WRS Classic: Childs Play
In this episode, Ray explores the legacy of Black Children taken as slaves from Africa, growing up on plantations and the impact on their social worth and development in America.
Apr 18, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 21
What's Ray Saying?
Storyteller Ray Christian shares personal stories as a sixty-something combat veteran, historian, and goat-wrangling father of six living in the rural mountains of Appalachia, all told through the fabric of centuries of Black history.
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Episodes
WRS Classic: Blacks and Indians
Ray explores the complex history and relationship between Black Americans and the Native people of America.
Aug 21, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 20
WRS Classic: Black Leadership Part 3—Challenging Authority
Ray explores Black leadership from the 1940s to now to reflect on it challenges and its legacies.
Aug 06, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 19
WRS Classic: Black Leadership Part 2—The Elite Class
Ray explores Black leadership from the emergence of an elite class, with varying perspectives and experiences.
Dec 21, 2018•34 min•Season 1Ep. 18
WRS Classic: Black American Leadership Part 1—Sources and Origins
In this episode part one of a three part series on Black leadership, Ray explores the origins of Black influence and authority in America.
Jun 14, 2018•34 min•Season 1Ep. 17
WRS Classic: Black Hair Issues
Ray explores the cultural and historical significance of Afro textured hair.
Feb 26, 2018•28 min•Season 1Ep. 16
WRS Classic: Black Americans and the Police
Ray explores the history and complicated relationship with Black Americans and the police.
Feb 11, 2018•27 min•Season 1Ep. 15
WRS Classic: Black in the City
Ray explores Black American association with the South and why Black are concentrated in urban areas of the country.
Jan 31, 2018•30 min•Season 1Ep. 14
WRS Classic: Black American Naming Practices
Ray talks about Black American naming practice, history, traditions and conventions from slavery to the 20th century.
Jan 24, 2018•26 min•Season 1Ep. 13
WRS Classic: The Storyteller's Journey Part 3
Ray completes the long journey of getting his stories heard, tells his life story and puts storytelling in context.
Jan 13, 2018•24 min•Season 1Ep. 12
WRS Classic: The Storytellers Journey Part 2
Ray continues to explore his storytelling journey after the RISK! show. He talks about his appearance on The Moth Radio Hour , a story in Readers Digest and his performance on Snap Judgment , the impact of this story and his reflections on storytelling.
Apr 17, 2017•26 min•Season 1Ep. 11
WRS Classic: The Storytellers Journey Part 1
This episode traces storytelling in African American culture, from its roots in Africa, through the Middle Passage and slavery, and continuing through time until today. Ray shares which stories white people hear, which stories are just for “family”, and reflections on Ray’s introduction to the art of storytelling.
Mar 29, 2017•41 min•Season 1Ep. 10
WRS Classic: An Imaginary Past
Ray looks at the origins of a false narrative of Black American history, its racist origins, the founder of revisionist history regarding the Civil War and Reconstruction, along with its influence on American society today.
Jan 08, 2017•25 min•Season 1Ep. 9
WRS Classic: Changes and Adaptation
Ray examines the nature of Black American assimilation into white culture.
Dec 30, 2016•26 min•Season 1Ep. 8
WRS Classic: Education—in Black and White
What, when, how, and why Blacks learned in the US as well as what others were taught about them, from the slave quarters to HBCU’s.
Sep 19, 2016•31 min•Season 1Ep. 7
WRS Classic: Dying While Black
What happens after death? Not in the metaphysical, existential sense. But quite literally, what happens after death? The history of the handling of bodies of Black decedents has been filled with interesting twists and turns, from blatant desecration to unusual rituals. Explore this topic with me in this episode of What's Ray Saying?
Jul 26, 2016•25 min•Season 1Ep. 6
WRS Classic: Line of Departure
This special episode marks a dividing line between the old and new, where you were and where you're going, what was and what will be. Follow the journey from "seasoning" of slaves, to the life of a domestic worker in the 60's to current questions of assimilation and acculturation.
Jul 18, 2016•31 min•Season 1Ep. 5
WRS Classic: Brothers in Arms
From the birth of this nation until today, Ray explores the complexities of life as a soldier of color in the US.
Jun 14, 2016•35 min•Season 1Ep. 4
WRS Classic: Hunger
From food stamps to gov'ment cheese—what it meant, how it helped, how we felt about it then, and what we think about it now.
May 11, 2016•27 min•Season 1Ep. 3
WRS Classic: Complexion
A literal discussion of skin color—the range of visual nuances of appearances that we consider "Black", how those divisions came to be and their many implications. From the paper bag test and one drop rule to Rachel Dolezal, who is Black and why?
Apr 21, 2016•26 min•Season 1Ep. 2
WRS Classic: Life After Slavery
In this premiere episode, Ray details the hardships that Blacks experienced after slavery and explores the themes and patterns of struggle that continued through the generations and into his own life. This episode contains special music by Beej Gordy Brooks and cameo "appearances" by Kevin Allison and Kristina Wong.
Apr 02, 2016•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1
WRS Classic: Welcome to "What's Ray Saying?"
Want to know what this podcast is all about? Listen to Ray, the host, share a little of his vision and focus for the show as well as a little about himself.
Mar 26, 2016•3 min
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