Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 282

Titus Kaphar: Can Beauty Open Our Hearts to Difficult Conversations?

'An artwork's color or composition can pull you in -- and put you on the path to having important and difficult conversations, says artist Titus Kaphar. In this stunning talk, he reflects on his artistic evolution and takes us on a tour of his career -- from "The Jerome Project," which draws on religious icons to examine the US criminal justice system, to "From a Tropical Space," a haunting body of work that centers around Black mothers whose children have disappeared. Kaphar also shares the idea behind NXTHVN, an arts incubator and community for young people in his hometown.' -- TED

Streams Of Thought Presents: “Smoking Joints To The Last Poets” a Conversation With Carrie Mae Weems

'In this episode of Streams Of Thought titled "Smoking Joints To The Last Poets", Tariq Trotter holds a conversation with his dear friend, mentor, and noted artist Carrie Mae Weems. This interaction is an extension of Tariq’s and Carrie’s private conversations, so much so that Tariq never got a chance to ask his prepared questions. Watch as they discuss vanity, creativity and how they both enjoyed smoking joints while listening to The Last Poets.'

Black Farmers Draw On Age-Old Ingenuity To Navigate COVID-19

'For over a century, Black farmers have faced challenges in securing federal and local funding to aid their farms in times of need and during crises. COVID-19 has been no different. From lack of access to information about coronavirus relief provisions for farmers to difficulty finding spaces to safely vend during the crisis, the pandemic has made obstacles even more stark. Some farmers and organizers are finding creative ways to address Black farmers’ needs, including creating and selling community-supported agriculture (CSA) boxes and continuing to offer space at the Triangle-based Black Farmers’ Market for produce vendors to safely sell their crops.  State of Things host Anita Rao talks to Melody Hunter-Pillion, a North Carolina State University public history doctoral student; Kendrick Ransome, a fourth-generation farmer at Golden Organic Farm in Pinetops, North Carolina; Samantha “Foxx” Winship, owner of Mother’s Finest Urban Farms in Winston-Salem; and Crystal Taylor, co-founder of the Black Farmers’ Market in Durham and Raleigh.'

Brittney Cooper Dissecting Her New York Times Best Seller, "Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower"

'On this episode of Coffee & Books, Marc Lamont Hill is in conversation with New York Times Best Selling author, Assistant Professor, activist and cultural critic, Brittney Cooper. The two discuss her book, Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower and dive into what the term "eloquent rage" means, and how she "owned her anger"; criticism of Beyoncè, what book(s) we can expect from her next and a torturous, but oh so fun game of Buy It, Borrow It, Burn It.'

'The Butterfly Effect: How Kendrick Lamar Ignited the Soul of Black America'

'With 13 Grammy wins across four studio albums, and a catalogue of iconic imagery from videos and live performances, rapper Kendrick Lamar defined music and culture in the 2010s like no other artist. Music journalist Marcus J. Moore joins All Of It to discuss his new book, The Butterfly Effect: How Kendrick Lamar Ignited the Soul of Black America, chronicling the impact of his career thus far.'

The Met's First Full-time Curator of Native American Art on Celebrating and Sharing Native Work

'In 2020, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City made a notable hire: Patricia Marroquin Norby has become the first full-time curator of Native American Art for the Met. Her role means acknowledging the reality of how some of this art came to be in the hands of museum curators, to begin with. The Takeaway spoke with Norby about the role of Native American art in understanding our country’s history and future.' 

Why Philanthropy Alone Can't Solve Social Inequality

'“The Hard Truth About Bias” features conversations about the relationship of race and privilege; racial stress; the impact of bias in the images and language in our daily news and information; and the creation of stereotypes and how they influence the way we think. Guests in this segment: Wes Moore, CEO, the Robin Hood Foundation.' -- Matter of Fact

Chicago Humanities Festival: Peniel E. Joseph on Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

'Popular accounts of the 1960s-era civil rights movement are often reduced to the story of two extraordinary visionaries: Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. In his book The Sword and the Shield Peniel E. Joseph argues that by focusing on their differing doctrines of self-defense versus nonviolence, we’ve been blind to the scope of their shared activism and communion.  Join Joseph and Jonathan Eig, author of a forthcoming biography on King, for a conversation about how the legacies of these civil rights leaders informs the current struggle for racial justice.' -- Chicago Humanities Festival

Public Enemy - GRID (Animated) ft. Cypress Hill, George Clinton

Animated visuals for Public Enemy's "Grid" featuring Cypress Hill and George Clinton.

Lenny Kravitz on Finding His Voice

'Having written an introspective new memoir, Let Love Rule, the Grammy-winning singer Lenny Kravitz talks about his struggles with identity, the road to rock stardom, and his extended, blended family. CBS Sunday Morning: Saturday host Michelle Miller reports.'