Jack Gravely quick hits

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: July 26, 2009

SLIDESHOW

Jack Gravely on the air - Jack's back. Jack Gravely, former head of the Virginia NAACP, returns to Richmond to host a talk show on WLEE.

MORE

• Jack Gravely finds his voice again

• Jack Gravely quick hits

WANT TO LISTEN?

Jack Gravely is on the air Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon on WLEE-AM (990). You also can listen to the show and find out more at jackgravelyshow.com.

Jack Gravely on:

Current black leadership in the community compared to that leadership in the past:

"I think the difference now is foundation and roots. The people I worked with in the'70s and'80s in Virginia had solid foundations and deep roots in the community. They grew up here, went to school here, or they moved here at a very early age.

"The second thing is you're seeing the ascendancy of a younger, very well-educated group of young leaders coming up in the city of Richmond. I'm very impressed with the young group, but I don't think they know the community and the issues like the old guys did."

Richmond's future:

"Richmond needs to stop talking about the future and walk into it. We talk too much about the future in Richmond. Richmond lives too much in its past, and is haunted too much by what Richmond used to be or what Richmond used to do. Richmond is afraid to put its hands on the plow and go forward.

"Richmond could be a wonderful city. We've got a lot of good people here, black and white, a lot of natural resources, a good location."

Talk radio:

"I can talk beyond race, but I can talk about Iran, Russia, mountaintop mining, religion or Paul on the road to Damascus. I have a phrase, 'Running that rabbit.' It means, we're going to discuss it. Let's run that rabbit.

"There must be a genuine respect for the people you're talking to. I think that respect goes a long way in showing them I'm really interested in what they're talking about. I try to give them an edgy, entertaining and educational [show]. At the end of the day, I don't need to be walking away talking about your mother, and you don't need to be walking away talking about my mother even though we don't agree."