In this episode of Spectacle, Adrien Wheaton-Schopp delves deeper into the experiences of Columbia’s Black student-artists, who highlight the music department’s Western rigidity and Western focus.

In part one of a two-part exploration of Columbia’s Black musicians, Adrien Wheaton-Schopp discusses the historical context that influenced the figures who paved the way for current Black student-artists. This episode highlights Paul Robeson and Lauryn Hill, two Columbia-affiliated artists who revolutionized their genres both in the eras that they lived in and the ones following. This episode of Spectacle was produced by Julia Hay with original composition by Obi Okoli.

In this episode, reporter Adrien Wheaton-Schopp investigates the issues surrounding Iran’s recent wave of uprisings. In speaking with both Columbia students and protesters in New York City, he finds that themes of civic responsibility and compassion are repeatedly evoked as motivating factors for the relentless activism. Whether it’s demanding accountability from their University or the administration, Iranian Americans everywhere are looking to have their voices heard and offer solidarity to the protestors on the ground.