GrandStories: Profiles in Aging Howard University Multidisciplinary Gerontology Center

Dr. Andrew Billingsley, Sociologist, Author, College Provost, Vice Chancellor, President and Professor shares with Dr. Robert Cosby his rich history. Starting with his childhood in Marion, Alabama and his recognition of what he needed to expand his intellect. He shared that thirst for knowledge and explained how "his intellect began" when transitioning to Birmingham, Alabama due to his father's injury. Dr. Andrew Billingsley touches on some of his greatest contributions including his writing "Black Families in White America." He discusses his promotion of peace and anti-poverty, and his love for former slave and U.S. Congress Representative Robert Smalls.

Dr. Billingsley, recognized as a giant and scholar in the field of Sociology and Social Work, is the author of over ten books, four co-authored books, numerous edited books and journal articles. Dr. Billingsley received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in political science in 1951 from Grinnell University.  In 1956, he graduated with his MS degree from Boston University and his PhD from Brandeis University in 1964. He is a former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of California at Berkeley, Provost at Howard University, President of Morgan State University, and senior scholar and leader at other universities including University of Maryland and the University of South Carolina. He is recognized for his leadership and authorship. To learn more about Dr. Andrew Billingsley, please select here.

The conversation continues as Annette Solomon shares on the barriers of social work including the funding of programs. Ms. Solomon also talks about "planned failure," for "social workers not to get in their own way," self-care, the widening of the wealth gap, the reassessment of our value system, and the slow erosion of rights.

In the first of a two part episode, Howard University Graduate from the School of Social Work Annette Solomon discusses with Dr. Robert Cosby the inspiration driven by her parents and the impactful presence that Howard University had on her as a student. Ms. Solomon has a reputable resume in macro social work and talks about her prior roles at Urban League Greater Washington and Upper Cardozo Health Center.



The podcast features music performed by the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Fred Irby III.

Dr. Robert Cosby speaks with Dr. Frederica Barrow. She speaks about her upbringing in the rural town of Greensboro, North Carolina during the Jim Crow era, and her experiences with discrimination and racism that thrived at the time. Dr. Frederica Barrow also shares her experiences of fighting injustices by participating in sit-ins and boycotting for civil social justice. Dr. Barrow stressed some of the challenges in the field of education including how some governing officials are preventing schools from having access to African American literature. Lastly, Dr. Barrow plainly states how the prison system systemically disadvantages African Americans, including the devastating and lasting impact on children whose parents are incarcerated.

Dr. Frederica Barrow graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from North Carolina Central State University in 1960. She furthered her education and received a Master's Degree in Social Work from Clark-Atlanta University in 1962. In 1980, Dr. Frederica Barrow obtained a Master's Degree from the Cary School of Business at Johns Hopkins University. Later in her life, Dr. Frederica Barrow went back to school and received a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Howard University in 2001.

The podcast features music performed by the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, Under the direction of Fred Irby III.

In Part 2 of this interview, Dr. Robert Cosby continues his conversation with Patricia Martin-O'Meally, ACSW, LICSW, LCSWC, BCD, CPM. She goes back to discuss her time growing up in Pittsburgh, including her experiences witnessing segregation and white flight, participating in Girl Scouts, and the impacts of having a phenomenal mother committed to giving her a broad range of experiences in the city. She also discusses the impacts of having several phenomenal speakers and visitors throughout her experience at Virginia Union and the history of the Richmond 37. She also discusses social justice issues including food insecurity, voting rights, mass incarceration, the impacts of climate change, and the importance of looking globally at all issues that impact vulnerable populations.

The podcast features music performed by the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Fred Irby III.

In Part 1 of this interview, Dr. Robert Cosby speaks with Patricia Martin-O'Meally, ACSW, LICSW, LCSWC, BCD, CPM. From a childhood interaction with Ms. Josephine Baker to the moment she heard about the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ms. Martin-O'Meally recounts powerful stories for listeners. She discusses participating in student protests during her time at Virginia Union University, her work with older persons and mentally ill clients with Family and Child Services in Washington, D.C. (now called Family Matters of Greater Washington), and navigating systems as a tenant advocate.

The podcast features music performed by the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Fred Irby III.