Before streaming. Before playlists. Before viral moments… there was “Roses Are Red.”

In this episode of Making Black History Today, we sit down with Ray McCampbell, founding member of The MAC Band Featuring The McCampbell Brothers, to revisit the #1 R&B hit that defined a generation.

Produced by Babyface and L.A. Reid, “Roses Are Red” topped the charts in 1988 and became the soundtrack for Black love across the country.

But Ray’s story goes far beyond music.

In this conversation, Ray shares:

• What it was like performing at the height of R&B’s golden era
• Being introduced on The Arsenio Hall Show
• Recording with Babyface & L.A. Reid
• Transitioning from music to 25 years of service as a Dallas Police Officer

• Co-founding Heroes, Cops & Kids to mentor and protect the next generation

As we reflect during Black History Month and Valentine’s Week, this episode centers on love — not just romantic love, but love expressed through service, leadership, and legacy.

Follow Making Black History Today on Spotify and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode spotlighting leaders shaping culture, business, and community in real time.

What does it take to lead Dallas’ oldest Black business organization and support Black entrepreneurs in Texas?

In this episode of Making Black History Today, Liz and Porter sit down with Harrison Blair, President of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, shares how growing up as the grandson of Negro League legend William Blair shaped his path to leadership. He also explains how civil rights pioneer A. Maceo Smith inspires his work today, and how the Chamber is preparing Black-owned businesses for a changing policy landscape in Texas.

We discuss:

• How Black men voted in the most recent presidential election

• How policy shifts impact Black-owned businesses in Texas

• What the Dallas Black Chamber is doing to support entrepreneurs beyond DEI-focused funding

• Building sustainable Black economic power in Dallas and beyond

Making Black History Today is a Dallas-based bi-weekly podcast highlighting Black leaders creating legacy in real time.

New episodes drop every other Thursday at 5:00 a.m.

Listen, subscribe, and share to support Black leadership, legacy, and entrepreneurship.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience..." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This MLK Birthday, we're getting uncomfortable.

Why do small, Black-led nonprofits face constant scrutiny while massive organizations get a pass? Why is there a "Trust Gap" that keeps minority-led organizations from accessing the funding they deserve?

Hosts Liz and Porter sit down with three leaders fighting this battle daily:

- Shawana Carter (Carter's House)

- Pastor Donald Parish Jr. (A Steady Hand)

- King Shakur (Volunteering While Black)

Together, they expose the uncomfortable truth about nonprofit funding inequity in 2026.

WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER:

The Hollywood Effect: How shows like Apple TV's "Loot" and "Breaking Bad" have painted nonprofits as vehicles for money laundering and tax havens and funding barriers for legitimate Black-led organizations.

The Funding Wall: The specific challenges facing minority-led nonprofits trying to secure grants, donations, and institutional support.

Radical Collaboration: Why the "For Us, By Us" mentality is the key to Dr. King's "Beloved Community"—and how it's being built in 2026.

The Power of the Collective: How to turn community support into long-term sustainability when traditional funding sources shut you out.

From Scarcity to Abundance: Moving beyond competition to collective impact.

This conversation honors Dr. King's legacy by doing the uncomfortable work: examining systemic barriers and building the solutions our communities deserve.

If you're a nonprofit leader, community organizer, social justice advocate, or someone who believes in supporting Black-led organizations—this episode is for you.

CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS:

Carter's House: https://www.cartershouse.org

A Steady Hand: https://www.beasteadyhand.org

Volunteering While Black: https://www.volunteeringwhileblack.org

FOLLOW MAKING BLACK HISTORY TODAY:

Instagram: @makingblackhistorytoday

Website: www.makingblackhistorytoday.com

Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7370845794318413825/

New episodes drop every other Thursday at 5:00 AM CST.

If this conversation resonated with you, please rate, review, and share with someone working to make change in your community.