The Good Road

After the killing of George Floyd, the city of Richmond, Virginia – former capital of the Confederacy – became a focus of international attention. Earl Bridges and Craig Martin speak with members of the community who fight against racial inequality including a young black entrepreneur and a museum curator. They talk about ways to set aside reminders of Richmond’s slave past.

Earl Bridges and Craig Martin explore race relations, religion, and government, and discuss the fate of journalism in Charleston, SC. Conversations with Dr. Melvin Brown and Toby Smith provide further insight into racial inequities and the negative impact of revisionist histories. They also sit down with one of a handful of black journalists at the Post and Courier to discuss diversity.

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Earl Bridges and Craig Martin explore the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island. They meet with Iván “Pudge” Rodriguez, a Baseball Hall of Famer who helped the community through the baseball franchise, and his coffee farm. They visit an environmental organization which supports the town through its farms, radio station, medical labs, and solar cinema.

Earl Bridges and Craig Martin travel to Hyderabad, India to meet up with Harish Mamtani, who runs a school that helps poor students. They also visit historic places, exploring India’s ancient history, and taste the best street food in Hyderabad. Later, in a top-rated American private school, Harish explains why private education in India is a necessary supplement to India’s public education.

The Burmese border is home base to the Free Burma Rangers, founded by Dave Eubank. They serve around the world in combat zones, rescuing civilians and documenting atrocities in places like Myanmar and Syria. Craig Martin and Earl Bridges work out with them as they train in Northern Thailand. Currently, they are in the middle of the struggle with the military oppression in Myanmar.

Positioned between waterways, rivers and an ocean, Charleston, South Carolina is susceptible to flooding. This complicates life for businesses, such as oyster harvesting, and the city’s residents, especially the poor, historically black neighborhoods. Earl Bridges and Craig Martin have conversations with people addressing climate change and store owners.

Craig Martin and Earl Bridges explore San Juan and its artists. A sculptor talks about using art to enhance the lives of the poor. They tour a museum that is a collaborative artists-driven place. A filmmaker explains why art helps people struggling with their personal identity. For many on the island, political independence will still require collaboration with the US.

Virginia struggles between the past and present. Monacan Nation Chief talks with Craig Martin and Earl Bridges about development that threatens the tribe’s heritage. Earl and Craig visit Yogaville and learn about conservation on the James River and how a life in pursuit of locally grown food and medicine can have a positive impact. And they meet with local black leaders discuss race relations.