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Today in Fresh Air History

Williams Adler Discusses A Family Drug Empire.

Writer Williams Adler. His first book, Land of Opportunity: One Family's Quest For The American Dream In The Age of Crack (Atlantic Monthly Press) tells the story of the Chambers brothers. The brothers moved to Detroit from Mississippi in the mid-80's in search of economic freedom and found it by setting up the biggest drug business in the city. It was run like a Fortune 500 company with quality control, discounts, employee bonuses and a dress code. William Ferris calls the book a "chilling view of the urban drug scene and the black experience [which] should be read by every American." (Originally aired 5/3/95) (Interview by Barbara Bogaev

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52:30

In pursuit of 'Instagram face,' are we losing the imperfections that make us human?

Jia Tolentino is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the bestselling author of the essay collection "Trick Mirror." Seven years ago, she coined the phrase Instagram face, capturing the beauty ideal of the social media era. Her new essay asks what that face has become.

52:30

Broadway legend André De Shields helps bring 'Hadestown' to the big screen

De Shields made his Broadway debut in the 1975 original production of The Wiz. He won a Tony in 2019 for his performance in Hadestown and co-stars in the new film of last year's London revival.

42:18

Harriet Clark's novel 'The Hill' draws on her 37 years visiting her mom in prison

Clark was a baby in 1981 when her mother, a member of a radical left-wing group, acted as a getaway driver in the robbery of a Brink's truck. Her new novel is based on the years that followed.

For 50 years, Fresh Air has inspired and engaged audiences, both in the Greater Philadelphia area where it began as a local program on WHYY-FM in 1975 and across the country as a nationally-broadcast show since 1987.

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

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