Frequencies of Freedom: The New Sound of Black Musical Expression
We’re witnessing the evolution of Black musical expression in real time.
Each week Dialogue features interviews people across the region along with in-depth stories from the IPM News team about education, health, politics, arts, and more as it relates to local Black communities. Dialogue airs Saturdays at 11 am and Tuesdays at 6 pm on Illinois Soul FM 101.1 and streams live at illinoissoul.org and can be heard Wednesdays at 8 pm on WILL-AM 580.
We’re witnessing the evolution of Black musical expression in real time.
We explore African American Vernacular English (AAVE), featuring linguistics expert Dr. Sharese King from the University of Chicago.
In this episode of Dialogue, we explore the vibrant local art scene through the lens of Parkland College’s Giertz Gallery exhibition.
What role does beauty play in the lives of young Black girls and women, and how does it connect to identity, survival and care?
In Central Illinois, community care takes many forms — from an 82-year-old veteran selling collard greens in Rantoul to young leaders organizing against gun violence in Danville. How are these local voices defining what it means to support and strengthen their communities today?
Red Lobster’s Damola Adamolekun opens up about his upbringing, the chain’s iconic status, and its strategy for bouncing back after tough business.
Dance is culture in motion. In Illinois, artists use traditional African dance as a form of artivism, blending heritage with activism. How are these creatives shaping social change through their movement?
How is one local program using gardening to support formerly incarcerated individuals?
Kennedy Vincent is a host and producer from Las Vegas with West Indian roots. Specializing in news writing, audio, and video production work, she has earned her degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. Now based in Illinois, Vincent is focused on surrounding her work with collective BIPOC stories, universal rights, and community healing. Kennedy seeks to form deeper connections in her community through her work. She continuously pushes boundaries and reshapes how audio is viewed and believes sharing meaningful stories globally is what will unite us intentionally.
Reginald Hardwick is the News & Public Affairs Director at Illinois Public Media. He oversees news reporting, The 21st talk show, IPMnewsroom.org, and occasionally hosts and produces episodes of Dialogue. Reginald came to IPM in 2019 after serving as News Director at WKAR at Michigan State University. Before that, he had a long career as a local newscast producer and manager at the NBC-owned station in Dallas/Fort Worth, where he earned seven Lone Star Emmy awards and multiple honors from the National Assn. of Black Journalists. Born in Vietnam, Reginald was adopted and grew up on the Eastern plains of Colorado. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado.
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