Karess Melanie is a multimedia journalist, storyteller, and graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Driven by a passion for service, she has used journalism and student leadership to support her community, advocate for greater representation, and create meaningful change on campus.

In this episode of Blackness?, Karess shares her journey from Brooklyn to ASU, reflecting on how leadership helped her overcome introversion and find her voice. We discuss navigating predominantly white spaces, rebuilding ASU's chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, confronting racism in academic and professional settings, and the importance of staying true to your identity while pursuing success. Through it all, Karess offers thoughtful insight into leadership, resilience, and what it means to walk confidently in your Blackness.

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In this episode of Blackness, Zion Kanyana sits down with Susan Casper, an award-winning television journalist and longtime media leader at Arizona's Family, to reflect on her three decade career through the lens of being a Black woman in broadcast news.

Casper shares how she refused to enter the industry boxed in by labels, choosing instead to see herself first as the best storyteller in the room. From an unexpected start as a weather anchor to leading impactful stories in major markets, she explains how excellence, preparation, and authenticity shaped her path. She opens up about navigating newsroom politics, standing firm in her voice, mentoring young journalists, and pitching stories that center perspectives often overlooked.

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful message about Blackness as excellence, responsibility, and legacy. Casper speaks candidly about honoring the sacrifices of those who came before her, the importance of protecting journalism’s integrity, and why young professionals must remain rooted in who they are while refusing to limit themselves.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on “Blackness?” I sit down with Shannon Forman, a former ASU football player, coach, and founder of TFLDL Training, to discuss what it truly means to persevere when the lights fade and the crowd is gone.

Shannon shares how moving from Louisiana to Arizona brought challenges he didn’t expect and growth he didn’t know he needed. He reflects on his time as a player, the shift into coaching, and how building his own football development program became a way to give back and build forward.

This episode is about grit. It’s about growth. And it’s about the work we do when no one’s watching, the kind of hustle that speaks for us louder than any words ever could.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.