Welcome to Hello Somebody, a production of the Black Effect Network on I Heart Radio.

Before we begin, I want to give a big thank you to my team, the team that makes this show happen every week.

Thank you, Grace and Co. for graphics. Pepper Chambers, the hot one for writing.

Angelo Greco and Anna Mesa for social media,

Tiffany Hale for everything,

Erica Eklund for Patreon support and production

by the folks at large media.

That's L-A-R-J-Media.

Thank you. media. That's L-A-R-J media. Our last episode, we danced our way through joy. This week, we visit with the one and only Dr. Cornell West. And I am blessed beyond mech to be on the show of my magnificent sister, Nina, and she's

telling you, hello somebody. The intellectual, intergalactically known intellectual, himself,

philosopher, political activist, social critic, author, Dr. Cornell West.

We start our journey with Dr. West by talking about the blues.

Blues is folk music that is filled with so much emotion.

It captures pain and justice, lost love, and the yearning for a better life.

It was an art form that is truly American in its origins as it was created by African Americans

through work songs and spirituals.

This all happening in the 1870s.

African American slave songs, such as field hollas,

work songs, and spirituals encapsulate the heart and the soul of the blues.

Good God of my name! I went to the bottom the heart and the soul of the blues. Great blues artists like W.C. Handy, who was considered the father of the blues. Oh, Ma Rainy, who's considered the mother of the blues.

Got a range in my kitchen, nice and brown, all I see that my mess

to turn my damper's out

...