Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 140

We Love: Babyface Has Had An Undeniable Impact On Music For Over 40 Years

'Babyface is heralded as one of R&B's greatest singers and songwriters. His musical legacy includes over 200 top 10 hits, R&B hits 26 number one singles, and so much more. Watch as BETNetworks honors his 40-year career.'

What People Miss in the Conversation about Banned Books

'It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders guest host Ayesha Rascoe is joined by NPR senior editor Barrie Hardymon and Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast, to talk about banned books. They talk about why it's important for kids to discover books freely, even if that means starting a hard conversation with them. They also discuss their favorite — and least favorite — books that often show up on banned book lists.'

Mustafa's Debut Album is a Tribute to the Toronto Community He Grew Up In

'The Toronto-raised singer-songwriter Mustafa's parents emigrated to his hometown from Sudan, eventually settling into a housing project within the city's Regent Park neighborhood — growing up there, Mustafa witnessed gun violence that, in some cases, took the lives of his good friends. Now 25 years old, Mustafa is a nationally recognized poet in Canada, a member of the hip-hop collective Halal Gang and a co-writer of songs for artists like the Jonas Brothers and The Weeknd. His debut full-length album, When Smoke Rises, folds together the sum of his expertise and experiences into a tribute to the community he came from. In this World Cafe session, we'll enjoy a conversation with Mustafa along with live performances of songs from the new record, starting with "Stay Alive".'

Will the Chestnut Return as an American Food Staple?

'Chestnuts were once a major food source in the U.S. for Native Americans and enslaved Black Americans. But a fungus killed off billions of American chestnut trees. Now, there are efforts to revive the trees and bring back chestnuts to the American table. Jacob Fenston of WAMU reports for Here & Now.'

Raekwon Reflects on Wu-Tang Clan and New Book

'He is Raekwon The Chef — not a cook, but a music man who stirs up words like few others. Born Corey Woods, he's one of the original members of the Wu-Tang Clan, the legendary hip-hop group that changed the music industry in the 1990s. Raekwon has also put out his own ground-breaking solo work. Now he's out with From Staircase to Stage, a book published by Simon & Schuster, a division of ViacomCBS. It is a raw, rollicking look at a group that remains a cultural touchstone. He joins CBS Mornings.'

Here's Why Some Travelers Say TSA's Hair Pat Downs are Racially Insensitive

'As technology becomes a bigger part of daily life, there's growing concern about built-in racial bias. Femi Oke, host of "The Stream" on Al Jazeera English joins Here & Now and looks at one example were issues sometimes arise: TSA screening at airports.'

Rich Nations are Building National Border Walls Around the Global Climate Crisis

'On this episode of This is Hell!, The Transnational Institute's Nick Buxton on global climate migration and militarized national borders in the face of global warming and the TNI report Global Climate Wall, co-written with Todd Miller and Mark Akkerman.'

This is Hell! · Rich nations are building national border walls around the global climate crisis.

Afropop Worldwide: The Sound of New York Latin Music

'"The Sound of New York Latin Music" takes a deep sonic dive into the great New York Latin discography, with Afropop Worldwide host Georges Collinet and guest host Ned Sublette, who produced and megamixed. Special guest Dr. Ben Lapidus, author of New York and the International Sound of Latin Music 1940-1990, tells us stories of the musicians and the conditions that made the city's music unique. With nonstop music by Ray Barretto, Jerry González and the Fort Apache Band, Markolino Diamond, a snippet of Joe Quijano's bugalú version of "Fiddler on the Roof," and about a thousand more.'

Afropop Worldwide · The Sound of New York Latin Music

The U.S. Has a Nursing Crisis

'The pandemic has placed intense stress on nurses nationwide, leading many to consider leaving the profession altogether. But while hospitals have been reporting a nursing shortage, organizations like National Nurses United say that it’s actually hospitals who are to blame for the staffing issues, and that their attempts to cut costs by hiring fewer nurses per shift is what’s causing nurses to rethink staying in their jobs. For more on this,  The Takeaway spoke with Jean Ross, president of National Nurses United, the largest organization of registered nurses in the United States, and Leo-Felix Jurado, professor and chairperson at the William Paterson University Department of Nursing.'

BET Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Soul Train Getting Down

'It’s been 50 years since the premier of Soul Train. The Saturday morning dance and variety show became a cultural phenomenon. Although the weekly broadcast went off the air in 2006, the Soul Train legacy still lives on.CBS Mornings' Vladimir Duthier spoke with music and culture journalist Nelson George, singer-songwriter Leon Bridges , and Soul Train Awards executive producer Connie Orlando about Soul Train's impact on everything from dance to dress, and commemorating the special milestone at the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem.'