NPR: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Thanks again to all those who called to wish us well on our week of first anniversary shows. We loved it. I loved it. I loved the surprise visit from the Marcus Johnson trio (and did I mention that I don't like surprises?).

And I loved our visit with Holly Adams Sherman, who is one of the most, how shall I put it, luminous people I have ever met. Having lost her daughter in the Virginia Tech shooting last April she is somehow able to share that experience in a way we can all understand without minimizing the grief.

Reading over the blog posts this week has been a joy. What's most remarkable about it, to me anyway, is that it is a a reversal of the usual pattern. Having been in the media my entire career in one form or another - except for couple of brief flirtations with academia - I am used to people burning up my phone to tell me what I did wrong. I am not used to people burning up my phone to tell me what I did right. And this week has been the most wonderful thing - here's a sample:

"As a white person I first thought it was a "black show" that might not offer me much. But I was quickly drawn in by the stories that were relevant to me..."

"I think it is wonderful that this show talks about the history of African Americans and about the current issues that affect the community.."

"I loved the interview with Regina King.."

"... thank you for dealing in a real and also intellectual way with the food crisis that is all around us."

"This week I was anxious to hear some intelligent discussion of the Wright/Obama stuff and BINGO - you delivered."

"Your program brings intelligence, truth, compassion and raises our consciousness to a much higher level."

You told me you are: men and women, and young and old, college professors and college students and doctors and cab drivers . You told me you are: white Americans and African Americans and Latino Americans and and Asian Americans and Native Americans - and citizens of countries from around the world. You have told me: you listen on military posts and in the car pool lane and on your ipod on the long bus ride home. You have told me you love to hear stories that are not your own - but that sound like your own - that you can make your own. You have told me that you want to know what your neighbors are thinking and feeling, even when you don't like what they are thinking and feeling.

It is amazing and humbling to be at the center of these conversations. We hope to do even better by you as time goes on.

And if you are curious about us, we have a little something for you - a DAY in the LIFE of Tell Me More. Check it out - an audio slide show produced by our very own Tell Me More staff.

Have a great weekend. And we'll start YEAR TWO next week.

Michel Martin

4:52 PM ET | 05- 2-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Although your show doesn't play in my area, I enjoy listening it on my computer over the weekend.

I like the variety of the topics that you cover and like the fact that some of these topics, such as the women victims of violence in Zimbabwe, go into more depth than we usually hear.

Happy Birthday and to many, many more years!

Sent by KALW Country | 10:37 PM ET | 05-03-2008

I was out of town last week so I am only now catching up on my podcasts. The show does not play in my listening area, Birmingham, AL. As I was writing the latter, I realized ours is the very market that needs your show! In the interest of full disclosure, I am a white women who recognizes (not all of the time) the racial bias of the media. I listen to your AMAZING show in an effort to continue to grow as a person. In fact, this show is one of my favorite things to listen to and I have told all in my circle about its greatness. So, Happy Birthday and thanks for all you do!

Sent by Jessica Leven | 12:48 PM ET | 05-14-2008

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'Tell Me More' with Michel Martin

"Nothing is assumed." That's the unofficial motto of Tell Me More, the new Monday-Friday talk show with host Michel Martin. Grounded in lively interviewing and compelling storytelling, the program seeks to present diverse new voices, cross borders, challenge conventional wisdom and discover how other people think.