DescriptionFor over a hundred years the Mohawks of Akwesasne, a reservation on the New York-Canada border, pursued the occupation of ironworkers, one of the most dangerous jobs in construction. Mohawks were on the high steel crews of every bridge and skyscraper in Manhattan, commuting between job and their 12-hour-distant home every weekend, and became famous for their skill, daring and major contribution to the skyline of New York. This is the story of men plying a difficult craft in the modern world while cleaving to tribal customs in an ancient world - a balancing act that has taken its toll in lives and relationships. An honest, intimate and informative portrait of an unusual occupation and the Native Americans who made it their own.
DescriptionThis one-hour documentary combines never-before-released archive audio, gleaned from thousands of hours of recordings housed at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, period news broadcasts, private conversations with Lyndon Baines Johnson, and the…
DescriptionHow the botched hit of a County Prosecutor together with an FBI sting led to the criminal convictions of 79 public officials in Youngstown, OH - including an United States Congressman. The story of what has been called the "most crooked county in the USA" and how it got that way. The program traces a culture of resignation and acceptance so rampant it impregnates the halls of academe - and serves as a paradigm of how public attitudes can make or break our democratic processes. The piece interviews the FBI agent instrumental in breaking the case, a daughter of the mob, the Prosecutor who was shot, a mob lawyer, an university professor and others.
DescriptionEugene "Bud" Clark, a pint-sized scrapper from Macon, GA, mowed down Banzai warriors, watched mass suicide on Saipan, and was severely wounded on Iwo Jima. He returned home more persevering and disciplined than before and had a long career with Eastern Ai…
DescriptionAn investigative documentary involving white supremacists and a triple murder in Arkansas in 1996. For the first time, evidence is made public that was never presented in court. For the first time, pre-trial tapes made by Chevie Kehoe's accusers are aired. For the first time, in interviews conducted by mail, Chevie Kehoe tells his side of the story. Attorneys for the defense and prosecution speak their mind. People who knew the Kehoe family offer information and insights that point - as does the evidence - to another suspect. A close, troubling examination of a trial that may have convicted the wrong men, sending one to death row and the other to prison for life without parole.
DescriptionIn interviews and performance, ethnic humor get a workout in the only place on earth where mistaken identity can occur in one family: New York City. The ability to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear is at the heart of this hilarious hour. Six comic artists, including an Irishman, a Jewish Korean, and a Cuban who swam Guantanamo Bay to get here exemplify America's diversity and its long-standing tradition of meeting adversity and oppression with humor.
DescriptionThis program (hosted by Sanford Ungar, former host of All Things Considered ) examines the roots of hatred in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam and considers whether people of faith can ever reconcile those divisions. The world's great monotheistic faiths share centuries-old traditions, but they are also locked in dangerous rivalries that permeate contemporary thought. This program probes this duality and shares stories that confirm the power of faith to overcome legacies of hostility - illuminating ways that people work beyond hatred and stereotypes.
DescriptionThis unprecedented special program sheds light on the legacy of anti-Judaism in great Choral repertory. Sing to the Glory of God is intended to promote thought and discussion during the upcoming holiday season. The birth, death and resurrection of…
DescriptionHost Gwen Mascai (WBEZ Re: sound) takes a swing at singing the "National Anthem" ("one of the most humiliating moments of my life - caught on tape"). Dan Collison (LongHaulPro.org) provides play-by-play commentary on "The Potato Ball Caper." Barrett Golding spends a season with the Rookie League. Terry Allen defines the many meanings of "Dug-Out." And Philip Kent Bimstein plays ragtime ball with the St. Louis Cardinals' "Bushy Wishy Beer Man." Host: Gwen Macsai Executive Producer: Barrett Golding Story Producers: Dan Colllison, Philip Kent Bimstein, and Terry Allen.
