Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 107

Gloria Naylor on the 'American Dream' and Nella Larsen's 'Passing' | American Masters | PBS

'On June 28th, 2000, novelist Gloria Naylor spoke about the illusion of the American dream and the role it plays in Nella Larsen's Passing, about two Black women who pass as White, one of whom lives as a White woman. She discussed the motivations behind the characters of the critically acclaimed novel in this extended outtake from the American Masters Digital Archive. Interview originally conducted by Michael Epstein, director of American Masters PBS: Novel Reflections on The American Dream.'

Raoul Peck on How James Baldwin Changed His Life

Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images

'I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO (2016) director Raoul Peck talks with the American Film Institute about how James Baldwin changed his life. "James Baldwin really helped me find my place, where I am, and he also taught me to never let anybody define who you are, that you define who you are. And it's a never ending process".'

The New Conversation with Dr. Dwight A. McBride | S2:E3 Colman Domingo

'The New School President Dwight McBride talks to award-winning actor, writer, and professor Colman Domingo about his work as a creative, representation in the arts, and the power of mentoring and teaching. Most recently, Domingo has starred in the films Candyman and Zola, both led by Black creatives, and is currently shooting Season 4 of his AMC series Bottomless Brunch at Colman's. He will also be starring in the upcoming Rustin (Netflix, 2022) and The Color Purple (Warner Brothers, 2023), and has appeared in shows such as Fear the Walking Dead, Bojack Horseman, The Knick, and Euphoria, and movies including Selma, and If Beale Street Could Talk.'

Lewis R. Gordon’s 'Fear of Black Consciousness'

'Lewis R. Gordon, head of the philosophy department at the University of Connecticut, joins Eric Newman and Medaya Ocher to talk about his latest book, Fear of Black Consciousness. The book explores contemporary racism and the long historical movement from black consciousness with a lower-case “b” to capital “B” Black consciousness, an active and more liberatory mentality that sees through the lies of white supremacy and works to build a better and more democratic society. Gordon examines these weighty topics through sustained readings of popular film and culture, including Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther.'

Why the US Doesn’t Have Universal Child Care (anymore)

'Every other high-income country in the world has a paid maternity leave policy. Most have a paternity leave policy, too. And usually some form of universal or subsidized child care for all families. The United States has… none of these policies. It did have federally-funded child care once. And Congress even passed a universal child care policy in the 70s. But today, the US is stuck on a policy path of welfare and tax credits. So… why hasn’t the US been able to establish these common family policies?'

The New Yorker Radio Hour: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the Path Forward for the Left

'Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s political ascent was rapid and dramatic; she went from political anonymity, early in 2018, to questioning Nancy Pelosi’s leadership as Speaker soon after taking office. Now, with the Democratic Party’s razor-thin majorities in Congress in peril, the progressive agenda she backed has stalled. For The New Yorker’s first-ever digital-only issue, she talked with David Remnick about how to sustain a sense of hope when the political tides seem to flow against you.'

“If I Fall, And We Struggle Together…” Certain Days, Political Prisoners and Movement Defense with Josh Davidson and Daniel McGowan

'Josh Davidson has been an activist for nearly two decades, focusing on prisoner support and the abolition of the carceral state. He is involved in numerous social justice projects, including the Certain Days collective and the Children’s Art Project with political prisoner Oso Blanco. Josh is currently editing a book detailing the struggles of current and former political prisoners, and also works in communications with the Zinn Education Project. Daniel McGowan is a member of the Certain Days collective, and former political prisoner from Queens, NY. He works with NYC Books Through Bars, the Anarchist Black Cross Federation (ABCF) and supporting political prisoner Eric King. 

On this episode of Millennials Are Killing Capitalism a discussion of  Certain Days: Freedom for Political Prisoners Calendar which is a joint fundraising and educational project between outside organizers in Montreal, Hamilton, New York, and Baltimore, and political prisoner Xinachtli (formerly known as Alvaro Luna Hernandez).  They talk about welcoming founding members Herman Bell and Robert Seth Hayes (Rest in Power) home from prison in 2018, and founding member David Gilbert home from prison just a few months ago at the end of 2021.'

