In this episode of Real Talk with Jack Tracy, I will examine a novel theory of my own creation. I am convinced that while Black America continues to revere the image and the thought of Martin Luther King Jr., his true person and teaching has been gutted and deceptively replaced with the divisive philosophy of the Socialist/Communist, W.E.B. DuBois.

I assert that following the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, three competing philosophies emerged among Black leaders. Booker T Washington emphasized Christian character, economic self-sufficiency, and vocational education. Martin Luther King Jr. appealed to America's Christian conscience through non-violent resistance rooted in the Gospel. W. E. B. Du Bois by contrast advanced a secular elitist worldview shaped by socialism and later, an explicit admiration for communism.

Today Martin Luther King Jr. stands as the public face of the Civil Rights Movement, he is quoted in classrooms, commemorated on the National Mall, and invoked in political rhetoric. Yet in this episode I argue that W. E. B. Du Bois has become the intellectual foundation guiding modern discourse on race inequality and institutional power. His concepts such as, “the color line”, “double consciousness”, and the "Talented Tenth" dominate in the universities, activist frameworks and media narratives.

Meanwhile Booker T. Washington, once the most influential black leader in America, has largely disappeared from public discussion. His emphasis on moral formation, hard work, and interracial cooperation now conflicts with the prevailing ideological climate of elite institutions.

This episode explores my theory that while these three visions competed in time, today Black America is deceptively led to believe that Martin Luther King Jr. lives in the DuBois philosophy.

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In this Real Talk with Jack Tracy episode, we are starting a new series called, South Bay Civil Debate. Conservative musician Jack Tracy sits down for the first time with Progressive Hollywood influencer Lawrence Chaves for a calm, honest, and respectful debate. From Donald Trump to transgenderism, from health care to religion, from men in women's sports to terrorism and immigration, we will search for common ground and avoid shouting at one another over our differences of opinion.
We expect that this South Bay Civil Debate will be a platform demonstrating that Americans can debate and disagree — and yet still be friendly and civil.

Today on Real Talk with Jack Tracy, I am joined by South Bay local, Lawrence Chaves. Lawrence is often described as “a renaissance man.” Raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, he began college pursuing Criminal Justice at Northeastern University, but his creative drive soon led him across the country to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. There he earned a degree in Communication with an emphasis on screenwriting and a minor in literature, while developing a deep interest in religion and mythology.

After college, he worked in Hollywood talent management before shifting toward his own storytelling passions. A temporary move into elementary education in Hawthorne, CA turned into a decade-long teaching career. Even before completing his credential, he was asked to serve as his school’s union representative—an opportunity that launched him into larger roles with the National Education Association, LA’s Bay Valley Union, and the California Teachers Association. In this work, he discovered his strongest calling: giving a voice to those who need one.

In more recent years, Lawrence has worn many hats: realtor after the 2009 market crash, local president of the Women’s Council of Realtors South Bay Network, campaign volunteer for both Bernie Sanders presidential runs, reading specialist in Compton, and one-on-one aide for children with autism. His gift for communication and organization also led him into event planning, from children’s parties to large-scale corporate fundraisers.

When asked to sum up his life’s motivation, Lawrence’s answer is simple: “I want to help people, and have fun doing it.”

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In this episode of Real Talk with Jack Tracy, Jack interviews his long lost childhood mentor, Mrs. Nellie K. Hartsoe. Now living in her home state of South Carolina, Mrs. Hartsoe was the leader and choir director of the church youth group - Protestant Youth Of The Chapel - in Erlangen, Germany many years ago. Before retirement she was an English teacher, motivational speaker and author of Twelve Miracles Including a Glimpse of Heaven. Now 90 years old, Mrs. Hartsoe shares her astonishing true story of faith in Jesus Christ through crushing circumstances: at age 18 surviving a deadly car crash, being declared 'Dead On Arrival', experiencing an out-of-body glimpse of Heaven in the emergency room, and returning to life with divine permission to pursue her husband Jerry with the promise of eternal life in Jesus. Her book recounts twelve miracles across nine decades — from healing and recovery to love, loss, and the grace of God to keep walking. Through warm memories and honest conversation, Jack and Nellie also reflect on how her faith once changed his life — and still inspires him today.

