Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Shelley’s Plumbline
Society & CultureNewsNews CommentaryPersonal Journals

Shelley’s Plumbline

Shelley Stewart

In construction, a plumbline is a weight suspended from a string used as a tool to find the true reference line. A plumbline will always find the vertical axis pointing to the center of gravity, ensuring everything is right, justified, and centered. 

​

Pulling from a library of more than 3,000 shows from his storied career in broadcasting, Shelley's Plumbline leads us in a search for the truth, opening the channels of communication and understanding on tough social topics that are as relevant today as they were 40 years ago.

 

Join us as we explore the past, compare it to today, and craft a better future.

Play
Open in
  • 20 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 34 min
  • English

Support the show

Goes straight to the publisher. podnod takes nothing.

Episodes 20

NewestOldestLongest
All20Unplayed20In progress0Played0
  • S16 · E2
    Saturday · 34 min

    Dr Ricky Jones Reflects on the Legacy of Hosea Williams

    Send us Fan Mail As a member of the King's inner circle, Hosea Williams served as the advance man, organizing some of the most important events in the movement. Williams traveled to cities throughout the South, recruiting and organizing volunteers, paving the way for appearances by King, Jesse Jackson, and Andrew Young. Williams and John Lewis led the "Bloody Sunday" march in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. This episode features an interview from September of 1994 with Shelley Stewart and Hosea Williams. Hosea reveals the dire warning King had for the members of his inner circle. Ricky reflects on the Black struggle and the unfortunate missteps made by Black leaders after the loss of King. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S16 · E1
    September 26 · 39 min

    Shelley's 92nd Birthday Podcast Celebration

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode Shelley reflects on his journey from a homeless youth in Birmingham to a pioneering radio personality and successful business consultant. This episode touches on civil rights history, economic empowerment, education, and the ongoing struggle for equality, offering a powerful look at legacy, fatherhood, and social consciousness. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S13 · E10
    September 19 · 28 min

    Is AI the End of Thinking?

    Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode, Shelley and Ricky discuss how over-reliance on AI for writing and thinking threatens critical thinking and foundational professional competencies, forcing educators to find new ways to verify comprehension. The conversation also covered the historical ties between literacy and empowerment, current political pressures on educators (such as the dissolution of the Auburn University faculty senate), and concerns over historical awareness in federal leadership. What will society suffer due to its reliance on AI? Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • September 13 · 31 min

    The End of Reading

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore the sharp decline in educational literacy across the U.S. and the emerging cognitive threats posed by artificial intelligence. We examine alarming literacy trends, including 25 million American children reading below proficiency, 61% of low-income families lacking age-appropriate books, and only 2% of adults reading to a child on any given day. As reading for pleasure continues to drop, we discuss how reading and writing serve as essential brain exercises to refine and test ideas. Finally, we address growing concerns that an over-reliance on AI for writing and thinking will cause critical thinking skills to atrophy, undermine the foundational competency of future professionals like doctors and lawyers, and force educators to turn back to oral exams. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S15 · E9
    September 5 · 29 min

    Some Truths That Hurt

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, hosts Shelley Stewart, Ricky Jones, and Mark Jamroz explore the persistent challenges of truth-telling in both professional and societal contexts. Key Topics Discussed: The Cost of Truth: An analysis of why individuals often prioritize saying what others want to hear over speaking necessary truths—a pattern observed from the 1950s through today. Barriers to Progress: An examination of how the fear of professional retaliation, selfishness, and the preservation of racial dominance stifle advocacy and collective growth. Responsibility & Literacy: A conversation on the importance of personal and familial accountability, and the growing concern over rising anti-intellectualism and the decline in engagement with historical documentation. Future Challenges: A preview of upcoming discussions, including the societal risks of artificial intelligence and the "illiteracy of America." Join us as we discuss the necessity of individual courage and the critical work required to prevent historical and painful experiences from being ignored. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S15 · E8
    August 29 · 34 min

    Racism Today (Rebroadcast)

