Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 275

Left of Black S11 · E2 | Derrick E. White and the Legacy of Black College Football

During the time of Jim Crow segregation, HBCU's have nurtured some of the brightest talent to be seen on the football field. From producing intensely competitive student athletes to employing some of the greatest coaches in the game, like the legendary Jake Gaither of Florida A&M University (FAMU), Black colleges have a tradition of putting forth the best of the best. But did integration bring an unfair advantage to PWI's (predominantly White institutions) who then started recruiting Black talent away from the HBCU teams? Left of Black host Mark Anthony Neal sat down with University of Kentucky Professor of History Derrick E. White to discuss his latest book, Blood, Sweat, and Tears: Jake Gaither, Florida A&M, and the History of Black College Football. 

Daphne Brooks, 'Lemonade from Lemons: Black Women Artists & the Gershwin Problem, 1935-2020'

'Daphne A. Brooks is William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of African American Studies, Theater Studies, American Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Yale University. She is the author of two books: Bodies in Dissent:  Spectacular Performances of Race and Freedom, 1850-1910 (Durham, NC: Duke UP), winner of The Errol Hill Award for Outstanding Scholarship on African American Performance from ASTR, and Jeff Buckley’s Grace (New York: Continuum, 2005).  Brooks is currently working on a three-volume study of black women and popular music culture entitled Subterranean Blues: Black Women Sound Modernity. The first volume in the trilogy, Liner Notes for the Revolution: The Archive, the Critic, and Black Women’s Sound Cultures, is forthcoming from Harvard University Press.' -- Hutchins Center

10 Things Hamilton's Leslie Odom Jr. Can't Live Without

'There are a few things Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. can't live without when he hits the road. From his Bose Resolve speaker and Apogee Hypemic microphone to his Ralph Lauren cardigan and LGR sunglasses, these are Leslie Odom Jr.'s travel essentials. On “The Christmas Album” Leslie Odom, Jr. reimagines holiday favorites like “Little Drummer Boy” and “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” along with a few newly penned tracks. Guest artists include Tony/Emmy/Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo, actress Nicolette Robinson and The Mzansi Youth Choir. The album comes out on November 6th via S-Curve Records/BMG.'

Tacos Con Todo: Tiffany Haddish Talks Pet Peeves, Richard Pryor, and the Famous White Dress

'Comedian Tiffany Haddish reunites with her old friend Jesus Trejo to talk about her biggest food pet peeves, the sage advice she got from Richard Pryor, and how she bucked Hollywood norms with her famous white dress. Over a plate of tacos from South L.A.'s legendary Taco Mell, Tiffany digs deep into her comedy career, explaining her rise from homelessness into superstardom.'

Reimagining the World Together: A Conversation with Bree Newsome Bass and Gina Newsome Duncan

'This conversation in the Reimagining the World Together series brings together two sisters who also consider each other friends. Bree Newsome Bass is an artist, activist and public speaker. She is an organizer in the modern civil rights movement and has helped develop several non-profit and grassroots organizations. In 2015, she attracted national attention when she scaled a flagpole at South Carolina’s capitol building to remove the Confederate battle flag in protest of systemic racism following the racially-motivated murders at Emanuel AME in Charleston. Dr. Gina Newsome Duncan is an adult psychiatrist and psychotherapist in private practice in Charlotte, NC. A writer, speaker, and consultant, she is actively engaged in faith- and community-based efforts to reduce disparities in health and achievement by leveraging positive, strengths-based approaches that promote overall wellness and build resilience. Moderated by Anne-Maria Makhulu.'

Alabama Shakes Frontwoman Brittany Howard on Solo Music, Fly Fishing and Feeling Like an Alien

'Anthony Mason talks to Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard about going solo, making deeply personal music about family, love and racism, and how you're most likely to find her in the river these days, fly fishing.'

Man of Change – The Life and Work of Romare Bearden: A Conversation with Mary Schmidt Campbell & Robert G. O'Meally

'Romare Bearden is just one of the many dynamic men profiled in "Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth."  Mary Schmidt Campbell, President of Spelman College and author of An American Odyssey: The Life and Work of Romare Bearden, and Robert G. O'Meally, Zora Neale Hurston Professor of English and Comparative Literature and the Director of the Center for Jazz Studies at Columbia University, discussed the life and work of one of the 20th century's most creative and original artists.' -- California African American Museum

60 Years Later, Ruby Bridges Tells Her Story In 'This Is Your Time'

'Ruby Bridges was the little girl depicted in that famous Norman Rockwell painting — the first Black student at her New Orleans elementary school. Now, she's written a book to tell kids her story.'

 

Coffee & Books: Marc Lamont Hill talks 'Sexual Citizens' with Columbia University Professors Jennifer Hirsch and Shamus Khan

'Coffee & Books host Marc Lamont Hill unpacks the groundbreaking book Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study of Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus with Columbia University professors Jennifer Hirsch and Shamus Khan, they discuss the widespread issue of sexual assault on college campuses.'

Artist Shanequa Gay Creates Space For Honoring Breonna Taylor With Acrylics And Oils

'When a Kentucky grand jury failed to indict police officers responsible for killing 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, multidisciplinary artist Shanequa Gay turned to her work in a search for justice with her exhibit “holding space for nobility: a memorial for Breonna Taylor” With oils and acrylics, Gay combined larger-than-life images of Taylor with nature and animals that represent unity and community. Gay’s own experience with a loss that left her family with many unanswered questions sparked her desire to build artistic spaces for memorializing lost life. State of Things host Frank Stasio talks with Gay about the exhibit and what it means to “hold space” through art.'