Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 136

The Life of Amílcar Cabral and the Struggle of the PAIGC with António Tomás

'In this episode of Millennials Are Killing Capitalism, an interview with António Tomás, author of the recently published biography Amílcar Cabral: The Life of a Reluctant Nationalist. Tomás is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. He is a native of Angola, and holds a PhD in Anthropology from Columbia University. He has worked as a journalist in Angola and Portugal and has written extensively on issues related to Lusophone Africa.'

One Hundred: The Ed Gordon Podcast with Wendy Raquel Robinson

'On this episode of One Hundred with Ed  Gordon. actress Wendy Raquel Robinson talks about her acting career, playing two beloved television characters, the power behind the camera and how a little happy dance sent the actress virtual of social media.'

Pianist Craig Taborn Practices The Art of Instant Composing on 'Shadow Plays'

'Craig Taborn is one the most inventive and resourceful pianists in improvised music today. He has a new solo album — his first in a decade — and, like the previous one, it's a stunner. In recent years, Taborn has recorded in acoustic and electric trios and in piano duos with peers Kris Davis and Vijay Iyer, among other projects.' -- Fresh Air

Puerto Rico Is a COVID Success Story

'Since the start of the pandemic, Puerto Rico has been somewhat of a success story. According to the CDC, the island had fully vaccinated 74 percent of its population as of November 22. That’s higher than any other US state or territory. Puerto Rico also has one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates. So how did Puerto Rico become a bright spot in the pandemic? For more on this, The Takeaway spoke with Nicole Narea, immigration reporter for Vox.'

The Long Wait is Over: Major League Baseball Finally Nonors Negro League Greats

'In 2006, the first players from baseball's Negro Leagues, which sprung from the segregation era, were inducted into Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame. But it wasn't until this month that the late Buck O'Neil and two other Black stars were enshrined. So what took so long? Andrea Williams, author of "Baseball's Leading Lady" and a New York Times contributor, tells Here & Now the MLB “didn't consider the the Negro Leagues and the players, managers and executives there on the same level as their white counterparts”.'

"Attica" Film Chronicles Dishonest Media Portrayal Of America's Largest Prison Uprising

'50 years ago, in 1971, over a thousand prisoners took hold of the Attica supermax facility for five days in Western New York making it the largest prison rebellion in American history. Prisoners were trying to negotiate for an end to guard brutality, improvements to food, medicine and sanitation, greater visitation rights, and more. For four days, these men inside Attica sought the recognition of elected officials about the appalling conditions they were forced to endure inside the prison. But on the fifth day, following failed negotiations, helicopters flew over the facility and dropped tear gas on everyone in the yard. State troopers and the national guard then shot into the haze from the prison walls, killing 29 inmates and 10 prison guards being held as hostages. 50 years later, criminal justice advocates are still fighting for the same issues in the prison system today.  The Takeaway was joined by Attica co-director Stanley Nelson to talk about the film and the historical significance of the uprising.'

LaChanze Talks 'Trouble in Mind'

'Trouble in Mind, Alice Childress' 1955 play that examines power and racism in theatre, made its Broadway debut at the end of October. All Of It speawk to the play's lead actor, LaChanze, about the show, which The New York Times calls, "66 years late but still on time".'

Remembering the Call to Boycott the 1936 Olympic Games Held in Nazi Germany — and Why It Failed

'As Australia, the United Kingdom and Lithuania join the United States' diplomatic boycott of the upcoming winter Olympics in Beijing, we look back at the calls to boycott the 1936 Olympics, which were held in Nazi Germany. The U.S. decided not to boycott those Olympics, and they are remembered for Jesse Owens, the Black American track and field star who won four gold medals. The performance of Owens and the other Black American athletes who competed was seen as a rebuke to Hitler and Nazi Germany's notions of white superiority. Here & Now's Scott Tong speaks with Jeremy Schaap, ESPN reporter and author of Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler's Olympics.'

"A Profound Tenderness": Orisanmi Burton On Black Masculine Care Work Within Zones Of War

'Orisanmi Burton is a social anthropologist, his research examines grassroots resistance and state repression. He is an assistant professor of anthropology at American University. Currently, as he will discuss briefly in the episode, he is working on a book on prisoner organizing in the New York State prison system, and the Attica Rebellion.  In this episode of Millennials Are Killing Capitalism we  talk about Burton’s recent essay, “Captivity, Kinship & Black Masculine Care Work Under Domestic Warfare.” It was published in the scholarly journal American Anthropologist so if listeners are unable to access a copy and would like to get their hands on one feel free to hit us up or reach out to Orisanmi directly. His twitter is @orisanmi.'

Left of Black S12 · E4 | The Golden Age of Jazz and Islam in America with Dr. Richard Brent Turner

What is the interesting, yet too little explored, intersection between the golden age of jazz and Islam in the African American community? How did one inform and influence the other? Dr. Richard Brent Turner joined Left of Black host and Duke University Professor Mark Anthony Neal to discuss his latest book, Soundtrack to a Movement: African American Islam, Jazz, and Black Internationalism (NYU Press). Dr. Turner is the Professor of African American Religious History at University of Iowa.