Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 176

The Real News Network: Remembering Gloria Richardson

'The Real News Network Executive Producer and former Black Panther Eddie Conway talks to author and activist Dominique Conway about Gloria Richardson, a fierce activist who led a multi-year campaign against segregation in Cambridge, Maryland. Richardson, who died July 15, 2021, was not as widely known as other civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. or Fannie Lou Hamer. Nevertheless, she was an important figure in the story of the struggle for civil rights both in the United States and all over the globe.'

Audra McDonald Will Always Say 'Yes' to Herself

“When I stopped trying to sound like everyone else and started sounding like myself is when I finally found my voice.” – Audra McDonald

People's Party: Terrace Martin Talks Jazz, ATCQ, Snoop, NWA, Kendrick, Gang Life

'In this episode of People's Party With Talib Kweli,  Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with musician, rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor Terrace Martin.'

 

Unscripted: Conversations w/ Christian John Wikane: Lisa Fischer on Chaka Khan

"Nobody sounds like her..." – In this clip from Unscripted: Conversations w/ Christian John Wikane, vocalist Lisa Fischerdiscusses Chaka Khan.

A Win for Felony Offender Enfranchisement in North Carolina

'A North Carolina judicial panel declared that roughly 56,000 formerly incarcerated individuals “can register to vote and cast ballots.” This specifically applies to individuals who are felons, served their time and are out on parole. It would also include people “convicted of a federal felony” but have probation as their punishment. State lawmakers who are defendants in the case promise to file an appeal. Joining The Takeaway with Melissa Harris-Perry to discuss the victory and fight ahead is Diana Powell, executive director of Justice Served NC, one of the community based organizations that sued the state and Daryl Atkinson, Co-Director of Forward Justice who served as the lead attorney on the case.'

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Colman Domingo & Nia DaCosta on Updating ‘Candyman’ From a Black Perspective

'The 1992 movie — from director Bernard Rose and starring Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd as Candyman — was followed up by two sequels. Yet the 2021 movie marks the first time that Daniel Robitaille’s story of being transformed into Candyman is told by a group of primarily Black creatives. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Colman Domingo & Nia DaCosta explained to Variety why viewing this tale through a Black lens makes a difference.'

Your Music Saved My Life: Ledisi Talks With Lara Downes

'The versatile and impassioned singer Ledisi was ready to throw in the towel, she tells Amplify With Lara Downes, until she heard a message in a Nina Simone song that told her, "You're going be fine. I understand how you feel. Keep going". 

How the US Made Affordable Homes Illegal

'Housing prices in the US were a problem long before 2020 — and while demand is a big part of the story, there’s an even bigger reason it’s increasingly difficult for Americans to find affordable housing: We don’t have enough houses. According to one estimate, the US is now facing a nearly four-million-home shortage. And the primary reason for that shortage is what’s called exclusionary zoning. Zoning laws are the local rules and regulations that decide what types of homes can be built where. These rules can sometimes have good intentions. But they also have a dark history in the United States as a tool to keep certain races, religions, and nationalities out of white neighborhoods. And while zoning laws in the US are no longer explicitly racist, their effect remains basically the same: to keep affordable housing, and the people who need it, away from the wealthiest Americans. Today, in the majority of the US, especially in cities with good jobs, it’s illegal to build many affordable types of housing. And it’s led to a widespread affordability crisis. Watch the video above for more.' -- Vox

Black Entrepreneurs in Cannabis Industry Push for a Piece of the Profits

'Black people comprise only a small percentage of those profiting from the burgeoning legalized pot market, according to state data. Public initiatives and private funds, like one started by Jay-Z, aim to boost minority participation.' -- Wall Street Journal

Cooking and Conversation with Marcus Samuelsson, Julie Mehretu, and Rujeko Hockley

'During this special event at the Whitney Museum of American Art, chef Marcus Samuelsson and artist Julie Mehretu, along with Rujeko Hockley, the Whitney’s Arnhold Associate Curator, talk about art, food, and much more. Both born in Ethiopia and now New York-based, Samuelsson and Mehretu have been friends for decades. Despite working in different fields, they hold each other’s work in the highest regard and have supported each other in their respective pursuits. Follow along as chef Samuelsson prepares a special recipe just for the occasion, which coincided with the final days of Mehretu’s mid-career survey at the Whitney.'