
Hosted by Herman Veal · EN
The Slater Hayes Podcast is designed to highlight the everyday occurrences of life via poetry, prose, and social commentary. They are poignant, insightful pieces that address all facets of the black experience with the desired outcome of evoking memories, provoking thought, and conversation. Each piece directly or indirectly addresses various topics as experienced through the unique perspective of blacks.
New or widely listened to/requested repeat episodes are published each Sunday at 1:00est.
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Send us Fan Mail If one did not believe that they would be impacted by..."The Real"...it certainly now should be abundantly clear by the rulings handed down by the Supreme Court of the United States on yesterday-June 25,2026 that there decisions are PURPOSELY INTENDED to impact ALL PERSONS of color, the marginalized, and the disproportionally affected.This ruling, and the as yet unannounced ruling on birthright citizenship, is purposely creating a GREAT DEAL of anxiety throughout the land.This rulings intended consequence is also meant to create a spirit of despair and despondency within persons of color-irrespective of their citizenship status. I have already heard it..."if they can do it to them, they can do it to us, also". Anxiety leads to decisions that oftentimes are not in one's best interest-another one of their desiresI REMAIN HOPEFUL...because I KNOW that ...we win...WE WIN".And there is NOTHING-NO THING that anyone and the evil that their heart's contain can do about it.OUR SPIRIT...LIVES!PEACE!

Send us Fan MailAnd still....We all have memories and stories that we can talk about our father's. The stories I have are not based on long eloquent conversations that we had- that was not Snow!My life lessons were derived from observing- the good and bad -of this man of action. "Pops"...encapsulates the essence of the man that had "many" mouths to feed and went about those things to ensure we had "somt'eat". As I look back it seems that a number of his actions were indeed based on that fact.I hope this piece stirs memories within all of you of your dad's as we celebrate them on this day...HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!! OUR SPIRIT LIVES!!!PEACE!!!

Send us Fan Mail"Perspective is Relative"Even as one reads those words, the thoughts that begin to formulate in one's mind may differ tremendously from what was intended by the author.It takes some growing up to actually arrive at the point of "becoming grown" and realizing and accepting that as we traverse along this journey- that perhaps everything is working out as it's supposed to. The piece I was led to publish today speaks directly to that exact concept."RELATIVE"...yes, it is another composition that I am re-publishing because it truly seems that a variety of my pieces are glaringly more relevant at this point of my journey and the journey's of SO many around me. So, stick with me as I reminisce and allow GOD to use me to convey the message that it is contained within me through these SPIRIT inspired words.OUR SPIRIT...LIVES!PEACE

Send us Fan MailOftentimes, that for which we find ourselves desperately searching is right there within our hands or contained within that which we willingly discard. This entire piece, music and all, is intended to be disconcerting-an example of what we find ourselves doing within our lives.Over complicating things when there is no need and casting away those things that are/were designed to simplify the entire journey."Hold to the Wrapping"is an encouraging word that I hope inspires us to be careful to use discernment regarding the purported gift and that we consider to be only its' wrapping.You know the saying 'all that glitters is not gold...Well,I have another oldie..."One man's trash is another man's treasure".Be careful to not throw away the gift simply because we have been indoctrinated to only consider its packaging disposable and without much thought throw it away.OUR SPIRIT...LIVES!PEACE!

Send us Fan MailTomorrow, March 16th, 2026, is my 65th birthday!PRAISE GOD!!I share this piece with all those with whom I have enjoyed this time-this blessing. "Longing"is a piece that I hope evokes your special memories of people and times that let you know, as it does me, that the process of longing is...SIMPLY LOVE THAT REFUSES TO FADE.So, ENJOY this piece as you...REMEMBER!OUR SPIRIT...LIVES!PEACE!

Send us Fan MailThis current administration afforded numbers of people and groups of people to remove their masks and expose themselves for who they truly are and what they truly represent.'trippin"is a short piece that illuminates some of the things that we as blacks, especially men, encounter on a daily basis.Regrettably those persons and companies now feel no need to disguise their reprehensible actions towards those they feel are less than.I shall not allow myself to be denied the rights that are inherently mine as a human nor those Civil Rights that so many of my ancestors shed sweat, tears, and in many cases blood to attain!OUR SPIRIT...LIVES! PEACE!

