Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 274

'Being Property Once Myself': Joshua Bennett in Conversation with Imani Perry

'HarvardBookStore's virtual event series welcomes acclaimed poet Dr. Joshua Bennett—the Mellon Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College and author of The Sobbing School: Poems—for a discussion of his latest books, Being Property Once Myself: Blackness and the End of Man and the poetry collection Owed. He's joined in conversation by writer and scholar Dr. Imani Perry, author of the award–winning biography, Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry.'

Frank Wilderson: The Politics of Pessimism in an Anti-Black World with Anne-Maria Mahkulu & Joseph Winters

'Frank Wilderson's insistence that there is an unresolvable antagonism between the world (as we know it) and Blackness has generated important discussions within and outside of the academy. In this webinar, hosted by African and African American Studies and the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke University, Wilderson offer reflections from his new book, Afropessimism, followed by a discussion with co-moderators, Anne-Maria Makhulu and Joseph Winters.' -- Duke Franklin Humanities Institute

Candice Hoyes - "Zora's Moon" [Official Video]

 

Official video for Candice Hoyes's  "Zora's Moon" (feat. Joel Ross).

Reparations: How it Could Happen with William "Sandy" Darity

 

Art: Rae Hsu

'Professor William “Sandy” Darity, Jr. argues the current racial wealth gap – in which African Americans, who make up 13 percent of the national population but hold only three percent of national wealth – can be traced to a series of government policies that denied economic opportunity to African Americans and provided opportunities to many white Americans.  Darity has created a Reparations Planning Committee in order to flesh out the details of how the U.S. might  execute a reparations program. The group includes an economic historian, a genealogist who specializes in African American history, and other experts. They are currently in the process of figuring out who would get reparations and how much it would cost. “I think reparations for Black American descendants of slavery in the United States is something that is fully justified and morally required,” says Darity, “The fact that we may still be in a moment where the odds of it occurring appear to be low, that’s not a reason to not be engaged in the struggle to make it happen”.' -- Sanford School @ Duke 

Sanford School @ Duke · Reparations: How it Could Happen

Joy James — The Algorithm of Anti-Racism

'In her talk "The Algorithm of Anti-Racism”, Professor Joy James focuses on hegemony, anti-racism, feminism, and references the NY pandemic, police riots, and political prisoners. James is the  Ebenezer Fitch Professor of Humanities at Williams College.' -- FUC

Left of Black S11 · E3 | Alisha Lola Jones on Gender Performances of Black Male Gospel Singers

What should a man sound like when singing Gospel music in the Black church? What octave is just "too high" for a man to incorporate into his performance? The cultural expectations that come with Black worship sometimes fail to validate the liberty of expression of many male vocalists due to what congregants think is acceptable gender performativity. In this provocative episode, Left of Black host Mark Anthony Neal sits in conversation with Alisha Lola Jones, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University and author of  Flaming? The Peculiar Theopolitics of Fire and Desire in Black Male Gospel Performance.

Rapsody - 12 Problems (Extended Version)

 

Official video for Rapsody's “12 Problems" featuring music from Ambré, starring Niko Brim and Reuben Vincent.

In Conversation: Toshi Reagon and Mark Anthony Neal

'Described by Vibe magazine as “one helluva rock’n’roller-coaster ride” and by PopMatters as “a treasure waiting to be found,” Toshi Reagon is a one-woman celebration of all that’s dynamic, progressive and uplifting in American music. Since first taking to the stage at age 17, this versatile singer-songwriter-guitarist has moved audiences of all kinds with her big-hearted, hold-nothing-back approach to rock, blues, R&B, country, folk, spirituals and funk. Since Lenny Kravitz chose her more than 30 years ago, straight out of college, to open for him on his first world tour, she has gone on to share stages with notable colleagues such as Nona Hendryx, Elvis Costello, Ani DiFranco, Pete Seeger, Dar Williams, Lizz Wright, Me’shell Ndegé Ocello and Marc Anthony Thompson (aka Chocolate Genius). Her performances with her mother, Bernice Johnson Reagon — civil rights activist and founder of the a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock — are legendary.  As part of Elevate Atlanta, Reagon was in conversation with Duke University Professor Mark Anthony Neal.'

Combating Real and Perceived Bias in the Media

'Every journalist faces the same challenge. How do we bring our backgrounds and perspectives to the stories we tell while also remaining fair in our coverage of the events? As part of our Listening Tour, we look at bias in the media. To discuss, Soledad O’Brien speaks with three prominent journalists: Maria Hinajosa, anchor and executive producer of Latino USA; Luis Rios, director of photography for the San Antonio Express News; and Matter of Fact Special Contributor Joie Chen.' -- Matter of Fact

Lincoln Center Activate: Keynote Lecture with Dr. Christopher Emdin - Teaching through Pandemics

'Professor, author, and creator of #HipHopEd, Dr. Christopher Emdin opens the inaugural Activate convening with a keynote lecture entitled, "Teaching through Pandemics: On Art and Inequality in Education." -- Lincoln Center