Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 151

Supreme Actresses: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Hollywood

'Marcellas Reynolds, author, producer, and entertainment reporter, joins us to discuss his new book, Supreme Actresses: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Hollywood, which features photographs, biographies, and interviews of black actresses, from past stars like Dorothy Dandridge, who was the first actress of color to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress in 1954, to current stars like Viola Davis and Regina King.'

A Holy Grail Experience: Listening to John Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle

'The arrival of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle is unquestionably the most surprising archival release of 2021. Recorded at the end of a prolific stand at Seattle’s Penthouse club in the fall of 1965, these tapes sat unissued and unheard for more than 50 years — outside of a few close associates of saxophonist Joe Brazil, who taped the performance of the suite.'

Times Square's First Fountain is Covered in Acrylic Fingernails

'Times Square got its very first public fountain. Fashioned by Pamela Council, "A Fountain for Survivors" is 18 feet tall and encased with some 400,000 colorful acrylic fingernails.' -- Weekend Edition Sunday

What It's Like Growing Up Black in Detroit

'In this episode of Growing Up Black, VH1 heads to Detroit, Michigan to speak with locals of “The D” about what it’s like growing up in black in Detroit, while also describing Detroit’s culture, history, fashion, music scene, and more.'

Why Fannie Lou Hamer’s Definition of “Freedom” Still Matters: Vox Conversations with Keisha Blain

'A historian at the University of Pittsburgh, Keisha Blain, the author of Until I Am Free: Fannie Lou Hamer’s Enduring Message to America, joins Jamil Smith, host of Vox Conversations. In the book — which is partly a contemporary social commentary — Blain describes how Hamer was accustomed to seeing rights and freedoms technically guaranteed to her as an American discarded because she was a Black woman.'

Decolonizing the Conversation with with Tukufu Zuberi: DESIGN

'This series of interstitials on "Decolonizing the Conversation" focuses on Tukufu Zuberi's redesign of the Penn Museum Africa Galleries -- "From the Maker to Museum". Museums need a better representation of Global Black Culture. We begin this process in conversation with African Museum Directors, curators, and contemporary artist in the Diaspora and Africa. In this series we trace, the histories created by African classical culture (i.e. Benin cultural artifacts) and African Diaspora culture in the United States, Latin America and Europe.'

Nnenna Freelon - Time Traveler (Mini Doc)

Nnenna Freelon: "Join me on a journey through space and time, through this short documentary about my album Time Traveler, which has been submitted for GRAMMY® consideration for Best Jazz Vocal album. When my beloved husband Phil passed away in 2019, it was art that saved me — singing, writing, reflecting. I had to trust that making music now, would become the bridge between me and my beloved. These are the songs we fell in love to. They are time machines. Travel with me!"

Jonathan Majors Drew on His Rural Roots to Play a Cowboy in 'The Harder They Fall'

'Jonathan Majors was nominated for an Emmy for his role in the HBO series Lovecraft Country. Now he stars as an outlaw seeking revenge in The Harder They Fall, a western featuring an all-Black cast. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his gunslinger role.'

Drummer and Local Legend Mel Brown Endures as the Humble Godfather of Portland Jazz

'Mel Brown's family moved to Portland, Ore. from Arkansas in the early 1940s. He was born in 1944 — the last of six siblings and the only native Oregonian. By high school, Brown's skill for drumming was plain, and by the time he was 19 he had already secured a gig playing with soul-jazz breakout Billy Larkin and Delegates. That band's hit record, "Pigmy," would end up giving Brown an early taste of success — and the confidence to approach Miles Davis' drummer Philly Joe Jones for lessons. In this episode of Jazz Night in America, we'll hear a burning concert by Brown's organ quartet from the 2019 Montavilla Jazz Festival. And he'll share some colorful stories in a conversation with our host, Christian McBride (a diehard Temptations fan). Brown's son, Christopher, says that he "always wanted to be a boots-on-the-ground kind of guy," which suggests that his career is a dream fulfilled. "He's the consummate professional," Christopher adds, "and understands that he's got to go the way and show the way".'

#PlayboyAfterDark: Lou Rawls—"You ’ve Made Me So Very Happy”/“All God’s Children Got Soul” (1970)

Lou Rawls performs "You ’ve Made Me So Very Happy”/“All God’s Children Got Soul” in this episode of #PlayboyAfterDark from 1970.