Send us Fan MailThere now seems to be only one way that WE can prevent the continuing onslaught of decisions that are clearly intended to benefit and further establish the desires of those who live to strip away the inherent rights of other humans.The manner by which to do so is highlighted in..." The Solution...Stop Adding Red"...the change we desire is not something we can hope away.We, my people and those of a like mind, have to exercise our constitutional right and go to the polls in never before seen droves and VOTE all those who oppose equality out of office.Many within the MAGA base have discovered that their lives are not a high priority for those they so zealously voted into office.We have to solicit their participation in making ensuring that candidates who "see the good" in every human is elected.Regrettably, a number of those who have seen their lives devolve into a cycle of turmoil will persist in providing support for those who treat their individual woes as no more than collateral damage-they are those who operate from a spirit of unadulterated hatred for their neighbor.We cannot...WE MUST NOT allow those people to determine OUR FUTURE...REGISTER TO VOTE...CONFIRM YOUR PRECINCT (3 TIMES)...VOTE!!!***Let's reintroduce them to the primary lessons and SHOW THEM WHAT MIXING RED and BLUE CREATES!!OUR SPIRIT LIVES!PEACE!

Send us Fan Mail"I Wish"...that the listener recognizes the tenuous nature of CIVIL RIGHTS and is moved towards making a conscious decision to outwardly express their promotion of EQUALTY during this EXTREMELY CRITICAL juncture of our interconnected journeys.THAT'S IT...THAT'S ALL!!OUR SPIRIT...LIVES!PEACE!

Send us Fan Mail"Before the words begin...breathe... and step into this moment with me."~~ Slater HayesThis episode is merely the capturing of all that we have previously endured. The instrument that is designed to inflict the continuing pains may have changed-but the spirit that dwells within those who heve been possessed by it has not.That spirit-ITS' name -HATRED!A hatred that continues to foment generational hate and is steadfast in its ambition to design systems that continue to rob US of what is inherently ours. The right to exist within the confines of a system purportedly designed to ensure life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.The question I pose is this. Do you think that you continuing to implement..."Rubber Trees All Around Us"will prevent my people from exhibiting the resilience that we have displayed for generations to suddenly collapse under the weight of your aged recipe rooted in HATRED?i hope not. What it will do is produce a movement that is sustainable and includes persons from within all ethnicities-each ready to confront you in all aspects of life.OUR SPIRIT...LIVES1PEACE

Send us Fan MailWe, it seems, have been programmed, in a very special way, to not appreciate the success and the achievements of OUR OWN.The level of negativity or hate that we publicly cast upon those within our community seems to far exceed that of other communities.Some will emphatically say "Man please, that occurs with other races just as bad."Maybe it does, but I am not addressing them right now.WE seem to have been taught that to celebrate another's success is taboo or is not necessary.We have been "Hoodwinked and Bamboozled"...into believing that we should always carry on QUIETLY and to celebrate is to fall short of what we have been taught to exercise throughout our lives -throughout our heritage.To demonstrate anything other than HUMILITY has been drilled into us as an abomination.We now even exhibit this towards our kids and oftentimes fail to celebrate them after they have achieved success. "Act like you have been there before" was, and it seems still is, the go to line when our children, and anyone for that matter, attains an achievement for which they have strived and arduously completed the necessary work to attain it.Yes, I do believe the celebrations should be measured. But there is NOTHING more powerful than 5 simple words."I AM PROUD Of YOU"!And yes, SHOUTING IT FROM the ROOFTOP" is just as powerful as the gifting of that shiny new car, that trip to Europe, that Florida spring break, that outlandishly large allowance, that we have observed on television or witnessed first hand ?Those 5 words carry tremendous weight and sharing it via FB, IG, TikTok, or the ROOF is not exercising a lack of humility.Stop allowing this system to make you believe you are doing something wrong when you celebrate the successes of your children and others around you.It may just be the encouragement one needs to pursue even GREATER THINGS!!!OUR SPIRIT...LIVES!PEACE!