nightmare? Listen and let us know what you think.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

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 segregation and fails to fully integrate it into the mainstream curriculum. Ending Black History Month could be beneficial, as it would emphasize that Black history is an integral part of American history that should be incorporated into educational curricula throughout the year.

The podcast features an interview with Dr. Horace Huntley in February 1991 and suggests that by ending Black History Month, we might celebrate Black culture and history throughout the year.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.

 Episode #1: Internalized Racism

Internalized racism refers to the subtle yet pervasive ways in which individuals from marginalized racial or ethnic groups internalize negative societal messages about their own race or ethnicity. Overcoming internalized racism requires self-awareness, education, and conscious efforts to challenge and reject negative societal messages and embrace positive aspects of one's cultural heritage. It is a complex and ongoing process that necessitates collective efforts to combat racism at both individual and societal levels.

This episode of Shelley's Plumbline discusses the pervasive problem of internalized racism with Brother Ezekweh.

Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and  LinkedIn.