Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 344

Gregory Porter: Personal Stories For Universal Songs

'The smooth, booming voice of Gregory Porter brought a galvanizing force to jazz when he broke onto the scene about a decade ago. It's a voice of exhortation, flowing out of the gospel church. A voice of dignity, in the mode of his hero, Nat King Cole. A voice of reassurance, whether aiming for the heavens or toward a single soul across the room. It's also, crucially, the voice of experience — Porter's own, going back to his childhood in Bakersfield, Calif. For this episode of Jazz Night in America, the two-time Grammy-winning jazz vocalist opens up about that journey in conversation with our host, Christian McBride. We'll hear about Porter's transition from sports to theater to music and about the meaning behind some of his soul-baring songs, like "Don't Lose Your Steam".' -- Jazz Night In America

Stephanie Mills Is Honored at the Black Music Honors

'Regina Belle, Angela Winbush and Paris Bennett honor the legendary Stephanie Mills at the 3rd Annual Black Music Honors.' -- Black Music Honors
 

Sonic Futures: The Music of Afrofuturism with George Clinton, Nona Hendryx, Vernon Reid and Alondra Nelson

'Three musical giants who have made monumental contributions to Afrofuturism as we know it today, George Clinton, Nona Hendryx, and Vernon Reid, in conversation with world-renowned scholar and critic Alondra Nelson. The panelists discuss Afrofuturism – where it came from, where it is going, and what it has to offer us. Featuring opening remarks by Gus Casely-Hayford, Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art.' -- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

The South African Songbook: Jazz Musicians Who Stayed During Apartheid

'Twenty-five years have passed since South Africa ended the cruel social experiment of apartheid, which divided its citizens, locked up its people of color and brought decades of havoc and pain. South Africa's jazz musicians were at the center of the conflict. Jazz Night in America has already told the story of pianist Abdullah Ibrahim and trumpeter Hugh Masekela, prominent South African artists who went into exile, seeking refuge overseas. This episode focuses on the musicians who stayed. We'll learn about the legacy of saxophonist Winston Mankunku Ngozi, who turned down touring opportunities with Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock to fight for freedom on his home turf, and pianist Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, who was hailed as a bright new hope for the music before his untimely and unsolved death at age 27.' -- Jazz Night In America

'Your Body Being Used': Where Prisoners Who Can't Vote Fill Voting Districts

  'The U.S. census counts incarcerated people as residents of where they are imprisoned. In many prison towns, that has led to voting districts made up primarily of prisoners who can't vote.' -- Morning Edition

North Carolinians Fight the $7.5 Billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline

'Eastern North Carolina is home to the environmental justice movement – and also to some of the state’s biggest threats to human and environmental health. The latest is the Atlantic Coast Pipeline.' -- Grist

Black Icons of Art: Antwaun Sargent

' Black Icons of Art continues with an intimate and unfiltered conversation, featuring the prolific writer, curator and critic Antwaun Sargent (The New York Times, W, Vogue, et al). Host Rebecca Carroll discusses his trajectory; his traveling exhibition, Young, Gifted and Black; and what lies ahead for Art in this tumultuous political climate and fast-paced digital world.' -- The Greene Space at WNYC & WQXR

It Could Be Another 257 Years Before Women Are Paid the Same as Men

'This year, the World Economic Forum's annual Global Gender Gap Index report shows that it's going to take another 257 years for women and men to get paid equally. This pay gap has increased since the report’s publication last year, where the estimate was at 202 years. The index has examined 153 countries since 2006. Iceland continues to top the list as the most gender-equal country. The U.S. is ranked 53, where it has fallen two ranks from last year. The wage gap varies by industry and geography, and it is even more extreme for women of color. In the U.S., Black women make 21 percent less than white women, and Latina women make 31 percent less than white women. To learn more about where the pay gap is at the end of the decade, The Takeaway spoke with C. Nicole Mason , President and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research .' 

Kiley Reid Discusses New Novel 'Such A Fun Age'

'In her debut novel, Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid explores the complicated relationship between a privileged white woman and the black babysitter she hires to care for her children. Alix is a blogger and public speaker who moves to Philadelphia for her husband's TV anchor job. She hires Emira as her sitter. She's a few years out of college and still figuring out her path in life. Alix becomes obsessed with the younger, cooler Emira. And the relationship between the two women lays bare the insidious nature of entitlement and racism.' -- Weekend Edition Saturday

Story+ | Harriet Tubman’s Life in Pictures

' The Story+ Photographic Life of Harriet: Tubman’s Life in Pictures team explored the visual life of Harriet Tubman in diverse illustrations of the abolitionist. Students working on this project organized the visual archive of Tubman’s representation from photographs she took during her lifetime, and included her enduring images in public memory, including statues, memorials, museums, murals and fine art by canonic artists.' -- Duke Franklin Humanities Institute