    Send us Fan Mail Today, we (re)present the most downloaded Plumbline episode of 2025, titled "Racism Today." In this episode, Shelley, Mark, and Ricky Jones launch into a powerful discussion on the enduring struggle against racism, arguing that while overt segregation is gone, it has transformed, with terms like DEI serving as "code words" for veiled racist policies. They explore the historical context of white supremacy, citing Abraham Lincoln's views on racial inequality, and stress the urgent need for continued, honest conversation about justice. The episode also covers modern dangers to society like greed and anti-intellectualism, and examines intra-racial dynamics and miseducation within the Black community. Listen, learn and share your thoughts. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S15 · E7
    August 21 · 30 min

    Resilience, Representation, and the Reality of Black Academia

    Send us Fan Mail This episode of Shelley's Plumbline celebrates the return of Dr. Shelley Stewart to the podcast team! The discussion centers on the systemic challenges facing black academics and educators, including the mental health toll of targeted media attacks, the lack of representation in higher education (where black professors constitute only 5% of the faculty), and the exclusion of black voices from mainstream media platforms. The hosts also touch upon conflicts involving high-profile media figures, critique narratives surrounding black tenure-track faculty, and reflect on historical events to contextualize the ongoing struggle for visibility and equality. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S15 · E6
    August 14 · 37 min

    Education, Power, and the Fight for Truth

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we move beyond the headlines to examine the systemic pressures facing higher education—from the dismantling of DEI initiatives to the political influence on university leadership. We explore the roots of current political polarization, analyze the impact of populist movements on our national discourse, and discuss why critical thinking is under attack. If you’re looking for a substantive, intellectual look at race, power, and the state of American morality, this conversation is for you. We don’t shy away from the hard questions; we pursue the truth that lies between conflicting perspectives. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S15 · E5
    August 7 · 33 min

    Erasing Black History in the Military

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark and Ricky pull back the curtain on the hypocrisy within military leadership, discussing the targeted removal of Black historical figures from institutions and the exclusionary rhetoric permeating the Pentagon. Through the lens of Clint Smith’s The Atlantic piece, "The Betrayal of America’s Black Patriots," they analyze the complex legacy of figures like Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. and the persistent "unrequited love" Black Americans have shown a country that often fails to return it. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • July 31 · 31 min

    REBROADCAST: A meeting with a Grand Knight of the KKK, A Minister of the Nation of Islam and the Executive Director of the National Conference of Christians and Jews

    Send us Fan Mail In 1993, Shelley hosted the Shelley Stewart Show, Survival in the 90s. It was a talk show on television that ran for 13 episodes. Today, we feature the audio from an extraordinary episode that featured a conversation with three very different people on the same stage. The discussion featured Lamarse Washington, Executive Director of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, William Muhammad, Minister of Nation of Islam and on the other end of the spectrum, William Burchfield, Grand Titan of Alabama for the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Can you imagine a more diverse group in one place? We believe that you’ll discover the topics between then and today are not that different. But we wonder, could people of such diverse opinions share a stage with civility and respect today? Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S15 · E3
    July 24 · 31 min

    Is Education Running Scared?

    Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, Ricky highlights the erosion of intellectual freedom in Alabama, citing issues at Auburn University and the University of Alabama regarding the dismantling of faculty senates and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. They argue that university leadership is either cowed by the threat of losing state funding or ideologically aligned with white supremacist efforts to limit diversity and critical thinking. They challenge the myth that universities are inherently progressive spaces, noting that many never truly committed to integration in the first place. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S15 · E2
    July 8 · 34 min

    Crispus Attucks and the Real Meaning of Independence

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of "Shelley's Plumline," hosts Mark Jamroz and Dr. Ricky Jones explore the foundational contradictions of American history, using Frederick Douglass’s critique of Independence Day as a starting point. We analyze the systematic erasure of figures like Crispus Attucks from public memory and discuss how lingering ideologies from the Civil War era continue to influence modern society. The episode concludes by encouraging listeners to engage in independent research to critically examine these historical narratives and their ongoing impact on American democracy. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S15 · E2
    June 17 · 39 min

    Shelley's Father's Day Message from 1996

    Send us Fan Mail Today, we continue in the theme of fathers as we rebroadcast a show we released on near his birthday, September 27, 2023. It features a recording of a speech Shelley made on Father's Day when he was 63 years old at Friendship Baptist Church. This Church plays a special role in Shelley's life. As a boy of five, he saw his mother murdered just a few blocks away. In spite of growing up without his parents, he would celebrate his graduation in this same Church. Without a doubt, the Friendship Baptist Church has held a special place in Shelley's heart. In today's podcast, he shares a message that he's shared all his life. A message that tells hard truths but also triumphs love, mutual respect, and human rights for ALL people and that faith is the power that enables the unlikely to accomplish the impossible. Today's episode is a heartfelt message from Shelley, one of faith. What we know is if you lose faith, you lose all. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S15 · E1
    June 12 · 42 min

    You Don't Have to Be a Father to Be a Father

    Send us Fan Mail You don't have to be a dad to be a father. Mentor a child. Set a good example. Teach our youth the right direction. Happy Father's Day. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S14 · E10
    June 3 · 34 min

    Education Lifts All Ships (Rebroadcast)

    Send us Fan Mail Shelley's Plumbline is on a short summer break. In the meantime, Shelley asked that we rebroadcast some of our most popular episodes on the importance of education. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S14 · E9
    May 6 · 32 min

    The Rapid Decline of Education in America

    Send us Fan Mail In this week's podcast, Dr. Ricky Jones calls out modern efforts to roll back Civil Rights gains. The discussion highlights the systematic underfunding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the use of anti-affirmative action and anti-DEI movements to restrict Black student access and support at predominantly white institutions. We discuss how the real value of education is not economic profit, but rather its power to create critically thinking individuals who are capable of examining and challenging the society in which they live. The segment concludes with a consensus that the current lack of critical thinking, fueled by miseducation, is allowing the media to manipulate the masses. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S14 · E8
    May 1 · 34 min

    What Have We Done Wrong?

    Send us Fan Mail This episode of Shelley's Plumbline explores the question of what we, as Black men and a people, have done wrong in the ongoing struggle for equality? Stewart frames this introspection with painful memories of childhood segregation and being told he was "wrong" simply because of his color. Dr. Jones refines the query into two parts: "What is wrong with blackness" that the country treats Black people the way it does, and what tactical mistakes have been made in addressing these issues, such as the push for integration or traditional politics. Shelley also recounts his experience as a broadcaster confronting racism, often facing criticism from others in the Black community who accused him of "stirring up trouble" or being wrong for speaking his mind. The conversation emphasizes the critical difference between external criticism and self-critique, with Dr. Jones warning against the narcissism of people who only discuss wrongs done to them, not wrongs they have committed. Stewart shares a powerful personal story illustrating his decades-long commitment to justice: he was so disturbed by a white preacher using the radio airwaves to promote segregation, arguing that "black birds and white birds" don't fly together, that he eventually bought the station to take the message off the air. The co-hosts connect this generational struggle to modern challenges, noting that the community solidarity seen in the Civil Rights era has fractured, attributing the decline in part to Black people buying "lock, stock, and barrel into American individualism." Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S14 · E6
    April 16 · 36 min

    War. What is it Good for?

    Send us Fan Mail This week on Shelley's Plumbline, we look into the true meaning of war, questioning the moral center of American conflicts, and suggesting that the biggest challenge today is simply survival in America. The discussion exposes America's "masterful lie" of liberty and justice for all, highlighting the historical and ongoing racial injustice faced by Black veterans returning from conflicts. The speakers assert that white supremacy has created a generation unaware that America is currently losing a race war. Listen as the hosts warn that the failure of leaders to confront these terrifying realities is a danger we can no longer afford to deny, leading to the philosophical question: "If you knew better, would you do better?" Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
  • S14 · E5
    April 8 · 40 min

    Interview with Music Writer Candis Bonner, Pt 2

    Send us Fan Mail In this week's podcast, we continue our interview featuring Candis Bonner, a top writer for the major magazine Black Radio Exclusive. We focus on the history and evolution of the Black radio industry. Bonner explains that Black radio was not homogeneous across the US, and her publication was often ahead of the curve in predicting music trends because it was dedicated to the industry when general trades neglected it. We discuss the historical power of influential local Black radio personalities, who could previously mobilize thousands of people for community action. However, this local power ultimately diminished because syndicated shows, driven by money, diluted the influence of these strong local voices. Support the show Follow us and continue the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

    • Transcript
Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes