Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 322

ABWH TV: Banking on Freedom: Black Women in U.S. Finance Before the New Deal

'Dr. Tiffany Gill, Inaugural John and Patricia Cochran Scholar and Associate Professor of Africana Studies and History at the University of Delaware, interviews Dr. Shennette Garrett-Scott about her book, Banking on Freedom: Black Women in U.S. Finance Before the New Deal (CUP 2019), winner of the 2019 ABWH Letitia Woods Brown Memorial Book Prize and the 2020 Organization of American Historians Darlene Clark Hine Book Award. Dr. Garrett-Scott is Associate Professor of History and African American Studies at the University of Mississippi.'

How Labor Organizing Can Help Women and People of Color Unemployed Due to COVID-19

'As the health crisis continues, COVID-19 has also pushed us over the cliff toward an economic crisis, and we’re still bracing for final the impact. The workers who are affected the most are, of course, those working hospitality and service jobs. And there’s something else striking about who’s hit the hardest, though it’s no surprise to economists, who’ve seen this trend again and again: "We know that people of color and women are the most likely to have lost their jobs — unemployment is hitting women and people of color even harder," Professor Lane Windham, associate director of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University, said. Aaron Ross Coleman, an Ida B. Wells Fellow at the Type Media Institute covering race and economics, and Professor Windham join The Takeaway to discuss.'

Raul Midón: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

'Despite the pall cast over so many aspects of our existence these days, Raul Midón's one man concert from his home studio shines with a vibrant appreciation of the beauty of life, down to its smallest details. It kicks off with two tracks from The Mirror, an album released just as we entered our quarantine period in mid-March: "I Love The Afternoon" and "I Really Want To See You Again," a song that poetically captures the joy of friendship. Midón's jazz-influenced vocal phrasing throughout comes to the fore with just his acoustic guitar as accompaniment, illustrating once again why he's normally one of the bright spots on our musical landscape and even more so at this moment.' -- NPR Music

Why Maternity Wards Are Disappearing from Black Neighborhoods

'In some cities across the country, maternity wards are disappearing in Black neighborhoods. Experts call these areas “maternity care deserts," because people have limited access to maternity care services such as prenatal care or maternity wards, or they have none at all. Now, many are worried that as the coronavirus pandemic continues, these deserts could become a truly nationwide trend. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than their White peers. Kelly Glass, a freelance journalist who reports on the intersections of parenting, health, and race, recently wrote about this for The New York Times, and she joined The Takeaway to explain why these closures are happening.'

The Story Behind Instagram's Rise

Sarah Frier discusses her book, No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram with Alison Stewart, host of All Of It.

         
        

Sonics & Visuals: Moses Sumney – “Cut Me"

Official video for "Cut Me" by Moses Sumney from the double album græ. Written & Directed by Moses Sumney; Dancers: Emara Neymour-Jackson and Malachi Middleton.

Black Images, Black Histories | Rhea Combs: New Black Aesthetics

'The From Slavery to Freedom Lab presented a two-day conference to explore iconic images and popular constructions of Blackness in culture. Rhea L. Combs is curator at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History & Culture.' -- Duke Franklin Humanities Institute
 

Elizabeth Alexander: |Art will never die. So why does it need philanthropy?

'You cannot kill the arts. This is particularly true when you talk about poetry, which does well in a world of social media as it's easy to digest in its short form. Measuring success in art can be tricky, though. Impact and influence can be felt immediately, so how does art find that everlasting durability? Philanthropy can encourage and enable art, and as a result, potentially lengthen its lifespan. If we can find ways to measure art in its own terms, we can effectively give a platform to new voices who complete the cultural picture. Elizabeth Alexander – poet, educator, memoirist, scholar, and arts activist – is president of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the nation's largest funder in arts and culture, and humanities in higher education.' -- Big Think

The Very Radical History - And Demise - Of Superman

'Superman, the Man of Steel, the Last Son of Krypton, the Big Blue Boyscout. Whatever you call him, you know who he is. After 80 years, it’s impossible not to know about the alien superhero who fights for truth, justice and the American way. But that hasn’t always been the case. He was conceived by two second-generation Jewish immigrants as someone who stood up for the working-class people and fought for better conditions, rights and tolerance – not for the government. Nowadays, people can’t really figure out what he stands for. How did that happen? How did Superman go from being a warrior for social justice to whoever the hell he was in “Man of Steel?” We know, we know. We’re pushing buttons here. But the question that comes up so often is, “What is Superman’s relevance today?” Hosted by Sana Saeed with commentary by Ben Saunders and Julian Chambliss.' -- AJ+
 

George Washington Carver: An Uncommon Life

'While George Washington Carver's rise from slavery to scientific accomplishment has inspired millions, time has reduced him to the man who did something with peanuts. This documentary uncovers Carver's complexities and reveals the full impact of his life and work.' -- Iowa PBS