Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 319

Who is "Karen" and Why Does She Keep Calling the Police on Black Men?

'A meme about a white woman who "wants to speak to the manager," "Karens" have been experiencing a resurgence in pandemic times: she's refusing to wear a mask. Refusing to socially distance. And, in this case, refusing to leash her dog and then calling in the power of the state on a fellow New Yorker. And "Karen" is not alone. Before her, we had BBQBecky, PermitPatty, Golfcart Gail: a slew of White people, often White women, calling the police on Black people, often Black men, for the offense of "living while Black." Apryl Williams is a communications and media professor at the University of Michigan and a research fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, where she's been researching the BBQBecky phenomenon. She explains  how these memes have shed a powerful light on a social dynamic that has dangerous implications for Black people's lives.' -- On the Media

MusiQology Presents: A Spiritual Vibe, Vol. 1

"This project by Dr. Guthrie Ramsey, Jr. and MusiQology is dedicated to Rev. Dr. Leslie Callahan and Annabelle Callahan who have created a place to dream of a radical freedom that’s grounded in love at the St. Paul’s Baptist Church, Philadelphia."

A Spiritual Vibe, Vol. 1 by Guthrie Ramsey

José James And Taali: Alone Together Duets

'Partners living in isolation are likely to discover a lot about each other. That’s true for José James and Taali (née Talia Billig), vocalists and founders of Rainbow Blonde Records, who “found a love” together in this song they co-wrote.' -- Jazz Night in America

Elizabeth Alexander: Creative Process – Are You in a Period of ‘Woodshedding’?

'Creative types can feel an overwhelming sense of pressure to be prolific, especially in times like these when, in theory, free time is abundant. Creativity is a resource that takes different forms and, like other resources, it has its limits. According to Elizabeth Alexander, poet and president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, it's common for artists to have gaps in the chronology of their work. Familial commitments, depression, and health troubles are among the very valid reasons to not be producing creative works. Borrowing a term from jazz musicians, Alexander explains that creatives can also go through a period of 'woodshedding,' a term that refers to the practice of working on one's craft and experimenting in a private place (like a wood shed) until it is ready to be shared with the world.' -- Big Think

Extra Credit with Dr. Deondra Rose: How Public Policy Has Affected Higher Education

'A high percentage of students attending college in the US today are given some form of financial aid. But this wasn’t always an option. Deondra Rose of Duke University’s Sanford School of Public policy discusses the history of higher education policy, and how lawmakers have used programs like the National Defense Education Act of 1958, the Higher Education Act of 1965, and Title IV of the 1972 education amendments to expand access to institutions of learning.' 

Brother Ali: Building Bridges – Muslims in America

'In March 2019, the iconic Muslim-American rapper and activist Brother Ali visited Duke University for a weeklong residency and culminating performance at Motorco Music Hall on Thursday, March 7, 2019. Brother Ali’s residency is part of a joint initiative with the Duke Islamic Studies Center and Duke Middle East Studies Center entitled 'Building Bridges: Muslims in America.' Funded in part by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art and the National Endowment for the Arts, the three-year project seeks to strengthen understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in the Durham area.' -- Duke Performances

The Ethics of Now: In Defense of Terrible Television with Adriane Lentz-Smith + Mark Anthony Neal

'Duke History Professor and host of The Ethics on Now Adriane Lentz-Smith is joined  by James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of African and African American Studies Mark Anthony Neal for the  conversation “In Defense of Terrible Television.” -- DukeEthics

Ainissa Ramirez – The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another

'On this episode of The Open Mind with Alexander Heffner, materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez discusses her new book  The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another .' -- cunytv75

From Basketball to The Boardroom with Entrepreneur and ESPN personality, Jay Williams

'Former college basketball star Jay Williams survived an accident that ended his playing career and reinvented himself as a television sports analyst. That's the story you know. But he's been quietly building an empire across the media, technology, finance, and restaurant industries. Now the host of the sports business network The Boardroom sits down with Black Enterprise to talk about his own ventures.' -- Black Enterprise

LA Hood Life Tours: A Ride Through The Birthplace Of West Coast Hip-Hop

'LA Hood Life Tours take you to where Dr. Dre , Kendrick Lamar , Nipsey Hussle and West Coast Hip-Hop started. Founder Hodari Sababu got the idea for the tour when he was given an assignment in a class he was taking to come up with a business. "On a whim I'm like 'A Hood Tour!' " he recalls. "Nobody does a tour that goes to the hood and there's so much interest in the movies and music and all that. That's why I knew the tour would be successful." -- World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN