logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2021
50m 55s

What Does Black Ambition Sound Like?

Wnyc Studios
About this episode

James Reese Europe was already famous when he enlisted to fight in World War I. But the band he took to the frontlines — as part of the famous 369th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Harlem Hellfighters — thurst him, and Black American music, onto the global stage. Moran sits down at the piano to show Kai how Europe’s band changed music, and how jazz carries the resilient sound of Black history and ambition in America. 

Companion listening for this episode:

The ‘Beautiful Experiments’ Left Out of Black History (2/8/2021)

Saidiya Hartman introduces Kai to the young women whose radical lives were obscured by respectability politics, in the second installment of our Future of Black History series.

“The United States of Anxiety” airs live on Sunday evenings at 6pm ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts. To catch all the action, tune into the show on Sunday nights via the stream on WNYC.org/anxiety or tell your smart speakers to play WNYC. 

We want to hear from you! Connect with us on Twitter @WNYC using the hashtag #USofAnxiety or email us at anxiety@wnyc.org.

Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.

Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.

Up next
Dec 2024
Not Just Forgotten, but Erased From History: A Final Note from Notes from America
This is the last episode of Notes from America with Kai Wright.If you’ve been with the show through its multi-year history and iterations as a NYC-based narrative podcast and local call-in show called The United States of Anxiety before becoming a nationally distributed program, ... Show More
52m 57s
Dec 2024
The Real Heartbeat of D.C. Isn’t Politics. It’s Go-Go Music.
The drumbeat of Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area is not politics. It’s go-go music.The genre developed by Chuck Brown in 1976 features syncopated rhythms, a large ensemble of musicians and a rich drum beat to create a live experience that has fans dancing ’till they can' ... Show More
51m 54s
Dec 2024
Dear Listener: A Celebration of Our Best Moments with You
Host Kai Wright celebrates the many years and iterations of Notes from America by revisiting some of the show’s most engaging listener moments.He’s joined by producer Regina de Heer to open up the listener mailbag of responses to recent episodes and highlights from live events an ... Show More
50m 4s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2021
Where Are They Now?
Over the last year and a half, Into America has met some extraordinary people who have shared with us some equally extraordinary stories, but where are they now? On this episode of Into America, we speak with some of our past guests who shaped our show and helped us make better s ... Show More
35m 2s
Feb 2021
Lift Every Voice and Sing
The so-called Black National Anthem was composed in 1900, and it’s provided a soundtrack to Black life ever since. For this special Black History Month episode, CNN’s Don Lemon speaks with Rep. James Clyburn, historian Prof. Imani Perry, and Howard University choir conductor Eric ... Show More
33m 12s
Sep 2019
The Birth of American Music
Black music, forged in captivity, became the sound of complete artistic freedom. It also became the sound of America. On today’s episode: Wesley Morris, a critic-at-large for The New York Times.“1619” is a New York Times audio series hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones. You can find mo ... Show More
34m 33s
Apr 2024
Third Culture Music: Belonging Beyond Geographies | Oddisee
At Sole DXB in December 2023, Oddisee joined afikra on stage for a live episode of Quartertones. Using his music as an entryway, this conversation journeys from D.C. to NYC all the way to Sudan. We learn about Oddisee's musical influences and how he blends soundscapes from iconic ... Show More
51m 45s
May 2024
16 | America Has A Problem | For Real, For Real
Black culture is a pivotal pillar of broader American culture. From fashion, to language, to being the sonic foundation to much of American music. In this special episode, our hosts do a deep dive into country music and how its roots are grounded in Black music. Using Beyoncé’s l ... Show More
33m 50s
Feb 2022
2 Chainz interview and Nedra Tawwab Interview
Today on the show we had 2 Chainz stop by where he spoke about his new album themes, performing in the Metaverse, Lost Kings and more. Also we had therapist and author Nedra Tawwab stop by where she spoke about the importance of setting boundaries for healthy relationships, respe ... Show More
1h 30m
Oct 2023
African Musicians Making Their Mark in America
The Daily Show highlights the growth in African artists taking over the American Music scene. Trevor Noah chats with DJ and music producer Black Coffee to discuss what he believes are the keys to his success. Also, Trevor chats with Burna Boy and Davido to discuss the growth of A ... Show More
24m 10s
Jun 2024
A Georgia Man's Life Mission To Preserve Black History
Speaking at a Juneteenth event at the White House this month, President Joe Biden warned about the “old ghosts in new garments” trying to erase the nation’s Black history by banning books and restricting diversity programs. But across the country, people are also working hard to ... Show More
17m 37s