NPR: Building Ideas for the Week Ahead

Building Ideas for the Week Ahead

Lee, here...

Happy Monday, right?

The week is definitely in full-swing here on our end. We hit the ground running this morning...and we're still running, believe it or not. Needless to say, the pots are brewing at just the right temperature for those intellectual taste buds... So grab a plate.

Ever heard of a "genius award"? Of course, we all would like to think that no one is more deserving of the award than one's self. Modesty, is that you I hear?...

Tomorrow, the 2007 MacArthur Fellows, a.k.a. the real geniuses, will be announced. In case you haven't heard why they're so special, here's a very eloquent excerpt of why WE should know who THEY are (as found on their web site):

The MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.

Fancy.

We'll talk to one of the awardees, a playwright, who's been called a modern-day Zora Neale Hurston. By listening to her, I'm sure it won't take long to understand just why she's among those being recognized... Catch us tomorrow for the interview.

Later this week... Why is the head of police in Durban, South Africa, reportedly, calling for prostitution to be legalized in the city? ...And the country? And why is the push coming from law enforcement? We plan to bring you voices from inside that ordeal, including a former prostitute who now advocates on behalf of sex workers there.

And on somewhat of a lighter note, but, then again, not really... What's on network television this fall? And who is, noticeably, NOT on television this fall? Can you see where we're going with this?... We'll discuss the hits, the misses and the missing this season.

Yet, another reason to tune-in tomorrow. We'll be joined by a special musical guest. Final hint: lots of heart, LOTS of soul -- neo-soul, that is.
Tune-in. It'll be golden...

Also, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) convenes this week in Washington for its Annual Legislative Conference. They'll be meeting just across the street from us, so you know we'll be stretching our neck out the window to see what we can see...

Lee Hill

8:09 PM ET | 09-24-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

On the adoption story, someone talked about the reluctance of some african-americans to pay the fees associated with adoption because to do so would be too reminiscent of chattel slavery. That just sounds silly to me. I'd love to have someone explain that thinking.

I can understand someone objecting to the high cost of adoption. $20,000? Sounds excessive. Can the services provided by adoption agencies really amount to that much?

But unless prospective parents intend to have the adoptees in the fields picking cotton or busting up some chifforobe, then the reference to slavery is silly.

Covering the fees related to adoption is part of an expression of committment to the child.

Sent by Stanley | 4:09 PM ET | 09-27-2007

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