From the troubled streets of South London to our own neck of the woods, we're talking about some of the seemingly intractable challenges facing black communities, and we're sampling some interesting and exciting responses to those challenges too. Poet, novelist and DJ Alex Wheatle shares his thoughts about life and politics in Brixton, past and present. Anthropologist Peter Sutton makes some uncomfortable points about the politics of suffering in Aboriginal Australia. Indigenous film-maker, writer and musician, Richard J Frankland introduces us to an inspiring young Koorie fella in his latest book. We get up to speed on a wonderful indigenous literacy project and we take in some tunes from some deadly black MCs.

Alex Wheatle, Dirty South, Allen and Unwin - interviewed by Nija Dalal

Peter Sutton, The Politics of Suffering: Indigenous Australia and the end of the liberal consensus, Melbourne University Press - interviewed by Justin Ellis

Richard J. Frankland, Digger J. Jones, Scholastic - interviewed by Benedict Taylor (first broadcast November 2007)

Morganics, Wire MC, Sista Native, BruthaBlak and Local Knowledge, 'Outbackandback', from Morganics 2005 album, Odyssey - not included in podcast for copyright reasons

For more information about Indigenous Literacy Day, on Wednesday 2 September, click here