Brightness in Black

Brightness in Black Your voices. Our collective legacy.
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06/05/2026

Dr. John E. Warren has lived many lives as a law clerk, ordained minister, elected official, and publisher of The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, the city’s largest African-American newspaper

When he was 78 years old, his daughter Chida Warren sat down with him to reflect on that journey and what it was like to have to start over and prove himself.

Listen to their Brightness in Black conversation story of pride and perseverance.

05/29/2026

What's a story of restoration in your life?

A few months ago, the trees were bare and the days were short.

Now the flowers have returned, the leaves are back, and the light brings opportunity for so much more each passing day.

Restoration often happens the same way. Through time, reflection, connection, and the stories we carry with us.

We believe there is power in telling those stories. Especially the ones about starting over, finding your footing, healing after loss, or discovering a new chapter when you least expected it.

Share your story below, or record it with someone you care about using the StoryCorps app.

05/25/2026

“I would never want that to happen to you.”

In this Brightness in Black conversation, Donovan Harris sits down with his mother, Calandra Revering, to talk about protests, protection, and the deep love between a mother and son.

After the murder of George Floyd, Donovan Harris wanted to join the national protests. His mother understood why. She had raised him to use his voice and stand up for what he believed in.

But, she was also afraid.

Listen to their conversation on motherhood, protection, courage, and the complicated love of wanting your child to be safe while also wanting them to use their voice.

Today we’re holding space and reverence for the families, communities, and loved ones who continue to carry the weight of that day.

05/12/2026

Year-round, we think about the people who shaped us and the ways their influence continues to show up.

Chef JJ Johnson sits down with his mother, Marcela Johnson, to discuss what it felt like to grow up with a mother whose reputation speaks for itself. From school to work to everyday life, people still ask about her because of the way she’s shown up for others.

Now, raising a family of his own, he thinks about what it means to carry that forward.

Download the StoryCorps App today at the link in our bio and proudly preserve a loved one's story.

05/09/2026

“You could be a puddle… or you could be a river.”

Malcolm Jenkins, NFL star and two-time Super Bowl champion, and his mother, Gwendolyn, discuss their perspectives on moving through the world.

In their conversation, he reflects on what it meant to be raised by someone who valued depth and consistency, while Gwendolyn shares what it’s like to watch that take shape.

When it comes to creating our legacy—how it’s built or how it’s passed on—eventually it can also show up in the choices we make every day.

Take a moment to think about the daily lessons you still carry from the mother figures in your life. Tag them below. Happy Mother’s Day!

04/28/2026

“This is talking about me.”

That’s how Allie described her first reaction to Brightness in Black.

Allie speaks to a legacy of resilience shaped by family and history, sharing the story of her grandmother, who endured loss, yet raised the next generation with that same strength.

Watch her story and reflect on the people who shaped your understanding of resilience.

04/23/2026

For some music lovers, jazz sounds like WBGO playing in the morning while reading newspapers scattered across the living room floor.

For others, it’s a high school jazz band rehearsal that turned unforgettable when Herbie Hancock walked in and joined the session.

It’s Jazz Appreciation Month, and this year we’re thinking about the music that shaped us and our stories attached to it.

What song, artist, or moment comes to mind when you think of jazz music?

04/21/2026

Tony Royster, known as Mr. YNOT, has been playing the drums and making music since childhood. Today, he teaches music across five schools, passing rhythm to the next generation.

During the pandemic, he and other musicians moved through neighborhoods, playing for people who needed something to hold onto. Then, a woman heard the drums from her home and left a note for him to find on his windshield. Inside was $20 and a message: the music gave her hope.

Watch the full story and pass it to someone who needs to hear it. Ynot Royster

04/17/2026

For many, Prince was an artist who shaped how they saw themselves.

In this Brightness in Black broadcast, people reflect on where they were when they first heard his music, what it opened up for them, and how his presence continues to stay with them.

His influence lives in memory, in style, and in the way people move through the world.

Check out the , heard on NPR Morning Edition

https://storycor.ps/42iM35G

04/14/2026

Early in his career, Logan was told he would need to be head and shoulders above everyone else to succeed. So he did the work.

He earned a master’s degree. He pursued executive chief fire officer certification. He kept going, even when he realized that meeting those expectations would not remove the barriers in front of him.

Raised by his grandmother, one of the first Black nurses in San Diego, he learned how to carry himself through challenges without losing his sense of purpose.

Today, he is the highest-ranking firefighter in his department. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories on the way!

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