I SEE U is a unique, award-winning program that gives voice to those who have often been unheard, and exploring cultural identity through the stories of people and places that have been transformed by the effects of long-standing biases. We guide fascinating conversations with newsmakers who share their personal histories, their struggles and their triumphs. In listening, we learn to empathize and hopefully experience a few ‘a-ha’ moments for ourselves.
120: The Quiet Storms of Luther Vandross with Filmmaker Dawn Porter
Legendary singer-songwriter Luther Vandross (https://luthervandross.com/) pioneered a golden age of silky-smooth R&B and passionate slow jams. In addition to countless hits and platinum albums, he earned eight Grammy Awards (https://www.grammy.com/artists/luther-vandross/6968), including ‘Song of the Year’ in 2004 for “Dance With My Father (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmDxJrggie8)” – a track that was released while he was hospitalized after suffering from a stroke (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-wake-up-call-for-vandross/). He studied from the best at a young age, spending hours watching and recreating the routines of Diana Ross (https://www.dianaross.com/) and Dionne Warwick (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dionne-Warwick) that he saw on television. He wrote, arranged and sang back up for David Bowie (https://www.davidbowie.com/about), Chaka Khan (https://chakakhan.com/about/), Bette Midler (https://www.bettemidler.com/the-divine-miss-m), Barbra Streisand (https://releases.barbrastreisand.com/) and Roberta Flack (http://www.robertaflack.com/biography.php), before finally deciding to step into the spotlight as a solo artist.Despite his success, the powerhouse balladeer had a very public struggle with weight, especially with an unforgiving media fixated on image. He was also dogged by constant questions over his sexuality, despite pleas to respect his privacy. It’s hard to believe that a man responsible for some of the most beautiful ballads ever recorded had a difficult time finding true love in his own life. Nonetheless, Vandross persevered with an unprecedented work ethic and an unrelenting spirit to succeed.Join I SEE U (https://iseeushow.org/)as host Eddie Robinson (https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/staff/eddie-robinson/) chats unguarded with award-winning filmmaker, Dawn Porter (https://www.trilogy-films.com/about). Her latest documentary, Luther: Never Too Much (https://www.sonymusic.com/sonymusic/cnn-films-and-own-acquire-dawn-porters-luther-never-too-much/), has received critical acclaim for uncovering details of Luther Vandross’ life previously unknown to even the most die-hard fan. Utilizing a hefty trove of archival footage and rare rehearsal recordings, Porter allows Vandross to tell his own story with assistance from his closet friends and collaborators, including Warwick, Mariah Carey (https://mariahcarey.com/), Marcus Miller (https://www.marcusmiller.com/about), Richard Marx (https://richardmarx.com/bio/) and Nile Rodgers (http://nilerodgers.com/about/biography). With the recent news of CNN Films (https://www.cnn.com/shows/cnn-films) and OWN (https://www.oprah.com/app/own-tv.html) acquiring the film, the director chronicles for I SEE U the triumphs and tribulations of an extraordinary vocalist who grew up admiring the heroines of ‘60s music royalty to become one of the most influential and decorated artists of the last few decades.
18 May 2024
119: A Resurgence of Ballet Royalty – Legendary Dancer Lauren Anderson
Ballet (https://www.britannica.com/art/ballet) traces its origins to the 15th century and the Italian Renaissance (https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/italian-renaissance). But the art form has continued to evolve, with choreographers and dancers creatively incorporating new interpretations reflective of contemporary culture. Despite its evolution, today’s ballet still lacks dancers of color, especially in principal roles.Trailblazer Lauren Anderson (https://www.laurenandersonofficial.com/about) was one of the first Black dancers to climb the ranks to become the principal dancer at a major ballet company. Though it’s been 34 years since she made history in that role, Anderson tells I SEE U (https://iseeushow.org/) that while progress has been made, more needs to be done so that young people of color can feel like they belong in this industry. She admits that more ballerinas of color are, indeed, taking lead roles – but too often, preference is given to light-skinned dancers. Anderson, who is dark skinned and has a muscular physique, was told as a teen that she didn’t fit the right look of a ballerina – despite being recognized as a huge talent at a young age.Stay tuned as host Eddie Robinson (https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/staff/eddie-robinson/) chats unguarded with the first African American Principal Dancer with the Houston Ballet (https://www.houstonballet.org/), Lauren Anderson. Born and raised in Houston’s Third Ward (https://uh.edu/third-ward/third-ward-map/), the iconic dancer reveals how she dealt with discrimination, which led her to unhealthy coping mechanisms due to the pressures of perfection. While she almost lost her way because of addiction (https://www.click2houston.com/news/2019/01/23/the-sugar-plum-fairy-went-to-jail-local-ballerina-opens-up-about-addiction/), Anderson is now celebrating 14 years of sobriety as she continues to educate and mentor students on their quest to achieve their own hopes and dreams.
10 May 2024
118: A Life of Empathy, Family and Community – Actor & Producer, Luis Guzmán
Despite a highly successful acting career with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, Luis Guzmán (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0350079/) never really wanted to be an actor. He was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Loísada (https://savingplaces.org/stories/becoming-nuyorican-history-puerto-rican-migration-nyc?gad_source=1), the name given to Manhattan’s Lower East Side by the massive working-class Puerto Rican community that migrated to New York (https://lcw.lehman.edu/lehman/depts/latinampuertorican/latinoweb/PuertoRico/1950s.htm) in the 1950s. Loísada was also a hot bed for activism, with residents coming together to fight against discrimination and for better housing and working conditions. Guzmán admits to I SEE U (https://iseeushow.org/) that his calling was to be a social worker as he embraced the culture and spirit of his community, working extensively with youth to enhance their lives and help guide them to their own aspirations.Guzmán started performing in popular street theater as a hobby to showcase his acting ability through the art of social and political advocacy. To supplement his social work with more cash, he also appeared in several indie films, including his first movie role in 1977, Short Eyes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maAWAz6kTn8&t=30s)—a prison life drama written by close friend and playwright, Miguel “Mickey” Piñero (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/miguel-pinero). Co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Café (https://www.latinousa.org/2021/11/12/nuyoricanpoetscafe/), a haven for Black and Latinx artists and activists, Mickey even helped him land a role on NBC’s Miami Vice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWQX0avgnlM&list=PLoLxu8OMzNE92LaSTofhMP59QyzIATqYW&index=17) in 1985—a role that would change Guzmán’s life forever. 50 years and nearly 200 film and TV projects later, his comedic brilliance and authentic bravado have positioned him to become one of the most renowned and recognizable actors around the world.Join us as host Eddie Robinson (https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/staff/eddie-robinson/) chats with award-winning actor and producer, Luis Guzmán, from his farm in Vermont. The veteran performer reminisces on his family and how paying a phone bill as a young adult led to finding his biological father in Puerto Rico. Plus, Guzmán shares an incredible moment of vulnerability as he remembers his friend, the late Robin Williams (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000245/)—one of the greatest comedians of all time—and recalls how his death by suicide over a decade ago still affects him to this day.
Inside a recent episode
48: WILL D.E.I. D.I.E.?
Published 14 May 2022 · Transcript excerpt
[…] They often haven't been evaluated for years or even decades. And as roles and responsibilities change in this world, as it relates to the social media and digital technology, now we're in a post-pandemic world, there must be a system of compensation in place that's fair and that's equitable. […]
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