In Defense of the "Gentrification Building"

'When many people look at new housing construction, they don’t just see boxy, modern, and bland architecture. They see new buildings that symbolize displacement and gentrification, or the idea that the construction comes at the cost of pushing existing residents out and replacing them with richer, whiter residents. But as Vox policy reporter Jerusalem Demsas explains, new construction in the US can actually help fight displacement. There’s a growing body of research on what actually happens when we add units of housing to neighborhoods: market-rate units decrease displacement and rents in neighborhoods, while adding strictly affordable units decreases gentrification. And while people may not love the aesthetics of the new architecture, these buildings all look so similar for a reason: it’s the cheapest way to build, at a time when the US needs more housing quickly.'

Haymarket Books Presents | The Second Wave of Uprising in Sudan: Revolutionaries Speak

'The 2019 revolution in Sudan, which overthrew longtime President Omar al-Bashir, was the earliest of a second-wave of uprisings that has swept from Algeria to Iraq, reigniting the hope of the 2011 revolutions in the region. The uprising, known in Sudan as the December Revolution, culminated in August 2019 in a civilian-military partnership, for what was to be a “transition” to full civilian rule. 

But in October 2021, a military coup drove out the civilian coalition partners. The resistance that the coup has sparked since has breathed new life into the revolutionary movement in the country, and accelerated the evolution of organizing in a way that bears lessons for movements for social justice everywhere. In response to the coup, widespread mobilizations, led by Sudan’s neighborhood-level resistance committees, have produced ongoing strikes, civil disobedience and protests demanding an end to the military coup and the formation of a fully civilian, revolutionary government to decide the country’s leadership and its future, and to reclaim control of its looted resources for the benefit of communities. 

Revolutionary bodies, in particular the network of neighborhood resistance committees which now spread across the country, have pushed the struggle forward beyond previous compromises. They have also offered an alternative model of resistance and governance that presents a clear break from the elite politics of the past. Though the revolution in Sudan has so far been formidable in the face of repression, it faces immense challenges, given the ways in which regional and international counter-revolutionary forces have coalesced to back the military. This leaves us with a crucial question: how can this struggle, whose outcome will have consequences beyond Sudan’s borders, go on to achieve its slogan, “freedom, peace and justice”? 

To explore that question, the panel will highlight voices and analysis of Sudanese activists who are deeply involved in the revolution, and who will provide their take on the stakes involved and the aims, strategies and tactics of the movement. The event also intends to create space for conversation to explore solidarity actions beyond Sudan, in particular, how to deepen ties with activists in the Movement For Black Lives and anti-racist struggles in the U.S. Join us for this important discussion. The conversation will be held in Arabic and English, with simultaneous interpretation to English.'

Death, Sex & Money: Where is Lisa Fischer's Backup?

'Lisa Fischer has sung backing vocals for Dolly Parton, Bobby McFerrin, Luther Vandross and Beyoncé. She's also toured with the Rolling Stones since 1989, going from one swanky hotel to another, "eating caviar for breakfast" and playing sold out stadiums. “I feel like a normal girl,” she says, “visiting for a very long time in the not-normal world.”

It wasn’t the world she came from. Lisa grew up in Brooklyn. Her mom was pregnant with her at 15, and had two more children by the time she was 19. Money was tight, and when Lisa was 14, her father left. Her mom started drinking heavily, and died three years later after complications from seizures.  By her mid-twenties, she was touring as a backup singer, and in 1991 she won a Grammy for her first solo album, So Intense. But soon after, she lost her record deal, and returned to singing backup. The 2013 documentary Twenty Feet from Stardom highlighted some of the glory, and struggle, that came with her years on the road. "When I think about the money that I have gone through I have to laugh to myself," she told me during our conversation. "I don’t like to look at how much I have because it’s never enough."

This conversation took place in 2015. Listen to the end to hear an update from Lisa, about getting back on stage during the pandemic and the financial realities of being a musician during COVID.'