Roses Are Red MAC Band 1988 #1 R&B hit Babyface LA Reid Arsenio Hall Show Dallas police officer Black History Month Valentine's Day

Ray McCampbell of The MAC Band Featuring The McCampbell Brothers scored a #1 R&B chart hit in 1988 with "Roses Are Red"—then left music for 25 years in law enforcement.

This episode covers: 1988 R&B music Babyface and LA Reid production, Arsenio Hall Show performances, MAC Band touring, transitioning from R&B singer to Dallas Police Department, Heroes Cops and Kids mentorship program, Black History Month leadership stories, service and legacy.

From #1 to badge: Ray shares untold stories from R&B's golden era—recording sessions with Babyface, performing for Arsenio Hall's audience, and why he traded celebrity for serving Dallas communities. Now he mentors youth through Heroes, Cops & Kids.

Black History Month special. Valentine's Week episode about love through service.

Tags: 80s R&B, 90s R&B, Babyface, LA Reid, Arsenio Hall, Dallas, police officer stories, Black excellence, music history, career change, mentorship, Black History Month 2026

Making Black History Today podcast - real leaders, real impact, real time.

Perfect for: R&B history fans, anyone interested in inspiring Black success stories, and listeners who believe in service beyond self.

Follow Making Black History Today on Spotify and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode spotlighting leaders shaping culture, business, and community in real time.

What does it take to lead Dallas’ oldest Black business organization and support Black entrepreneurs in Texas?

In this episode of Making Black History Today, Liz and Porter sit down with Harrison Blair, President of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, shares how growing up as the grandson of Negro League legend William Blair shaped his path to leadership. He also explains how civil rights pioneer A. Maceo Smith inspires his work today, and how the Chamber is preparing Black-owned businesses for a changing policy landscape in Texas.

We discuss:

• How Black men voted in the most recent presidential election

• How policy shifts impact Black-owned businesses in Texas

• What the Dallas Black Chamber is doing to support entrepreneurs beyond DEI-focused funding

• Building sustainable Black economic power in Dallas and beyond

Making Black History Today is a Dallas-based bi-weekly podcast highlighting Black leaders creating legacy in real time.

New episodes drop every other Thursday at 5:00 a.m.

Listen, subscribe, and share to support Black leadership, legacy, and entrepreneurship.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience..." — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This MLK Birthday, we're getting uncomfortable.

Why do small, Black-led nonprofits face constant scrutiny while massive organizations get a pass? Why is there a "Trust Gap" that keeps minority-led organizations from accessing the funding they deserve?

Hosts Liz and Porter sit down with three leaders fighting this battle daily:

- Shawana Carter (Carter's House)

- Pastor Donald Parish Jr. (A Steady Hand)

- King Shakur (Volunteering While Black)

Together, they expose the uncomfortable truth about nonprofit funding inequity in 2026.

WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER:

The Hollywood Effect: How shows like Apple TV's "Loot" and "Breaking Bad" have painted nonprofits as vehicles for money laundering and tax havens and funding barriers for legitimate Black-led organizations.

The Funding Wall: The specific challenges facing minority-led nonprofits trying to secure grants, donations, and institutional support.

Radical Collaboration: Why the "For Us, By Us" mentality is the key to Dr. King's "Beloved Community"—and how it's being built in 2026.

The Power of the Collective: How to turn community support into long-term sustainability when traditional funding sources shut you out.

From Scarcity to Abundance: Moving beyond competition to collective impact.

This conversation honors Dr. King's legacy by doing the uncomfortable work: examining systemic barriers and building the solutions our communities deserve.

If you're a nonprofit leader, community organizer, social justice advocate, or someone who believes in supporting Black-led organizations—this episode is for you.

CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS:

Carter's House: https://www.cartershouse.org

A Steady Hand: https://www.beasteadyhand.org

Volunteering While Black: https://www.volunteeringwhileblack.org

FOLLOW MAKING BLACK HISTORY TODAY:

Instagram: @makingblackhistorytoday

Website: www.makingblackhistorytoday.com

Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7370845794318413825/

New episodes drop every other Thursday at 5:00 AM CST.

If this conversation resonated with you, please rate, review, and share with someone working to make change in your community.