Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 183

Let's Talk Bruh: The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power with Dr. Jared Ball

'On this episode, Let's Talk Bruh links up Dr. Jared Ball. Dr. Ball is a father and husband. After that, he is a Professor of Communication Studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD. and is founder/curator of imixwhatilike.org, a multimedia hub of emancipatory journalism and revolutionary beat reporting. Ball is also author of The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power.  Today we talked about his book, his earliest ideas about manhood and masculinity and what freedom looks like for him. Tap in and let us know what you think.'

Black Lives Are Celebrated In Bisa Butler's Extraordinary, Technicolor Quilts

"I describe my artwork as a quilted photo album of a Black family. But it's the Black diaspora family," says Bisa Butler, standing in the exhibition hall and overlooking her work.  She explains to NPR that some of the people depicted in her photo album are well known, others just ordinary folk often overlooked. No matter. All are celebrated. "These ordinary folk who may have been very poor are some people who should be highly regarded, the love in the care that they have for each other, the way they're presenting themselves," she says. "I see the dignity and the beauty. So I want other people to see that." This is her first solo museum exhibit, which debuted in New York. Many of the works are based on archival photos from the 1930s and 40s."

Art21 "Extended Play" | Wangechi Mutu: Between the Earth and the Sky

'From her Nairobi studio, artist Wangechi Mutu considers her relationship with the natural world and the ways in which it has influenced her variegated artistic practice. A self-described "city girl with a nature brain," Mutu recounts her upbringing in Kenya, memories of playing in her family’s garden, and attending an all-girls Catholic school. These experiences instilled a profound respect for both nature and the feminine in Mutu, alongside a curiosity about the African history, heritage, and culture that was omitted from her studies. Today, Mutu’s monumental sculptures of hybrid female, animal, and plant forms assert "how incredibly important every single plant and animal and human is in keeping us all alive and afloat".'

A Word … with Jason Johnson: Tuskegee’s Ghosts Haunt COVID Fight

'The COVID crisis ripped through the Black community, with Black people accounting for almost a quarter of the 600,000 deaths that America has had so far. And as the delta variant brings back crowded hospital wards and mask mandates, many health care leaders are struggling to minimize the pain for Black America. Dr. Reed Tuckson is one of those on the front lines of the fight. He’s a veteran physician, public health advocate, and co-founder of the Black Coalition Against COVID. On this episode of A Word, host Jason Johnson spoke with Tuckson about increasing access to vaccines in Black communities and debunking misinformation surrounding the virus and vaccines. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.'

Hailing Dr. Lonnie Smith, and the Magnificent Legacy of the Hammond B3 Organ

'The deep groove of the Hammond B3 organ, which first emerged in the mid-1950s, has long represented the sound of a soulful proletariat. Jazz organ combos married the sanctified cry of the Black church with the seductive call of the blues. Moving into the 1960s and early '70s, players like Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott, Jack McDuff, Don Patterson and Charles Earland found commercial success, bolstering a thriving subgenre often known as soul jazz. And any conversation about this tradition, or the instrument itself, would be incomplete without serious appraisal of Dr. Lonnie Smith. Through his imaginative blend of sonic explorations and head-nodding, funky rhythms, Dr. Lonnie — a 2017 NEA Jazz Master — has remained one of the top practitioners on the B3 for over 50 years. His new Blue Note album, Breathe, mostly recorded at Jazz Standard, is a perfect example of a master craftsman channeling vibrations through the instrument and a Leslie speaker, and into the bodies of a rapt audience.'

Great Grief with Nnenna Freelon: Ashes To Ashes

'Great Grief host Nnenna Freelon calls on the wisdom of her friend Clarenda Stanley, owner of Green Heffa Farms, leading to new discoveries about the various ways grieving is like sowing and growing seeds.'

Books We Should've Read: Yabo featuring Alexis De Veaux

'In this episode of Books We Should've Read, Ashley is joined by by Alexis De Veaux, with author of teh award-winning Yabo. Jewelle Gomez writes of Yabo,  "Echoing the work of Jean Toomer and Toni Morrison, Yabo speaks in a powerful and insistent cadence about things we may have forgotten: death, desire, magic and the drum beat of resilience.'

Enlightened with Lisa Borders: Renee Montgomery - Paving the Way: From Point Guard to Part Owner

'Renee Montgomery, the first WNBA player to co-own a WNBA team, comes to Enlightened with Lisa Borders to discuss everything from her decision to forgo the 2020 WBNA season, to 'controlling the controllables,' to her retirement in early 2021, to 'turning it up' both court side and in a corporate management role. We get into why she believes the lifestyle inherent to athletes can create more empathetic human beings, her untimely bout with Salmonella during a monumental trade, and her plans for reimagining the future of the Atlanta Dream. And we look at how her career path was destined for the broadcast world — and the opportunities where she could speak up, speak out, and live up to her personal ideal that if your voice isn't being heard, you can always make it felt.'

How Actor Winston Duke Brought All of Himself to "Nine Days"

'Actor Winston Duke has had standout roles in major movies including Black Panther and Us, but this summer he’s starring in a much more intimate film called Nine Days. Written and directed by Edson Oda, the movie stars Duke as Will, a man tasked with determining which spirits can pass through an abstract realm and be born into the real world to live as people. Duke spoke with Melissa Harris-Perry, host of The Takeaway about taking on this complex, nuanced role and how it connects to his aspirations for the next stage of his career.'

The Public Commons

'How can we create public places that feel welcoming and safe for everyone? This hour, TED speakers examine our physical and digital spaces—how they run, who they serve, and how to make them better. Guests include community organizer Shari Davis, researcher Eli Pariser, Wikipedia Library founder Jake Orlowitz, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, and artist Matthew Mazzotta.' -- TED Radio Hour