Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 288

In Conversation: Race and Performance after Repetition

'The editors Soyica Diggs Colbert, Douglas A. Jones, Jr., and Shane Vogel of Race and Performance after Repetition discuss the major themes of the collection with contributors Joshua Chambers-Letson, Tavia Nyong'o, and Elizabeth W. Son, exploring how theater and performance studies account for the complex relationship between race and time.'

Ledisi Sings Tina Turner, Chaka Khan, and "Anything for You" in a Game of Song Association

'Ledisi's legacy is one to beat. Her vocals have been praised on stages around the world throughout her long-standing career and she's picked up not 1 but 12 Grammy nominations along the way. To celebrate the release of her latest album, #TheWildCard, she joins us for a #SongAssociation challenge. Tune in as she sings Tina Turner, Chaka Khan and more in a race against the clock.' -- ELLE

Carrie Mae Weems: "Hold On Tight"

"I'm tired of the Changing Same..." -- Carrie Mae Weems

The Quarantine Tapes: Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

'Paul Holdengräber is joined by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., on episode 104 of The Quarantine Tapes. Eddie’s latest book, Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own, looks to Baldwin’s writing for guidance for our own moment. Paul and Eddie’s conversation opens up Eddie’s experience of writing this book, discussing how he grappled with the form of biography, literary criticism, and social criticism.'

The Power of Protest Music

In this installment of Duke University's Black Alumni series Black in 2020,  Duke Professors Anthony Kelley (Music) and Mark Anthony Neal (African & African-American Studies) are joined by Professor Shana Redmond (UCLA), author of Everything Man: The Form and Function of Paul Robeson, for a conversation about the  historical and contemporary role that protest music has played in the fight for justice.

A.yoni Jeffries Is An Afro-Indigenous Hemp Farmer Whose ‘Potential Gon’ Pay’

'Durham-based musician A.yoni Jeffries understands discouragement. Her latest album, Potential Gon’ Pay, was delayed three times this year. But the 25-year-old never stays discouraged for long. In the interim, while she awaited a new release date, she focused her attention on a new endeavor, Handèwa Farms, which she launched in December 2019 with eight partners. Many of them, including herself are of Afro-Indigenous descent. Hemp has been the farm’s primary crop this year, an intentional choice meant to destigmatize the plant and its uses. She pushes boundaries in her music, too. Jeffries joins State of Things host Anita Rao to talk about farming activism and “Potential Gon’ Pay,” which is finally available for streaming and purchase.'

 

The Quarantine Tapes: Lisa Lucas

'On episode 105 of The Quarantine Tapes, Paul Holdengräber is joined by Lisa Lucas. As the incoming senior vice president of Pantheon and Schocken Books, Lisa talks about her experiences in publishing and her excitement about the potential of her new position. Their conversation covers equity in publishing for people of color and other marginalized groups and how Lisa has found herself feeling newly comfortable in her anger in recent months: "There are conversations where we are included, but how strongly our voices are considered, and whether or not we have the power to leverage change from the seats at the table we have earned and been given--I think that there’s a lot of work there”.'

B.Slade - "Change." [Official Lyric Video]

"Change" – Produced, Written & Arranged by B.Slade; Lyric Video by @IAMLXGEND

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The Legacy & Challenge of Hip-Hop Music & Politics Panel at the #HipHopPoliticalEducationSummit

'"When George Floyd got killed, look at how the young people stood up across the nation. Everybody felt a certain type of pain...they were tired and rebellious...if you think you are gonna handle us any kind of way we gonna go against it..." Trae The Truth spoke on connecting to the younger generation at the opening panel of the #HipHopPoliticalEducationSummit. The panel also included Dr. Cornel West, Rapsody, Big Daddy Kane and Paradise Gray of X-Clan. It was moderated by 9th Wonder and Professor Mark Anthony Neal.' 

Court System Backlogs Leave Foster Families in the Lurch

'As public lockdowns were implemented across the country to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, many states' court systems also significantly reduced their activities, shut down in-person hearings, or indefinitely postponed routine matters. According to a Ballotpedia tracker, courts in every single U.S. state were impacted by these closures at some point during the pandemic, through a suspension of in-person activities either at the state or local level. Where family courts have jurisdiction over foster care proceedings, children and parents were in many cases left behind as their court-monitored plans had to be frozen in place, temporarily, until the lockdowns began to lift. For the next part of our ongoing series, “Justice Delayed,” The Takeaway is taking a look at how foster care systems, and foster families, were impacted by this abrupt shock to the system, and how courts are prepared to handle an expected surge of cases when normal activity resumes.'