On Second Thought For Tuesday, November 21, 2017

UGA has a great football team this year. They’re ranked number seven in the country -- after a spell in first. But it’s not all good news. UGA rates dead last in the Southeastern Conference when it comes to graduation success rates for student athletes – all while the university’s overall student graduation rates are way up. Eric Kelderman is Senior Reporter for the Chronicle of Higher Education. Also with us is Professor of Sports Journalism at UGA, Vicki Michaelis.

Beverly Daniel Tatum leads frank conversations about race. Back in 1997, the former Spelman College President wrote a book called,  “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” Now, she’s updated the text. We caught up with her to mark the 20th anniversary edition.

Savannah’s NAACP chapter celebrated its centennial this fall at the historic First African Baptist Church. The church was also honored by the Georgia Historical Society earlier this year for its extensive role in African-American history and the civil rights movement, from hiding people on the underground railroad, to being the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s first public speech in 1944.  GPB’s Ryan McFadin went to a Sunday service, and sent back an audio postcard.

In 2016, over two million cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis were reported in the United States. Georgia is among the most infected states. According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia has the fourth highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases in the nation. We talk about this with Michelle Allen, State STD Director for the Georgia Department of Health. Also Andy Miller, Editor for Georgia Health News.

We add two more songs to our Georgia Playlist, courtesy of Atlanta violinist Ken Ford. There’s an electricity present whenever he starts playing. Ford has performed with the likes of Bruno Mars, Stevie Wonder, Cee Lo Green, and many others. But this week, he goes solo with two shows in Atlanta. We get a glimpse of his taste in Georgia music.