Dr. Alex Gee

Rev. Dr. Alex Gee's personal website: articles, audio, Black Like Me Podcast and videos, Madison Wisconsin

cross-cultural

S10 E198: Revealing The Secrets Of The Universe With Trailblazing Astronomer Eric Wilcots

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Dr. Gee returns to the topic of a childhood fascination with astronomy as he takes a journey through the cosmos with Eric Wilcots, University of Wisconsin-Madison dean of the College of Letters & Science and Professor of Astronomy. Both began their interest in astronomy at a young age with the same model of telescope. Professor Wilcots explains how few Black astronomy academics there were in his early years and now works to encourage diversity in academic departments. 

They continue their fun and informative conversation by exploring questions about the universe and what we currently know scientifically. Dr. Gee asks questions to understand black holes, stars, and life on other planets. Don’t miss this awe-inspiring conversation as Professor Wilcots shares his passion for the big questions of our universe and beyond.

Learn more about the UW Washburn Observatory and when to visit

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From 2007 to 2019, Keith Ellison represented Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he championed consumer, worker, environmental, and civil- and human-rights protections for Minnesotans. He served for 12 years on the House Financial Services Committee, where he helped oversee the financial services industry, the housing industry, and Wall Street, among others. Among his legislative accomplishments are passing provisions to protect credit-card holders from abusive practices and protect the rights of renters and tenants. While in Congress, he founded the Congressional Antitrust Caucus and the Congressional Consumer Justice Caucus. He also served as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which he helped build to more than 100 members.

Before being elected to Congress, Attorney General Ellison served four years in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Prior to entering elective office, he spent 16 years as an attorney specializing in civil-rights and defense law, including five years as executive director of the Legal Rights Center. As the leader of this public-interest law firm, he oversaw a team of attorneys focused on delivering justice for Minnesotans who had nowhere else to turn. He was also a noted community activist.

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S10 E197: Ending The Cycle Of Police Violence With Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison

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Dr. Gee has an honest discussion with author and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Their conversation starts with southern cooking and how food provides insights into our histories and continues into how race relations impact policing.

Ellison has written a book about his experience leading the prosecution when the Derek Chauvin case came to trial involving the killing of George Floyd. Hear what he saw when he looked into the eyes of Derek Chauvin. They also discuss Ellison’s involvement in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Read Keith Ellison’s book: Break the Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence 

From 2007 to 2019, Keith Ellison represented Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he championed consumer, worker, environmental, and civil- and human-rights protections for Minnesotans. He served for 12 years on the House Financial Services Committee, where he helped oversee the financial services industry, the housing industry, and Wall Street, among others. Among his legislative accomplishments are passing provisions to protect credit-card holders from abusive practices and protect the rights of renters and tenants. While in Congress, he founded the Congressional Antitrust Caucus and the Congressional Consumer Justice Caucus. He also served as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which he helped build to more than 100 members.

Before being elected to Congress, Attorney General Ellison served four years in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Prior to entering elective office, he spent 16 years as an attorney specializing in civil-rights and defense law, including five years as executive director of the Legal Rights Center. As the leader of this public-interest law firm, he oversaw a team of attorneys focused on delivering justice for Minnesotans who had nowhere else to turn. He was also a noted community activist.

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S10 E196: “I’m Not Going To Wait For Them To Write The History,” Pulitzer Prize Winning Author And Cultural Commentator Leonard Pitts Discusses His New Novel 54 Miles

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Dr. Gee and Leonard Pitts discuss bringing American history to life in order to reclaim the role of Black people in the development of the nation. Both men share the power of story to display the experience of the Black community in history and today. Leonard speaks to the Black experience through journalism, academic scholarship, commentary, and historical fiction. Hear how the details of his writing inform a long-standing missing perspective on history, including complicated characters that reveal the trauma and hurt of the Black community in American history.

In a career that now spans 43 years, Leonard Pitts, Jr. has worked as a columnist, a college professor, a radio producer and a lecturer. But those are just the job titles. If you ask him what he does – what he is – he’ll tell you now what he would have told you then. He is a writer.

Read Leonard Pitts novel 54 Miles

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S10 E195: A Letter To A Black Brother: Marquis Hunt Calls Young Black Men To A Greater Narrative

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Dr. Gee starts his conversation with faith leader and professional musician Marquis Hunt by talking about addressing young Black men to understand that they do have voice that can matter. Marquis wrote a letter to a “Black Brother” as “a call to every Black man who’s ever felt overlooked, undervalued, or trapped in a system that wasn’t built for us.” They discuss why there is a need to call young Black men to create a greater narrative than the one that society is telling them. 

Before the recent election, Dr. Gee and Marquis looked deeply into the environment around the Black vote in the 2024 election, especially for Black men. Also, don’t miss an extra fun Black Ice Breakers session.

Marquis Hunt is a Spiritual Director, Interfaith Leader, professional musician and author of The New Human: When People We Love, Love The People We Love. From Little Rock, Arkansas, Hunt is the founder and developer of The FloW, a community-based practice that integrates music, philosophy, and strategic discourse. Marquis has worked on a national and international level helping thousands of individuals reach higher levels of human potential.

Read the Black Brother Article: https://marquishunt.org/2024/08/black-brother/

Learn more and listen to Marquis Hunt’s music: https://marquishunt.org

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S10 E194: “How Do I Operate In This Reality?”: A Raw Post-Election Conversation With Dr. Gee and Jeremy Holiday

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Dr. Alex Gee has a special episode to talk through and process the recent election from his perspective. He is joined by Black Like Me producer Jeremy Holiday for a raw conversation that seeks to break down first thoughts on how community and justice minded people look ahead in our current landscape. They share their raw feelings and reflections in this challenging moment. As always, Dr. Gee brings his wide-ranging experience as a Black man in a majority white community who is also a visionary community and faith leader.

RSVP for The Center for Black Excellence and Culture Public Update

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S10 E193: The Shape Of My Eyes: Finding Cross Cultural Healing and Hope With Spiritual Leader and Author Dave Gibbons

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Hear about how spiritual leader and author David Gibbons felt that he wrote his memoir as a way to process his life and his experience, calling the book The Shape of My Eyes. In an honest conversation, Dr. Gee and David break down what “model minority” means for Asian Americans and African Americans. They consider how this concept also worked toward putting the two racial communities in opposition to one another by weaponizing the term.

They continue Dr. Gee’s awareness around how the unity between Asian American and Black communities can be perpetuated. Also, hear how David tries to get Dr. Gee to go white water rafting.

Read Dave Gibbons new book, The Shape of My Eyes: A Memoir of Race, Faith, and Finding Myself

Dave Gibbons was born in Seoul, Korea yet culturally raised in America. He works in both for profit and not for profit organizations. Dave is an Advisor, Speaker and Spiritual leader. Dave founded an influential church known for diversity, innovation and social impact. At the same time, he launched or worked with social impact organizations such as World Vision and Fuller Seminary. He loves working with creators and innovators in entertainment, sports, government, finance, and non-profits. Dave lives in California and Seoul, Korea, with his wife, Becca. He has four adult children and two grand-dogs.

alexgee.com

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