Part One

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Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Real Talk with Jack Tracy.

I'm happy to be podcasting from beautiful South Bay California and looking out of my office window I see sheets of rain, I mean, liquid sunshine, falling all over Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach. But, as we know, It Never Rains in Southern California! So I am certain the real Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.

Ok. Well since our last show we have shifted directions slightly form music and today our topic is:
Affirmative Action Banned by The United States Supreme Court.

Now, some of you might remember that last year in 2023 a case came before the Supreme Court in which, Harvard University was being sued by a group called Students For Fair Admissions over descriminary practices against Asian Americans. The Supreme Court ruled that Harvard did practice discrimination and ruled that Affirmative Action in College admissions is unconstitutional.

The Court's decision overruled some important cases like California vs Bakke and Grutter vs Bollinger, which have for a long time have helped and aided disadvantaged black students in this country to attend some of the more prestigious colleges and universities. I was also among those minority students of few means who was aided by federal dollars to go to school.

So I want to know, What Is The Road Ahead? for aspiring young black students today and how will they find entrance into some of the better schools if there is little or no Financial Aid?

I'm concerned for disadvantaged and minority children and students some even in my own family, that If they choose higher education that they can look forward to many of the same opportunities that I had.

So I'm really happy today to have with me on the show a man who will give us his well- informed opinion and some insight on this issue, Kenneth Cooper a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and fellow Washington University St Louis alum.

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Joining me on the program today is Nate LaPointe, the tremendously talented, lead singer and lead guitarist of Cubensis, the popular Grateful Dead tribute band, or as Nate insists, Grateful Dead experience because there is no mimicking here. These guys are the real deal. Now, that band includes, Craig Marshall, guitar, Brad Rhodes and Ed Fletcher on drums, Larry Ryan bass, and Tom Ryan on keys.

Nate grew up learning backstage from some of the best musicians can play about any style of music – and his degree in Jazz guitar lead him to music popularity in rock, pop, blues bluegrass and soul and country.

He worked with soul legend Bobby Womack for 10 years, and with BB King and also Vince Welnick keyboardist for the Dead.

As we record, Nate is in the South Bay to record some music to celebrate the August 1st birthday of the legendary Jerry Garcia.

He also has a Friday night live show that streams on Facebook. Check him on Facebook/ Nate Lapointe.

www.NateLapointe.com

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It is Election Day and and getting my vote for joining me on the program is the legendary Rock guitarist, Mitch Perry. Mitch has a lot to say about his new album Music Box and his Band, MPG (Mitch Perry Group).
Featuring new classic rock songs like, Valentine, Believe, and seven others, the album is powered by a collection of great artists including vocalist Keith England, bassist Dan McNay, drummer Tal Bergman, keyboardist Dave Shultz, with Shelly Bonet and Kara Turner also on vocals.
The album is Music Box and it gets my Presidential Seal of Approval.
Mitchperry.com

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Today I am happy to say that the Funkmaster of Hermosa Beach and my good friend, Zeal Levin is back with us for a second time and with some news about the new CD he is near to completing called, ‘Burrito Boogie.’

Zeal leads the cool band, Triple Bueno, doing original funk, Reggae, rock, hip-hop, pop as well as covers. They describe themselves as being “about love, respecting the earth and equality for all. A collective of passionate and talented musicians who love shaping a performance that pays tribute to the legends that have come before. Never playing the same song twice, Triple Bueno is constantly evolving their originals and twists on cover songs.”

I am following up with Zeal after our last conversation several months ago when we discussed his previous CD, ‘Sending Fire” so, it will interesting and to see what is happening with his music today.

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Today I am happy for you to get to know the remarkable, Chrissy Ras, singer, drummer and leader of the award - winning band, Pulp Vixen: a Female Fueled, high energy dance band. They specialize in Top 40 dance music , latin, hip-hop and rock, too. And if you like country, they can also deliver music from Carrie Underwood and the Zac Brown Band. Chrissy and her bands have been featured several times at Fiesta Hermosa but, things have now changed and live performances are hard to produce. Chrissy will tell us how her band is determined to keep working despite the pandemic and this classically trained pianist, turned corporate exec, turned Rock band leader explains her personal recipe for success.

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